Hiking Guide Exam June 6th-9th 2023

Overview: Four groups of exam candidates completed a four day backpacking trip in Kananaskis Country around the Don Getty Wildland area.
Groups travelled in both directions between Highway 40 and Highway 546.

Weather: Consistent highs of low to mid-twenties throughout the day with overnight lows of -1C (yes, you read right, I had gloves, touque and two down jackets on!) to 6C. Mainly sunny, with calm to light ridge top winds.

Flora and Fauna: Lots of flowers blooming in the alpine and sub-alpine. Early season flowers are almost at their end, middle season flowers already starting to bloom. Ticks were found, elk spotted in the distance, and signs of grizzly and black bears.

Trail conditions: South and west aspects made for easy travel (open slopes and well spaced trees), with abundant game and horse trails throughout the area. Seasonally low snowpack and low water levels made for easy river crossings, however abundant sources of water were available in valley bottoms.

Alison Cardinal HG, SG
Sylvia Forest MG
Glenn Reisenhofer HG
Pete Oxtoby HG