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GettinG there:
trAiL tALK
everything you need to know to see the mountains up close
Cross-Country skiing ,
fat biking, snowshoeing,
ski touring—there
are many ways to
explore the hundreds
of kilometres of trails
around Kananaskis.
ama sat down with
debra mucha of alberta
Parks to get the 4-1-1 on
spending a day in the
mountains.
Any advice for first-
timers to the area?
be prepared. visit
albertaparks.ca for trail
reports and advisories. if
you’re heading into the
backcountry, check the
daily avalanche bulletin
(avalanche.ca). there
are several spots here
with no cell coverage,
so always let someone
know where you’re
going, with whom and
when you’re returning.
What should people
bring with them?
Pack water in insulated
containers to prevent
liquids from freezing.
wear layers and bring
extra clothing that wicks
sweat away—you can get
very cold after sweating.
we also suggest bringing
a first-aid kit, extra food,
flashlight, emergency
blanket, whistle, gPs,
compass and maps.
it’s also a good idea
to bring waterproof
matches, duct tape,
toilet paper, a knife or
multi-tool, hand/foot
warmers, sunglasses and
sunscreen.
What about trail
etiquette?
you can’t do all activ-
ities everywhere in
Kananaskis, so check
what’s permitted and
where. snowshoeing
is allowed almost
everywhere. but only
certain trails have been
approved for fat biking,
while others allow dogs.
for multi-use trails with
groomed ski tracks, don’t
walk, snowshoe or cycle
on the tracks. if you need
to stop when skiing,
step off the track and
let others pass, yielding
to cross-country skiers
coming downhill.
What kinds of wildlife
should visitors be
aware of?
it’s a long list: moose, elk,
bighorn sheep, deer, grey
jays, snowshoe hares,
coyote, weasels, lynx
and several species of
birds and owls. cougars,
wolves and wolverine
are here as well, but it’s
rare to see them. though
most bears hibernate
during winter months,
you should nevertheless
carry bear spray in
shoulder seasons, as
they may be entering or
exiting their hibernation.
and regardless of season,
always keep your dog on
a leash.
head west on the
transcanada from calgary,
turning south on highway
40. make sure you have
winter tires, as weather
and road conditions can
be unpredictable in the
mountains
5
stAy:
built to house athletes
competing in the 1988
olympics, the Pomeroy
Kananaskis mountain
lodge autograph
collection recently
underwent a complete
reno. its luxe rooms, indoor
pool and roaring fireplace
make it the ideal home-
away-from-home. ama
members save 5% or more,
and earn marriott rewards:
AMATravel.ca/Hotels
thinGs to do:
for a breath of really
fresh air, take a Kananaskis
country snowshoe tour.
during the five-hour
guided day trip, you’ll
ascend 300 metres to
a sub-alpine lake and
stop for lunch.
from $70/person:
AMATravel.ca/Activities
AMA InsIder
WInter 2018
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