Dyson Falls - Beginner Hike! T1

All righty, based on the success of last weeks hike and the overall response to the initial posting, I will be running this hike again next weekend in order to try and get everyone who either couldn't make last weeks hike or were stuck on the waitlist.

This weeks sign up will be slightly different than last weeks. There will be an automatic waitlist generated in order to ensure that people who were on the waitlist for last weeks hike have an opportunity to get on this weeks hike.

Hike will be limited to 10 people this week.

If you are signed up to go on the hike and for whatever reason can't make it, please let me know as far in advance as you can, as it allows people on the waitlist to then attend the hike.

How Do I Know This Hike Is For Me?

Have you been a Slow and Steady Lurker? Signed up for club a while back but haven't gone on a hike yet? Maybe because you're unsure of your ability - you think you'll hold up the group and don't want to be "that guy"(Full Disclosure - I've been that guy. There's nothing wrong with it, it's a personal journey that we all go through). Maybe you don't understand the difference between hike ratings, and don't want to unknowingly sign up for a hike that's beyond your skill set. Maybe you've had a tough time finding an easy hike on the weekend you'd like to attend.

Well congratulations, your hiking wish has been answered. This hike is specifically targeted towards new club members and beginners who are wanting to get into hiking but have not done enough of it to know where they are at.

But Wait, That Sounds Great, My Best Time Up Prairie Mountain is 52 minutes, and I'm looking for a Leisurely Stroll this weekend.

Whoa, pump the brakes there, super fit hiker. Like I said, this is a beginner hike. You like timing yourself up the mountain? You enjoy that last stretch up the hill to the parking lot at Moose Mountain? You barely break a sweat in the middle of summer going up a T4? I am totally the wrong organizer for you (I break a sweat in the middle of winter reading the hike descriptions of T4s). Just like I would not want someone who had no experience signing up for a T4 hike (who am I kidding, I'm at least 50 lbs away from even trying a T4 hike, never mind organizing one), my goal is to get new hikers involved in the sport (they show poker on TSN and Sportsnet, where's the hiking shows?).

All Right, So We Know Who You're the Wrong Organizer For, How Do I Know You're the Right Kind of Organizer for Me?

Well, thank you, I'm really glad you asked that question, cause I have found that the one of the ways to get the most out of your Slow and Steady experience is to find the organizers that work best for your hiking goals. That's not to say that all organizers aren't great, because they are, but it's a lot like golf - if you're golfing with someone who is out driving you by 100 yards on every shot, or alternatively can't hit it past the Junior tees or is always in the bush, it can be a lot less fun of a game then when you're playing with someone whose skill set is similar to yours.

I've been with Slow And Steady for about a year. I took up hiking as a way to get out and lose some weight with my dogs. My wife, bless her heart, wasn't crazy about the idea of solo hiking, cause, you know, bears, so I joined the club. Took Andy's Hiking 101, went out for my first S&S hike to Dyson Falls last November. Liked the group hiking thing, signed up for Sofa to Summit in January, by the end of it figured I was a Master Hiker who could conquer any peak, so I signed up for the Intermediate Series right away, cause, you know, Master Hiker and all.

And then I proceeded to get my ass handed to me by two of the four hikes (which I did not finish) in the Intermediate Series. Am told I was praying for the sweet relief of death at times, don't recall that, but most of those two hikes are a blur. Sooooo, maybe not quite Master Hiker just yet.

Anyways, became an Organizer in the Spring, and then didn't hike all summer (because apparently dirt and rocks don't count as "landscaping", and once that was done, well, needed to build a deck, and so on and so on). Now that it's not 30 degrees and smoky again, getting back into hiking with the goal of helping others who are just getting started.

OK, seriously, been reading for like 5 minutes, still have no idea what the hike is.

This weeks adventure will be Dyson Falls at Sheep River. I've chosen it because it's relatively close to the city, it's not overly challenging, fairly scenic for a flat hike, with a nice water fall at the end. I'd label it a T1.

Dyson Falls is a 9km return hike with 160m of initial elevation gain in Sheep River Provincial Park. Approx. hike time one and half hours each way, it is not an overly difficult hike. It starts off at the Indian Oils trail head, then over the bridge and up a gradual incline. Then the hike flattens out through a valley, which opens up at the end to the Falls. The falls are running slow this year, but it is still a nice spot to stop and have a snack break before heading back.

The trail had a mix of snow, mud, and horse dropping last week. Appropriate choice of footwear is advised.

My preference is to meet at Chapters in Shawnessy, because I find that meeting at the trailhead can be difficult for people who have never been on an S&S hike before. If you want to meet at the trailhead, please let me know in advance. I can take three passengers (you might have to give up the front seat for Aaron if I decide to bring him), can expand that to 5 if you're really tiny and don't mind sitting in the third row. We'll likely need two more drivers, so please advise if you're able to drive.

