seniors' outdoor club of calgary - schedule for out of town trips

SENIORS’ OUTDOOR CLUB OF CALGARY SUMMER PROGRAM 2010 – TUESDAY, MOUNTAIN/OUT OF TOWN HIKES.... Note - *7:30 am DEPARTURE from July 27 to Aug 31 inclusive. Otherwise bus departs at 8:00 am from the Montgomery Community Centre (Home Road & 16th Avenue, NW). References: (in the descriptions below: numbers after the colon refer to the HIKE numbers in the Kananaskis Country Trail Guides and in the Canadian Rockies Trail Guide). K1, K2 = Kananaskis Country Trail Guide 3rd edition, Volumes 1, 2 (respectively), Gillean Daffern. R = Canadian Rockies Trail Guide, 7th edition-revised, Brian Patton & Bart Robinson. GT = Gem Trek Map. T after a distance means "total distance"

Apr 20: BOW VALLEY PROVINCIAL PARK Start from park administration building and follow the trails west, hiking 10 - 15 km (or as bus departure time allows) on park trails / elk paths. OR Walk down Hwy 1X, cross the Bow River and follow the river east on the Stoney Indian Reserve to Horseshoe Falls and beyond as time allows. Return via the same route.

Apr 27: HUMMINGBIRD PLUME / SKOGAN PASS K1:22 From Ribbon Creek cut off to the right before the summit and follow the trail to the views at Hummingbird Plume, OR up to the top the pass (a gain of 1900 feet).

May 4: PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN / STATION FLATS K1:308,303; GT:Bragg Creek & Sheep Valley Prairie Mountain access: Elbow Falls Trail (Hwy 66) The trail - fairly steep - starts at the turn-off to Elbow Falls parking (4 km; 180 m). Station Flats parking is just past the Elbow Ranger Station, and gives access to Elbow Valley, Sulphur Springs and River View Trails (all much easier than Prairie Mountain).

May 11: YAMNUSKA / BOW VALLEY PROVINCIAL PARK K1:30 From trail head follow path east and up to saddle, then west to a notch that allows access to the top of the mountain at 2120 m. Return same way, or stronger hikers may circle right around and return under south face of mountain (lots of scree!) Alternative: hike in Bow Valley Provincial Park.

May 18: BARRIER LOOKOUT From Barrier Dam Parking, cross the dam (1.1 km) to power line, then Continue straight ahead on Prairie View Trail to Barrier Lake Fire Lookout (3.7 km). Return the same way, or go down the back of Barrier Mountain at the reflector, turn left at the bottom, and follow the Jewel Pass trail around the front of the mountain and back over the dam to the parking lot.

May 25: WASOOTCH RIDGE K1:44 From Wasootch Creek parking, climb steeply, then hike along a long moderately level trail to the grassy high point (6.5 km). Return via the same route. OR Hike the trails around KANANASKIS VILLAGE.

Jun 1: JUMPINGPOUND MOUNTAIN K2:333,335,336 This is an easy ridge walk along the entire summit ridge of Jumpingpound Mountain that presents some fine views above tree line. Trailhead is at Canyon Creek and Powderface Trail junction, with pickup at Lusk Pass trailhead (13.2 km T). OR Begin at the Jumpingpound Summit trailhead, climb to Jumpingpound Summit (417 m), then traverse north to Cox Hill with pickup at Dawson trailhead (15.1 km T).

Jun 8: OLD BALDY RIDGE K1:56; GT:Canmore-Kananaskis Village Access trail head from Evan Thomas Parking just south of turn off to Kananaskis Village (7.8 km; 860 m to summit) - return same route or take circular route back to a pickup at Boundary Ranch. There are easy trails running north to Boundary Ranch - 3 km.

Jun 15: GUNNERY CREEK / GUNNERY MOUNTAIN K2:259 From Eyrie Gap day use parking, cross the highway, follow the trail on the east side of the falls up a steep hillside (3 km). Go left at a side creek to the “Notch” (1.4 km), then south to the summit. Hike down the ridge to the highway (1.5 km). OR Continue up Gunnery Creek trail to the junction with Grass Pass and return via Grass Pass. OR Continue up Gunnery Creek trail then up open slopes on the right to the ridge top for lovely 360 degree views, and return the same way.

