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Itinerary/Days 1-2: Banff/Mount Engadine Lodge 3-4: Shadow Lake Lodge 5-6: Emerald Lake Lodge 7: Depart for Banff or Calgary Meeting / Departure Points Meeting Point: Banff Departure Point: Banff or Calgary Lodging 6 nights comfortable mountain lodges Meals all meals included except one breakfast and one lunch Details 7 day hiking adventure The wilds of Banff and Yoho National Parks and comfort of charming backcountry lodges Magnificent waterfalls, stunning glaciers and lush forests, elk and moose Daily hiking, vehicle travel

There's nothing like hiking through the wildest scenery in the Canadian Rockies than coming "home" to a remote backcountry lodge for a glass of wine, a dinner of fresh trout, and a chance to soak in a hot tub or relax by the crackling warmth of a big stone fireplace. We stay in a series of alpine retreats, each intimate in size and offering a peaceful setting, a European Alps ambiance, and the chance to experience the wonder of three of the Rockies' most famous wilderness: Banff National Park, Kootenay National Park, and Yoho National Park. On our daily hikes, we ascend mountain cirques to tundra lakes, watch for moose, elk, and bighorn sheep, examine glacial icefalls, linger for photography and nature studies, and find that every day on the trail in the Rockies brings new discoveries.

Departure Dates   1: Jul 20 - 26   2: Aug 10 - 16

1 - 2: Banff/Mount Engadine Lodge We meet for breakfast in Banff, then set off for our first hike, a fine introduction to Banff National Park that takes us through the Valley of Ten Peaks and over Sentinel Pass to Lake Annette. The next day, we hike across Banff National Park's remote Burstall Pass, with its exhilarating mountain panorama of saber-sharp peaks in every direction. 3 - 4: Shadow Lake Lodge Shadow Lake Lodge, with its log cabins, is a fabulous backcountry retreat accessible only on foot. We hike to the lodge on our favorite trail, the "Lakes & Larches," following the Great Divide through the delightful meadows of Healy Pass and past the Pharaoh Peaks and lakes Egypt, Scarab, and Mummy. The next day, we explore more of Banff National Park on our alpine romp from Shadow Lake up to Ball Pass below the gargantuan, glacier-clad Mt. Ball. 5 - 6: Emerald Lake Lodge The historic timber-and-stone Emerald Lake Lodge was built on the shore of Emerald Lake in 1902. We are surrounded by soaring mountains and lush forests here, and our cozy lakeside cabins each have a fieldstone fireplace, private balcony, and spectacular view. Specialties of the lodge's renowned kitchen include caribou, elk and buffalo. On Day 5, we hike the classic Iceline trail, contouring the Emerald Glacier with panoramic vistas of the massive Yoho Valley and its rock walls and waterfalls. Our last hike on Day 6 takes us up through the lush cedar and hemlock forests surrounding Emerald Lake for views of the impressive peaks and hanging glaciers that ring Emerald Basin. 7: Depart for Banff or Calgary

COST Land Cost cost/per person, based on double occupancy Cost 9-12 members 6-8 members   $2595 $2795 Single supplement: $325