Banff and Mt. Assiniboine Trip Notes

Classic hikes combine with an outstanding wilderness getaway.
10 Days, 9 Nights

 

The combination of classic Canadian Rockies hikes and wilderness makes this a trip you'll always remember. You'll walk the fabled trails of Banff National Park including Lake Louise and the Icefields Parkway for the first part of the trip and then fly in by helicopter to remote Mt. Assiniboine Park for 4 days of beautiful alpine wandering with hardly a soul to see! This trip can be split into separate trips (Best of the Rockies and Mt. Assiniboine) but the combination of both makes this the complete Rockies experience .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009 Dates	Trip Cost
June 29-July 8 July 13-22 August 3-12 Sept. 7-16	Per person double occupancy:              $3,300.00 Per person single occupancy:                $3,900.00 (single occupancy not available on Mt. Assiniboine portion) Optional Insurance: $165.00

 

Inclusions
 

Cost includes:	Cost does not include:
9 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 3 dinners 6 nights hotels/lodges in Canmore, Lake Louise and Banff 3 nights simple accommodation at the remote Naisset Cabins helicopter flight to and from Mt. Assiniboine Private transport in mini-van Professional hiking/interpretive guide National park entry fees and sightseeing as indicated All taxes	Personal expenses Air Fares Shuttles to or from airport. Travel insurance Meals not indicated Tips

 

Itinerary

Day 1: Every one arrives in Canmore and we meet that evening for a welcome session where we spend some time getting to know each other. We’ll go over plans and options for the following days, look at maps of the area and check to see that you are properly outfitted.

Day 2:  Your guide will meet you at the hotel for breakfast, following which we’ll head out on our first hike - one of the many parks covering Kananaskis country. Perhaps Yamnuska Meadows or Indefatigable Ridge. We like to keep plans flexible and we like to choose a hike that's not too hard to let you acclimatize to our higher elevation and dry air.

Day 3: After breakfast we drive north towards Lake Louise stopping to hike in Kootenay National Park on the way. Paget Lookout and Stanley Glacier are two choices. After hiking we complete our drive north another 25km to Lake Louise with its gem of a lake surrounded by enormous peaks with their hanging glaciers.

Day 4: There is a bit of driving today, but it is one of the most scenic drives in the world ... the 'Icefields Parkway'! We follow it up valleys overhung by glaciers, past lakes and Icefields then over alpine passes and meadows to reach the world-famous Columbia Icefields. With the Columbia Icefields and stunning Mt. Athabasca our backdrop we hike on Wilcox Meadows. Return to Lake Louise for the night.

Day 5: Head a little west over "Kicking Horse Pass' into Yoho National Park . Hike either to Yoho Lake or, if feeling fit, the Iceline Trail. Return to Banff for the last two nights.

Day 6: A final day of hiking in Banff National Park, perhaps to Healy Meadows, Sunshine or Larch Valley.  Enjoy a night on the town in Banff.

Day 7: After breakfast, we head to the Canmore heliport to prepare for our flight to Mt. Assiniboine. We'll need to repack gear to fit the helicopter and pick up our food supplies for the stay at the Naisset Huts.

Twenty eight kilometers and a twelve minute helicopter flight leaves us a world away in a land of lush meadows, turquoise lakes, snow covered glaciers and rocky peaks. We fly from Spray Lakes in Kananaskis Country, to British Columbia's Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, landing right beside the historic Lodge. We will be based at the nearby Naiset Cabins. After settling in and taking a bit of a break we can then head out for the remainder of the day to explore a bit and get a feel for the area, Gog Lake is not far away and we can sit by the lake and watch the Osprey fishing or the marmot who is checking us out!

Day 8: There are numerous trails and scenic circuits to explore. A good outing is to hike on past Gog Lake to Wonder Pass (2395m) with the ridge walk to the summit of Wonder Peak an option if we find there's still energy to spare. The mountain scenery is always spectacular and depending on the season there will be wildflowers or flaming Larches to add to an already inspiring view. Then it's back to the Naiset Cabins for a cup of tea, followed by a hearty meal and a good rest. Distance 7km. Elevation gain 650m.      

Day 9: Today we will head off in a different direction - Either Sunburst, Cerulean and Elizabeth Lakes, Chuck's Ridge and the Nub (14km, 545m) or to Og Pass and Windy Ridge (17km, 500m) .  From high alpine meadows to rocky ridges, to crystal clear lakes and deeply shadowed forests, it's all here for us to explore!

Day 10: We still have some time for a last walk before we fly home in the afternoon, wandering the meadows for the last time we head back reluctantly for the flight back to Mount Shark. We should be back in Canmore by mid-afternoon. Join the guides for an evening in one of the local restaurants to cap off a rewarding and enjoyable trip.

 

How difficult is it? How fit and experienced need you be?

 

This tour involves hiking for up to 6 hours per day, distances up to 18km, elevation gains of up to 600m (c. 2000 ft.) Participants will be carrying a daypack containing spare clothing, your camera, lunch and something to drink each day.

Hikes will be chosen to best suit the group.   This program is designed for fit walkers. Any training you can do before you arrive will enhance your experience. No previous mountain hiking experience required.

 

Guides and Group Size

White Mountain Adventures is licensed by Parks Canada, BC Parks and Alberta Provincial parks to conduct hiking tours in both National and Provincial Mountain Parks of the Canadian Rockies. 

The minimum group size will be 4, maximum 8

 

Accommodation and Meals

Accommodation is double occupancy hotel or lodge during the first portion of the trip. No single supplement applies unless you wish to guarantee a single for yourself.

We will be staying in the historic Naiset Cabins near lake Magog for the 2nd half of the trip. These are small log cabins with up to 6 bunks that were built by the Canadian Pacific Railroad to house backcountry tourists in the 1920's and 30's. Much later, in 2007 a cook cabin was built nearby which makes our catering much easier. White Mountain Adventures guests will be able to use the shower facilities at Mount Assiniboine Lodge.

There is a strict 25 lb weight limit for your pack and gear. Excess luggage can be left at your hotel or our office.

All breakfasts are included as are packed lunches and trail snacks. Dinners are included while at the Naisset Huts. In Canmore, Lake Louise, and Banff there are many easily accessible restaurants nearby or in your hotel. Please specify any special dietary requirements you have on your application so we can incorporate them into our lunch menus. Groups generally go out for dinner in Canmore with the guide on the final evening (own cost).

 

Climate

This trip operates during the main months of summer, though snow can linger at high elevations until well into the season. Weather is unpredictable at any time of year, but is generally quite warm in July and August. Daytime highs range from 15-25 C and nighttime temperatures can drop to 5-10 C. Temperatures in June and September can be cooler with nighttime temperatures occasionally dropping below freezing. As with alpine environments throughout the globe, the higher you go, the lower the temperature becomes. Ensuring that you have the correct clothing for an alpine environment is crucial. Please see below for information on clothing and equipment requirements.

 

Arrival and Departure Information

Canmore is situated 100km (65miles) west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway. It is well served by scheduled bus lines both from Calgary (airport and downtown), Banff (20km west) and points further west. Calgary International Airport is well connected to major cities throughout North America and Europe. Once in Canmore we will supply all transport needed for the trip. Banff Airporter and Brewster Transportation offer frequent departures from Calgary Airport. Greyhound Bus Lines (1 800 661 8747) serves Canmore from points east and west along the Trans-Canada Highway. Call 609 0300 for taxis in Canmore.

 

Insurance in the National Parks

Please ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident whilst here. Obtain extra travel insurance if necessary.