Jun 22: WHALEBACK (this is a long day - walking time 5 hours - with good flowers) Park at the highway turn-off to Black Mountain access - the road is 4.2 km south of the junction of Highway #22 and secondary Highway #520. Walk the road approximately two km to the first cattle guard on the south shoulder of Black Mountain. If you are driving a vehicle with good clearance and the ground is dry you can drive the first 2 km of this road to the cattle guard. This hike takes place mainly on Waldron Ranch leased Crown land. Please make sure you give any cattle plenty of room and leave gates as you find them. Elevation gain ~ 375 metres, plus there is quite a lot of up and down following the ridge. (This trip was replaced by BVPP/Yamnuska hike, as Whaleback weather was forbidding! See Aug 10)

Jun 29: RASPBERRY RIDGE / CATARACT CREEK MEADOWS K2:62 From the trailhead (6 km S of the Etherington Creek Campground on highway 940), hike to the superlative viewpoint at Raspberry Ridge lookout (4.5 km; 649 m). OR Hike as far as time allows along Upper Cataract Creek road and enjoy pleasant views of meadows and stream.

Jul 6: MOUNT LIPSETT K2:202 From Highwood pass, drive 13.2 km southeast to a grassy area on the north side of the highway. Hike up the slope to an old road. Follow the road to the southwest ridge, then northwest to the summit (6.1 km). Return via the same route.

Jul 13: HEALY PASS R:56 From the trailhead past the gondola lift, follow trail to a junction (0.8 km). Turn right and follow the trail to Healy Meadows and on to Healy Pass (655 m; 9.2 km). The meadows host a profusion of wild flowers. Return via the same route or via Simpson Pass.

Jul 20: BLACK PRINCE Access is via Smith Dorrien - Spray Trail (Hwy 742) from Peter Lougheed Park (or Canmore) - park at Black Prince day use area (259 m; 4.5 km to lake).

Jul 27: * WATERTON NATIONAL PARK R:184,190,183 in 8th edition Pickup 7:30 am @ First Canada Bus yard (41 Ave & 6A St NE - off 32 Ave connector), pickup 8 am @ Glennfield Day use area parking at Fish Creek Park (off Macleod Trail @ Bannister Road SE). OR the LRT is across the road from the parking area - 2 blocks west. This trip will cost $20 with a National park pass, $27 without a park pass and will be a late return (?~7:30 pm?, better bring some supper!) If the bus is overbooked, the normal bumping procedure will be in effect. There are several hiking options: Bertha Lake (10.8 km R; 225 m), Carthew Summit (15.8 km; 600 m), Bear's Hump (2.4 km; 225 m), then visit Prince of Wales Hotel and hike the bench trail to Cameron Falls or take the boat ($36) to Goat Haunt. If you do not have enough info yet, call Marv at 274-3207.

Aug 3: * SPARROWHAWK TARNS / READ'S RIDGE / READ'S TOWER / THE NOTCH K1:67,68 Access from Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail (Hwy 742) at Sparrowhawk Day Use Area - all options start on the north bank of Sparrowhawk Creek. Read's Ridge (good viewpoint, 640m; 2 km), Read's Tower (920 m; 2.8 km), The Notch (945m; 3 km), Sparrowhawk Tarns (671m; 5.1 km). Return the same way.

Aug 10: * ETHERINGTON CREEK / HELL'S RIDGE K2:222; 221 We switched this hike and instead went to the Whaleback, off Highway 22 South (straight east of Claresholm). In order to minimize the walk in from the road, we will try the Little Whaleback Ridge/Beaverdam Creek trails 13.7 NW along the A7 Ranch Road which leaves Hiway #22 immediately north of the Oldman River.

