Kathryn H
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Meet at Alpine Club of Canada Canmore Club House, visit and get prepped for Caving. Co-ed Rooms sleep approximately 5 people depending on the cabin that the group gets.
On Saturday Morning:
Guide will meet group at the Alpine Club of Canada Canmore Club House
Ten minute drive to base of Grotto Mountain.
After assembling the caving gear, participants will head up to the cave on a rugged, mountain trail. The hike is 20-25 minutes through pine forest to a canyon leading to the cave entrance.
Here you change into caving equipment - helmets, lights, coveralls, kneepads & gloves (provided by guides). You will receive a safety briefing prior to starting the tour.
Your expert guide will take you on a natural history tour of Rat's Nest Cave, an exciting underground world - etched and sculptured over hundreds of thousands of years - through twisting passages and chambers of stalactites & stalagmites, animal bones and fossils then finally down to the tranquil pool in the grotto.
Rat's Nest Cave is a constant 5°C (41°F) all year. Why is that? Because caves reflect the mean annual temperature so no matter what the outside weather it's always pleasant inside the cave. Like most alpine caves, it is cool in summer, mild in winter.
Anything you wear or take into the cave will get covered in fine mud, so avoid new fancy clothing or camera equipment. There are no facilities at the cave site so use the toilets in Canmore before you go.
For more details on the Outfitter see their website. This group will be doing an extended version of the "explorer tour" to include the laundry chute.
Participants will be required to sign a waiver for the Cave Tour Company. You can find the waiver at this site Cave Tour Company Waiver. Participants should ensure that their fitness is capable of withstanding strenuous activity such as climbing and crawling through dark, dirty, wet, cool and confined spaces. The tour does not include lunch and there will be no time to stop for lunch during the caving portion. The group will stop to eat on the way home. The tour will take approximately 5 hours from start to finish and with travel time expect to return to Edmonton at approximately 10 pm Saturday night. There is the opportunity to eat prior to or after the caving, just no crumbly food in the cave. It is recommended that participants bring a bag lunch to eat on site for after. So, food wise, people should bring breakfast to eat at the ACC Clubhouse, a power bar/cliff bar or the like for in the cave, stuff for a bag lunch for after and $ for food on the way home.
Please note: Participants will be underground for a period of time, so if you suspect that you may be claustrophobic then it may not be a good event for you.
| Required Items to Bring: For Hostel: - Flash light - Ear Plugs - Food for snacks, breakfast and packed lunch after caving - Toiletries and Towel For Caving: - Bring 1 or 2 small, wrapped energy snacks such as a granola bar, chocolate bar etc. - Appropriate dress for caving is warm but not bulky clothes. - Hiking boots - camera with flash for taking photos - Water Money for meals on the road | | Recommended Items to Bring: Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need. |
Meet at the Alpine Club of Canada Club House in Canmore on Friday night. The Clubhouse is located on the eastern outskirts of the Town of Canmore, 4.5 km from downtown. From the TransCanada Highway take the 1A exit and travel east approx. 1 km to Indian Flats Road, follow the road to the top of the hill.
See map for direction
On Saturday morning participants meet their guide at the Alpine Club, Club House. From this meeting place you follow the guide, in your own vehicle, for a 10 minute drive to the cave parking area at the base of Grotto Mountain.
- Registration is NOT COMPLETE until you've signed up and paid by the registration cut off date. The money must be in the EOC's possession by that date. No exceptions.
- When a minimum group size appears, this is to let you know that the event will be cancelled with refunds to those who have already paid, if the minimum number of registered participants is not met. For any events where EOC needs a minimum number of participants, there will be absolutely no refunds of money if you cancel.
- 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.
* One night in the hostel
* EOC Administration fees
Cancellation/Partial Attendance:
Please review our Cancellation Policy carefully!