Paradise Valley, Giant Steps, and Ribbon Falls (8/30/2013)

Friday: We leave Edmonton Friday evening and spend the night at The Hostel Bear.

Saturday: Leaving early in the morning and hiking up to the magnificent Giant Steps in Paradise Valley. Afterwards we will go back to the hostel for a great potluck dinner.

Sunday: Leaving the hostel early and hiking up to the Ribbon Falls in Kananaskis on our way back to Edmonton.

• Our hiking pace will be MODERATE (no slowpokes, no speed demons)
• Giant Steps (Distance: 21.5kms, elevation gain: 715m )
• Ribbon Falls ( Distance: 18.5kms, elevation gain: 375m )
• Group hiking in effect in the area due to bear activity. If you are unable to respect this guideline, refrain from signing up.
• The plan is to enjoy a great potluck, the beautiful scenery, the great company, and the photo opportunities while having FUN so bring your cheerful personalities along.
• This is a first-paid, first-get-on event. Payment is due immediately upon registration, or you will be moved to the waiting list. If you didn't pay and someone else on the waitlist did, they will get on before you! Any overbooking will be fully refunded.
• Refunds after the cut off are not possible, but you can find a replacement and work out the payment amongst yourselves.
• The maximum number of people for this trip is 8. You may be moved to the waiting list if there is no more room for men/women (you will be fully refunded in that case and if it happens before the registration cut-off). You "could" also make your you hostel reservations or join us at the hostel later (you need to send me an email to make sure there is still room for more people).
• Drivers are needed to make this event happen. If you are DEFINITELY DRIVING, please indicate how many people you can take in your vehicle in the notes section.
• Your coordinator will contact you to sort out carpooling, pot-luck and other details.

Friday - We will leave Edmonton in the afternoon Friday August 30th, 2013, and head to Canmore. We will be staying at The Hostel Bear for two nights. If we are still in the mood after a long drive, we could go for a cup of and and a short walk to enjoy the beauties of Canmore.

We will be staying in a co-ed dorm rooms. Bedding will be provided and sleeping bags are NOT permitted. There is a well equipped kitchen with appliances, pots and pans, dishes to cook your own food for the weekend. There is running water, hot showers and electricity in this hostel.

Saturday - We will leave the hostel early in the morning and head to Paradise Valley (on the way Lake Louise, park passes will be required).

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 takes in 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.

From here, we will 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 the left. Watch for an unmarked trail branching left to the top of this waterfall staircase 200m beyond the campground junction. We will return the same way, stopping at Lake Annette for rest and a quick snack.

After our hike, we will head back to our hostel, relax, and enjoy a potluck supper. These are always a great mixer to kick off the festivities on Saturday night. Please bring along something to share.

Sunday - Sunday morning we will leave the hostel early and head to Kananaskis on the way back to Edmotnon. The hike to Ribbon Falls starts on a logging road with a walk in the meadow. The first 4kms of the trail is open to bicycles. About one and a half kilometers later, we will find ourselves surrounded by the beauty of Mount Kidd and Ribbon Peak as we hike along Dipper Canyon. There are several beautiful pools and waterfalls for us to feast our eyes on.

After the hike, we will leave Kananaskis and head back to Edmonton with great memories and photos.