CANADIAN ROCKIES PHOTO WORKSHOP WITH JOHN GRAVETT

Transcription

1 JOHN GRAVETT A 2-week photographic holiday focused on the scenically stunning Banff and Jasper national parks The spectacular Columbia Icefields and Parker Ridge Possibility of spotting Rocky Mountain wildlife including grizzly bear Some of the best lake and mountain photo opportunities imaginable Boat trip to Spirit Island on the stunning Maligne Lake HOLIDAY CODE CAPT Canada, Photo Special, 14 Days 13 nights hotel, 13 breakfasts, 12 lunches, max group size: 12, 12 days photo workshop, some easy hiking

2 PAGE 2 VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE Introduction Accessed through the city of Calgary and based at 3 different locations; Canmore, Saskatchewan Crossing and Jasper, this photographic workshop will show off some of the many highlights of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Starting out from Canmore, we take an excursion southwards into Kananaskis Country, on the look-out for wildlife including grizzly bears. Then, in the scenic wonderland of the Banff National Park, we ll make some early starts to put us in the best position to photograph some of the most iconic peaks of the Rockies, reflected in the waters of Two Jack Lake and the Vermillion Lakes. We ll have some free time in Banff and walk the shorelines of some of the most famous lakes in the area, such as; Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Lake Minnewanka. Canyons, waterfalls, a ghost town and even a famous railway viewpoint are all features of this first part of the holiday. Heading north on the Icefields Parkway, we ll find more spectacular Rocky Mountain landscapes as we visit the roadside Athabasca Glacier and have the option to hike on Parker Ridge with views of the sinuous Saskatchewan Glacier. The former fur-trading centre of Jasper is our final base, as we take a boat trip to Spirit Island (on Maligne Lake) and hike the Cavell Meadows Trail for a perspective on the dramatic cliff-side Angel Glacier. This is a varied and tremendously exciting photo-specific itinerary and we re confident that you ll be blown away by the wealth of photographic opportunities that the mountainous state of Alberta can offer! John Gravett, our guide, has for more than 20 years run the very successful Lakeland Photo Holidays near Keswick in the English Lake District. He has a passion for passing on the skills he has acquired over the course of his career and is very much looking forward to this workshop in the Canadian Rockies. Is this holiday for you? This is a touring and sightseeing holiday with a professional photographer (John Gravett) and a Canadian driver/ guide. There will be the opportunity to undertake short walks in search of the best viewpoints at some of the places we visit. There are no really long walks or unduly difficult underfoot conditions. There will be some early starts on several of the days as we look to take advantage of the best light at some of the key photographic locations. The itinerary necessarily involves a reasonable amount of travelling in a private minibus; but apart from the transfer days from and back to Calgary, the daily drives are short. Accommodation throughout is in comfortable hotels and lodges with twin-sharing and en-suite facilities. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Meet at the group hotel in downtown Calgary. Two airport transfers provided. Meet at the group hotel in downtown Calgary. Meals are not included on this day and depending on your arrival time you can choose to eat at one of several restaurants close to the hotel. KE Land Only package services begin with overnight at the group hotel. Transfers will be provided from Calgary Airport at approximately 1500 to meet the Air Transat flight and at 2015 to meet the Air Canada and British Airways flights. Day 2: Transfer via Canmore to Kananaskis Country. Visit Wedge Pond and overnight in Canmore.

