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Day 1
Arrive Calgary, Alberta. Please plan to arrive by
1:00 p.m. at the Calgary airport so we can make it
to our welcome dinner, group orientation, and our
lodging in Canmore, Alberta.
(D = Dinner provided)
Day 2
If
you’ve never been to this part of the world, today
will delight you. We begin our adventure with a
drive north along the spectacular Icefields
Parkway. We will do a short hike towards Wilcox
Pass. The trail begins in a stand of 400-year-old
spruce and climbs to a broad alpine valley carpeted
with wildflowers, cut by a tumbling stream, and
surrounded by majestic snow-clad peaks. Bighorn
sheep are regularly seen on this beautiful trail.
(L, D)
Day 3 Bald
Hills and Maligne Lake. 6.5 miles/1,500 feet
elevation gain. One of Canada’s famous female
explorers described this area as follows: “There
burst upon us that which, all in our little company
agreed, was the finest view any of us had ever
beheld in the Rockies...” Our hike takes us to an
imposing ridgetop covered with wildflowers and
offering exceptional views of Maligne Lake, Leah and
Sam son
Peaks, the Queen Elizabeth Range, and Mounts Unwin
and Charlton. Mountain caribou often inhabit this
area. (B, L)
Day 4
Wabasso Lakes to Valley of Five Lakes. 6.5
miles/200 feet elevation gain. Our trail begins
just outside the town of Jasper. Starting in a
valley forested with Lodgepole pine, we’ll wind our
way across a small stream and to a low ridge with
excellent views of the Athabasca Valley and Mount
Edith Cavell. From the ridge we’ll dip into the
Valley of the Five Lakes. The five small lakes,
jade green in color, provide an excellent setting
for our lunch.(B, L)
Day
5
Sulphur Skyline Trail. 5.0 miles/2,300 feet
elevation gain. Today’s hike is one of the finest
in the Jasper area, with views of sawtoothed
mountain ranges and several remote wilderness
valleys. Our views will include the Fiddle River
drainage, Utopia Mountain, and the jagged summits of
the Ashlar Ridge. Although today’s hike is short,
the first section is fairly steep. We’ll take our
time, so everyone will arrive at the summit of
Sulphur Ridge with plenty of energy to enjoy the
views. Our local guide will talk with us about the
area’s geology, the habitats of the Disaster Point
bighorn sheep, and the fur trade routes.
(B, L)
Day 6
Today we head to Lake Louise. Along the way we will
stop at Athabasca Falls. Have your cameras ready;
these falls are overwhelming! Our next stop is at
the Parker Ridge trailhead. Be prepared to walk on
an ancient coral reef and realize the wonder of
nature to find such a thing at the top of the
Rockies. We will lunch and be afforded a new view
that displays marvelously the immensity of the
glaciers in this part of the world. (B,
L, D)
Day 7
Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass. 6.0 miles/2,360
feet. Set above famed Moraine Lake, Larch Valley
offers thick stands of alpine larch, mountain
meadows, and a panoramic backdrop of the Ten Peaks.
The Larch Valley meadows are dotted by many small
pools originally named the Minnestimma Lakes, or
‘sleeping water,’ by S.E.S. Allen, an early
explorer. (B, L)
Day 8
Helen Lake Trail. Prepare yourself for a lush meadow
colored by western anemones, globe flowers, red
paintbrush, and yellow violets. This area is
important in the history of the Canadian Railway and
has interesting deposits of the Burgess shale. A
sumptuous farewell dinner in Banff highlights our
last evening together.
(B, L, D)
Day 9
To Calgary airport for flights home any time after
12:00 noon.
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Tour Rating: Hiker - Days cover
between four and seven miles with uphill sections on
well-defined, hiking trails. This trip takes place
in a mountainous region and will include hiking at
elevations between 7,000 and 9,000 feet.
Walking The World Guide and Local
Guide
8 nights lodging (double occupancy)
6 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 4 dinners
All admission fees to scheduled stops
All ground transportation while on tour
Unique and original Journal of your trip
Walking The World Shirt or Hat
Loads of good fun, humor,
and companionship
Comments From Our
2003 Canadian Rockies Guests:
"The itinerary was great! It was full of good
hikes, and yet, gave us evenings to be out on our
own. Thought it was excellent in providing a cross
section of the Rockies. The trails were good!"
Catherine P. ID.
"Your guides were superb. They had encyclopedic
knowledge, were very accommodating, and exceedingly
entertaining!" Kent M. KS.
"The food was excellent
and plentiful, especially at our farewell dinner!"
Irene F. ID.
APPLY FOR TRIP NOW!
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