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2011 Spring/Summer
Hiking Adventures
Here are our upcoming 2011 hiking adventures:
May
Early Season Ridge Walk
Spend your holiday Monday on a ridge walk looking for early season flowers, hike this sacred mountain on the edge of the Nakoda Sioux lands. Hear the call of the Raven, feel the rush of the wind on this rocky face. Touch stones that are 600 million year old, Paleozoic limestone. Feel like you have been on a journey, through time on your special holiday weekend.
Date: May 23, 2011
Time: Meet at 9:00 am
Location: Yamnuska Ridge
Distance: 3.8 km one way, steep but slow
June
Edible Flowers of Kananaskis Country
Explore the trails of Kananaskis country and discover what you have never seen before! These rich and diverse edible and medicinal plants have been in use by indigenous people and pre-pharmaceutical Europeans for hundreds of years. In different seasons and at different elevations various plant parts are at their best. Discover the aromas hear the history behind ancient uses of many plants common to northern Europe and Canada. Gain a new vantage point of the natural world we live in for your health and benefit!
Date: June 4, 2011
Time: Meet at 9:00 am
Location: Foran Grade Loop
Distance: 9.4 km return - a gentle ridge loop
Wander the Whaleback - Valleys and Ridges
Discover this wild country and the unique trees, ridges, wildflowers and magic that exist within it. White Pines and sacred plants are still thriving here long after the original people first roamed here. There are no trails, so learn to be part of a walkabout that takes us where the group desires and is capable of going. Feel the freedom of a roaming Elk as we wander the valley bottoms and ridge tops finding sacred and edible wildflowers.
Date: June 19, 2011
Time: Meet at 8:30 am
Location: Bob Creek Rangeland
Distance: We will wander roughly 8-10 km depending on group
July
Grass Pass; the Highwood Country
Explore the rugged lands west of the valley the first ranchers called "Paradise Valley". This gentle pass is full of surprises, ancient fir trees, a famous Pine, native grasses, incredible views and a rich history. A great hike for the Canada Day weekend, trek to the top of this pass to get on top of your world!
Date: July 2, 2011
Time: Meet at 9:00 am
Location: Grass Pass
Distance: 8km return - gentle climb to the pass
Hailstone Butte, Above and Beyond the Crowd
Hike to this little known fire lookout west of Chain Lakes Provincial Park. The rugged peaks of the Livingstone Range angle across the sky. A 360 degree view awaits on this flat top, where eagles, big horn sheep and more call home. Not for those with vertigo, this trail crosses a steep scree slope, the kind of terrain a sheep or mountain goat would be easily comfortable. Bring your hiking poles and camera for the stunning views on this unique hike, above the crowd! Date: July 3, 2011
Time: Meet at 9:00 am
Location: Hailstone Butte
Distance: 4.5 km return - steep but not too long - one exposed section
Women of the Plains at the Oxley Ranch
Meet a third generation lady rancher and hear the stories of her fore-bearers as we do a walkabout on this historic ranch. The ruins of an old Dance hall and homestead are silent voices of the human spirit of early Albertans. After lunch, drive to a little known Women's Buffalo Jump. Explore these beautiful rock formations or pause in meditation or reflection to the sound of a beating hand drum. Touch a piece of Alberta's past, through your experience of the land.
Date: July 9, 2011
Time: Meet at 8:30 am
Location: The Oxley Ranch - West of Stavely
Distance: a gentle walk of 3-4 km at Ranch and .5-1 km at the Buffalo Jump
Includes lunch, two interpretive programs and access to private land
Family Edible and Medicinal Plant walk - Brown Lowrey Provincial Park
Bring your daughters and/or sons on this fun walk/hike through the forest and grasslands of the foothills learning about plants we can eat, use for tea and for medicine. With notebook and camera in hand let's explore the micro world at our feet of plants, trees and flowers that have been used by people for thousands of years in their day to day life. A sample of tea is provided to taste on this sensory adventure where we use smell, texture and plant growth to identify five easy, day to day plants.
Date: July 10, 2011
Time: Meet at 9:00 am
Location: Brown Lowrey Provincial Park
Distance: A gentle wander 3-5 kmIncludes tea
To the High Country...Plateau Mountain
One of the lookouts of Peter Sherrington and the folks who discovered the Golden Eagle migration route, this large flat topped plateau is a dramatic and beautiful landscape. A herd of Big horn sheep are often grazing nearby and unusual wildflowers of rare colors can be found in bloom here. This geologic wonder is one of the most unique mountains to walk atop of. Where sky, weather and geology meet, this hike will take you to new heights without walking on edge!
Date: July 17, 2011
Time: Meet at 8:00 am
Location: Plateau Mountain
Distance: 11.5 km return
Tigerjaw and Dyson Falls, a day of Wild Water and Cool Shade
This hike starts above the Sheep River and crosses a bridge over one of the most stunning waterfalls anywhere. If you love water, creeks and rivers, this hike satisfies at the beginning, middle and the end of the hike. Lunch is at the 2nd fall on Junction creek, Dyson Falls. A gentle hike that is not too long for a hot day, this hike is a great summer walk in the woods west of Turner Valley, another trail off the beaten track.