3 PAGE 3 We will rendezvous with the guide after breakfast and set off on the one and a half hour drive from Calgary to Canmore, the gateway to the Rockies. Canmore will be our base for the next 5 days and nights as we make excursions along the Kananaskis Trail, in the vicinity of Banff and up to the southern entrance to the Icefield Parkway. On this first day, we will continue our drive southwards into the very scenic Kananaskis Country. Generally less busy than the Banff and Jasper national parks, we have a lot more chance of encountering grizzly bear and moose close to the road in Kananaskis. Of course, throughout the trip, we will be ready to stop at any time to take advantage of photo opportunities whenever they present themselves, whether landscape or wildlife. Wedge Pond, a beautiful roadside oasis near Mount Kidd, is a good place to stretch our legs and see how the fall colours are progressing at higher elevations. There is a very easy and short trail around the lake, which offers some good perspectives on the surrounding mountains. If time permits, we can drive a bit further into the Kananaskis Country on the look-out for wildlife. A good place to spot grizzlies is near Highwood Pass (2210m) one of the highest points in Canada reachable by road. In the late afternoon, we return to our hotel accommodation in Canmore. Day 3: Lakes and mountains photography and a visit to the town of Banff. An early start will allow us to get to Two Jack Lake (25 minutes drive) before the sun rises. This lake usually presents good photo opportunities early and late in the day; its calm water allows for beautiful reflective shots of the mountains. Looking across the lake, the many-summited Mount Rundle (2949m) is very striking and provides a great photo objective. We continue our exploration on the scenic 9 kilometre-long Tunnel Mountain Road which has a number of memorable viewpoints, including an overview of the impressive Banff Springs Hotel, perched above Bow River and with its backdrop of mountains. After this early morning photo session, we will drive to the bustling, energetic resort town of Banff and have some free time to find a coffee shop and do some exploring along the shopfronts of one of the more colourful streets. In the afternoon, we will head out to Vermillion Lakes, one of the prettiest Rocky Mountain locations, and spend some time taking photos along the lake-shore. This is another wildlife-rich area; the shallow lakes provide the perfect habitat for a variety of waterfowl. We will return to Canmore at the end of the day. Day 4: Johnston Canyon and Castle Mountain. After another reasonably early breakfast we will drive for 45 minutes to Johnston Canyon, one of the main attractions along the Bow Valley Parkway. There are lots of spectacular locations in the canyon; it really is like walking into a fantasy world of waterfalls, lakes and rivers. Access to the canyon is straightforward on a series of trails and catwalks suspended from the rock walls. After spending some time here, we will return to the vehicle and continue to Castle Junction at the half way point between Banff and Lake Louise. At this spot on the Bow River there is the Castle Junction Bridge, an old iron structure that offers some of the best views of Castle Mountain. We will get down to the banks of the river for the best shots. We will drive back to Canmore in the early afternoon and have some free time. Day 5: Moraine Lake, Lake Louise and Morant's Curve. The famously picturesque Moraine Lake will be our first port of call this morning. Lots of interesting shots can be taken from along the shore. At the canoe dock, look out for interesting photos of the brightly coloured boats

