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Banff National Park of Canada backpacking trip

Sep 5

Sat 7:00 PM

Location: This location is shown only to members

Estimated attendance: 7 people attended.
4.006
Who organized?
Francisco

I am planning a trip out west on Labor Day which falls on on September 7th. The plan is to fly to Calgary, AB on September 5th. Rent a car in Calgary for the week and drive to Banff National Park which is about 3 hours away from Calgary. We'll fiy back on Saturday September 12th or Sunday September 13th. Therefore we only have to take 4 days off from work.

I plan on backpacking Banff from Sunday September 6th until Friday September 11th. That's 6 days, 5 nights.

The cost of the trip:

$350 plane tickets to Calgary, AB
$100 per person figuring we'll be at least 4 in a car big enough for our 4 backpacks
$60 backcountry camping fees
$100 for lodging at a hotel in Calgary on Saturday september 5th and Friday September 11th. (we'll need a nice shower at the end)
$30 Gas

Total cost = $640

This total cost does not include equipment and food. That's up to you guys. We'll bring our own supplies. There are no porters on this trip.

We'll backpack an average of 12 miles a day.

I will need a serious commitment by no later than July 11th. This means if you're coming you'll have to book your plane tickets by August 3rd. You'll have to purchase a plane ticket that arrives on Saturday September 5th.

We need to book our tentsites ASAP so the earlier I get a commitment the better and also the closer we get to labor the higher tickets are going to be. I will take a maximum of 10 people with me. Before booking the flight get in touch with me though.

Last checked Sunday June 28th:

Newark to Calgary leave Saturday September 5th 8am Newark arrives 11:23am Calgary and departs Sunday September 13th 12:40pm and arrives Newark 7pm. Non-stop flight : $350 Air Canada. This is the flight that I will book. I know some people probably would want to come back on Saturday so there is a flight about $370 Air Canada but has two stops on the way back on Saturday but whatever you book it is up to you guys. If everyone ends up buying ticket back on Sunday then we perhaps spend an extra night in Banff on Friday but we'll figure that out after everyone buys their ticket.

Please buy your tickets as soon as you have talked to me and are sure you're coming.

Link to Banff

thanks,

francisco
[masked]

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Posted Oct 1, 2009 9:22 AM

Cristian

The pics look amazing! Vive le Canada... Great trip, Francisco & gang!
Posted Sep 15, 2009 3:25 PM

Francisco

Assistant Organizer

If you read the posting for this trip I said that we would be doing an average of 12 miles a day. Key word "average". I did ask one day to try to do 30K, which is 18.6 miles. However our first day was a 4 miler. We were going to do about 12 the other days. Therefore if you added all the days together and divided by 6, you would get an average of about 12 miles, probably less than 12 miles. Again just read the description for the trip.
Posted Sep 14, 2009 2:23 PM

mike popp

Assistant Organizer

20 miles a day Francisco??? Good grief...
Posted Sep 14, 2009 2:22 PM

mike popp

Assistant Organizer

It will be well received.... Glad to see that everyone still had an awesome time...somehow it always seems to work out that way in the end anyway...
Posted Sep 14, 2009 2:20 PM

mike popp

Assistant Organizer

What people new to the group probably don't get is that this club generally doesn't have "leaders" per se..."organizer", in fact, is a bit of a stretch, especially on a trip like this. I would recommend that if you're interested in a trip with this group and you would like a detailed trip itinerary, question what the itenerary is, and if it sounds vague or if you want to change it, then do some reserach yourself and contribute to it.
Posted Sep 14, 2009 2:18 PM

mike popp

Assistant Organizer

Sounds like a great trip...glad to see Dennis had an unexpected health benefit...
Pre-Meetup comments below
Posted Aug 25, 2009 10:50 AM

Francisco

Assistant Organizer

To address the bear question. We need to make sure that they know that we're around. The worst part is scaring a bear. Bears are territorial. We also avoid coming in contact with them by keeping our food away from them at night by hanging it.
Posted Aug 12, 2009 10:14 AM

Former Member

So, I been reading up... and how are we looking to deal with BEARS? That's probably the one thing I feel like we should have a good idea of planning on so we know what the best route is to take all precautions against attracting them.
Posted Aug 4, 2009 1:49 AM

Minhaj

Where's the gear list? Do we have a rough plan? Damn, I'll need a lot of food for 6 days.
Posted Jul 8, 2009 1:10 PM

