Lower Chester Trail to Mt. Murray Viewpoint Snowshoe, Peter Lougheed, Beginner
Details
It is a requirement that you read the following trip posting very carefully and make the proper and responsible preparations for it. Failure to do so will result in participant not being allowed on this trip. A waiting list has automatically been created to determine this trip’s suitability for you as a potential participant. You must meet all the pre-requisites to be eligible to attend this trip. If the organizer deems it necessary to obtain additional information from you, please provide it, otherwise, you will remain on the waiting list. As a potential participant, you must check this trip posting for additional directions from the organizer, including up to trip cancellation.
Date: Saturday, December 3, 2016
Start Time: You must depart Calgary no later than 8:00 am, and be at the trailhead no later than 10:15 am.
Distance: 6.8 km
Elevation Gain: 200 m
Time: We are out for the day. If you have plans for the evening, please do not sign up for this hike.
Event Type: Snowshoe. This event will be cancelled if combined temperature/wind chill drop below -20 degrees celsius. Please check posting the morning of the trip.
Physical Difficulty: Beginner; You must be healthy enough to complete the hike (this includes carrying your own gear – there are no sherpas on my hikes!), good sense of humor, and a desire to explore the natural environment.
Group size: 12 maximum. No dogs, no children, no guests.
Event Pace: Pace of the slowest in the group – If you're not willing to slow down, don't sign up for this hike. You must remain with the group for the duration of hike. Remember, it doesn't matter how slow you're going, you're still going faster than the folks sitting at home on the couch.
Trip Description: While this trail starts from the same parking lot as Chester Lake, it travels more to the south, and has less elevation gain, so it's an excellent snowshoe for Beginners and those who don't want a strenuous trip. There are mountain views on the way up, but the best views come from a meadow on the approach to the Mt. Murray viewpoint, where we'll see Mounts Chester and James Walker, and then from the viewpoint itself, where you get great views of the Spray Valley, including Mounts Murray and Burstall. We'll have lunch at the viewpoint, then make our way back down, and loop back using the Frost Heave trail. Please note that I've made a few changes to the Required Gear List. Please read it again to be sure you have what's on it.
If you have not already done so, please read the Slow and Steady Code of Conduct here: https://www.meetup.com/Slow-and-Steady-Hikers/pages/CODE_OF_CONDUCT/
Regarding Microspikes: Recommended brands are Kahtoola Microspikes (NOT the Nanospikes, those are for city walks); Yaktrax XTR (NOT the cheapo ones with the wire wrapped around the rubber, those are junk); Hillsound Trail Crampons (these are available for rental at the UofC Outdoor Centre, $4 a day) – going cheap on these is a poor idea, safety-wise. If you're not sure, ask the Organizer if what you have is acceptable.
Required Gear: Absolutely NO cotton clothing. Winter boots, snowshoes/microspikes, backpack, appropriate layers for the temperature plus additional layers for when we stop, winter hat and gloves/mittens, sunscreen, personal-sized first aid kit, personal medications (if needed), water (2 litres or more), lightweight emergency blanket, hand/toe warmers, lunch/snacks.
Suggested Gear: hiking poles, bandanna, camera/small binoculars, outdoor “bathroom” kit (toilet paper, plastic bag to carry out used T.P., hand sanitizer, etc.), lightweight pad to sit on, change of socks/footwear for after the hike.
Meetup Location: at the Trailhead. See below for instructions on making car pooling arrangements. Directions to the trailhead are below that.
Car Pooling: I do not make car pool arrangements for you. While you are encouraged to car pool, feel free to drive to the trailhead on your own. If you're offering to drive a carpool, please indicate where (be exact) you are willing to pick up passengers, how many passengers you can take, and if you have post-hike plans or special instructions.
Trailhead location: Chester Day Use Parking Lot
Gas Fee contribution: $20.00 per person. You will also be expected to pay for a share of a group park day pass.
I will check the Meetup site for this hike in the early morning of the hike, in case anyone has any last minute messages.
Safety and navigation as warranted: Backcountry roads may be icy or snowed in, so be prepared to deal with roadside emergencies. On the trail, watch for lake/river surfaces that are insufficiently frozen, and for cornices at the edges of steep drops.
WAIVER: You must sign our club waiver before you are allowed to go on this trip and you shall arrive prepared with an emergency name and phone number to be recorded on the waiver. Organizer will have a group waiver for you to sign at the trailhead. You are required to read the Slow and Steady Hiker Club Waiver: https://www.meetup.com/Slow-and-Steady-Hikers/pages/OUR_NEW_WAIVER/
Disclaimer: You are fully aware that your hosts are volunteers and not trained guides and you assume all responsibility for your own safety and well-being. All participants are responsible for assessing the current road conditions, current weather conditions, your current physical condition, current trail conditions and current avalanche conditions for the trip and you are responsible for your safety and well-being. You are fully prepared with proper gear and you're physically fit to do this hike with the group.
Lower Chester Trail to Mt. Murray Viewpoint Snowshoe, Peter Lougheed, Beginner