Backcountry Base Hike. Mount Assiniboine/ Wonder Pass Circuit - Thu, Jul 14 2022, Fri, Jul 15 2022, Sat, Jul 16 2022

Backcountry Base Hike. Mount Assiniboine/ Wonder Pass Circuit (7/14/2022)

PRE-REGISTRATION & PAYMENT 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. After you sign up at the bottom, you will be presented with information about how to pay. Late payments are NOT accepted for this event, in any circumstance.

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:

Mount Shark Trailhead

Date(s) & Time:

Thu, Jul 14 2022, Fri, Jul 15 2022, Sat, Jul 16 2022 12:00 PM (Carpool Departure: 6:00 PM *log in for location*)

Registration Cut Off:

Sun, Jun 26 2022 9:00:00 PM

Event Duration:

3 days, 2 nights

Difficulty Rating:

D5: Difficult

Event Coordinator(s):

Mark G
You must be logged in to get the Event Coordinator contact information.

Member Cost:

$25.00/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 18 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

5 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

Registration Instructions: This is not a trip for beginners. If you are interested in attending, first add your name to the list for the event, and then please contact Mark to discuss based on training and experience on Hills and Drills Hikes, or other similar conditioning. This is a mini day hike marathon of two major passes in one day (30 km on Friday from camp). Upcoming open spots will be given to members who have previously attended conditioning events that have been organized through the Edmonton Outdoor Club, and have good experience hiking long distances with elevation gain.

This event will be a backpack hike to the Marvel Lake backcountry campsite, where we will be staying. Using the campsite as our base, we will hike up Mount Assiniboine pass to Lake Magog. The plan is to take in the full views of Mount Assiniboine area while having lunch at the lake. We can then visit the Mount Assiniboine Lodge before completing a circuit hike up Wonder Pass and down past Marvel Lake to our base at the Marvel Lake Campsite

Itinerary on day two (East to West Loop is the easier one we're taking): Take the trail to Assiniboine Pass. This section has a gentler rise than Wonder Pass and will provide more gratifying views of Mount Assiniboine as you reach the top. This pass descends down to the heart of Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, Assiniboine Lodge and Lake Magog. From Lake Magog past Assiniboine Lodge and up to Wonder Pass. The short climb up Wonder Pass parallels a flowing creek and passes a waterfall before the final climb to the top. Crest the pass and descend down the steep trail where Marvel Lake will reveal its true marvel: crystal blue waters!

A booking for 3 tent pads has been confirmed for both Thursday (July 14) and Friday (July 15). Please contact Mark to confirm once you sign up to the waitlist (see email address above).

Everyone must bring good hiking boots, poles, and a backpack that will double as a daypack.

Trip Plan:
We will be beginning our hike at the Mt. Shark trailhead in Kananaskis Country, within Spray Valley Provincial Park just after noon on Thursday . Mt Shark is accessed from the Smith-Dorrien Trail road (Hwy 742), 36 km south of Canmore. We’ll begin by hiking on the Watridge Lake trail in Spray River Provincial Park. After descending to, and crossing, the Spray River, we’ll enter Banff National Park after hiking about 5.5 km on relatively easy terrain. Continuing along the Bryant Creek trail, we will pass through forested terrain, reaching the Bryant Creek/ Marvel Lake area after hiking a further 8.3 km (total distance, 13.8 km from the trailhead). Over this 8.3 km distance there is about 150 m of elevation gain. Along the way to the campsite we’ll pass the Big Springs backcountry campground (9.6 km from Mt Shark trailhead). I'm anticipating that the time to reach the shelter will be about 4 hours including break stops.

Although we will be staying at a base camp, as a group we will need to carry most of the gear that would normally be required for a backpacking trip, including stoves and fuel, food, water filters, sleeping bags and sleeping pads. An outhouse/pit toilet is located near the campsite. We will have bear hangers there for our food and other supplies.

