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Women’s Grasslands backpacking trip

September 13 - September 15

$50

When: Friday 13 to Sunday 15 September 2024

Where: Grasslands National Park, East Block

Cost: $50 per participant; active ACC Great Plains membership required

Grasslands National Park is an exciting wilderness area that presents female ACC-GPS members with a unique opportunity to learn new skills and build confidence. This trip will see a group of intrepid women hike deep into the park for an overnight in-and-out backpacking trip.

Applicants should be in good physical shape, have experience hiking with at least 20 lbs of pack weight, and be tenacious. There is no water in the backcountry, so the group will need to carry enough water for two full days. The route we will take is moderately difficult, exposed, and largely unmarked. Participants will be selected based on physical fitness, group suitability, suitability of personal gear, and availability of club gear. This is an intermediate trip. The group will be sized at between six and eight participants, depending on the group’s level of experience.

The group will travel to Grasslands the afternoon of Friday 13 September and camp in the front country at Rock Creek Campground. We will depart early Saturday morning (time will depend on conditions—Grasslands can be HOT) and camp overnight in the backcountry. There are two destination options—Red Butte and Valley of 1000 Devils—and we will select based on conditions. We’ll then hike out Sunday and return to Regina the same day. Dogs will not be allowed on this trip due to the presence of cacti and wildlife, and the fact that there are no sources of shade or water in the park. Please note that Grasslands is a “leave no trace” park, so participants will be asked to pack out all refuse.

Participant requirements:

  • Experience hiking at least 10 km with a heavy pack.
  • Willingness to camp in a backcountry environment without any facilities (no water, toilets, or shelters).
  • Own or have ability to borrow mid- to full-height hiking boots, 45- to 65-L backpack, all camping gear, and appropriate clothing and other gear. (Limited gear is available to borrow from the club.)
  • Availability for a group meeting in July to review participant expectations and the packing list. At our meeting, we will cover the trip risks and safety measures.
  • Responsibility for your own no-cook meals. Fires and backcountry stoves are not allowed in Grasslands, so all meals must consist of “moon food.”
  • Transportation to and from Grasslands. Carpooling options will be discussed by the group. All vehicles will require a National Park Pass.
  • Age requirements: This trip is for women 18+.

Applicants can email expressions of interest or questions to j_l_arends@yahoo.ca. A group meeting will be scheduled for July.

Details

Start:
September 13
End:
September 15
Cost:
$50

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Trip Info & Guidelines

Guidelines For Trip Participants

All trips listed in the Great Plains Section’s trip schedule are coordinated by amateur volunteer hikers, skiers and climbers. When on a trip, participants must act in a manner that is safe and responsible and participants are expected to bring the equipment requested by the trip organizer. Participants should find out the requirements and demands of the trip well in advance by asking the organizer and researching the trip in guidebooks and other literature. You must be a member of the Great Plains Section of the Alpine Club of Canada to join a trip.

Further guidelines for participants
  • Be prepared to complete a Release of Liability (Waiver). Waiver Form
  • You must be a member of the Great Plains Section of the Alpine Club of Canada to join a trip.
  • Sign up for trips that will challenge you, but are not beyond your abilities. If unsure, ask the trip organizer and tell them your experience and fitness level. People inexperienced in the mountains should start with easier trips.
  • Learn about the trip before you attend (which route, number of kilometers, amount of vertical gain/loss, type of terrain, length of day, etc.).
  • Give as much notice as possible to the trip organizer if you are unable to go on the trip. There are often waiting lists of other members who would like to go. If you do not provide enough notice of cancellation for your spot to be filled, your trip deposit will not be refunded.
  • Ensure that you have the right equipment and that it is in good repair.
  • For winter trips, ensure that you are using a digital avalanche transceiver and that it is in good working order. Single antenna/analog transceivers are not acceptable.
  • Bring your helmet on all moderate and difficult scrambles and all climbing trips. Leaders may ask you to bring your helmet on certain ski trips as well.
  • Be prepared to contribute to the trip and carry part of the group gear (ropes, etc.).
Personal Insurance
In addition to the liability coverage that the ACC provides for its members when they are participating in ACC activities, the ACC sells, through TuGoTM Travel Insurance, personal insurance for trips.

As a broker for TuGo, the ACC offers Emergency Medical Insurance, Trip Cancellation Insurance, Baggage Insurance and more. These policies are available to all Canadians travelling outside their home province within Canada as well as internationally.

If you require medical attention while you’re traveling outside of your home province, or outside of Canada, your provincial health care plan may not cover you. The ACC’s trip insurance covers air ambulance, emergency medical and many other medical expenses. Climbing, skiing and other backcountry accidents are not exempted (as they are with many insurers).

For more information and online quotes, click here.

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