Paradise Valley and Giant Steps - Fri, Sep 30 2005

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The Basics:
Event Type:		Hike
Event Location:		Lake Louise
Date(s) & Time:		Fri, Sep 30 2005  10:30 AM  (Carpool Departure: 8:30 AM   *log in for location*)
Registration Cut Off:		Wed, Sep 28 2005 11:59 PM
Event Duration:		6 hours
Difficulty Rating:		D3: Moderate
Event Coordinator(s):		Garry L Margaret M 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 & Guests, 18 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:		20
Maximum No. Guests:		6
Minimum Group Size:		10
Maximum No. Guests Per Member:		1
Number Registered So Far:		11 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted:		Yes
Itinerary:
Distance: 18km Elevation Gain: 385m When Walter Wilcox and his companions climbed to the summit of Mitre Pass from Lake Louise in 1894, they looked into "a valley of surpassing beauty, wide and beautiful, with alternating open meadows and rich forests." They named it Paradise Valley. The Paradise Valley trail splits to create a circuit that visits all the major features in its upper reaches - Lake Annette, the Horseshoe Meadows and the Giant Steps. The first three kms are uneventful and forest enclosed, but at the first bridge over Paradise Creek views open to Mount Temple and the valley headwall. In another km you cross back to the true left side of the creek and pass the Sheol Valley-Saddleback junction. The trail split for the upper valley loop is at km 5.1. While the Giant Steps lie 3.7km upvalley on the low trail, most hikers will want to turn left, cross Paradise Creek and climb directly to Lake Annette, which the British mountaineer James Outram called "a tiny bit of sky dropped from the heavens and almost lost in the depths of the sombre first.". Its immediate surroundings are typical of many subalpine lakes, but its backdrop - the ice-capped 1200m north face of Mount Temple - is extraordinary. The trail to the head of the valley continues southwest from Lake Annette, climbing along the base of Mount Temple. In just over a kilometre, you reach the circuit's highest elevation atop a major rockslide. There are good views ahead to the valley's headwall, formed by Hungabee Mountain and Ringrose Peak, and the Horseshoe Glacier sprawled across its base. After passing Sentinel Pass junction, the trail descends to the lush Horseshoe Meadows, where it makes two bridged stream crossings in rapid succession and turns back down-valley. The Giant Steps - a pretty series of waterfalls on the north fork of Paradise Creek - are just off the trail to hte left on the way back down-valley. Watch for an unmarked trail branching left to the top of this waterfall staircase 200m beyond the campground junction. At the bottom of the falls, a rough, boggy track condtinues down-valley to rejoin the Paradise Valley trail. You complete the upper valley circuit by walking down-valley for another 3km to the circuit trail split at the Lake Annette junction. Ref: Canadian Rockies Trail Guide, Seventh Edition, Hike 45, p 98. Also, GemTrek's Lake Louise and Yoho Map. Explorer Trip: Your coordinator has not done this trip before but wants to try it. Please allow time/patience for unforseen circumstances. Thanks! :)
Required Items to Bring: $ or Park Pass for entry to Banff National Park. Recommended Items to Bring: Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
How to Get There:
Event Directions:		Take the Trans Canada Highway west to Lake Louise. Follow Lake Louise Drive 3km to the Moraine Lake Road. Turn left and follow this road 2.3km to the Paradise Creek Trailhead.
Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):		400Km
Carpool Departure Time:		8:30 AM
Carpool Location:		Log in for location
Carpool Directions:		Log in for directions ** Calgary Transit Info
Carpool Cost:		Approximate vehicle expense for this event is $72.00 (calculated at total Km * $0.18, effective Friday, July 30, 2010). This is based on $0.08/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:
- We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines at all times while participating in COC events. - Details of this event are subject to undergo a change at any point in time, with or without warning. - Questions about equipment or rentals? Send them to safety@calgaryoutdoorclub.com. - Notice any errors or problems in the information on this page? Please notify our Content Editor(s), Wendy W, Lynda H and Bill P., at content@calgaryoutdoorclub.com.
Voluntary Donation: ( What is this?) Suggested donation amount for this event is: $2.00/Person.
Cancellation/Partial Attendance: Please review our Cancellation Policy carefully!