Trail Running Camps

Course Agenda

Day 1: Meet at the Yamnuska Mountain Adventures office in Canmore at 8:00 am. Coffee and tea will be available. After introductions and going over program goals and objectives, we’ll head out for a run. The goal for today is simply to shake out and acclimatize to the terrain and elevation. Afterwards, we’ll head to the hostel and get settled for the remainder of the trip.

Days 2-3 (or 2-5): Each day we plan to head out on runs between 15-20 kilometres. Possible trails include:

• Iceline Trail – A signature circuit climbing to a high bench with spectacular glacier views, descending to meadows in the Little Yoho Valley and returning past Laughing Falls in the Yoho Valley. Approximately 20 km.
• Emerald Lake – This trail is will make an excellent warm-up run on day 1. Start along the shore of Emerald Lake then travel through ancient stands of hemlock and cedar to a natural amphitheatre. Approximately 10km.
• Paradise Valley area – Here’s a chance to enjoy great views of Mount Temple and witness dramatic surroundings at the Giant Steps Waterfall. Approximately 20 km.
• Twin Falls and the Whaleback – A classic circuit taking in the Yoho Valley and Twin Falls from both above and below. Approximately 20 km.
• Morraine Lake to Lake O’Hara – An alpine run beginning in the Valley of the Ten Peaks that requires negotiating some glaciated terrain at Opabin Pass to connect to the Lake O’Hara trails. Approximately 18 km.

The runs will be challenging, rewarding and enjoyable. Some of the runs may contain more elevation gain/loss but we will still have time to relax and recover in the afternoon. Please note that daily runs are subject to change due to weather and trail conditions.

We can download a GPS file in advance of the camp to show you the possible routes we’ll explore.

Meeting Time & Place

The course begins at the Yamnuska office at 8.00 am on Saturday morning. The Yamnuska office is located at 200, 50 Lincoln Park, Canmore. See this map for location.

Be dressed and ready for the outdoors.

Instructors & Group Size

Great people to spend time with in the mountains, your instructors are certified by the internationally-recognized Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. There will be a maximum of 12 participants. Our extensive knowledge of the trails in the Canadian Rockies will allow us to take you places you’ve always wanted to explore.

Transportation

To keep prices down participants are responsible for their own transport to Canmore and during the program. Canmore is a 1 hour (100km) drive west from Calgary.

If you are flying from afar for the program we suggest that you rent a car for your visit. In addition to getting you to the trailheads, it will allow you to explore our region before and after the trip.

Frequent shuttles connect Calgary International Airport and Canmore. Banff Airporter is the best way to get between Calgary Airport and Canmore/Banff. When you book with Yamnuska Mountain Adventures you will receive a 15% discount on Banff Airporter Scheduled Services.

Accommodation & Meals

During the trip, we stay in the Whiskey Jack Hostel located in Yoho National Park. Just down the road from the 1,254-foot Takakkaw Falls, HI Yoho National Park gives you rustic, wilderness living surrounded by nature. This wilderness hostel has both showers and flush toilets in each 9-bed dormitory. The hostel sleeps up to 27 guests and comes with a self-catering kitchen with potable water, indoor toilets and a shower, propane lights and appliances and an outdoor fire pit.

The hostel is just a short walk from Takakkaw Falls, one of Canada’s five highest waterfalls.

Accommodation in Canmore is not included. A variety of accommodation options exist in both Canmore and Banff, including campsites, hostels, all levels of hotels as well as condo style accommodation with kitchens or suites.  We recommend that you book your own pre and post-trip accommodations well in advance as all levels of accommodations in the Bow Valley fill quickly.

Yamnuska guests receive exclusive rates with Clique Hotels & resorts upon booking an adventure with either Yamnuska Mountain Adventures or Canadian Rockies Hiking by Yamnuska.  (Please note that some rates are non-refundable)

Excess luggage can be left at your hotel or our office during the trip.

All meals, snacks and drinks are supplied from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on the final day. Mountain meals are made from nutritious, healthy ingredients and prepared in our own kitchen by our chef.  For guests with dietary restrictions, we are able to modify the program food pack to meet your individual needs.  As food pricing and preparation for these diets is more costly, we have implemented the following surcharges.  For vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, soy-free, nut-free or any similar type of single restriction menu requests there will be a $16/day surcharge. For a diet requiring any 2 restrictions a $25/day surcharge will apply.  For any 3 restrictions, a $30/day surcharge will apply.  Vegetarian meals will not be surcharged.

For more complex diets our kitchen staff will assess the restrictions to inform you if the diet can be accommodated and what surcharge would apply. Please let us know the details by filling out a Food Questionnaire when you sign up for the program.

If there is a particular brand of nutrition that you like when running we encourage you to bring it. We will have Xact Nutrition bars (Apricot, Strawberry, BlackBerry w/ Caffeine, Orange and Beet); Torq energy gels in all the flavours and Tailwind (Matcha Green team, Tropical Buzz, Natural and Lemon) available for purchase.

Equipment & Clothing

The equipment and clothing you bring to this course will play a large role in the quality of your experience. Read the following suggestions and lists carefully. If you have any questions or need clarification, don’t hesitate to call or email.

• Trail running shoes
• Trail running socks
• Hydration vest (8L minimum) for gels, water etc
• GPS watch if you would like to track the routes
• Wind shell and rain shell
• Wicking short sleeve and long sleeve top
• Wicking shorts and rain shell pants
• Sunscreen
• Hat with visor
• Sunglasses
• Blister kit (the guides will carry a first aid kit)
• If there is a particular brand of nutrition that you like when running we encourage you to bring it. We will have Xact Nutrition bars (Apricot, Strawberry, BlackBerry w/ Caffeine, Orange and Beet); Torq energy gels in all the flavours and Tailwind (Matcha Green team, Tropical Buzz, Natural and Lemon) available for purchase.

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. A  35% deposit (including GST) is required at the time of booking. The final payment is due eight weeks before the start of the program.  We accept Visa, Mastercard, Canadian Cheques, Money Orders and Bank Drafts.  Credit card payments are easiest, especially for international travellers.

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 a waiver copy.

There are two basic types of insurance that most travellers need to consider: Medical and Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance. We offer our guests coverage for both and highly recommend you purchase it.

Emergency Medical Expenses Insurance:

It is wise to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident during your trip. Obtain extra coverage if necessary. There is no charge for rescue in the national and provincial parks, however, costs such as air or ground transportation, long term care and other services are not covered.

Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance:

We recognize that our guests’ schedules may change for many reasons; business, family, flight delays, injuries and other unplanned events. For these eventualities, the Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance is a great way to protect your investment.

For all your travel insurance requirements we recommend the Simpson Group. This agency offers a wide range of travel insurance options including Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Travel Medical and Personal Effect Loss for Canadian Travelers.  We highly recommend purchasing this insurance. For more information and to purchase a plan, visit the Simpson Group’s website.

Please note that this coverage is for Canadian residents only. For guests who are not from Canada and who are interested in the ‘Visitors to Canada’ insurance package please contact the Simpson Group directly at JSimpson@simpson-group.com and reference your Yamnuska Mountain Adventure’s trip.