Canadian Rockies Hiking Plus

Canadian Rockies Hiking Plus Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Arrive in Calgary, Alberta, Canada by 4:00 p.m. and take the free shuttle from the airport to your hotel. We meet in the hotel lobby at 6:00 p.m. for a group dinner and orientation with your guide and fellow travelers. Dinner included.

• Day 2

  We drive to the heart of Canada's hiking capital and set up our camp for the next five nights at the Lake Louise campground. Then we strap on our boots and set off on our first hike! Depending upon the weather and the group itself, we have several options from which to choose, each one a spectacular trail. We may follow the trail through the famous Valley of Ten Peaks (each peak over 10,000') from Moraine Lake to beautiful Consolation Lake (4 miles roundtrip; 300' elevation gain), or we may hike instead to Bow Glacier Falls, a lovely hike along the shores of sparkling Bow Lake to the impressive 500' falls (5 miles roundtrip; 500' elevation gain). Upon our return to camp, everyone pitches in with our guides to prepare a delicious campfire dinner. All meals included.
  
  Hiking: 4-5 miles, 300 – 500’ elevation gain.

• Day 3

  Today we head north along the scenic Icefields Parkway, one of the world's most scenic mountain roads, to the legendary Num-Ti-Jah Lodge built by mountain man Jimmy Simpson in the heart of the Rockies. We follow the Helen Lake Trail through some of the most beautiful alpine meadows in all of Banff Park. From Helen Lake we enjoy stunning views of Bow Lake and the Bow Glacier below. Wildflower viewing is at its best in July and August. Alternative hikes include Eiffel Lake and Molar Meadows. All meals included.
  
  Hiking: 6-10 miles; Elevation gain: 1,200-1,800'.

• Day 4

  After a hearty breakfast, we spend the morning hiking or wildlife watching depending on the inclination of the group. One of the options includes a hike to the teahouse above Lake Louise which begins in an old-growth forest of spruce and fir before leading to an open view of the magical blue of glacier-fed Lake Louise and the surrounding peaks. Once at the teahouse we enjoy the vista with the option to refuel before the descent. In the afternoon a bus ride takes us through Yoho National Park into British Columbia for rock-and-roll rafting on the Kicking Horse River. This exhilarating trip allows us to raft the best section of the frolicking class III-IV whitewater rapids! We return to camp for dinner and if time allows, we will enjoy a short hike along the shores of Moraine Lake. The evening light is spectacular on the Valley of the Ten Peaks reflected in the lakes' turquoise waters. Breakfast and dinner included.
  
  Hiking: Options to 5 miles, moderate; Rafting: 3 hours.

• Day 5

  We hike in Jasper National Park today. The first stop is to view Peyto Lake from a platform hanging on a cliff high above. Depending upon the time of year, the hue of the lake runs from dark blue to opaque turquoise to gorgeous jade green. The road then takes us onto the Columbia Icefield, the goehydrographic center of North America. Meltwaters from the Icefield and its glacial tongues feed 3 different oceans. We walk up to the toe of the Athabasca Glacier. Everything you've ever wanted to know about glaciers – this is the place to learn! Then we continue our hiking up to either Parker Ridge for a spectacular view of the Saskatchewan Glacier from above or, for a true wilderness experience, a hike up to Nigel Pass. Breakfast and lunch included. Dinner on your own in the Lake Louise area.
  
  Hiking: Parker Ridge 4 miles; Elevation gain: 800'; Nigel Pass 8 miles; Elevation gain: 1,200'.

• Day 6

  We cross the Continental Divide at Kicking Horse Pass into Yoho Park and take a short hike to Takakkaw Falls (1,000'), the highest waterfall in the Canadian Rockies. From here we continue along the gorgeous Iceline Trail toward Emerald Glacier. This trail is amazing each step of the way. Typically there's time after our hike to enjoy relaxing on the shores or paddling a canoe on Emerald Lake, a true Rocky Mountain gem surrounded by the majestic peaks of the Presidents Range and Burgess Shale. All meals included.
  
