A BIG Thank You to Ian and Liz Cornish – they have volunteered as Co-Leaders, which has enabled this event to allow a total of 12 participants!  Dates are locked in – Aug 29 to Aug 31.

!! Participants need to be very sure of their ability to complete these hikes before signing up.  If you have any doubts – email me.

IF YOU WANT TO CAMP:  Parks Canada will be opening reservations for camping on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, at 7:00AM PST.  They will not be opening Illecillewaet Campground at this time…seems like it may be shut down for the season.  That means the only campground will be Loop Brook.  Highly likely to be a gong-show trying to book in.  Good luck to the stout of heart…!

IF YOU WANT TO HOTEL:  options are Revelstoke or Golden…..Revelstoke is closer.  I am booked in Revelstoke, and will be hotelling it.  Check bookings.com, hotels.com, expedia.com for possible better rates than posted on individual hotel websites.  Most sites have free cancellation policies, but recommend you always double-check.

A multi-day Hotel-N-Hike / Camp-N-Hike (not backpacking) trip to Glacier National Park (Canada).  All participants must carry The Ten Essentials, listed on the Kamloops Hiking Club website, and make sure you carry a good whistle.  (I will be checking for your whistles on your packs… : D )  Bear spray is recommended, as a safety precaution – these will be well-travelled, popular trails, but bears can still be around.  Bring lots of layers – as always, weather in the mountains is unpredictable – isolated storms can come up.  Sunscreen.  Bug spray.  The usual.  If you are not sure what to pack, I recommend reading the Club Website articles (links below) on good things to bring – they’ve been written by very wise and experienced people.  Take advantage of that wisdom.  I have also included a link describing Club Guidelines and Expectations.  Hikers are expected to know all these things before participating on a hike.  (Thumbs UP!)

LINK TO ESSENTIALS:  https://kamloopshikingclub.netkhc-activities/recommended-essentials/

and

GUIDELINES & EXPECTATIONS:  https://kamloopshikingclub.netkhc-activities/guidelines-and-expectations/

Day 1 Saturday, August 29 – Travel to Glacier National Park (if camping) or Revelstoke (if hotelling).  Sadly, the Illecillewaet Campground will not be open this summer.  If you plan on camping, you will really need to book as soon as possible when reservations open on Tuesday June 23 at 7:00am, because it’s gonna be NUTZ busy with so limited a number of sites.  Those who wish to hotel it, can make their way to Revelstoke.  The Cube Hotel, The Regent, and The Grizz seem like reasonable options, but I have not stayed at any of them yet.  Check online reviews.  I encourage you to book early.  I will be staying in Revelstoke.

If there are enough folks around in Revelstoke by suppertime, I am open to getting together for some kind of dinner or tea or what-have-you, in the downtown Revelstoke core.  Remember – we can be social and still maintain proper social distancing!

Day 2 Sunday August 30 – Asulkan Valley Trail.

(**This is listed as a moderate hike on the Parks Canada website, but some folks may find the uphill portion to be “harder”.  That’s some vertical there….Please read up on this trail and be sure it matches your fitness level.  We will hike at a pace that allows for “breath breaks” as needed.  If you are a fast-paced hiker, this hike may not be a happy fit for you – we will stay together while hiking.)

Meet at the Illecillewaet Campground – Asulkan Valley Trailhead for an 8:30 AM hike start, to avoid the mid-afternoon sun higher up.  A hat and LOTS of water are important!  Think HOT SUN AND HIGH UP!  This trail is approx 13 km out and back, with an elevation gain of 925m.  As such, I will be encouraging appropriate pacing breaks – to catch our breath etc.  We will take an hour break (at least) at the top, for lunch and some quiet time to rest, or meditate, or take pics, etc.  We will have earned every moment up there, might as well take advantage of it.  A good hoof – but worth every step; incredible views.  Afterwards, we will head back down to camp or Revelstoke, for clean-up, dinner and a goooooood rest!

There are some amazing articles with photos on this trail, I encourage you to take a look:

From Doug Smith’s “Kamloops Trails” website:  https://www.kamloopstrails.net/asulkan-trail/

From Parks Canada:  https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/glacier/activ/randonee-hiking#AsulkanValley

From Hiking with Barry.com:  https://hikingwithbarry.com/2010/08/30/asulkan-valley-trail-%E2%80%93-rogers-pass-hiking-british-columbia

Day 3 Monday August 31 – Great Glacier Trail

8:30 AM – Meet at the Illecillewaet Campground Asulkan Valley trailhead (again), start up the Asulkan Trail for a short way, then branch off to the Great Glacier Trail.  This trail is an approx 7 km (total) out and back trail with 321m elev change.  Another stunning view hike, easier than the Asulkan, but with incredible views including the Illecillewaet Glacier Falls.  We will stop at the top of the trail for lunch and quiet time (approx 1 hr), then head back down to pack up camp and drive home.

Here are some good articles with photos on The Great Glacier Trail:

https://hikingwithbarry.com/2010/08/22/great-glacier-trail-%E2%80%93-rogers-pass-%E2%80%93-hiking-british-columbia

https://tedmuller.us/Outdoor/Hiking/2018/180720-GreatGlacierTrail.htm