For tents or RV’s – no roofed accommodations in the area.  Kananaskis Country is a gorgeous mountainous area to the south of Canmore and covers a variety of treed and  open terrain, and some very scenic summits.  6 nights (poss one on the way home) and 6 days of hiking.  We will book campsites at Elkwood campsite in Peter Lougheed Park and explore some classic hikes on HIghwood Pass and K-country.  The campsite has showers, firepits and full hook ups for RV’s.   There is also a small store and restaurant within a few minutes drive (or a short bike ride along bike trails).   Reservations essential for this trip – bookings start at 1100 am AB time May 1st which is 90 days before the first night, Sunday 30th July and you need to book 6 nights, or 7 if you want to return there after the hike on Saturday 5th – AB Parks reservations website (reserve.albertaparks.ca) or calling 1-877-537-2757.   Event restricted to 12 people.  Bookings for Elkwood start 90 days before the event which is May 1st 2017, starting at 1000 AB time.   For those wanting power and water try to book in Loop B; those in tents Loop C so that we are closer together.

All hikes will be full day, steady paced (with breaks for lunch and snacks) on harder routes.   Pooches are welcome on this trip but they will have to be leashed at all times in the campground and on the hikes.  Bring plenty of extra water and food also for pooch.

This event runs into the Saturday of the August long weekend and you can drive home after the hike on Saturday but if you feel you want to stay over remember to book that night at Elkwood, or another campsite on the way home.   Anyone in a self contained RV unit can camp for free in the parking lot of the Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino at the junction of Hwy 1 and Hwy 40.

Day 1:  Drive from Kamloops to campsite – 6 hrs.

Day 2 – Pocaterra Ridge – 10.5 Km, 1036 height gain, one river shallow crossing(water shoes recommended), unofficial trail and route.   This hike covers the four Pocaterra Peaks over grassy ridges, with nil exposure.  It is a strenuous steep hike with incredible views all the way.   A one way hike so a short car shuttle necessary.

Day 3 – Burstall Pass/Smuts Pass loop – 20 km, 1000 m elevation.   Short car shuttle necessary.  A superb alpine country hike up to Smuts Pass on trail and off trail sections.  Once up at the lakes climb a couple of ridges then traverse a route through to Birdwood Pass, drop down into Burstall Pass to join the main trail out.   Option to hike in/out to either  Burstall or Smuts pass should weather be an issue.

Day 4 – Rawson lake and Ridge – approx 6 km each way depending on how much wandering on the ridge you do.   We start on the Upper Kananaskis Lake trail and turn up just after the Sarrail Creek waterfall and you begin climbing up a zigzag trail to a beautiful jade lake under Mt Sarrail.  Height gain 305 m to the lake at 3.9 km then from the far end of the lake climb another 365 vertical metres to a spectacular piece of grassy ridge with a fantastic view of Upper Kananaskis Lake.   Return the same way.   Today there is an option for folks to hang around at the lake for a shorter easier day while others climb up to the ridge and viewpoint.

Day 5 – Headwall Lakes/Chester loop – 15 km; 823 m elevation gain.   A hike following the most delectable valley on the east side of the highway containing blue lakes, waterfalls, meadows, a karst pavement scraped by glaciers.  The hike has a lot of off trail sections through rocky terrain over the col past Headwall Lakes (from the col it is possible to make a short walk up to the top of Fortress peak adding another 300 vertical metres) .   From the col drop down the west slope of loose scree to Chester Creek, then more off trail rocky terrain to Chester Lake where you join the main trail out.

Day 6 – Buller Pass – north/south loop.   18Km; 800 m elevation.   This moderately strenuous trail climbs through larch forest and meadows past the n/s trail junction to a headwall of 168 vertical metres to the pass, then through a rocky draw and off trail through to the north pass.   Rough route down talus and grassy slopes to valley bottom follows through to the the junction and back on the trail.

Day 7 – Wasootch Ridge.  We will  make an early start on this last day to enable a mid-afternoon finish for those wishing to drive back to Kamloops.  6.5 Km to summit, height gain 890 m.  This is a scenic hike along an unofficial trail along Wasootch Ridge   It starts on a steep climb straight out of the parking lot on a rough trail fora short while, then the trail lessens in steepness to a level section ending at a big cairn following the ridgeline all the way.   After this the ridge narrows, undulating above and below treeline, finally coming to a grassy top.   (There is a short scramble to the final peak on a well worn trail but this is an optional addition to the hike which will make a 16 km loop.)  Return by the same route.

Drive to Canmore or Banff to camp or motel for the night of the Saturday 5th August (reservations essential as it is the start of a long weekend.) – Wapiti campground in town (power, hook ups, showers – 1-403-678-9511 9-12 am) or any campground in Banff or Lake Louise (AB Parks website). For self contained campers/RV’s we can camp for free at the Casino at the junct of Hwy 40 at the end of the day.  There are usually sites at the overflow campground at Hoodoo Creek after Field.   Drive home to Kamloops on Saturday after the day hike if you are not camping or moteling that night. Carpooling will be arranged closer to the date.

** Each day we will carpool to trailhead for the day’s hike.  Driving times will vary from 20 minutes to 45 minutes each way so each day we will be looking for drivers to take turns and we will fill up cars with people to take the least number of vehicles.   Any passengers should be prepared to pay gas compensation as determined by the drivers.   Gas is available at the Fortress Junction but everyone should fill up tanks in Canmore on the way to the campsite.

** As we are all in different loops there will be a central meeting spot each morning and we will decide on drivers the night before.  Drivers will not be expected to collect their passengers from their campsites or return them to their campsites at the end of the day.   The campground is quite large so it is quite a good idea to bring a bike and bike lock to get around, and to the showers and the small store.