Driving directions (Gas share 15.00)

to get to Sheep River: Macleod Trail south, right/west onto 22X West, turn left/south onto 22 South to Millarville and Turner Valley, at Turner Valley 4-way stop, turn right/west onto 546 West for 40 km to Sheep River, pull left into the Indian Oils Trail parking lot (just before the Sheep Falls parking lot).

We are going to be hiking as a group together at the pace of the slowest hiker. If that's me, great, happy to be the rate determining factor. If that's you, guess what, also great, that's the rate we're going. We will not have group spread on this hike, everyone sticks together. If you are not okay with that, please don't sign up.

For the time being I am limiting the group size to 10 for this week.

I've Heard Rumours That You Have No Idea What the Term "Ultra Light" Means, and Have Actually Brought 40 lb packs on 4 Hour Hikes. I Don't Want To Do That, So What Do I Actually Need To Bring?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I fully admit to carrying way too much gear all the time. What I would recommend as a minimum.

Water - enough for you and your four legged buddy if one is accompanying you. I typically find that for this time of year, I need around 1.5 liters of water.

Food - snacks to fit your needs, lunch if you want it. We will break at the Falls for half an hour, weather permitting.

Micro Spikes - Probably won't need them, but better to have them and not need them. Kahtoolas are preferable. If you don't have microspikes, let me know in advance, I have a spare set that I can borrow out, but will totally forget to bring them unless someone reminds me. (Once you've used good microspikes, you'll never want to go without them).

Bear spray - Again, better to have and not need. If you don't have some, don't go out and buy it for this hike, I will be bringing mine. Don't bring bear bells.

First Aid Kit - this is a personal pet peeve of mine. Everyone out for a hike should carry a first aid kit for themselves. Blisters happen, hot spots happen, cuts and scrapes happen. An Adventure Medical Kits 0.5 Ultra-Light is a very good compact kit, and is available for around $10 at Atmosphere or Campers Village.

Whistle - if you don't have one, you can pick up a Fox 40 whistle at Atmosphere, Campers, Canadian Tire, etc, for around $5.

Duct Tape - Red Green wasn't wrong about this. I personally find Gorilla Tape works best, and you can pick up a hiking roll (the 1" wide roll) at Atmosphere or Canadian Tire for about $4. Fix tears, first aid, emergency fire starter, seriously, it's almost as good as Swiss Army Knife.

Proper Hiking Clothing - no jeans/cotton, a layer system that will allow you to add or remove as the hike goes on/weather changes (rain and/or snow are always a possibility), gloves, hat/toque, proper hiking boots (that you've preferably broken in before the hike, wear them around the office/house for a couple of days this week if they are brand new), and a pack that can hold all of the stuff you're bringing.

Hiking Poles - I find they are always helpful, regardless of the difficulty of the hike. If you don't have some and want to try them, let me know ahead of time and I'll try rustle up a spare set.

Hold On! You've Made Mention of Aaron the Wonder Dog, who has more likes on the S&S Facebook page than anything Andy's ever posted, and "Four Legged Friends". Is This A Dog Friendly Hike?

Yes, this is a dog friendly hike, so you can bring your dog with if you please. However, there are some rules around bringing dogs.

Dogs will be leashed on the hike at all times. I don't care how well your dog is trained and how great their recall is, on my hikes dogs are always leashed.

All dog messes shall be cleaned up immediately, and no, that doesn't mean throwing it in the bush. You're packing it out, so bring bags.

If you are bringing a dog, you will be a driver and there won't be two dogs in one vehicle. It's not fair to non dog owners to have nose art, paw prints, and dog hair all over the insides of their vehicles, and I find that putting two dogs who don't know each other in the same vehicle is roughly the same as having a cage match at 100 km/h.

If you are scared of dogs, let me know in advance. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, I was terrified of dogs until my mid teens. Aaron is a big cuddle and attention suck once he gets to know you, but his typical first reaction to new people and dogs is to be very defensive and vocal, and that can be very off putting to people who are uncomfortable around dogs. We will do our best to accommodate and be sensitive to that. If there are too many participants who are scared of dogs or if the possibility of dogs being on the hike prevent you from joining, let me know, and I will remove the dog friendly feature.

WAIVER:

As per the new policy for waivers, I will bring the group waiver form with me to the Meet-up location and the trailhead. You must sign it before you will be allowed to go on this event. You will also be asked for the name and phone number of an emergency contact. Please come prepared with this information.

You are fully aware that organizers are not professional guides and you assume all responsibility for your safety and well-being. You are fully prepared with proper gear and you're physically fit to do this event with the group

Your participation in this event means you have read the waiver and by signing up for this event you have accepted the waiver. If you have stated "no" in your profile you will not be accepted to participate. You are fully aware that organizers are not professional guides and you assume all responsibility 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

https://www.meetup.com/Slow-and-Steady-Hikers/pages/OUR_NEW_WAIVER/