Former Member

Cool :) I am just trying to assemble my 'needs' for a birthday list :) I am gonna hold off getting a GPS - I assume someone in the group has one?
Posted Jul 7, 2009 10:08 AM

Francisco

Assistant Organizer

Yes, we are as soon as everyone who is coming is a definite we'll get together. Maybe sometime at the end of August? Libby and Scott who are coming, are in Vancouver so we won't be able to get together with them but I will talk to them about what we decide when we do.
Posted Jul 6, 2009 7:18 PM

Former Member

So, are we going to meet altogether and plan this thing as a group? Are we each flying solo or planning to organize food/firstaid/GPS etc... would prefer to organize so that we don't double up on things... thoughts?
Posted Jun 30, 2009 12:45 AM

Jaymee

Go to http://www.aircanada.com. That's where I found the least expensive of the fare. I searched all through cheaptickets, travelocity...the fares on these sites are higher than air canada website. Francisco is correct, the $332 is direct going to Calgary and one-stop going back. I'll be able to know whether I can go by the third week of July.
Posted Jun 29, 2009 7:44 PM

Francisco

Assistant Organizer

well, there is a $332 ticket if you're willing to switch planes in Toronto on the way back. I think that is the fare Jaymee saw.
Posted Jun 29, 2009 6:04 PM

Former Member

Last posting. I must be high (or this job is getting to me)... I see the $400 tickets heading out of Newark :) Ya'll should point me this way, folks :) hehe picking them up now.
Posted Jun 29, 2009 5:57 PM

Former Member

Unless you have a problem with it, I can't find lower than $400 for a ticket (Delta) and the timing is kinda screwy, including one 11-hour triptime!... so, can I wait and check this over the next 1-2 weeks to see if I can find a reasonable set of flights for less than $600? I am definitely on this and have marked the vacation days... I just am gonna see if I can find something that is less of a fiscal f***er.
Posted Jun 29, 2009 5:29 PM

Former Member

um - that is EACH way... making the total around $750 each roundtrip, by the way.... so be careful how you read these things...
Posted Jun 29, 2009 12:23 PM

Jaymee

People, get it through www.aircanada.com. I checked the tix yesterday and it is about $330 USD.
Posted Jun 29, 2009 8:51 AM

Francisco

Assistant Organizer

Calgary, AB is our final destination!
Posted Jun 29, 2009 7:22 AM

Former Member

and Calgary IS the destination right (because you still have Great Falls listed here for the ticket)... ? I want to get my tickets tomorrow, so please confirm.

Who attended?

7 attendees
- Francisco
  
  “ Had an awesome time. I think everyone enjoyed the trip. I'm sorry if I disappointed Shane but every trip is a collaborative effort. I don't get paid for any of this stuff so I tried to put as much together in my little available time available as possible. Of course I waited to get to Calgary to plan the trip. I wasn't getting any information over the internet about a good 6 day trip to do. Lots of suggestions for 3 day trips so I figured when I got to Calgary, I would buy a map and ask around. What's wrong with that? I never made fun of anyone for not knowing their stuff regarding backpacking. Why would I? I did however think that I had a group of experienced backpackers except for Lib, who I knew was her first trip. In any case it was my mistake for bringing people that I had never been outdoors with. Those who knew me before this trip had a blast. My trips are about letting go of schedules, plans and taking it easy enjoying nature. I feel sorry for you Shane if you feel that way. ”
- Dennis
  
  “ Good times, good times... IN SPITE OF ring leader Francisco and his hanchman comrads hikers Michel,Libi and Minush was tying to feed me to the bears and on one occasion asked chipmonk to bit my b..s off. Also those bi...s were stilling my food and forcing me to carry their backpacks and make a trail in the snow for them.Also they took my tent and force me to share tent with gang leader Francisco, who intoxicated me with his fumes and generally had no plan for the trip whatsoever.Because of their recless behavior I lost 3 kg of my total body weight and so happy about it. I would rate this meetup 6, but I rated it 5 stars, because of grate views of the Banff and Lake Louise. ”
- Mike
  
  “ great nature, great people, great experience. thanks guys!!! i flew in from germany to join this hike. the trip was worth every euro-cent. looking forward to the next adventure :D ”
- Libby
- Minhaj
- Kate T