hiking/camping in Alberta help

Liam Ryan

Liam Ryan

Joined
Sep 26, 2005
Messages
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hey guys, I am heading to Alberta for vacation in March, flying into Calgary, then to Grande Prarie, then onto Jasper and Banff for some skiing and hiking, then Edmonton for the big mall, then back to Calgary.
My big question is, what sort of weather should I expect around the rockies in particular, will camping with an inexperienced friend be out of the question?
Also I would like to hear some suggestions about good areas to hike in along my route.
I hope to try out a lot of my blades that have been seeing lesser duties such as arm hair shaving and cardboard cutting, They are itching to be used in their natural habitat. Should I be worried about bringing a BRKT mini slither, a buck hartsook, a few saks, a LM crunch, an opinel #8, a cold steel bushman, and if they arrive in time, my RAT5, 2 moras, a buck 882 folder, and a spyderco jester in my check in baggage?
I am probably just worried about losing my barely used blades, all gotten within the last few months.
Anyway, I would love to write a big review on these when I get back, and I need some help with some prime locations.:thumbup:
 
Thanks William, nice link.
Looks like hovering around freezing, not too bad when we are used to -40 celcius.
I will be nice to see trees again, I am just short of the arctic circle, but waaay above the tree line here.
 
In Alberta you can expect the weather to change every 5 minutes, it can be sunny one minute and you can find yourself in a blizzard the next. As for camping in the mountians, make sure your friends has plenty of warm cloths. Stay away from cotton as it absorbs moisture.
www.theweathernetwork.com is usually pretty good for getting the forcast right.
 
Liam Ryan said:
hey guys, I am heading to Alberta for vacation in March, flying into Calgary...Grande Prarie...Jasper.....Banff....Edmonton...Calgary.:
Click to expand...

Wow - that's a lot of different terrain. Take today for example:

Calgary, high of -10C, low of -16C, snow
Grande Prairie, high of -13C, low of -19C, snow with -29C windchill
Edmonton, high of -14C, low of -19C, snow
Jasper, high of -8C, low of -15C, chance of snow
Banff, high of -6C, low of -12C, snow

Ghostguy is right, lots of variability. In March in Calgary, you can get daytime highs in the low +10's, or higher, and nightime lows of -20's and the occassionaly BIG dump of snow.

Regarding camping with an inexperienced friend, well, if you have some good gear (no cotton as previously mentioned), good tent, good sleeping bag, and access to a vehicle to warm up if you have to, then go for it....it might be an experience of a life time for a friend.

Of course, I'm assuming you're not going to go Waaaaaay back into the bush without a vehicle, in which case, you always have an "out".

For shipping your blades, I can't see any problems, except that you might loose them all if "that" bag goes missing, but really, how often does luggage go missing? :D

D
 
I spent several weeks hiking around Jasper a couple years ago. It was beautiful - truly spectacular country. If you go up around Jasper make sure you stop by the Miette hot springs. Here's a map of the trails: http://www.canadianrockies.net/maps/jnpbackcountrymap.pdf

Skyline's the most popular - stupendous views. I hiked along the Fiddle River which I highly recommend - doesn't have the views of the Skyline trail but it's also not crowded. Didn't see another soul for four days. Here's a pic:

IMG_1271.jpg


It was wet when I was there - but I've heard some years are dry with lots of wildfires. I think you can probably bet on it being wet. Don't bring all those knives into the backcountry - bring warm clothes instead! :thumbup:

EDIT: This is the absolute Bible on hikes around Jasper:

http://www.rmbooks.com/books/beejas.htm

When you go to reserve campsites on the backcountry trails, its what the park rangers use to discuss your options.
 
haha. yah, watch out for the shunooks, Its gone from -22 to +2 in a over 2 days, weird stuff.
 
oops, forgot, Just make sure your knives arnt in you carry on!, as long as there in the check luggage, you'll be fine.
 
Thanks for the great responses guys. How does Banff compare to Jasper?
I spent 2 weeks in lake Louise a few years back, it was a great time, but back then I was more into certain "recreational activities", and it really took away from all that these places have to offer. This time I want to really take advantage of the opprotunity.
 
haha one thing to add, when you get to Grande prairie, Get ready to land at their airport hair care and tire center, That place is so small, I dont think its possible to get lost there :D

And liam if you do, tell me and I will come find you and smack you, haha, I love it up here.
 
compared to Wainwright it's going to be a real bustling metropolis.
Whereabouts are you located Fonly?
 
Well, aways out side of grande Prairie, but we go there for shopping and what not, Nice little city and not too many people (50,000 aprox)
 
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