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All Women’s Intermediate Backpacking Retreat

The heart of Skala Adventures is truly adding a deeper value to your experience. Not only we learn the hard skills, such as cooking or even baking Delicious meals, or learning practical survival skills, we Go Deeper by Slowing Down. By adding various personal development activities and allowing time to reflect, we hope to explore what’s ahead – to lean into our strengths, hopes, passions, and ultimately our purpose.

If you are looking to reset during these “interesting” times, treat yourself to a journey with us. We invite you slow down, look at life from a new perspective, shake off uncertainty in your life and find an opportunity to ground yourself.

Our goal for the next few days is to enhance the backpacking skills you already have or are willing to challenge yourself on a longer trip.  A small group size will offer a safe learning environment to cover what it means to be safe while traveling in the backcountry – Leave No Trace principles, thermoregulation, navigation techniques, risk management/animal safety, backcountry meals or overnight gear…You will even learn a cool survival skill worthy of showing off and making your scouting kids jealous!

DATES

LOCATION 
Kananaskis Country, Rocky Mountains, Alberta

DIFFICULTY

Moderate

ITINERARY

Day 0 – meeting at 4PM at Rafter Six Ranch

  • discussing our equipment in order to see if we have all necessary gear for our adventure; learn how to pack your backpack for the next few days, getting rid of unnecessary stuff and keeping the layers to keep warm and dry; camping at the property. Bonding time.

Day 1: Canmore – Forks Campsite

  • today we carpool to our trailhead for over 1hour, and we can start enjoying the Kananaskis Country from the car, until the start of our trailhead – Upper Kananaskis Lake.  We begin hiking along the Upper Kananaskis Lake to our destination – the Forks campsite. Today we are covering and refreshing the basics of safe and fun backcountry travel (including animal safety), map reading, set-up our first camp by a peaceful river, where we are rewarded by a delicious meal! Reflection activity in the evening

Day 2 – Forks Campsite – Three Isle Lake – Forks Campsite

  • after hearty breakfast, we head over with light day packs and explore the surrounding valley out of tree line, with scenic views opening up high and wide
  • we set off to a beautiful mountain lake called  – Three Isle Lake (2175m.).  Distance 10.2km. Elevation gain 525m
  • lots of learning, reflection and exploring today!

Day 3 – Forks Campsite – Turbine Canyon – Forks Campsite

  • it’s time to challenge ourselves and gain some elevation to our next day hike destination. The valley views around us are stunning, the wildflowers are plenty, the peaceful canyon awaiting for our enjoyment
  • while enjoying the surrounding Maude Lake, wildflower meadows and of course great mountain vistas, we reach Turbine Canyon Camp (2200m) – located above the confluence of Maude Brook and the Upper Kananaskis River. At this special place we rest, restore our bodies and minds. Those with more energy, exploration opportunities around a beautiful narrow canyon are plenty!
  • Distance 7.8km. Elevation loss 400m / one way

Day 4 – Forks Campsite – Upper Kananaskis Lake Trailhead

  • today we return to civilization, even though we probably won’t feel like leaving this area just yet. We hike from Forks Campground along the Upper Kananaskis River valley to the Upper Kananaskis Lake, soaking in the last few hours of the K-country. Distance 7km. Elevation loss 100m

YOUR INVESTMENT

$890 CAD /person/5 days

(3 nights camping in wilderness/ 1 night camping at a local ranch)

In order for the trip to go ahead, 3 or more people need to be registered.

Please contact us for private group rates

WHAT’S INCLUDED

  • certified wilderness guide
  • backcountry camping permit for all days, camping at a local ranch
  • group gear: tents, cooking gear, filtration system, group first aid kit, bear spray, water treatment
  • variety of hearty and delicious meals, group dinner on day 1 – lunch on day 3
  • pre-trip support to help you be prepared for your wilderness journey
  • backcountry travel ethics and wilderness safety education
  • reflection time of contemplative/personal development activities supporting your experience / group debrief sessions
  • accommodation/tenting on Day 0  at a local ranch / tenting Day 1-2-3

PARTICIPANTS MUST PROVIDE

  • transportation to trailhead
  • supper on the last day
  • personal gear – please let us know what you need and we’ll do our best to arrange a gear rental for you
  • personal expenses/air fares
  • Kananaskis Country Park Vehicle Pass (effective as of June 1, 2021) – can be purchased at the gate or visitor information centre
  • travel insurance
  • tips – appreciated

WHAT TO PACK

Feel free to check off the recommended Skala Adventures-Multi-Day Gear List.

LEGAL STUFF

Your trip information package will be sent out after the electronic registration (personal information for the guides to get to know you better).

Please note, part of the registration will be an electronic release of liability and waiver, which must be read and agreed to prior to your payment. The paper format of release of liability and waiver and the Declaration of Health and Exposure form will also be required once we meet in person. To minimize contact, you can print them out before the trip.

BOOK NOW!