The Wall of Jericho
In the Lake Louise Backcountry of Banff
National Park
When designing backpacking tours we look
for areas that best illuminate the backcountry of the Canadian Rockies
and itineraries that meet our clients desire for remote adventures. The Wall of Jericho
is just such a hike. It was designed by one of our senior guides to
include some less-travelled trails whilst maintaining the high
standards of scenery our backpackers expect.
The Wall of Jericho hike begins in the
northern part of
Banff National Park and traverses south through the front ranges to
the valleys surrounding world-famous Skoki
Lodge before heading out to Lake Louise. The early days are spent on
the less-travelled trails of the upper Pipestone region before
finishing in one of the most famous back packing areas in the Canadian
Rockies. Our repeat clients will once again experience yet more of the wonderful landscapes
of mountains, meadows and lakes with
which the Canadian Rockies are gifted in overabundance. Fit newcomers
will risk serious mountain addiction!
The Wall of Jericho is the name given to
the huge rock spur of Ptarmigan Peak above Merlin Meadows.
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2008 Dates
July 20 - 26,
August 17 - 23 with
David Begg
August 30 -
September 5 with
Kevin Blades
Cost
$1295.00 Canadian includes guides, Park 'Wilderness Pass',
out-trip meals, group camping gear and local transfers.
Not included: Canmore
accommodation, Gratuities & 5% Goods
and Service Tax (GST)*. Cancellation insurance available for $69.
Optional pre and post trip
accommodation
packages are available from $80 per person per night for
shared room lodging ($160 for single occupancy). Purchase
with booking. Subject to availability.
* a
50% rebate of the GST is available to non-residents of Canada.
Currency Exchange Calculator
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Meeting Place and Time
We
will meet you at our Yamnuska Mountain Adventures office at 7.30pm the
evening of Day 1.
Our office is located at 200, 50 Lincoln Park, Canmore. See this map
for location.
For
your greater convenience we offer a pre-meeting shuttle service within
Canmore. Please let us know in advance where you will be staying if
needing this service. Pickup will occur between 7.00 and 7.20pm.
Please ensure that you have your hiking equipment with you.
Group on summit of Anthozoan
Mountain (2695m), Day 5
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Program Itinerary
Day 1:
At 7.30pm we meet at the
Yamnuska Mountain Adventures office in Canmore. We'll go over the trip with you and check to see that you are properly outfitted.
Day 2:
Mosquito Creek - Fish Lakes
We will pick you up after breakfast, deal with last minute gear issues
and food packing then head off. Driving north from Canmore on the
Icefields Parkway we travel 95km up the world famous and fantastically beautiful Icefields Parkway to Mosquito Creek trailhead. From there we'll set off up across the alpine meadows to North Molar Pass and down the other side to our first campground. Honestly, we have no idea where the name "Mosquito Creek" comes from!
Distance 15 km. Elevation gain 660 m.
Day 3:
Day hike to Pipestone Pass
We stay at Fish Lakes campground for two nights, using it as a base to explore the high alpine country of Pipestone Pass (named by Dr. James Hector of the Palliser Expedition because his native associates were said to be in the habit of carving pipes from the sediments found in the valley). This is long day trip with light packs spent almost entirely above treeline.
Distance 18 km return. Elevation Gain 225 m.
Moose Lake on the Wall of Jericho Hike, Canadian Rockies
Day 4:
Fish Lakes - Merlin Meadows
Today we continue our trek towards Lake Louise moving down the Pipestone Valley, past an old outfitters camp and then into a narrow valley to our campground at Merlin Meadows. We will pass the imposing Wall of Jericho and the 3000m summit of Mount Richardson.
Distance 19 km. Elevation gain 325m.
Day 5: Merlin Meadows - Baker Lake
Staying mostly at treeline and higher we move camp to Baker Lake, crossing
Packers Pass and the beautiful Skoki Lakes en route. This is a shorter day, so after setting up camp in the early afternoon we will discuss the options of exploring the valleys and ridges about camp or maybe just relax at the lake!
Distance 8 km. Elevation gain 300m. Option for extra hiking
available.
Day 6:
Day hike from Baker Lake
Using Baker Lake as our base, we have several options including hikes
up Anthozoan Mountain or Oyster Peak.
This area is famous for its fossils. Oyster Peak named by surveyor George Dawson for the curious fossil
shells he found in the vicinity.
Distance up to 15 km. Elevation gain 550m.
Day 7:
Baker Lake to Lake Louise
On our final day we have the option again of relaxing by the lake or
exploring around camp before heading past Ptarmigan Lake over Boulder Pass, down to the
road and a hot shower in Canmore! Dinner in Canmore. Distance 11 km.
Elevation gain 100m., loss 525m.
