The Elk Lakes cabin is exclusively booked for the RMS February 18-20. Join other section members for a cozy Family Day long weekend with a variety of ski touring, ice climbing (tbd) and chill out options.

Please read the full trip description.

Note: Youth 13+ accompanied by a legal guardian are welcome. Please inform the trip coordinator (before payment) as a family discount may apply.

Getting there: Access is via an ~11 km ski from Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Elk Lakes trailhead parking lot. ~6km ski to Elk Pass via groomed trails, descent to cabin is not groomed and there are some tricky downhill sections. Light touring skis with metal edges and skins are recommended- both for access and touring around the cabin. Strong skiers may manage on cross country gear. AT skis or snowshoes could be acceptable -ask coordinator.  

(Skiers must be comfortable skiing 11 km with 200 elevation gain and loss with a heavier pack.)

Avi gear: Avalanche gear is not required to ski to the cabin via Elk Pass or for ski to Lower Elk Lakes (~1km from hut). Avalanche gear and AST1 is required for most other touring around the cabin. Those wishing to venture further from hut will be required to participate in a beacon practice at the hut.

Itinerary/objectives: Saturday- meet at 9am at Elk Pass trailhead. Sign waivers. Distribute group gear. 11km ski to hut. Short afternoon ski for those interested. Sunday- At least one shorter (no avi gear required) and longer (such as to Fox Lake and West Elk Pass) light touring day trip will be planned. Games night.  Monday- hut cleaning and 11km ski back to trailhead.

Amenities: The Elk Lakes cabin is heated by a wood stove, and has propane lights. There is no indoor plumbing, but an outhouse is available and water can be found in a nearby stream or by melting snow. Cooking equipment is provided, including a propane stove and oven, pots, pans, dishes, and utensils. Sleeping is upstairs in a communal sleeping area and has foam mattresses. Communal coffee and hot chocolate will be provided. You’ll need to bring your own meals and sleeping bags. A larger group meal or cook groups mat be organized (tbd).

Vaccination: Proof of 2 vaccinations required for this trip.

Ski touring gear, base layers, warm layers, hardshell pants/coat, hut booties, headlamp, sleeping bag, ear plugs, change of clothes, sunglasses, avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel. Food.

There will be group gear distributed between attendees.

Cost – The cost will be $65/member (or less if family discount applicable). This is a screened event. After signing up, registrants will be sent an application form which will allow the coordinator to review their experience and equipment. After screening, registrants will be moved from the waiting list to the attendee list once payment has been made.

Cost includes two nights at Elk Lakes cabin, coffee and hot chocolate+.

Cancellation: Once paid and placed on the participants list, there will be no refund if a participant is unable to attend. It is up to the participant to find a suitable replacement that is acceptable to the trip coordinator. It will then be the participant's responsibility to recover funds from the replacement.