Sawmill Loop - Sat, Feb 25 2023

Sawmill Loop (2/25/2023)

PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED:Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page.

You are STRONGLY encouraged to read this page in its entirety before signing up. If you'd like to attend, we ask that you abide by our rules and procedures as a time/cost saving process (with an end result of keeping membership free and lower cost events).

The Basics:

Event Type:

Snowshoe

Event Location:

Smith Dorrien - Kananaskis Country

Date(s) & Time:

Sat, Feb 25 2023 10:00 AM (Carpool Departure: 8:30 AM *log in for location*)

Registration Cut Off:

Fri, Feb 24 2023 7:00:00 PM

Event Duration:

~3 hours plus driving time

Difficulty Rating:

D2: Easy to Moderate

Event Coordinator(s):

Julie
You must be logged in to get the Event Coordinator contact information.

Member Cost:

None

Participant Info:

Who's Invited:

Members Only, 18 And Older Only

Maximum Group Size:

Maximum No. Guests:

Minimum Group Size:

Maximum No. Guests Per Member:

Number Registered So Far:

5 (Log in to see who's signed up.)

Are Dogs Permitted:

Itinerary:

Distance: ~5 km

Elevation Gain: 120m +

This is a short snowshoe trail with some great scenery listed in A Beginners Guide to Snow Shoeing in the Canadian Rockies, by Andrew Nugara
. We will take the official snowshoe trail and possibly go further on the James Walker trail if the trail is packed and not too much snow.

The pace will be moderate - beginners are welcome.

Please note that we may be sharing part of these trails with x-country skiers, so we'll need avoid their ski tracks with our giant snowshoes.

Given the recent snowfall this week, the conditions should be amazing. It will be warming up to -5 on Saturday making it a quite pleasant day to be outside.

NOTE: If you are not comfortable with carpooling, you may choose to meet us at the sawmill parking lot.

Kananaskis Conservation Pass fees apply for any vehicle access into Kananaskis Country. The mandatory fee of: Day pass - $15 (registers one vehicle) or Yearly pass - $90 (registers up to 2 vehicles) applies. You can purchase your pass beforehand, online at:
Kananaskis Conservation Pass OR in person at the Kananaskis Visitor Information Center at Barrier Lake.

Required Items to Bring:
- Snowshoes
- Layered clothing
- Gloves/mitts
- Lunch
- Kananaskis Conservation Pass

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.
- Gaiters
- Poles
- Camera
- Hot drink

How to Get There:

Event Directions:

NOTE: There is no cell phone reception near the Sawmill trailhead.
SAWMILL TRAILHEAD: Take the Trans Canada Highway (Hwy #1) west from Calgary for approximately 70 km, then turn south on Hwy #40 for approximately 50 km. Turn right onto the Kananaskis Lakes Trail (just before the winter gate). Turn north (right) onto the Smith-Dorrien Trail (gravel road) and continue for ~14 kms. The Sawmill Parking Lot is on your right and is very well signed however, the Sawmill sign sometimes becomes buried in the high snow banks. Sign may or may not be visible, follow your odometer (~14 kms and turn into the trailhead parking area, there are outhouses here).

Carpool to Event Distance (round trip):

220Km

Carpool Departure Time:

8:30 AM

Carpool Location:

Carpool Directions:

Carpool Cost:

Approximate vehicle expense for this event is $66.00 (calculated at total Km * $0.30, effective Friday, April 19, 2024). This is based on $0.16/Km for maintenance, plus current gas price divide by 9. Alternately your carpool driver may choose to split the maintenance cost plus the actual gas cost among all in the vehicle. Your carpool driver will confirm exactly how much money they require to cover costs. Please split the actual cost among all people in the vehicle.

Notes:

Winter Safety Considerations
This information entered by Julie Jack Feb 24, 2023
Terrain Classification: Simple (Class-1)
Forecast Avalanche Danger Level:
Alpine : considerable
Treeline : considerable
Below Treeline : low
Some or all of this event takes place in Simple (Class-1) terrain. Should the avalanche danger rise to High or Extreme at any elevation on the day of the event, it will be cancelled, or moved to an area free of avalanche hazard.

- Details of this event are subject to undergo a change at any point in time, with or without warning.
- Notice any errors or problems in the information on this page? Please notify our Content Editor(s), Wendy W and Lynda H., at content@calgaryoutdoorclub.com.

Cost & Payment:

Voluntary Donations:

Although there is no cost for this event, please note that the club survives on voluntary donations. Please consider making a donation based on the value you feel you receive from the club. See our How You Can Help page for more information.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance: