Barrier Lake Fire Lookout Relaxed Pace

I haven't hiked to Barrier Lake Fire Lookout yet this year, so it's a good time now. It is a nice hike leaving from the Barrier Lake parking, along a flat area beside the lake, and then climbing gradually up to several beautiful lookouts and then finally up to the fire lookout and helicopter pad for our lunch break. This is a long day, please do not sign up if you have evening plans.

Distance: 12.5km
Elevation: 550m

This will be a long mountain hike, so I will only take people I have hiked with before. (If you would like to join one of my mountain hikes, please come on one of my Glenbow Ranch evening hikes first). We will not go fast, but it will be a long day hike, returning early evening.

We meet at the Barrier Lake Day Use Area, at 8:45am, to be ready to hike at 9am sharp. This will be a long day, please don't make evening plans. The map in the link is wrong. Please use Google Maps or traditional maps to find the Barrier Lake Day Use Area.

On my hikes, we take 8-12 experienced hikers. We do not run ahead or leave people behind. Super fast people will hike behind the slowest hiker. We are out to enjoy nature together, get to know each other better, and keep each other safe. If you run ahead of the group, we will feed you to the bears.

If you have not hiked with me before, please join my monthly, evening, Glenbow Ranch hikes so we can get to know each other before going yo the mountains. The next two are posted for Thursday, July 30th, and Thursday, August 27th

No beginners, no guests, no children. I may bring my friendly, experienced hiking dog, on a leash, if there is room in my Jeep. Her name is Jasmine.

You can choose to make your own carpooling plans once you are accepted on the hike. Recommended $25 gas fee. I recommend meeting at Shouldice Park and Ride or Petro Canada at hwy 22 and 1. I can take 3 (max 4) passengers from Petro, on the north end of the gravel road, on the hwy 22 side. Please plan your pickup times accordingly to arrive at the trailhead by 8:45am. Recommended gas fee is $25 and driver needs a Kananaskis Park Pass.

Bear spray recommended. Lunch, snacks, 2-3 litres of water plus electrolytes, poles, changes of clothes, medications, waterproof hiking boots, gaiters, required. Water purification tablets, a headlamp with new batteries, first aid kit, tensor bandage, and emergency silver blanket are recommended in case things don't go to plan. Extra socks and plastic bags for your boots are also useful. A water bladder you can drink while you hike, plus a backup water bottle is ideal

Please read the slow and steady waiver and code of conduct in advance. You will sign in agreeing to the conditions of the waiver at the trailhead and leave an emergency contact name and number. You agree to follow slow and steady policies, listen to the organizer, treat everyone with respect, do your own research on the hikes, come prepared, and recognize that your organizers are volunteers who put in a lot of their own time to plan and lead these hikes for you.