Elk Lakes Alpine Trip
August 13 - August 17
$225
Itching to tackle some alpine objectives but not sure where to start? Enjoy challenging hiking and interested in venturing off the beaten path? Join the Great Plains Section for a stay at the ACC Elk Lakes Cabin and enjoy some alpine hiking and scrambling from 13 to 17 August.
Participants will need strong hiking skills and a sense of adventure. Participants should be ready for at least one long day of up to 20 km of distance and 1,200 metres of elevation gain. Days with significant objectives could involve a 5 am start in cooler temperatures. Challenging weather conditions could necessitate changes in objectives, so adaptability and a positive attitude will be a must!
A prep meeting will be held each evening to discuss the next day’s objective, hazards, and required gear. Departure time will range from 5 to 7 am for major objectives, and later for shorter hikes. Because this is a cabin trip, tents and individual cooking equipment will not be required.
Participation in this trip will be by application, closing on 15 February 2025.
Trip meeting
There will be a mandatory pre-trip meeting in spring 2025, once the cabin booking is confirmed. The meeting will cover trip logistics, an orientation to the area, expectations of participants and leaders, carpooling, and participant questions.
Cost
The trip cost is $225 per participant. This cost includes the cost of accommodation at Elk Lakes Cabin and the ACC-GPS trip participant fee. An active ACC Great Plains membership is required for each participant.
Gear
Participants are responsible for their own personal gear. Everyone will need to carry a daypack with required technical gear, water, and food for the day, along with appropriate layers for the weather conditions and a headlamp. Required technical gear for alpine objectives will include a helmet; a harnesses; a double-length sling; an ATC with a locking carabiner, prusik or hollow block; two locking carabiners; and full-height, broken in, stiff hiking boots (mountaineering boots are welcome but not required). Thin leather gloves, collapsible hiking poles, and bear spray are strongly recommended. A recommended packing list will be provided to confirmed trip participants.
Meals
The group will determine an approach to suppers at the group meeting. All participants are responsible for their own breakfasts, lunches, and snacks.
Travel and Accommodation
Participants will assemble at the Elk Lakes parking lot at 5 pm on 13 August. (Elk Lakes is on Mountain Time, so 5 pm local is the same as Regina time.) The parking lot is reached by driving to Sparwood, BC and then turning north on Highway 43 to the Elk Lakes parking lot via Elkford. Elkford is the last stop for gas and supplies. The drive from Regina to Sparwood is 800 km, and the rest of the trip up Highway 43 takes approximately 2 hours and involves stretches of forestry service road. The availability of cellular service beyond Elkford is unknown, but it should be assumed to be zero. Shortly after 5 pm, the assembled group will travel approximately 200 metres on foot to the Elk Lakes Cabin, settle in, and discuss the next day’s plan.
The group will stay together at the ACC Elk Lakes Cabin. Built in 1992, this rustic cabin features a kitchen and common eating area, wood stove, and mattresses in the cabin loft. Water must be gathered from a nearby stream, and there is an outdoor privy nearby. For more information, visit https://alpineclubofcanada.ca/hut/elk-lakes-cabin/.
Trip Application
To apply for the trip, complete the attached questionnaire and email it to messnerjm@hotmaill.com and sabrinarheywood@gmail.com. Note that incomplete applications will not be considered, so please take care to answer all questions in the questionnaire.
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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
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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