2000 Lake O'Hara Cross Country Ski Weekend
February 5 - 6, Saturday -Sunday
Tour Co-Ordinator: Peter LaGrandeur
lagrandeurp@techworld.ca
Webmaster: P. LaGrandeur....................This page last updated 2005 Jan 29
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| Last Year's (1999) Lake O'Hara XC Participants |
For whatever training you do not have, please book it ASAP. Calgary is probably just about the best city in the world with its plethora of high quality and low cost outdoor pursuits training courses. One possible place to take nordic ski and winter activity training courses is the
University of Calgary Outdoor Program Center.
Check out their web page or call them at (403) 220-5038.
So here we are, at year number nine at the Alpine Club's Elizabeth Parker hut. Definitely a tradition that we want to maintain.
This year it will be a two day sojourn amidst this world famous wintry wonderland. Remember that heavenly thick blanket of feathery snow on the roof of the hut and on the tree boughs? Remember that moonlit night ski through the area after supper last year? And the mexican theme pot luck supper? How about the gloriously sunny day when we went up to Mac Arthur Pass? And, of course, the outhouse with a view. Yes, you do remember? How could you forget. Well, we will be back to revel in it all again. Feb. 5 - 6, Saturday and Sunday, 2000 is when it is relived.
The first day consists primarily of the trip in on the fire road which is usually skiier track set. Options that day include an excursion to the east end of Lake O'Hara along the south side of the lake. The morning of day three could see us ascending MacArthur Pass to the low saddle between the adjacent mountain slopes, or a tour over to the small lake above the south side of Lake O'Hara, or exploring the trails in the direction of Morning Glory Lakes. Saturday evening's agenda calls for a night ski through the meadows around the hut or down to Lake O'Hara.
We have our annual communal supper on Saturday evening with the perennial Mexican theme. Participant's meal contributions will be finalized at the pre trip meeting in Calgary prior to the trip. Since we are going in a little later this winter, the Lake O'Hara Lodge will be open for lunch for those who are in the area at that time.
Potential participants are to be made aware that this is NOT intended to be a mountaineering weekend. Nor has it been a telemark outing as so few in the past have had telemarking and avalanche management skills. Our intent is to stay away from any slopes prone to sloughing. We look for ski mates who are into the "group mode" who remain with the group and contribute to its well being and camaraderie.
All participants are reminded to have the basic training for winter back country activities. This includes:
Intermediate cross country ski technique
Back packing on nordic skis
Winter clothing and layering theory
Route finding and map & compass skills
Gear selection and field ski repairs
Nutrition
Winter survival
Standard first aid & CPR
Avalanche recognition & management skills
Participants are required to have avalanche transceivers (and know how to use them), probes (not probe poles), and a sturdy shovel (has to be strong). Despite our plan to avoid hazardous slopes, it is always wise to be prepared for the worst, either with our group or to help with another.
If my recollection serves me correctly, there have been four romances ignited amongst participants who shared this weekend in this cozy log cabin buried in the snow nestled between the mountains, with two resultant weddings to date. For those looking for love, as well as good exercise in the great winter outdoors, will this be YOUR year??
This trip is offered with the understanding it is a Common Adventure
where each participant conducts him/herself independently,
makes his/her own judgements about safety and well being,
takes full responsibility for his/her own actions, and
contributes whatever he/she can towards the success of the trip.
The Tour Co-Ordinator is not a leader or professional guide of
any type and acts only to provide basic logistical arrangements
for initiating and running the trip. The route, itinerary and
all other aspects of this trip are only suggested and, as
responsible tourists, each participant is expected to research
everything prior to the trip to whatever extent he/she feels
is necessary to determine that all is safe and suitable.
Each participant is expected to possess any skills, equipment,
fitness, common sense, etiquette, knowledge of applicable
legislations, etc., to enjoyably and safely be involved in this
activity. Each participant is the sole and final judge about
his/her capability to safely proceed w!ith this tour.
All participants recognize financial loss, physical injuries
and death to be real possibities facing anyone in the sport of
back country skiing and related activities and agree to assume
all risks and consequences.
Any person who does not feel confident or self reliant about
their abilities or who does not agree with this philisophy
should not participate on this tour.
| Road Map Showing Access Route to Lake O'Hara Area |
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| Topo Map Showing Access to ACC EP Hut (82N/8) |
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| Participant Registration Form | Participant Orientation Package | Get Adobe Acrobat Viewer |
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| Click on the document icon above to view and/or download an Adobe Acrobat (*.pdf) file of the Participant Registration Form (63k) | Click on the document icon above to view and/or download an Adobe Acrobat (*.pdf) file of the Participant Orientation Package (316k) |
The Adobe Acrobat viewer is required to see and print the adjacent two documents. If you do not have this viewer, which is free, click the 'Get Acrobat' button above to go to the Adobe website to download Acrobat Reader. Once downloaded, install it by following the easy instructions."
If you already have the Adobe Acrobat viewer software properly installed on your computer, simply double click on the document icons to the above left and they will automatically open. |
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