Mount Assiniboine (the "Matterhorn of the Canadian Rockies") up close.We will hike past the Alberta/BC border at Assiniboine Pass, where Mount Assiniboine will come into view (about 10 km from the shelter). We'll continue for 2.1 km further towards Mount Assiniboine Lodge, where we'll get a closer view of Mount Assiniboine from the top of a bluff overlooking Lake Magog (a lake at the base of Mount Assiniboine) - this will be about a 30 km approximate return day hike via Wonder Pass to make it a circuit hike (More if we stop at Lake Magog for lunch).
There is gradual elevation gain along the route for the first several 5 kilometres past the Bryant Creek Shelter. As Assiniboine Pass is approached, the trail begins to rise more sharply. In total there is about 350 m of elevation gain between the shelter and Assiniboine Pass. There is only a slight decrease in elevation over the last 2.1 km between Assiniboine Pass and Assiniboine Lodge. There will be a further 350 meter approximate elevation gain on our second climb up Wonder pass on the other side of the lodge after lunch. Please be aware that this hike requires very good physical conditioning. The scenery on this route is spectacular. From Assiniboine Lodge, hike past the Naiset Huts (0.5 km) and along Gog Creek. Shortly after crossing the creek (1.1 km) you will reach Gog Lake. In 1983, great blue herons nested Gog Lake- the highest nesting elevation recorded for this species. From here the trail climbs through larch forests and open meadows filled with wildflowers to Wonder Pass (3.1 km). At Wonder Pass, the trail continues into Banff National Park in subalpine terrain. After the first view of Marvel Lake the trail steadily descends in a series of switchbacks.

There will also be other options for shorter day hiking options during the weekend (e.g. on Thursday after arrival at the shelter, or on Saturday on the way back to the trailhead), such as hikes to the shoreline of Owl Lake, or Karst Spring/Watridge Lake.

Donate to the EOC!

We are requesting $2.00 per event, or our suggested annual donation of $20 be done electronically.
For your convenience, you can donate via Paypal or PC Banking directly to our Treasurer Donna M tr easurer@edmontonout doorclub.com

Required Items to Bring:
Individual Items:

Sleeping bag

Sleeping pad

Pillow

Hiking boots

Weather appropriate clothing

Food for the weekend

Shared equipment (please let Mark know if you are able to bring any of these):

Backpacking stoves - at least 2 or 3 for the group

Water filters - at least 2 for the group

Bear spray

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

Camera

Hiking poles

Microspikes

Oral rehydration solutions (electrolyte replacement powder, Gatorade, etc.)

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

From Canmore: follow signs to the Canmore Nordic Centre. After passing the Nordic Centre, continue following the Smith-Dorrien-Spray Trail (Hwy 742) for 37 km until reaching the Mount Shark Road. Turn right, pass Engadine Lodge and a small bridge, and continue following the road for 5 km to reach the UPPER trailhead parking lot.

Mor e detailed directions are available here.

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

860Km

Carpool Departure Time:

6:00 PM

Carpool Location:

Carpool Directions:

Carpool Cost:

The event coordinator(s) will help you to arrange a centralized carpool if you require it, but it's not guaranteed. Please DO NOT pay your driver en route. Passengers will pay the coordinator, and he/she will distribute the money to the carpool drivers. SO PLEASE BRING CASH!!! Approximate vehicle expense for this event is $249.40 (calculated at total Km * $0.29, effective Wednesday, April 17, 2024). This is based on $0.09/Km for maintenance, plus current gas price divided by 9. This cost will be multiplied by the number of carpooled cars, and divided by the number of carpool participants.

Notes:

- 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.

Cost & Payment:

Member Cost:

$25.00/Person

Cost Includes:

Backcountry fees, plus share of reservation fee for the shelter.

If you have a Parks Canada Annual Wilderness Pass, please provide the pass number to me, so that I can provide it to Parks Canada. These passes cover the $9.80 backcountry fee. The trip fee for holders of these passes will be to cover the shelter fee and a share of the reservation fee including a small coordinator discount. Lesser cost to be determined based on how many people, and possible sharing of tents based on group.

Payment Cut Off:

Payment must be received by the EOC on Sun, Jun 26 2022.

Make a Payment:

Click here for the details. PLEASE PAY AFTER YOU HAVE SIGNED UP BELOW.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:
Please review our Cancellation Policy carefully!
*Note: Please see our cancellation policy