Skoki Loop - Backpack - Thu, Jul 26 2012, Fri, Jul 27 2012, Sat, Jul 28 2012, Sun, Jul 29 2012

Skoki Loop - Backpack (7/26/2012)

PRE-REGISTRATION & PAYMENT REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page. You will then make your payment for this event at the venue, NOT in advance to the EOC.

You are STRONGLY encouraged to read this page in its entirety before signing up. If you'd like to attend, we ask that you abide by our rules and procedures as a time/cost saving process (with an end result of keeping membership free and lower cost events).

The Basics:

Event Type:

Overnight

Event Location:

Skoki Valley - Lake Louise area

Date(s) & Time:

Thu, Jul 26 2012, Fri, Jul 27 2012, Sat, Jul 28 2012, Sun, Jul 29 2012 2:00 PM (Carpool Departure: 7:00 AM *log in for location*)

Registration Cut Off:

Thu, Jul 12 2012 4:00:00 PM

Event Duration:

4 days and 3 nights

Difficulty Rating:

D4: Moderate to Difficult

Event Coordinator(s):

Charlotte
Joanne M
You must be logged in to get the Event Coordinator contact information.

Member Cost:

$42.00/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 18 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

6 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

Tucked away behind the Lake Louise Ski Area, in the heart of Alberta's Canadian Rockies, lies the impressive Slate Range. This remote collection of 10,000-foot peaks harbors some of the best hiking in a part of the world renowned for great hiking. Just beyond Mount Richardson and Deception Pass lies the pretty Skoki Valley and the Historic Skoki Lodge. The Skoki region has been a favourite with mountain travellers to the Canadian Rockies for well over a century.

This backpacking trip will be a slow to moderate but steady pace of 3-4 km/hour. If you sign up for this hike, you MUST BE WILLING TO STAY WITH THE GROUP.

ITINERARY
Thurs: Edmonton to Hidden Lake
We'll meet at the carpool location (exact location TBC) Thursday morning at 7:00 am and leave for Lake Louise, stopping in Banff for any last minute supplies or a quick lunch. Arrive at Lake Louise info center, pick up our back country passes, park at the trail head and hike 4km up a ski road to the trail proper.We then hike 3 km to the Halfway Hut which is a historic log cabin used as a shelter for travellers en-route to Skoki Lodge in the old days. Just beyond is our first campsite, Hidden Lake campsite. Total distance 8 km on the first day. Elevation gain 400m. Once we are set up, we can take a short day hike 1km in to spectacular Hidden Lake and enjoy a relaxing evening.

Fri: Hidden Lake to Merlin Meadows
We’ll pack up early and continue up the valley to Boulder Pass at 2345m, then over Deception Pass (2450m.) and down into the Skoki Valley. Dropping into the forested valley we cross a couple of meadows before coming to historic Skoki Lodge, built in the 1920s. After stopping for refreshments, it's another kilometer of downhill hiking to the Merlin Meadows campground where we will set up camp. Total distance 9km. Elevation gain 250m, loss 300m. If we want, once we are set up we can hike 2.6 from the campsite to Merlin Lake, “one of the little known gems of the rockies”, or we can do that Saturday morning.

Sat: Merlin Meadows to Baker Lake
Hike down the valley around Skoki Mountain, past Red Deer Lakes, climbing slowly to Cotton Grass Pass (2200m.) Continue to Baker Lake campsite, a short distance above the Pass. Distance 10 km. Elevation gain 100m.

Sun: Baker Lake to Lake Louise
Hike from Baker Lake down to Lake Louise! Total distance 11 km. Elevation gain 100m., loss 525m.

There will be a mandatory pretrip meeting to decide tent/site partners, food, gear, carpooling and other details on Wednesday June 27, 2012, 7PM at the Tim Hortons on the corner of Argyll Road and 86 Street. Please make sure you are able to attend.
Max persons is 8, minimum 4. I've booked four double sites for 8 people.

IN ORDER TO ATTEND THIS EVENT, PLEASE DO THE FOLLOWING:
1/ Sign up for the event, and when you do so you will initially go on the waiting list.
2/ Email me ( charlottebowman@shaw.ca) with confirmation of payment, either pc banking or cash). Once I have confirmation of payment, I will add you to the attendee list.

THIS IS NOT FOR BEGINNERS. IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE CLUB EVENTS WITH A SIMILAR DIFFICULTY, YOU MAY BE CONTACTED ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH MOUNTAIN HIKING; THE ORGANIZER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT APPLICANTS WHO THEY FEEL ARE UNSUITABLE. PRE-CONDITIONING HIKES ARE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.
Sign up on the wait list, then send Charlotte an email briefly outlining your hiking experience, gear, expectations, etc. Its a serious hike, you need to be prepared, we will then move you to the participant list.

