Canadian River Valley Revenge Trek the Trails: Official RVR Spectator Hike: McTaggart and Whitemud Ravine - Sun, Jan 19 2020

Canadian River Valley Revenge Trek the Trails: Official RVR Spectator Hike: McTaggart and Whitemud Ravine (1/19/2020)

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: McTaggart Nature Reserve/ Larch Sanctuary Parking Lot
Date(s) & Time:Sun, Jan 19 2020  10:30 AM
Registration Cut Off: Sun, Jan 19 2020 9:30:00 AM
Event Duration:3 hours
Difficulty Rating:D4: Moderate to Difficult
Event Coordinator(s): Mark G
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Member Cost:None

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 18 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:18
Minimum Group Size:3
Number Registered So Far: 8 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: Yes

Itinerary:
Trek the Trails with the Edmonton Outdoor Club during the River Valley Revenge Winter Trail Running Race as a sanctioned hiking spectator, where we have a chance to cheer and motivate the trail racers with a front row seat to the race! This hike will offer a trail trek through the trails to nearby landmarks and vistas like the Whitemud Nature Reserve, and continue on via McTaggart Sanctuary/ Larch Nature Reserve single track trails past oxbow lakes and creek views. We will see racers weaving in and out of the many single-track trails, with ravine views that looks down on the race from above. There's a a great deal of forest and wooded trails near the Anthony Henday wildlife tunnel (Oculus) that a trail group might enjoy exploring - most people don't even realize the wildlife tunnel is there.
This event will be an opportunity for hike participants to get a glimpse of some of the course without signing up for all the treachery, but still get the scenic challenge. Towards the end of our loop we will climb the ravine and reach "tougher" sections for a second time on the other side of the ravine along Twin Brooks Community.
Once we have covered this part we will hike back to the cars via the main trail lower creek sections of McTaggart Sanctuary and the oxbow lake.


Click here for more details on the River Valley Revenge Winter and Summer Trail Races.

I have classed this hike as "moderate to difficult" because there are a lot of steep sections where the trail rises and descends (including a tough section of switchbacks), which will prove challenging to many of us, but we will prevail! Just think that the trail racers will be digging deep themselves at these tough points!

Bring some lunch and/or snacks, as we'll need them!
Dogs are permitted on this event, but just a reminder (for dogs and humans alike) that this is a longer/tougher hike than other ones I tend to organize!

Please note that proper hiking footwear with good support and winter ice grips is essential, as some sections are steep and challenging, especially if underfoot conditions are wet and/or slippery.

Also please note that this is a group hike - therefore "superfast hikers" should be prepared to wait for the group as a whole throughout the hike.
If you're not prepared to do this, then this will not be the event for you.

Similarily - "less than superfast hikers" - please find the time to get some training hikes in before this one, so that you are not "caught cold" doing this one!

In summary, this is not an easy hike - there are lots of significant gradients throughout the whole hike and you will get a good workout! However, it is a very scenic area and well worth visiting and being there to support the runners as part of the community.

Meet at 10:30 AM.
Below is a google maps link to the exact meeting location in the McTaggart parking lot. At the meeting place Mark will have a bright royal blue Edmonton Outdoor Club baseball cap hanging on the antenna of his car.


Required Items to Bring:
- Appropriate Winter insulated footwear and layered clothing
- Water in insulated bottle
- Good Winter ice cleats (can be found at MEC)
Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
-Snack/ and or lunch
-Hiking Poles

How to Get There:
Event Directions:If you're coming from the west, take Whitemud to Terwillegar. From Terwillegar, turn left onto Rabbit Hill Road, then left on 23rd. You will go down a hill with a bridge at the bottom. The parking lot is at the end of the bridge on the right-hand side. If you're coming from the east, you might instead want to come down 119th street and turn right on 23rd. When you come down the hill towards the bridge, you will not be able to turn into the parking lot heading west - you have to go up the hill, find a place to turn around, then return down the hill to find the parking lot on the right.


Notes:

- We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines at all times while participating in EOC events.
- Please scroll through and read the entire online waiver when you sign up.
- Details of this event are subject to undergo a change at any point in time, with or without warning.


Cancellation/Partial Attendance:
Please review our Cancellation Policy carefully!