GROUP 11
Updated March 2, 2020
Departure: Sunday, September 20 (early - appx. 6:00 am)
Bus Number: TBA
Return: Saturday, September 25 (after dinner)
Departure: Sunday, September 20 (early - appx. 6:00 am)
Bus Number: TBA
Return: Saturday, September 25 (after dinner)
LAKE O'HARA PLANNING ITINERARY: SUBJECT TO CHANGES - YOUR CHAPERONE WILL CONFIRM ALL ROUTES
Skoki Valley - Group 11
Day 1 - Sunday: Meet your group in the OKM parking lot bright and early to board your assigned bus. Gear will be stored in chaperone support vehicles and you will only need your jacket and bagged lunch on the bus. First stop will be a bathroom break in Sicamous. From there we will travel to the Roger’s Pass Visitor Information Center for a safety presentation. From here it is approximately 4 hours to the Lake Louise Campground on Hwy 1. After arriving at Lake Louise, you will set up your camp, enjoy your car camping meal and prepare to set off on your through hike tomorrow morning. If you have time, your group can night hike up to Lake Louise via the Louise Creek Trail (6km return).
Day 2 - Monday - Fish Creek to Hidden Lake (7.3 km/510 m elevation gain - moderate): Up early and on your assigned bus by 9:00 am. Your bus will drop you off at the Fish Creek / Skoki Valley Trailhead. The first 3.9 km on the road past Lake Louise Ski Hill is a bit dull but you can work out the kinks, adjust the packs and get to know each other walking two-by-two or in small groups. At the Temple Day Lodge and trail board you will see that the road ends and a wide trail begins. Follow this for 3.2km and you will be staying at the Hidden Lake campsite. Set up camp, have dinner and then do a sunset or night hike to Hidden Lake another 1.3km. This is a beauty little lake.
Day 3 - Tuesday - Hidden Lake to Merlin Meadows (8.5 km/275 m elevation gain - moderate): Pack up and head out early as you have one of your most beautiful days ahead. There are two options to go into Merlin Meadows campsite.
Day 4 - Wednesday - Merlin Meadows to Red Deer Lakes (4.9 km - easy): This is a grand hiking day as well. The day plan involves a bit of a back track so you could leave your tents up and gear in the food caches besides your lunch and hiking gear. Travel back towards Skoki Lodge 1.2 km and then head across a wooden bridge and up the Merlin Lake Trail towards Merlin Lake. Look for the literal ‘Fork’ in the road and stay right (left goes back to Packers Peak). This lake is the main attraction in the Skoki Valley. Once at the lake head out towards Merlin Ridge and crest it near Merlin Castle. This is a large outcropping of rocks that are shaped somewhat like a castle. Kids can climb on the castle but have spotters for anyone that is not strong at bouldering. Remember you are a long way from help and a rolled ankle is a trip buster. After lunch around the Castle travel back toward Merlin Meadows. You could do the Merlin Lake Trail or head out on the Merlin Meadows trail. Once back at camp pack up your tents and then head out to Red Deer Lakes Campsite.
Day 5 - Thursday - Red Deer Lakes to Baker Lake (5.2 km - easy): Relax in camp in the morning and be sure to check out the trail across the valley to see a stunning 360 degree view of the surrounding peaks. There is not a lot of elevation today as you cross over Cotton Grass pass. This can be very muddy depending on precipitation levels. Once set up in Baker lake there are two secret gems to explore. One is following the outflow of Baker Lake past the bear poles to a gorgeous waterfall (only about 5 min). You can sit on the top and look out over a huge valley and image the dinosaurs roaming. Another side trip from camp is to scramble up the ridge on Fossil Mountain just north of the campsite (about 20 min). This could be a nice sunset spot just bring headlamps for the hike down.
Day 6 - Friday - Baker Lake to Fish Creek (13.2 km - easy): Today is your day to get back to civilization. The bus is picking you up from Fish Creek trailhead at 9:30 am. This is a long haul so get going early! There is a bit of elevation gain for the first hour towards Packers Peak, but all downhill from there. Pack up the support vehicles with the gear and get ready to see the rest of the groups!
We will rendezvous at Roger’s Pass Monument (Time TBA) with all the other groups. A group picture will be taken here. Then we will proceed to Revelstoke for a lunch break at the fast food strip on the left-hand side of the highway at the main intersection.
