Sulphur Mountain via Cosmic Ray Road - Sun, Jul 5 2015

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Sulphur Mountain via Cosmic Ray Road (7/5/2015)

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED:Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.

You are STRONGLY encouraged to read this page in its entirety before signing up. If you'd like to attend, we ask that you abide by our rules and procedures as a time/cost saving process (with an end result of keeping membership free and lower cost events).

The Basics:

Event Type:

Hike

Event Location:

Banff

Date(s) & Time:

Sun, Jul 5 2015 9:30 AM (Carpool Departure: 8:00 AM *log in for location*)

Registration Cut Off:

Sat, Jul 4 2015 7:00:00 PM

Event Duration:

6 - 7 hours + driving

Difficulty Rating:

D5: Difficult

Event Coordinator(s):

Veronique L
You must be logged in to get the Event Coordinator contact information.

Member Cost:

Voluntary Donation Only (See Below)

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 21 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Maximum No. Guests:

Minimum Group Size:

Maximum No. Guests Per Member:

Number Registered So Far:

8 (Log in to see who's signed up.)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

Please read all information prior to signing up.

Distance: Approx. 17-18 kms
Elevation Gain: Approx. 880 meters
Pace: Moderate for the flat and descending sections, slower while ascending

Important Details
- This hike is rated as outstanding in the book "Don't waste your time in the Rockies"
- Please ensure that you have completed events with similar distance and elevation in recent weeks
- We will return the same way we came

Hike Description
There will be no riding the Sulphur Mountain Gondola for us, nor will we take the switch backs up the front side. Instead we will venture up the back way along the Cosmic Ray Road, avoiding the tourists for the majority of the day. The trail begins with about 3 kilometres on flat terrain along the Bow River.

After that, we have a long steady ascent to the summit which is straight forward hiking on the Cosmic Ray Road. The ascent via Cosmic Ray is on a sunny southwest-facing slope and much of the way is also tree-free. The views will be constant after only 90 minutes from the trailhead and will include the Sundance Range, Massive Range, Mt Bourgeau, Mt Rundle and Mt Temple. You can have your lunch in the terminal building or just hang out there, walk the boardwalk Observatory Trail enjoying the sights, head up to the Meteorological Station or do it all.

A bit of history…. The Cosmic Ray Road was built in 1956 to facilitate cosmic ray research. Sulphur Mountain was one of the eight such sites in Canada and one of the 98 worldwide. Research ceased in Banff in 1978. Cosmic rays are produced by solar explosions and are believed to cause the Northern Lights. Cosmic rays would obliterate life on earth were it not for our planet's protective atmosphere and magnetic field.

Required Items to Bring:
- Your cheerful personality
- Proper hiking boots
- Minimum 2 litres of water
- Lunch
- Rain jacket (regardless of the forecast)
- Park Pass or money to purchase one
- Bag for dirty boots for the drive home

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
- Bear spray
- Poles
- Camera

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

Head west on Highway 1. Take the first Banff turnoff. Drive through town on Banff Avenue. Cross the bridge and turn right onto Cave Avenue. Drive about a kilometer to the Cave and Basin parking lot.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

240Km

Carpool Departure Time:

8:00 AM

Carpool Location:

Carpool Directions:

Carpool Cost:

Approximate vehicle expense for this event is $72.00 (calculated at total Km * $0.30, effective Tuesday, April 16, 2024). This is based on $0.16/Km for maintenance, plus current gas price divide by 9. Alternately your carpool driver may choose to split the maintenance cost plus the actual gas cost among all in the vehicle. Your carpool driver will confirm exactly how much money they require to cover costs. Please split the actual cost among all people in the vehicle.

Notes:

- Details of this event are subject to undergo a change at any point in time, with or without warning.
- Notice any errors or problems in the information on this page? Please notify our Content Editor(s), Wendy W and Lynda H., at content@calgaryoutdoorclub.com.

Cost & Payment:

Voluntary Donations:

Although there is no cost for this event, please note that the club survives on voluntary donations. Please consider making a donation based on the value you feel you receive from the club. See our How You Can Help page for more information.

Voluntary Donation: ( What is this?)
Suggested donation amount for this event is: $2.00/Person.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance: