Headwall Lakes and Upper Kananaskis Lake - Fri, Sep 23 2011, Sat, Sep 24 2011, Sun, Sep 25 2011

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Headwall Lakes and Upper Kananaskis Lake (9/23/2011)

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. After you sign up at the bottom, you will be presented with information about how to pay. Late payments are NOT accepted for this event, in any circumstance.

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:Hike
Event Location: Kananaskis
Date(s) & Time:Fri, Sep 23 2011, Sat, Sep 24 2011, Sun, Sep 25 2011  4:00 PM  (Carpool Departure: N/A   *log in for location*)
Registration Cut Off: Tue, Sep 20 2011 11:55:00 AM
Event Duration:3 days and 2 nights
Difficulty Rating:D4: Moderate to Difficult
Event Coordinator(s): Saeed
You must be logged in to get the Event Coordinator contact information.
Member Cost:$47.68/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 18 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:10
Minimum Group Size:4
Number Registered So Far: 9 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:


SUMMARY

Friday: We leave Edmonton Friday evening and spend the night at The HI Kananaskis Hostel.

Saturday: Leaving early in the morning and hiking up to the Headwall Lakes. Afterwards we will go back to the hostel for a great potluck dinner.

Sunday: Leaving the hostel early in the morning and hiking around the Upper Kananakis Lake in the morning and driving back to Edmonton in the afternoon.




NOTE: (please read the entire posting prior to registering)
  • Our hiking pace will be MODERATE (no slowpokes, no speed demons)
  • Headwall Lakes ( Distance: 14kms, elevation gain: 451m )
  • Upper Kananaskis Lake (Distance: 16kms, elevation gain: 60m )
  • Group hiking in effect in the area due to bear activity. If you are unable to respect this guideline, refrain from signing up.
  • The plan is to enjoy a great potluck, the beautiful scenery, the great company, and the photo opportunities while having FUN so bring your cheerful personalities along.
  • Your coordinator has not been on the Headwall Lakes Trail before, but he has the GPS tracks. Please be patient.
  • This is a first-paid, first-get-on event. Payment is due immediately upon registration, or you will be moved to the waiting list. If you didn't pay and someone else on the waitlist did, they will get on before you! Any overbooking will be fully refunded.
  • 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 10. Since the hostel dorm are non co-ed, based on our past statistics, I have made hostel reservations for 4-men and 6 women for this trip. You may be moved to the waiting list if there is no more room for men/women (you will be fully refunded in that case and if it happens before the registration cut-off). You "could" also make your own hostel reservations or join us at the hostel later (you need to send me an email to make sure there is still room for more people).
  • Drivers are needed to make this event happen. If you are DEFINITELY DRIVING, please indicate how many people you can take in your vehicle in the notes section.
  • Your coordinator will contact you to sort out carpooling, pot-luck and other details.



ITINERARY:

Friday - We will leave Edmonton in the afternoon Friday September 23rd, 2011, and head to Kananskis. We will be staying at The HI Kananaskis Hostel for two nights. If we are still in the mood after a long drive, we will sit around the table by the fireplace, have a drink and talk about how beautiful life is.

We will be staying in a non-co-ed dorm rooms. Bedding will be provided and sleeping bags are NOT permitted. There is a well equipped kitchen with appliances, pots and pans, dishes to cook your own food for the weekend. There is running water, hot showers and electricity in this hostel.

Saturday - We will leave the hostel early in the morning and head to the Chester Lake parking-lot on HWY 742 (Smith-Dorrein). This hike passes through a valley containg the most beautiful of the mountain scenery: "Climax forest, blue lakes, waterfalls, meadows, and karst pavement."

Beginning on an old logging road, we will start with a walk through forest for about 45 minutes. Breaking off onto an undeveloped trail, we will follow a creek to the cascade crashing down from the first headwall. An abrupt ascent will launch us into the alplands and towards the first Headwall Lake. The view extends to the Great Divide. After a rest at the first lake, we will continue to the second Headwall Lake ascending a second headwall and maneuvering ourselves over roots and rocks. We will have lunch at the second Headwall lake and after a short rest, we will return via the same route.

After our hike, we will head back to our hostel, relax, and enjoy a potluck supper. These are always a great mixer to kick off the festivities on Saturday night. Please bring along something to share.

Sunday - Sunday morning we will leave the hostel early and head to the Upper Kananskis Lake where we will circuimnavigate the lake at heart of K-Country. Walter Wilcox in 1901 describing the Upper Kananaskis Lake says: "A revelation of beauty hardly equalled anywhere... has four large islands and several small islets, all densely wooded, which give an endless variety of views from various points".

After the hike, we will leave Kananaskis and head back to Edmonton with great memories and photos.




PAYMENT NOTES & INSTRUCTIONS:

The event cost is $47.68 ($46 for two nights at hostel and $1.68 for Paypal). You need to pay me (Saeed) directly through Paypal or INTERAC e-Transfer (send to saeedfd at yahoo dot com). If you want to pay me through INTERAC e-Transfer, you can send me $46 (no Paypal costs), only remember to email me the password. You could also send the money to our treasurer, but it would cause unnecessary more work for everyone.

If you have any questions, please email/text/call me.


Required Items to Bring:
  • Your cheerfulness
  • Hiking boots / sturdy running shoes
  • Long pants
  • Fleece/warm jacket (no cotton)
  • Rain-gear and windproof clothing regardless of the weather forecast
  • Water
  • Lunch and breakfast for Saturday/Sunday
  • Food/appetizer/drinks/etc. for potluck
  • Overnight items
  • Exact ca$h for carpool
  • Desired equipment
Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
  • Bear spray
  • Hiking poles
  • Gloves
  • Sunglasses
  • Gaiters
  • Bug spray
  • Camera
  • Slippers
  • Earplugs
  • BYOB

How to Get There:
Event Directions:Distance is approximately 386kms from Edmonton. Allow 5 hours travel time. You could find Google's directions to the HI Kananaskis Hostel HERE.

Drive south to Calgary on Highway 2 (Queen Elizabeth II) and from Calgary drive West (Calgary short-cut: take Stoney Trail West towards Banff) on Highway 1 (Trans Canada Hwy) and turn South (left) on exit 118 toward Kananaskis Country (road 40). Continue South on Kananaskis trail for 23.1 kms and then turn right and follow the signs (for 1.46kms) to HI-Kananaskis Hostel.
HI-Kananaskis Hostel is located at 1 Ribbon Creek Road, Off Hwy 40 Kananaskis Village. (phone #403-670-7580). (GPS Coordinates: N50° 56.008' W115° 8.676').

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Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):960Km
Carpool Departure Time: N/A
Carpool Location:   Log in for location
Carpool Directions:   Log in for 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 Friday, April 25, 2025). 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:

- Registration is NOT COMPLETE until you've signed up and paid by the registration cut off date. The money must be in the EOC's possession by that date. No exceptions.
- When a minimum group size appears, this is to let you know that the event will be cancelled with refunds to those who have already paid, if the minimum number of registered participants is not met. For any events where EOC needs a minimum number of participants, there will be absolutely no refunds of money if you cancel.
- 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:$47.68/Person
Non-Member Cost:$47.68/Person
Cost Includes:Cost covers 2 nights at the HI-Kananaskis Hostel + Paypal fees
Payment Cut Off:Payment must be received by the EOC on Tue, Sep 20 2011.
Make a Payment:Click here for the details. PLEASE PAY AFTER YOU HAVE SIGNED UP BELOW.

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