4 PAGE 4 contrasted against the blue water and the backdrop of the mountains. The most popular shot is from the top of the rock pile overlooking the lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks (as seen on the back of Canadian $20 bills issued between 1969 and 79). At sunrise you can capture a beautiful warm light on the Valley of the Ten Peaks. We will take our time to explore the Valley of Ten Peaks for more extraordinary photographic opportunities. Next, we drive to Lake Louise, a sparkling blue-green alpine lake nestled at the foot of the Victoria Glacier. The popular areas to take photos are at the boat dock, at the outlet stream and directly in front of the lake with Mount Victoria as a backdrop (and a reflection, hopefully). In the afternoon, we will stop off at the best location from which to photograph Morant's Curve. Here' the Canadian Pacific Railway runs alongside the Bow River with the Rockies in the background - an iconic scene and even more special if we can catch an east bound train passing through. We drive back to Canmore in the afternoon. Day 6: Lake Minnewanka, Cascade Ponds and Lower and the ghost town of Bankhead. After another early breakfast, we will drive to Lake Minnewanka, the largest lake in Banff National Park. We will take some time to explore along the shoreline; the light is nice at sunrise. We then continue to Cascade Ponds which usually offer some nice reflection shots during the period from sunrise to mid-morning. In a change from the general landscape shots that we have been prioritising, we can today take a short walk to the 'ghost town' of Bankhead where there are some interesting reminders of the coal mining operations that started here in around 1903 and petered out in about In the afternoon, we can revisit one or two of our favourite spots of the last few days, as we drive back to Canmore. Day 7: Herbert Lake, Bow Lake and Peyto Lake. Overnight at Saskatchewan Crossing. We will be leaving our Canmore hotel today. An early morning start will enable us to get to the small glacial pool of Herbert Lake (on the Icefields Parkway) in time for sunrise. When the water is still, there is a beautiful reflection of Mount Temple. Just a bit further on we come to the stunning Bow Lake and the historic Num Ti Jah Lodge that sits on the north shore of the lake. This is a pleasant part of the lake for some exploration and the Bow Glacier Trail starts from here. Bow Lake is best photographed in the morning. Located at the Bow Summit, the sky-blue, glacierfed Peyto Lake is another spot not to missed. We will walk up the paved trail to the wooden viewing deck that overlooks the lake and this dramatic mountain valley. Moving on (half an hour or so) to our next overnight stopping place at Saskatchewan Crossing, we will be able to stop to photograph Waterflow Lakes and Mistaya Canyon, as well as the 'Weeping Wall', a series of waterfalls that drop from Cirrus Mountain. We check in for a 2-night stay at our Saskatchewan Crossing accommodation. Day 8: The Columbia Icefields and Parker Ridge. Today, we will drive to the Columbia Icefields where the Athabasca Glacier (one of 6 glaciers that flow out from the central icefield) comes down to within easy walking distance of the highway. There is the option here to take a 90-minute glacier experience tour that includes going up onto the glacier in a giant 6 wheeled all terrain Ice Explorer vehicle (the cost of this is 95$ per person). There are plenty of photo opportunities in this area without signing up for the glacier experience, however. Back on the Icefield Parkway, we will stop off beneath Parkers Ridge and have the option to hike up to a viewpoint where there is a fantastic glacier panorama. We will make another stop off today at Bridal Veil Falls before driving back to Saskatchewan Crossing.

5 PAGE 5 Day 9: Waterfalls of the Icefields Parkway. Overnight in Jasper. It will be a day of waterfalls today, as we drive on the spectacular Icefield Parkway, named one of Lonely Planet's 2017 Epic Drives of the World. We will make a stop at Tangle Falls, where layers of water flowing down the rocks make for some beautiful images. Another great stop is at Sunwapta Falls before continuing on our northward journey to Jasper. Just before arriving in Jasper, we will strech our legs at the impressive Athabasca Falls which carries the most water of any river in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. We will take time to explore a number of trails leading to the best vantage points; there are lots of great photos to be taken. The most popular shot is the rushing falls with Mount Kerkeslin in the background. We will arrival in Jasper in the afternoon an check in at our authentic and comfortable log-cabin accommodation beside the Athabasca River for a 4-night stay. Day 10: Medicine Lake, Maligne Lake and Maligne Canyon. It's a very scenic drive of just under 50 kilometres to Maligne Lake; the road having been built along the glacal valley that divides the Maligne and Elizabeth mountain ranges. As well as the towering peaks, there are also turquoise glacial lakes to see and to photograph along this route. The torrential Maligne River cuts its way through this forested landscape and we might also be lucky enough to spot wildlife such as elk, moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, white-tail deer and grizzly and black bears. One of the first points of interest along the drive is the Hanging Valley Viewpoint, which offers a panoramic view of the Athabasca Valley. Medicine Lake is one of the most notable highlights along the drive. It's a unique body of water that vanishes and re-appears each year. Like several lakes in this mountain valley it is continuously draining through a network of underground caves. The lake remains until the water level starts to drop off as September approaches. By late autumn the lake is gone leaving behind a giant mudflat and ribbon of water that flows to the drainage area. The end of our journey today is at the stunning vista of Maligne Lake surrounded by several towering mountain peaks. It's the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies, stretching more than 22 kilometres in length. We will take a walk on the shore of the lake, before jumping on a boat for a unique 90 minutes cruise to Spirit Island (included). Before coming back to Jasper, we will have a photo opportunity at Maligne Canyon. This Canyon is carved 50 meters deep but in spots it's only a few meters wide, making it a dramatic sight. This is a popular hiking area and a great place for photography. Overnight in Jasper. Day 11: Mount Edith Cavell, Angel Glacier and Patricia Lake. This morning we will drive to Mount Edith Cavell. The turquoise meltwater of Cavell Pond sitting below the jagged summit of Mount Edith Cavell is one of the most beautiful settings in Jasper National Park. For more of a challenge and views from higher up, we will also have the chance to hike on the Cavell Meadows Trail. We do not have to do the entire loop to get to the best viewpoint; hiking up the switchbacks through the forest, the meadows start to open up and there are some great perspectives on the Angel Glacier. After this hike, we'll drive back down the mountain and continue to viewpoints for both Pyramid Lake and Patricia Lake. We will aim to be back in Jasper by mid-afternoon.

