Organizer: Kara Little - Safety Chair and GMMC Exec sponsored trip

UPDATE - Cancelled due to insufficient numbers for group camp. We will try this again in the Spring with more notice - keep your eyes out for Turkey Trek in October!

Up to 50 club members can gather at the Owl Group Campsite for September Long weekend to use a a base camp for day trips, and get together in the evening to share stories, food and make friends around the campfire. Bring guitars too! There's a lot to read, so read it twice before sending a question! haha :-)

KEEP CHECKING BACK HERE FOR UPDATES

Activity Type:  YOUR CHOICE: Day Hiking, Rock Climbing, Scrambling, Skills practice, Running, Mountain biking, Social, Campfire singing, eating, sleeping...
Difficulty Rating: Beginner, Intermediate, Difficult

Itinerary: For many years, GMMC hosted a summer kick off group camping/day trip weekend event called the Owl, Prowl, Howl! The Owl campground was available for September long weekend, so I took it as a sign that we needed to bring it back! Campground available from 4pm Friday September 1, check out by noon Monday September 4.

Owl for the name of the Group Campground, Prowl for the activities during the day, and Howl at the moon at night back at camp! The Owl Group Campground in Kananaskis, near Canmore, can hold up to 50 camping units and serves as a terrific base camp for day trips in the Kananaskis/Canmore/Banff area. The campsite has power, drinking water, firepits/firewood, flush toilets (with power in the bathroom), a heated hall large enough to accommodate 150 people with lights and power, an Atco trailer with a small kitchen, and picnic shelters!

Day trips in smaller groups, group camping area to ourselves, along with meals, campfires and socializing in the evening are a great opportunity to meet a lot of fellow club members, share stories of the day's events, and get ideas for future adventures.

HOW IT WORKS:

-Get yourself and your fellow club member friends, food and gear to the campground anytime Friday after 4pm. Tent sharing and carpooling encouraged!

-Set up camp, the club has a few tents if you need one, message me!

-Go on smaller group day trips on Saturday and Sunday in the area lead by club trip leaders. If you are a trip leader or have thought about putting on a trip, this is a great way to ease into the new system, and we will help you post your outing as a day trip within the Owl, Prowl Howl event.

-Come back to camp safe and sound, enjoy your dinner, campfire (firewood provided at the campsite), share stories, songs, and make new friends!

SOME IDEAS FOR DAY TRIPS:

-Lead a day hike to one of the dozens of amazing trails in the area for 8 people. Having a few different hiking day trips for different ability levels would be great.

-You and a co-leader could lead a beginner top rope climb at Wasootch Slabs for 6 people.

-Go for a mountain bike ride.

-Always wanted to bike from Banff to Canmore but don't want to go both ways? Pre-book a shuttle for your bikes to be driven from Canmore to Banff so you can enjoy a downhill ride back to Canmore! Get people to sign up early and pre-book your spots.

-If you want to hire an ACMG guide for a day, do the Guided Via Feretta, Guided Rafting, Guided E-bike tours, or it's raining and you want to go to the Canmore Rec Centre or even the Spa, you are welcome to do these things without a club trip leader, as they are insured by the professional guiding company or facility offering the service. If unsure, please ask, but all club members must be registered on the trip and sign the waiver as this covers the weekend.

STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS ON DAY TRIPS and MESSAGE ME WITH YOUR IDEAS AND WE WILL GET IT SET UP! Want to go on a hike but you're not sure someone will set one up that interests you? This is your chance to become a trip leader! Check out the link to Trip Coordinators https://gmmc.ca/Trip-Coordinator-Responsibilities (only available to active members) or email me for more information.

Trip will be open to GMMC members first, then AAC Edmonton section members will have access to sign up as of July 21. Sign up early and get your friends to join too, as if there isn't enough interest by EXTENDED TO AUGUST 21 WITH PAYMENT RECEIVED, the trip will be cancelled and refunds will be issued. If we reach 20 sign ups, the trip will go ahead, and I will post to confirm.

Campground website:

https://albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/bow-valley-pp/information-facilities/group-use/owl/

Located just south of Highway 1 where the 1X highway intersects, near the Rafter 6 Ranch. 27 minute drive to Kananaskis Village or 19 minute drive to Canmore. See Google Map link:

https://goo.gl/maps/Z1E9yHFymo8wvCkN6

Prerequisites / Courses Required: Varies depending on individual day trip activities chosen. Stay tuned for details on day trips, or message me to set one up!

Required items to bring: Own tent/camping unit - sharing and carpooling is encouraged! Own food, drinking water is available on site, but I can't vouch for the flavour, so bring your own if you're picky. Firewood is provided. Bring gear for the activities you plan to participate in, including rain gear, first aid basics, safe food storage, etc. If you have questions, please send me a message.

A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required for each vehicle and is the participant's responsibility, $15/day/vehicle or $90 annual pass: https://www.alberta.ca/kananaskis-conservation-pass.aspx?utm_source=redirect&utm_medium=all&utm_campaign=GoA&utm_term=ConservationPass

Cost is $80 per person for the weekend (3 nights, no partial weekend rates are offered but you can come late, leave early as you need), based on a minimum of 2 people per camping unit (tent/camper/RV each qualify as one unit). If you plan to use a tent or camper for one person only, there will be a $15 single supplement fee as we are charged per unit. Hard copy waivers will be given for signature upon arrival at camp.

Everyone will be wait-listed until payment received. Etransfer to safety@gmmc.ca, please put participant name in memo. If Etransfer doesn't work for you, please email me to make other arrangements.

Can't wait to see everyone!

As per club guidelines, participants are responsible for arranging their own accommodations and transportation.

Please refer to the GMMC Policies regarding Animals, Carpooling, Accommodation, and Cancellation.