Bear Day & Riverside Trails, Canmore - Beginner, SLOW

Pace - VERY SLOW. Level - Beginner
Distance: 5-10km return, Elevation Gain: Minimal
After attending Bear Day in the morning at Canmore Nordic Centre (9am-10:30am), we will drive into Canmore and hike around some of the Riverside Trails in Canmore.

Please check this link out for events and times at Bear Day: https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/canmore-nordic-centre-pp/activities-events/events/

Trailhead location from west edge of Calgary:
https://www.google.ca/maps/dir/51.088616,-114.283061/Canmore+Nordic+Ctr,+1988+Olympic+Way,+Canmore,+AB/@51.042418,-115.2208947,9.5z/data=!4m8!4m7!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x5370cf52096c28eb:0xf726180e425ae50!2m2!1d-115.3855351!2d51.0903362

Attendance for this event is at the discretion of the organizer. The waitlist for this event is NOT first come, first serve. If I have not hiked with you before and you have rated yourself in your profile as moderate/intermediate or above, you will remain on the waitlist unless you message me with a reason why you want to attend a BEGINNER hike and that you are willing to SLOW down. PACE = "SLOWEST" hiker. We will be stopping for plenty of breaks - rest, water, lots of photos, delayering, fixing equipment, bathroom or just to look at something interesting. We are out to enjoy nature and do not want to race through it. If you are ahead of me and I cannot see you, you MUST slow down. If you come to a fork in the road, you MUST stop. If you are unable to RESPECT these "guidelines", your future attendance on events I organize will be denied.

THIS TRIP WILL BE WEATHER DEPENDENT. PLEASE CHECK THE WEBSITE THE MORNING OF THE TRIP TO MAKE SURE THE TRIP HAS NOT BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS.

Absolute musts for this hike are BEARSPRAY and MICROSPIKES. Please do not put me in the position of having to turn you away from the hike if you do not have them.

Time: 4 hrs.

No dogs, no children.

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/

Required Gear: Absolutely NO cotton clothing. Water (2 litres or more), lunch/snacks, bearspray, microspikes, boots, backpack, appropriate layers for the temperature plus additional layers for when we stop, hat, mitts, toque, bag for dirty boots if you are a passenger, personal-sized first aid kit, personal medications (if needed), (NO BEAR BELLS).

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.

Suggested Gas Fee contribution - Zone 2 - $20.00 per person.

Be Bear Smart! Bears are up, about and HUNGRY, so be prepared with your bear spray. http://www.albertaparks.ca/kananaskis-country/advisories-public-safety/wildlife/be-bear-smart.aspx

Carpools - I do not arrange carpools. But, if you can offer a ride, please make a comment as to what part of Calgary you are coming from. If you wish to have a ride, please look for those offering a ride and message them or post a comment that you would like a ride, have gas money and where you are located in Calgary.

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 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.