Let your parents know once you have an idea when you will be home so they can arrange for you to be picked up (usually around dinner time).
Skoki Valley - Group 11
Day 1 - Sunday: Meet your group in the OKM parking lot bright and early to board your assigned bus. Gear will be stored in chaperone support vehicles and you will only need your jacket and bagged lunch on the bus. First stop will be a bathroom break in Sicamous. From there we will travel to the Roger’s Pass Visitor Information Center for a safety presentation. From here it is approximately 4 hours to the Lake Louise Campground on Hwy 1. After arriving at Lake Louise, you will set up your camp, enjoy your car camping meal and prepare to set off on your through hike tomorrow morning. If you have time, your group can night hike up to Lake Louise via the Louise Creek Trail (6km return).
Day 2 - Monday - Fish Creek to Hidden Lake (7.3 km/510 m elevation gain - moderate): Up early and on your assigned bus by 9:00 am. Your bus will drop you off at the Fish Creek / Skoki Valley Trailhead. The first 3.9 km on the road past Lake Louise Ski Hill is a bit dull but you can work out the kinks, adjust the packs and get to know each other walking two-by-two or in small groups. At the Temple Day Lodge and trail board you will see that the road ends and a wide trail begins. Follow this for 3.2km and you will be staying at the Hidden Lake campsite. Set up camp, have dinner and then do a sunset or night hike to Hidden Lake another 1.3km. This is a beauty little lake.
Day 3 - Tuesday - Hidden Lake to Merlin Meadows (8.5 km/275 m elevation gain - moderate): Pack up and head out early as you have one of your most beautiful days ahead. There are two options to go into Merlin Meadows campsite.
- Via Deception Pass - a straightforward journey up and over the obvious pass back into the Skoki Valley
- Via Packers Pass - a slightly more adventurous take on the traditional Skoki loop, involving some light scrambling, but rewards rewards you with stunning lakeside views
Day 4 - Wednesday - Merlin Meadows to Red Deer Lakes (4.9 km - easy): This is a grand hiking day as well. The day plan involves a bit of a back track so you could leave your tents up and gear in the food caches besides your lunch and hiking gear. Travel back towards Skoki Lodge 1.2 km and then head across a wooden bridge and up the Merlin Lake Trail towards Merlin Lake. Look for the literal ‘Fork’ in the road and stay right (left goes back to Packers Peak). This lake is the main attraction in the Skoki Valley. Once at the lake head out towards Merlin Ridge and crest it near Merlin Castle. This is a large outcropping of rocks that are shaped somewhat like a castle. Kids can climb on the castle but have spotters for anyone that is not strong at bouldering. Remember you are a long way from help and a rolled ankle is a trip buster. After lunch around the Castle travel back toward Merlin Meadows. You could do the Merlin Lake Trail or head out on the Merlin Meadows trail. Once back at camp pack up your tents and then head out to Red Deer Lakes Campsite.
Day 5 - Thursday - Red Deer Lakes to Baker Lake (5.2 km - easy): Relax in camp in the morning and be sure to check out the trail across the valley to see a stunning 360 degree view of the surrounding peaks. There is not a lot of elevation today as you cross over Cotton Grass pass. This can be very muddy depending on precipitation levels. Once set up in Baker lake there are two secret gems to explore. One is following the outflow of Baker Lake past the bear poles to a gorgeous waterfall (only about 5 min). You can sit on the top and look out over a huge valley and image the dinosaurs roaming. Another side trip from camp is to scramble up the ridge on Fossil Mountain just north of the campsite (about 20 min). This could be a nice sunset spot just bring headlamps for the hike down.
Day 6 - Friday - Baker Lake to Fish Creek (13.2 km - easy): Today is your day to get back to civilization. The bus is picking you up from Fish Creek trailhead at 9:30 am. This is a long haul so get going early! There is a bit of elevation gain for the first hour towards Packers Peak, but all downhill from there. Pack up the support vehicles with the gear and get ready to see the rest of the groups!
We will rendezvous at Roger’s Pass Monument (Time TBA) with all the other groups. A group picture will be taken here. Then we will proceed to Revelstoke for a lunch break at the fast food strip on the left-hand side of the highway at the main intersection.
Let your parents know once you have an idea when you will be home so they can arrange for you to be picked up (usually around dinner time).