6 PAGE 6 Day 12: Miette Hot Springs and the Sulphur Skyline Trail. Today, we'll ride out on the Yellowhead Highway and take the scenic Miette Road up to the popular Miette Hotsprings, which have the hottest mineral water in the Canadian Rockies. It costs $7 to take a dip. Close by is the trailhead for the Sulphur Skyline Trail which has some of the most breathtaking mountain panoramas in the region. We can make a decision about just how far we want to go on this trail, before returning to the vehicle and driving back to Jasper by early afternoon. A walk around Jasper, camera in hand, is a great way to spend a couple of hours in the late afternoon. Day 13: Drive via the Icefields Parkway and overnight in Calgary. It will take around 5 hours to drive back to Calgary today. But, we are in no rush to get there and we will aim to make a couple of stops at prime viewpoints along the Icefields Parkway. What better way to finish our trip than with one of the world's most spectacular drives.we should reach our accommodation in Calgary in the afternoon. Day 14: Depart Calgary. KE Land Only package services end with breakfast at the hotel. The hotel provides a free shuttle service to Calgary Airport. MEALS B Holiday Information What's Included Two group transfers from Calgary Airport on Day 1 Transfers back to Calgary Airport are provided by the hotel A 15-seater minibus and driver-guide 13 nights hotel and lodge accommodation Entrance fees for the national parks Boat trip on Maligne Lake Meals as described in the Meal Plan What's Not Included Travel insurance Tips for the local guide Miscellaneous expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc Columbia Icefields superbus glacier experience Miett Hot Springs fee Some meals as described in the Meal Plan

7 PAGE 7 Joining Arrangements & Transfers The group will rendezvous at the hotel in Calgary in the evening of Day 1. Transfers will be provided from Calgary Airport at approximately 1500 to meet the Air Transat flight and at 2015 to meet the Air Canada and British Airways flights. Meal Plan Breakfasts and lunches are included, from breakfast on Day 2 to lunch on Day 13. The tour leader will arrange the lunches each day and some of these lunches will be in the form of a picnic. Food & Water Breakfasts are provided at our accommodation and are usually continental in style, where you help yourself from a simple buffet. Lunches will generally be provided by the local tour leader in the form of a picnic: sandwiches (bread, cheese, cold cuts) and snacks. There will also be snacks for mid morning and mid-afternoon breaks, such as nuts, pretzels, fruit. Dinner is not included in the tour price but your tour leader will help you find a suitable place to eat each evening. Accommodation During this trip the group will spend 13 nights at a mix of hotels and lodges of a good standard. The 4 nights at Jasper are in authentic log cabins beside the Athabasca River. All accommodation is allocated on a twin-sharing basis. If you are travelling by yourself you will be paired up with another single client of the same sex. It may be possible to pre-book single rooms at each of the places we stay. Hotels are subject to availability and prices may vary. Group Leader & Support Staff John Gravett will be the accompanying photographer and there will also be a Canadian driver/tour guide. Altitude This holiday does not involve any significant ascent to altitude and we would not expect any altitude issues with this trip. Free KE Gift We would like to give you a free gift as a way to say thank you when you book your holiday. Choose from exclusive KE branded t-shirts, caps, neckwarmers, trek bags* and more. Alternatively you can choose to make a 10 donation to the Juniper Trust Charity. You can make your selection in your MyKE account after booking. You will need to select your free gift at least 6 weeks before you depart and all items will be posted out at 5 weeks prior to departure. For all late bookings, we will endeavour to send your FREE gift to you before you travel, however this cannot always be guaranteed. Please visit our Free KE Gifts page for more details of all our KE Branded goodies on offer. * A trek bag is not required for this holiday. You can however purchase a KE trek bag for Delivery outside of the UK will be charged. Baggage Allowance