Date: July 23, 2011
Time: Meet at 9:00 am
Location: Indian Oils
Distance: 8.8 km return gentle but varied terrain not steep.
August
Edible Flowers of the High Country
Explore the trails of Kananaskis country and discover what you have never seen before! These rich and diverse edible and medicinal plants have been in use by indigenous people and pre-pharmaceutical Europeans for hundreds of years. In different seasons and at different elevations various plant parts are at their best. Discover the aromas hear the history behind ancient uses of many plants common to northern Europe and Canada. Gain a new vantage point of the natural world we live in for your health and benefit!
Date: August 7, 2011
Time: Meet at 8:30 am
Location: Rae Glacier
Distance: 8.5 km return - short steep bit at beginning then lovely ridge hike to glacier
Ancient Lands of the Kootenai People
This trail takes us across the Highwood River into the ancient lands of the Kootenai people. The trail opens into a meadow which is between two creeks and a river, here the landscape transforms. We follow the creek and the rocky ridge on our left up the valley to the entrance to a sacred vision quest site. Try a walking meditation along this old trail of contemplation and discover a world view and a way of life from a time long ago, but not lost as we explore this ancient valley.
Date: August 20, 2011
Time: Meet at 9:00 am
Location: Zephyr Creek
Distance: 9 km return, 200 m elevation - Gentle, includes river crossing and smudge ceremony
September
Summer Edibles for Birds, Bears and the First Humans of the Rocky Mountains
Subtle reds and orange peer up from the ground on this hike in the lower Highwood Valley to the pristine Picklejar lakes. The trail meanders up a side valley along the upper edge of a creek drainage and covers diverse terrain for wildlife and humans alike. Discover the edible plants, roots and berries that the early people, birds and Bears all enjoyed for the Fall harvest. Learn how to be Bear aware while hiking in their Autumn ranges.
Date: September 4, 2011
Time: Meet at 8:30 am
Location: Pickle Jar Lakes
Distance: 8.4 km 450 meters - Moderate with scree traverse down to the lakes.
The Power of Glacial Carving
At the top of the highest road in Alberta is the carved out rock remains of a glacier, known as a cirque. Here the Big Horn Sheep roam in safety and the rock Ptarmigan camouflage extremely well. This short but steep hike is truly part of the realm of the wild life where the growing season is short and the air is pristine. A classic hike to pure light is a great description of this area.
Date: September 17, 2011
Time: Meet at 8:30 am
Location: Ptarmigan Cirque
Distance: 4.5 km return
A Special Place in Time...
Wind Ridge and Valley were preserved as part of the Special Places 2000 Act. This valley is lush for Bears, goats and sheep, the sidewalls are laden with native grasses. Climb in the path of the Sheep and reach the plaque at the top where we overlook the back side of the three sisters and out over the Bow River Valley. This sacred valley is near the Trans Canada highway, but the magic here dates back to before the Stoney people arrived in Alberta 600 years ago! The tale of Wind Mountain may still be told on long Nakoda winter nights, hear it atop of wind ridge!
Date: September 24, 2011
Time: Meet at 8:30 am
Location: Wind Ridge
Distance: 11.6 km return a good climb with a view well worth the effort!
From Coal Mines to Trolls - A Hike for Families, Adults and Friends!
Enjoy this late season hike to the old Coal scar of an early mine on Mount Allan. The coal seam is a great teaching slope for running down scree and the grasses are often home to big horn sheep. From this stunning view of the Kananaskis Valley we will hike down to the top of a creek and follow it's descent to Troll Falls, an aptly named spot where the spray touches your face!
Date: September 25, 2011
Time: Meet at 9:30 am
Location: Ribbon Creek
Distance: 6 km return
October
Autumn Tranquility at Yamnuska
Yamnuska in the fall is a peaceful place. The fall flowers, yellow Aspens and Evergreens splash the mountainside with color and contrast, just like the hike itself. On Yamnuska you are in the open and climbing for 500 yards, then you are in the trees and walking across the mountainside on a more level slope. This was once the meeting place for the Stoney Tribes. Share in the richness of this special mountain for hikers, climbers and first nations alike!
Date: October 1, 2011
Time: Meet at 9:30 am
Location: Yamnuska
Distance: 7.5 km return
View 360 - Our Last Hike of the Season
Take in the last fall view of the foothills and Rockies on this stunning ridge walk bridging the worlds between the foothills and the mountains! Powderface Ridge from the North is a gentler approach to this spine of the foothills, starting out in Pine forests then opening up to grasslands 1/2 way up until we reach the pinnacle of the ridge. The trail descends into a forest of "krummholz" evergreens where both shade and shelter cover us for a while.
Date: October 16, 2011
Time: Meet at 9:30 am
Location: Powderface Ridge
Distance: 7.5 km return
All hike destinations are subject to change due to Weather and Wildlife closures.
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