Nature Hike in Jasper/ Maligne Canyon With Author Ben Gadd - Sat, Jun 20 2009, Sun, Jun 21 2009

Nature Hike in Jasper/ Maligne Canyon With Author Ben Gadd (6/20/2009)

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The Basics:

Event Type:

Overnight

Event Location:

Jasper National Park

Date(s) & Time:

Sat, Jun 20 2009, Sun, Jun 21 2009 12:00 PM (Carpool Departure: 8:00 AM *log in for location*)

Registration Cut Off:

Wed, Jun 17 2009 11:55:00 PM

Event Duration:

2 days, one night

Difficulty Rating:

D2: Easy to Moderate

Event Coordinator(s):

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

Member Cost:

$50.50/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, All - DO NOT USE

Maximum Group Size:

Minimum Group Size:

Number Registered So Far:

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

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

An unforgettable weekend is planned. First we will drive to Jasper National Park on Saturday morning and then hike Wilcox Pass near the Columbia Ice fields (note the original Edith Cavell trail hike is closed this weekend). Later, we will get settled in at the Athabasca Falls Youth Hostel for our overnight stay. The Athabasca Falls Youth Hostel is a rustic hostel offering a large kitchen and social area and co-ed dormitory cabins with bunk beds.

On Sunday morning, we will experience the highlight of our trip, our three hour nature walk at Maligne Canyon with Ben Gadd, the best-selling author of Handbook of the Canadian Rockies.

Ben Gadd, 62, has lived in Jasper, Alberta since 1980. The author of Handbook of the Canadian Rockies, which has sold over 50,000 copies, Ben has written or co-authored eight other books and contributed to several more. His first novel, Raven’s End, has become an award-winning Canadian best-seller. It has also has been translated into German, Italian, Dutch and Danish for sale in Europe, and also into Japanese. Ben has received three Banff Mountain Book Festival awards.

Ben is a recognized authority on the Rocky Mountains. Educated as a geologist, he has pursued a career in natural history, working in the summer as a freelance interpretive guide in Jasper National Park—a job he describes as “rent-a-naturalist”—and in the winter as a writer and lecturer on Rockies topics. He also teaches writing courses for Grant MacEwan College.

A member of several conservation groups, Ben advocates for the mountain national parks, attending hearings, making representations on park-protection issues and speaking up publicly as required.

Ben is the founder of the non-profit Jasper Institute, which offers natural-history courses to park visitors. He designs nature trails, produces interpretive signage and consults with protected-area managers. Heard frequently on CBC radio, he has also appeared in many television items and several documentaries on the Rockies.

When not otherwise occupied, Ben hikes, bikes, climbs and cross-country skis in the mountains he loves best. Married over forty years, he and Cia have two adult sons and two grandchildren. See Ben's website for more information.

After our nature hike with Ben, we will head to Hinton for lunch and then make our way back home.

For further information and directions see the hostel website for more information.

Required Items to Bring:
- Cash for carpool
- Sleeping bag
- Pillow
- Food for weekend
- Hiking gear

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

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

View Canada:Calgary-Banff-Japsper in a larger map

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

988Km

Carpool Departure Time:

8:00 AM

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 $286.52 (calculated at total Km * $0.29, effective Tuesday, December 3, 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:

$50.50/Person

Non-Member Cost:

$50.50/Person

Cost Includes:

- One night stay at Athabasca Falls Wilderness Hostel
- Author's fee for nature tour

Payment Cut Off:

Payment must be received by the EOC on Wed, Jun 17 2009.

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!