Orientation Night - Group introductions, information for the week will be provided, and questions will be answered

Arrive To: Arrivals in Canmore; meeting at Calgary airport at 3:30 pm for included shuttle to the Inn in Canmore; dinner and evening orientation.

Dinner: Plated dinner at a local restaurant at 6:00 p.m. Meet in hotel lobby at 5:45 p.m.

Evening: Program orientation will follow dinner at the hotel.

Lodging: Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn

Meals Included: Dinner

Note: This is a very active program with daily hikes on mountain trails with varied terrain. Two levels of hiking options are available according to ability levels. Moderate: (5-6 miles; 1000 -1700 feet elevation) and Motivated: (7-9 miles; 1200 - 2400 feet elevation). In addition to the distances listed, it is important to consider the amount of elevation gained and lost, the varied terrain, and the starting elevation of hikes, which ranges between 4,200-7,200 feet.

Breakfast: Deluxe continental buffet-style breakfast with hot/cold options at Inn from 6:30 - 7:45 am.

Morning: PRESENTATION: During your scenic drive to the trailhead, your knowledgeable guides will present information about the history of Banff National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the harsh alpine environment of Sunshine Meadows and the influence of the pine beetle in mountain environments. FIELD TRIP: Hiking - Sunshine Meadows. Depart hotel for full day of interpretive hiking at Sunshine Meadows in Banff National Park. Learn about the ecology of the Sunshine Meadows area, one of the premiere hiking areas in the Rockies. The meadows are famous for the summer wildflowers, magnificent lakes, and monumental mountain peaks. Fall colors start at the end of August, with the Larch trees turning a vibrant gold.

Lunch: Hearty home-made trail lunch from the Summit Cafe.

Afternoon: Continuation of morning hiking options at Sunshine Meadows. Discuss the human impact on the park's delicate alpine environment. Learn what measures are being undertaken to balance human encroachment with park conservation.

Dinner: Private buffet-style dinner at a local restaurant in Canmore.

Evening: Free evening to explore the town of Canmore

Lodging: Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Deluxe continental buffet-style breakfast with hot/cold options at Inn from 6:30 - 7:45 am.

Morning: PRESENTATION: Presentation talks will cover the history of Canmore, names and stories of surrounding peaks, the history of Kananaskis Country, the First Nations people, and the ecoregions of the Canadian Rockies. FIELD TRIP: Hiking - Spray Valley. Depart hotel for full day of interpretive hiking in the Spray Valley in Kananaskis Country's Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Ability levels and groups as per the previous day. Hikers will be able to choose from trails to Burstall Pass, Chester Lake, and Black Prince Cirque.

Lunch: Hearty home-made trail lunch from the Summit Cafe.

Afternoon: Continuation of hiking options in Spray Valley area. Examine the specific ecology of this area including native wildlife and their habitats, conservation efforts, and the unique geology of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies.

Dinner: Buffet-style dinner at a local restaurant in Canmore.

Evening: Free evening to explore the town of Canmore.

Lodging: Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Deluxe continental buffet-style breakfast with hot/cold options at Inn from 6:30 - 7:45 am.

Morning: PRESENTATION: Bow Valley. Journey by coach up the Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A) while discussing the unique features of this montane ecosystem. Explore the impact of wildfires, controlled burns and fire management efforts as strategies for protecting mountain wildlands. Learn about the effects of glaciation and water erosion in the formation of Johnston Canyon. FIELD TRIP: Hiking - Johnston Canyon. Depart hotel for hikes in Johnston Canyon. Levels and groups as in previous days. You will learn about the geological timeline of the Canadian Rockies and the concept of differential erosion, as Johnston Creek has carved down into the limestone on the valley bottom, creating a spectacular and deep canyon in a short period of time.

Lunch: Hearty home-made trail lunch from the Summit Cafe.