Ptarmigan Lake on the Wall of Jericho hike.
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How difficult is it? How fit and experienced need you be?
 This
trip is rated challenging due to the rough nature of some of
the trails and to having to carry heavier backpacks on days 1
and 3.
Participants will be carrying personal clothing and gear plus a fair
share of food and group gear (tents, stoves etc). By keeping personal
gear light, pack weights need not exceed 20kg (44lbs) on the 1st day,
thereafter weights drop. Please read our
Travelling Light & Making Backpacking More Fun
for information and suggestions for clothing and equipment.
Prior hiking experience is
not a prerequisite but is strongly recommended. Participants must be in good physical
condition and able to carry a backpack over hilly terrain for a succession
of longish days.
The trails are
rough in sections which makes the trip more challenging. We will hike a regular and steady
pace that conserves energy but you still must be in good
hiking shape before you come. We cannot
emphasize enough that training pays great dividends in enjoyment. We
suggest you train by walking and/or cycling and/or hiking (ideally in
hilly terrain).
Visit our Trip Difficulty Comparison Chart.
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Guides and Group Size
Yamnuska Mountain Adventure guides are certified through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. Our professional guides have extensive experience in the Canadian Rockies. Guides also have advanced wilderness first aid training and heritage interpretation accreditation. Guides carry emergency equipment including
a first aid kit, bear spray and radio.
There will be a maximum of eight guests and a minimum of two.
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Accommodation and Meals
On the trail you
will be staying in modern, lightweight 2- and 1-person weather-proof
tents.
The first and last
night's accommodation in Canmore is NOT included. For your
convenience we can arrange bed
and breakfast hotel rooms for these and other nights at $160
per night. These will be at the recommended
Westridge Country Inn. Double or single occupancy, the cost is the
same. For those wishing to defray this cost we will try to pair them
with other participants. This accommodation can be booked with the trip
online or by calling us. Subject to availability.
You can also make
your own arrangements. Check our
links page for a range
of Canmore accommodations.
Excess luggage can be left at
your hotel or our office.
We supply all meals and trail snacks from
lunch on Day 2 to lunch on Day 7. Groups generally go out for dinner
in Canmore with the guide on the final evening (own cost).
Trail cuisine is constructed from lightweight ingredients including
our Yamnuska custom-made dehydrated dinners. Please specify any special dietary requirements you have on
booking so we can incorporate them into our menus.
In case of more complicated diets a surcharge may apply.
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Getting to Canmore and Transportation
Canmore is situated 100km (65miles) west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway. It is well served by scheduled bus lines both from Calgary (airport and downtown), Banff (20km west) and points further west. Calgary International Airport is well connected to major cities throughout North America and Europe. Once in Canmore we will supply all transport needed for the trip.
Frequent shuttles connect Calgary International Airport and Canmore. Greyhound Bus
Lines (1 800 661 8747) serves Canmore from points east and west along the Trans-Canada
Highway. Call 609 8790, 609 0300, 609 1490 or 609 8505 for taxis in Canmore.
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Clothing and Equipment
We
supply group camping and cooking equipment plus a full emergency and first-aid kit. You will need to bring personal equipment (backpack, sleeping bag etc) and clothing. Yamnuska
Mountain Adventures does have rental and
retail equipment such as sleeping bags, mats,
and backpacks.
Rental Gear List. Contact us in advance to reserve.
What you bring will have a big impact on the quality of your experience,
we especially urge you to read our
notes on lightweight
gear and clothing.
Please download the list below and make sure
that you will have the items listed.
Clothing and Equipment List (pdf)
Contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
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Gear and Clothing Sales
Yamnuska Mountain
Adventures now has a range of backpacking equipment
and clothing for sale including recommended light-weight packs, sleeping bags, sleeping mats and
clothing. Clients signed up for a
Yamnuska Program receive 5% off retail items, with
larger discounts available on our package deals.
Details on packing light & recommended items.
Catalogue and purchase information. |
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Fishing
Baker Lake fishes well for brook and cutthroat trout.
Participants are welcome to bring lightweight fishing gear. A National
Park fishing licenses is required (purchase in Canmore). Fishing regulations apply.
Insurance
In the National Parks there is no charge for rescue. Ensure that you have adequate travel insurance or that your health plan will cover you whilst here.
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To Book
Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. A deposit of $476CDN
(including GST) is required at time of booking. Final payment is due eight
weeks before the start of the trip. To avoid unnecessary cancellation penalties we suggest
you take our cancellation insurance for an extra non-refundable $69, this
can only be purchased at the time of booking.
For detailed Booking Instructions and Conditions, click
here.
Please note that you will be required
to sign our waiver before commencing the trip.
Click here for waiver
copy.
Please don't hesitate to contact us if you need to know anything else about this hike.
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