Poplar Peak

We will car camp at Bighorn Campground near Ya ha Tinda ranch and do several day hikes from this base. It is possible to drive out as a day trip from Calgary, but there is no cel service at the campground so can't accommodate last minute changes. The camping is FREE but PRIMITIVE. Toilets, picnic tables, and basic fire pits. No water. Bring your own water, enough for the whole weekend. No stores or amenities of any kind nearby.

Poplar Peak involves an initial 4 km of walking through flat and gently undulating open montane prairie ranch land using horse and game trails. For the next 1.5 km begin a steeper climb through open glades of aspen and spruce, eventually gaining a broad easy scree ridge leading to a mini summit viewpoint. Elevation gain 600m, 5.5 km distance to this potential turnaround point.

The final OPTIONAL summit push requires an additional 2km and 350 m elevation gain on awkward but manageable scree.

Return the same way.

Distance: 7.5km
Elevation Gain: 950m
Difficulty: HARD, requires bushwalking, route finding, awkward scree/talus cross slope.

The organizer is not a paid guide. While we will hike as co-adventurers, participants must be fully capable of independently travelling and navigating through wilderness terrain.

Suggested packing list car camping:
-tent/camper
-mattress/pad
-sleeping bag and pillow
-toothbrush etc
**water - 1 gallon per day
-stove
-cook pots, utensils
**headlamp
-warm camp clothing, spare clothing
-food: breakfast, lunch dinner

Suggested hiking packing list:
-Layers: base, light fleece, heavier fleece, shell
-gloves
-toque and sunhat
-buff
-wind/rain pants
-gaitors
-poles
-microspikes
-water bottle

Note: This event is limited to paid up Calgary Ski Club members or their guests.