  Hiking: 8-12 miles; Elevation gain: 2,000'; Canoeing is flat water and easy.

• Day 7

  After breaking camp we head south into Kootenay National Park for a hike to Stanley Glacier. The trail encompasses a myriad of nature's work: remnants of a forest fire, a hanging valley, and a prominent landscape of peaks including Stanley Peak (10,348'), Storm Mountain (10,371'), Mt. Whymper (9,334') and Boom Mountain (9,055'). At the end of the maintained trail we are rewarded with an overlook of the spectacular bowl with caves in the sheer cliffs of Stanley Peak and the hanging Stanley Glacier in the distance. These stunning views are a worthy finish to a great week of hiking! We will stop briefly in Banff before continuing to Calgary to check in to our hotel and say our farewells. Breakfast and lunch included, dinner on your own.
  
  Hiking: 5 miles; Elevation gain/loss 1,200'; Terrain: easy to moderate.

• Day 8

  Flights from Calgary can be booked for any time today. A complimentary hotel shuttle bus will take you to the Calgary airport. Breakfast at the hotel included.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control including weather and terrain conditions. Your guide has extensive knowledge of the Rockies and will choose alternate trails or activities as conditions dictate.

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate the trip.

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations (hotels and tent), you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted on this itinerary. If you wish to share accommodations (hotels and tent), we will assign you a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is one-half of the full single supplement. Please be advised that there are a limited number of single rooms / tents available.

Airport-hotel transfers, all accommodations and meals as noted in the daily itinerary, REI self-inflating mattresses, all group camping equipment, whitewater rafting, canoeing, admission to the National Parks, camping fees, local taxes and guided services.

Airfare, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, 1 lunch, 2 dinners, sleeping bag, charges for museums, pools, and tips to guides.

This trip is rated Moderate [3]. Novice campers are welcome. Trip members need to be in good physical condition. You should feel comfortable hiking up to 12 miles with an elevation gains and losses of up to 2,000' over uneven dirt and rocky trails. Your guides will always take the lead while in camp, however all trip members are expected to pitch-in and help with camp chores such as cooking, dishes clean-up, setting up tents and breaking down camp when departing.

Alberta has a temperate climate, it is generally dry and sunny, but often cool at night in the mountains. Big mountains create their own weather and brief thundershowers in the afternoon are not uncommon. The average summer temperatures are in the 70s and nights cool off typically to the 50s but possibly as low as the 30s. You should be prepared for all types of conditions, including hot and sunny days or rainy weather.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff.

Weather

Alberta has a temperate climate. It is generally dry and sunny but often cooler at night in the mountains. Big mountains create their own weather, and brief thundershowers in the afternoon are not uncommon. The average summer temperatures are in the 70s during the day, and nights cool off typically to the 50s but possibly as low as the 30s. You should be prepared for all types of conditions, including hot and sunny days or cool to cold, rainy weather.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, a change of clothing (including hiking boots), and medications in your carry-on baggage in case your luggage is delayed.
• Your clothing and gear will be stored in your tent so it is best to pack into a frameless duffel bag. Use different sizes/colors of stuff sacks to differentiate contents.
• Wind chill can be a significant factor on this trip. Daytime air temperatures are not very cold, but when combined with the stress that altitude puts on your body, you can be robbed of body heat quickly. Wind and rain gear are both very important. A warm insulating jacket or down vest is important to bring in addition to other layers as night will be chilly in the mountains.
• Cotton is wonderful in warm weather. However, once it becomes wet, it will drain your body heat. Bring wool or synthetics such as Capilene, MTS and Thermax.
• Make sure boots are broken-in and bring moleskin, Second Skin® or Blister Block® for foot treatment. Thin liner socks made of silk or synthetic fibers worn under regular hiking socks may minimize the risk of blisters. Test your sock combination before you go on the trip.
• Plenty of trail snacks are provided each day but you are welcome to bring your favorite snacks or drink mixes.
• A good quick-drying travel towel option is the REI MultiTowel or similar. See www.rei.com for details.