Aug 17: * YOHO / ICELINE / LAUGHING FALLS R1:150,151 From Whiskey Jack hostel, climb steadily to Yoho Lake junction. Continue climbing to Celeste Lake junction (5.7 km), and up to the Iceline Summit (690 m; 0.7 km). Descend to the Celeste Lake junction, turn left and follow the trail to the Little Yoho Valley Trail. Return to Takkakaw Falls (16.4 km T). OR Hike the Yoho Valley Trail from Takkakaw Falls to Laughing Falls and on to Twin Falls (290 m; 8.2 km). Return via the same route.

Aug 24: * MOUNT ST. PIRAN / PLAIN OF THE SIX GLACIERS (LAKE LOUISE) See the spectacular views as you climb to Mt. St. Piran via Lake Agnes - a stiff climb on a good trail made relatively easy with switchbacks (13 km T; 900 m). OR Hike around Lake Louise to the Plain of the Six Glaciers (10.6 km T; 365 m).

Aug 31: * SMUTS,BIRDWOOD,BURSTALL PASSES K1:76,79 OR SNOW PEAK HEADWALL K1:84 VERY STRENUOUS! About a kilometer west of Engadine Lodge, begin hiking south 3.4 km. Turn right through a cut block to Commonwealth Creek, up to Smuts Pass, and continue on to a high col. Descend south slowly to a meadow, then up to Birdwood Pass. Descend east to a rock bench, down to Burstall trail and east to Burstall Pass parking (18.4 km T). OR HEADWALL LAKES A 7.4 km hike from the Chester Lake parking lot takes you along ski trails to Valley of the Two Lakes, a 472 m climb.

Sep 7: ARETHUSA / PTARMIGAN TRAVERSE / HIGHWOOD / POCATERRA K1: 111, 112, 11 Park at Highwood Meadows. The traverse will be a new hike for the club going from Ptarmigan Cirgue to Arethusa Cirque on north side of highway - Maurice Gaucher has more info, or check out "Where the Locals Hike", by Kathy and Craig Copeland.

Sep 14: BOOM LAKE / BOOM LAKE -TAYLOR LAKE CIRCUIT R:37,36,39 From trail head south of Storm Mountain Lodge, take an easy (5 km; 175m) climb to a beautiful clear lake, then return. OR (strenuous!) Cut off Boom Lake trail at 2.3 km, climb steeply uphill, traverse west parallel to Bow Valley, and descend to Taylor Lake (7.8 km), then descend 6.3 km to Trans Canada highway (16.4 km T).

Sep 21: MOUNT ALLEN: CENTENNIAL / OLYMPIC K1:47 Access is via Kananaskis Trail (Hwy 40), at Ribbon Creek Day Use Area just past the hostel (11 km; 1350 m to summit). OR explore any of several easy trails in the valley and village.

Sep 28: PICKLEJAR LAKES K2:208 Access is via Kananaskis(Hwy 40) at Lantern Creek Day Use. The trail starts from the east side of highway a little north of the day use area (4.2 km; 380 m to first lake, maximum elevation 2180m).

Oct 5: KING CREEK K1:108 The grassy ridge north of King Creek offers a relatively easy climb to a fantastic viewpoint: steep but worth the climb (2.5 km; 731 m to summit). Alternate: Penstock Loop / Penstock / Canyon trails.

Oct 12: PETER LOUGHEED LOOKOUT Come see the summer view from our popular winter destination. Access via Whiskey Jack from Boulton. Alternate: Fox and Boulton Trails.

Oct 19: MOUNTAIN ROAD TO TOM SNOW K2:299,301 From the West Bragg Creek Recreation area, follow the exploration road west to the junction with Tom Snow trail (1.6 km). Turn right and hike the Tom Snow trail as far as time allows. Return via the same route.

Oct 26: DRY ISLAND PROVINCIAL PARK Location: north of Three Hills, east of Huxley. References: http://raysweb.net/dryisland/index.html http://www.srd.alberta.ca/RecreationPublicUse/AlbertaWildlifeViewingGuide/RedDeerParklandPrairie/DryIslandBuffaloJumpProvincialPark/Default.aspx