NOTE: (please read the entire posting prior to registering)

The final plans will be discussed in the mandatory pre-trip meeting.
WHEN YOU SIGN UP LET US KNOW IF YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE FOR TENT PARTNERS. WE WILL DO OUR BEST TO MATCH UP TENT PARTNERS. We have 4 tent sites for 8 people. The tent pads can hold 2 solo tents instead of a two person if this is what you want to do.
Our hiking pace will be SLOW TO MODERATE (no slowpokes, no speed demons). The scenery is astounding, lets enjoy it!
Group hiking in effect in the area due to grizzly and black bear activity. If you are unable to respect this guideline, please sign up for a different trip.
The plan is to enjoy a great hike, the beautiful scenery, the great company, and the photo opportunities while having fun as a group.
This is a first-paid, first-get-on event. If you didn't pay and someone else on the waitlist did, they will get on before you! Any overbooking will be fully refunded.Please pay Charlotte directly, see below for instructions.

Refunds after the cut off are not possible, but you can find a replacement and work out the payment amongst yourselves.

The maximum number of people for this trip is 8.

PAYMENT NOTES & INSTRUCTIONS:

The event cost is $42.00 for the backcountry camping spots at Hidden Lake for one night, Merlin Meadows for 1 night, and Baker Lake for 1 night. The sites are booked and paid for, so the cost goes to reimburse for this. Additional cost will be Carpool to be paid directly to the drivers. Please pay Charlotte the 42.00$ DIRECTLY through PC BANKING or in cash (send to charlottebowman@shaw.ca).

If you have any questions, please email/call Charlotte.

Required Items to Bring:

Stoves - shared, TBC at pretrip meeting
Tents - shared or solo (but has to work out to 2 solo tents in one spot), TBC at pretrip meeting
Your cheerfulness
Hiking boots-well broken in
Long pants
Fleece/warm jacket (no cotton) IF YOU BRING COTTON TO WEAR YOU WILL NOT GO ON THE HIKE
Meals for all days, freeze dried, light to carry, in a sac for hanging on the bear pole.
crocs/sandals (for hanging out at the campsite)
Raingear and windproof clothing, toque, gloves - weather in the mountains is unpredictable
Park Pass or $$ for stopping in Banff
Water bottles or bladder for the hikes, WATER FILTER OR TABLETS - POSSIBLY SHARED - TBC AT PRETRIP MEETING
Overnight items and clothing
Desired equipment
THURSDAY AFTERNOON BEFORE HITTING THE TRAIL WE WILL CHECK PACK WEIGHT AND DISTRIBUTE THE SHARED ITEMS. MAKE SURE THAT YOU TARGET A WEIGHT IN YOUR PACK THAT YOU CAN CARRY THE DISTANCE. One option is to eat your heavier food items on the first night. Also we have access to water at all times so no need to carry too much with you as we can refill almost anywhere on the trail as we follow a creek.

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Bear spray
Hiking poles
Gloves
Sunglasses
Camera
Personal First Aid kit
Sunscreen
Gaiters
Bug spray
Earplugs

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

Distance is approximately 480kms from Edmonton. Allow 6 hours travel time. Lake Louise is about 60km west of Banff on the Trans Canada #1 highway.
To access the trailhead, from the Trans Canada # 1 interchange at Lake Louise, take Whitehorn Road north toward the Lake Louise Sightseeing Lift and Ski area. Turn right after 1.7 km onto Fish Creek Road. Continue 1 km to Fish Creek parking lot.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

960Km

Carpool Departure Time:

7:00 AM

Carpool Location:

Carpool Directions:

Carpool Cost:

The event coordinator(s) will help you to arrange a centralized carpool if you require it, but it's not guaranteed. Please DO NOT pay your driver en route. Passengers will pay the coordinator, and he/she will distribute the money to the carpool drivers. SO PLEASE BRING CASH!!! Approximate vehicle expense for this event is $278.40 (calculated at total Km * $0.29, effective Thursday, May 2, 2024). This is based on $0.09/Km for maintenance, plus current gas price divided by 9. This cost will be multiplied by the number of carpooled cars, and divided by the number of carpool participants.

Notes:

- We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines at all times while participating in EOC events.
- Please scroll through and read the entire online waiver when you sign up.
- Details of this event are subject to undergo a change at any point in time, with or without warning.

Cost & Payment:

Member Cost:

$42.00/Person

Non-Member Cost:

$42.00/Person

Cost Includes:

Back country pass/camping . PLEASE SEND BY PC BANKING OR CASH. Send to charlottebowman@shaw.ca

Make a Payment:

Although there is a cost for this event, you do not pay through the EOC. Please review the event details carefully for information about how/where to make your payment.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:
Please review our Cancellation Policy carefully!