**PAST EVENT** (AB) Taylor Lake Hike – August 2024

Event Details

Banff National Park is located on the traditional land of the Ktunaxa ɁamakɁis, Ĩyãħé Nakón mąkóce (Stoney), Niitsítpiis-stahkoii ᖹᐟᒧᐧᐨᑯᐧ ᓴᐦᖾᐟ (Blackfoot / Niitsítapi ᖹᐟᒧᐧᒣᑯ) , Tsuut’ina , Michif Piyii (Métis). 

This event is for BIPOC adults 18yo+. Registration deadline is August 21, 2024. As of August 16 this event is sold out, if you would like to be considered should a spot open up, you can join the waitlist.

Join us on a day hike to Taylor lake in Banff National Park, which is a beautiful glacier lake and offers scenic views of Panorama Ridge and Mount Bell. 

This hike is a 13.2km round trip, with 797m of elevation. It will take approximately 5.5-6  hours to complete. We will arrive at the trailhead for 8:30am, finish the hike by 3:00pm, and aim to be back in Calgary by 5:30pm at the latest.  As this is a group hike we will maintain a pace that everyone can keep. 

Logistics:

Date: Saturday, August 24, 2024.

Main carpool meetup location: 6:30 AM:

Safeway NORTH HILL SHOPPING CENTRE 222, 1632 – 14th Avenue NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1M7 We can carpool from here to save cost on gas and park pass. This location is also c-train accessible for those without a car. The expectation is to pitch in for gas and park pass.

HIKE DETAILS:

Distance: 13.2 KM    Elevation gain: 797M    Duration: 6 hours

Trailhead meeting Location: Meet at the parking lot of Taylor lake located off HWY 1 between Banff and Lake Louise, past Castle Junction. (51.3050200, -116.0211590)

https://maps.app.goo.gl/K6YV4KK2SJ6gCsjv7?g_st=ic

Difficulty rating: This hike is considered moderate to difficult due to the constant elevation gain to the lake (797 metres) and longer trail distance (13.2 km roundtrip) . However, the trail is not technical (no scrambling) and offers a shaded well defined trail to Taylor Lake. Be prepared to carry a day pack with all essentials listed below, and ensure you are comfortable walking an elevated path for several hours. We will take a snack break and lunch at the lake, but expect to be on your feet for 2.5 hours of constant elevation to the lake and another 2.5 hours downhill on the way back.

Ensure you are prepared for this level of difficulty, and all weather conditions, including heavy rains and snow. You must carry clothing for all weather conditions to ensure you are comfortable and warm if conditions change. Please ensure you are able to carry a daypack with sufficient food and water. 

Checklist to help you prepare:

• Warm layers of clothes (no cotton), rain jacket and rain pants, gloves, and a toque/warm hat (no cotton).
• Hearty lunch and multiple snacks.
• Drinking water: at least 2 litres or ½ gallon per person.
• Sturdy and worn-in hiking boots, hiking poles, extra wool socks.
• Sturdy and supportive backpack.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat, insect repellant.
• Toilet paper with a plastic bag for disposal, hand sanitizer.
• Personal medical supplies, blister kit, any medication you may need.

IMPORTANT NOTES

• Hiking poles are recommended on this hike.
• Bring all the items on the checklist, regardless of the weather forecast.
• For safety reasons, if you do not have all the above items, or if you are not prepared for the hike difficulty level, you may not be allowed to complete the hike.

The group will hike together and no group members shall be allowed to separate from the group.

NATIONAL PARK ENTRY FEES:

Please note that in addition to this reservation, all visitors must possess a valid national park entry pass for the duration of their visit. Please click here for more information on Parks Canada’s entry fees: http://www.parkscanada.gc.ca/agen/tarifs-fees/index_E.asp or contact Parks Canada staff in Banff National Park at 403-762-1551 or by emailing [email protected]

IMPORTANT:

Inclusion Policy: 

At Colour the Trails, we are dedicated to fostering an environment that champions inclusivity, respect, and equality. We want to make it clear that we will not tolerate any form of anti-Blackness, anti-Indigenous attitudes, racism, homophobia, ableism or transphobia within our organization or community. We firmly stand against discrimination and prejudice, and we are committed to creating a safe and affirming space for individuals of all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, abilities, and gender identities. Together, we strive to promote unity, understanding, and support for all trail enthusiasts, regardless of their background or identity. As a Black owned and Black led business, we recognize the greater prevalence of anti-Blackness and anti-Indigeneity and will always prioritize support and protection for Black and Indigenous communities.

Photo & Video Release Consent:

By purchasing a ticket you grant permission for Colour the Trails and sponsors to use any portion of the photos or videos from this event that have been taken by Colour the Trails videographers and photographers for the purpose of sharing experiences with the community and encouraging future participation in events which can include but is not limited to, print or digital versions, social media and websites without any more compensation or recognition given. Colour the Trails will not use the photographs in a manner that would exploit or cause malicious representation toward you.

Please contact [email protected] BEFORE the event if you do not want to be photographed or on video during an event.

Cancellation Policy

Participants are encouraged to communicate any cancellations or changes to their event attendance at the earliest convenience. This helps us manage our resources effectively and gives us the opportunity to offer the spot to other interested participants on the waitlist. We sincerely appreciate your cooperation and understanding of our cancellation policy. By adhering to these guidelines, we can continue to provide high-quality events and opportunities for all participants that is a fair and equitable system for event sign-ups.

Regular One Day Events Cancellation Policy

This policy applies to smaller one-day events. We would like to emphasize that even when the participation fee is low ($10-100) it is important to show up as last moment cancellations make us look bad as a group in front of partners that help us to create affordable events.

1. Cancellation At Least 7 Days In Advance: For cancellations made at least 7 days in advance of the scheduled event, no penalties will be incurred. Participants can request a full refund. In some cases when we pre-pay for spots with our hosts, we might need to fill in the spot in order to issue a refund.
2. Cancellation Within 7 Days: In the unfortunate event that a cancellation is requested less than 7 days before the scheduled event, or no shows the following policy will apply:

• Refund: Cancellations made less than 7 days of the event will not be eligible for a refund.
• Penalty: A three months ineligibility to attend future events. We leave a right to cancel any registration of the person under penalty in this time frame. After the three-month ineligibility period has elapsed, participants can once again sign up for future events without any restrictions.

Content Creation Statement

We ask to respect our work and not create content to promote any other brands or organizations during our events. Our team is putting a lot of energy and time into creating community spaces with little support and unrelated organizations should not benefit from our hard labour. You are encouraged to share about Colour the Trails work as it shows the welcoming and safe space we are creating and word of mouth helps our community to grow!

Please refer to our community guidelines for a full description of our policies and standards for community engagement.