Afternoon: PRESENTATION: En route via Banff, the guides will share their knowledge on the history of Banff townsite, and the Banff Springs Hotel. Free Time in Banff: Explore independently the "Castle of the Canadian Rockies" - the Banff Springs Hotel and/or the many museums, shops and cafes that line Banff's bustling main street. Gain an appreciation for original Canadian artists and the art history of Banff with a visit to the Whyte Museum, or one of the town's cutting-edge art galleries. Learn more about aboriginal heritage, culture and handcrafted antiquities with a visit to the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum. Optional walk to Bow Falls.

Dinner: Dinner on your own (at your own expense) in Canmore

Evening: Evening to explore Canmore.

Lodging: Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Deluxe continental buffet-style breakfast with hot/cold options at Inn from 6:30 - 7:45 am.

Morning: PRESENTATION: Yoho National Park. Today we cross the Continental Divide and head into British Columbia while learning about the geology of the Canadian Rockies, the famous Burgess Shale fossil beds (UNESCO World Heritage Site), wildlife corridors in the Bow Valley, and history of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Learn about the remarkable Spiral Tunnels and witness the amazing engineering feats of early railway construction through high mountain passes. FIELD TRIP: Hiking - Yoho National Park. Depart hotel for full day of interpretive hiking in Yoho National Park. Levels and groups as in previous days. Hiking destinations for the day include: Yoho Pass and Takakkaw Falls, Emerald Basin, and Emerald Lake circuit. Witness breathtaking views on all hikes and enjoy the lush and unique west-slope vegetation.

Lunch: Hearty home-made trail lunch from the Summit Cafe.

Afternoon: Continuation of interpretive hiking in Yoho National Park. Enjoy lakeside hikes along the jade-green waters of Emerald Lake and/or hike the trails of Emerald Basin. Discuss the significance of the Burgess Shale Fossil beds in the surrounding mountain ranges, one of the largest, oldest and best-preserved fossil beds in the world.

Dinner: Enjoy a unique dinner location at the historic Lake Louise Train Station restaurant. Dinner is plated and some of the ingredients are grown on-site in the Chef's garden. The building is a treasure trove of historical photographs and early Canadian Pacific Railway memorabilia.

Evening: Return to Canmore will be later than usual due to our dinner in Lake Louise

Lodging: Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hike Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks/Lake Louise/Chateau Lake Louise

Breakfast: Deluxe continental buffet-style breakfast with hot/cold options at Inn from 6:30 - 7:45 am.

Morning: PRESENTATION: Mountain Environment/National Parks. Today our topics of discussion include water management issues in mountain environments, current issues and future of our National Parks, and climbing culture (the Golden Age of Mountaineering). FIELD TRIP: Hiking Moraine Lake and Valley of the Ten Peaks. Full day of interpretive hiking at Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Levels and groups as in previous days. Begin your hiking expedition at turquoise-colored Moraine Lake, with close-up views of the Ten Peaks. Today's various destinations include secluded and picturesque Consolation Lake, the breathtaking Larch Valley trail, and the spectacular vistas of Sentinel Pass.

Lunch: Hearty home-made trail lunch from the Summit Cafe.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Lake Louise. Following the hikes, a special stop later in the afternoon will give you the opportunity to view the world-renowned Lake Louise, the Victoria Glacier, and the grand Chateau Lake Louise . Free time to explore the Chateau and lakeside panoramas. Return to Canmore for dinner.

Dinner: Special wrap-up dinner (plated) at the French Quarter Cafe.

Evening: Wrap-up and farewell gathering at the hotel.

Lodging: Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Deluxe continental buffet-style breakfast with hot/cold options at Inn from 6:30 - 7:45 am.

Morning: Departure from Canmore to Calgary Airport; included shuttle leaves Canmore at 8:30 am. Approximate arrival at Calgary Airport is 11:00 a.m. To allow for unexpected weather, and/or traffic conditions, participants should book flights that are scheduled to depart in the early afternoon.

Meals Included: Breakfast