8 PAGE 8 Your baggage will be carried in the support vehicle. There is no weight restriction other than that imposed by your international carrier. However, we do ask you to restrict your luggage to one main item of baggage (such as a wheelie-bag) and a camera-specific day pack that is small enough to take on the plane as hand baggage. Group Size & Holiday Status For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in Dates and Prices table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements. Recommended Outdoor Retailers Many of the Equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive 15% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers. >> Find out more General Information Passport & Visas A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit. Visa Canada As of 2016 all citizens (except for USA citizens) will require an eta (Electronic Travel Authorisation), and you must get this before boarding any Canada-bound aircraft or ship. The fee is CAD$7 and you should apply for it at Transit Via USA Or Canada IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THOSE TRANSITING THROUGH THE USA You will require an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation), and you must get this before boarding any US-bound aircraft or ship, or entering on a land border. The fee is USD$14 and you should apply for it at With the ESTA complete, the majority of British Citizen passport holders can enter the US under the Visa Waiver Programme, VWP. As of 1st April 2016 you will be required to have a passport with an intergrated chip. Note that if you have travelled to Iraq, Syria, Iran or Sudan in the last 5yrs you will have to apply for a visa rather than the Visa Waiver Programme. IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THOSE TRANSITING THROUGH CANADA

9 PAGE 9 As of 2016, all citizens (except for USA citizens) will require an eta (Electronic Travel Authorisation), and you must get this before boarding any Canada-bound aircraft or ship, or entering on a land border. The fee is CAD$7 and you should apply for it at Health & Vaccinations You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations or other preventive measures. You should be up to date with routine courses and boosters as recommended in the UK e.g. diphtheria-tetanus-polio and measles-mumps-rubella, along with hepatitis A and typhoid. A good online resource is Travel Health Pro. Currency The unit of currency in Canada is the Canadian Dollar. Electricity Supply & Plug We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: Preparing For Your Holiday There is a limited amount of walking involved in this photographic tour and the option to do some longer and tougher walks, such as the hike up onto Parker Ridge on Day 8. Obviously, to get to the best locations for photography, some walking will be necessary. For this reason, it is a good idea to get yourself into reasonable shape ahead of the trip. Regular excursions on foot in hilly country (with your camera gear) are the best possible preparation for a holiday of this type. Climate The weather in the Canadian Rockies is ever-changing and always unpredictable. The days are still long in September and the winter snow has usually not made an appearance. The maximum daytime temperature is likely to be between 15 and 20 C, falling to between 5 and 10 C at night. Although the weather is relatively stable at this time of year, the Rocky Mountains produce their own weather and we can expect some rainfall. Travel Aware As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices' Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: for essential travel advice and tips. KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and

10 PAGE 10 are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office. Books Canada West (Rocky Mountains and Vancouver). Marco Polo Pocket Guide. Canadian Rockies. Signpost Guide. Grandeur of the Canadian Rockies. Megan J Ward and Paul Zizka. Maps Banff and Jasper. Gem Trek Publishing. 1:400,000 Scale This map covers the majority of the terrain that we travel through. Flight Information Flight Inclusive Or Land Only? On our website we display a UK Flight inclusive package price and Land only package price for the majority of our holidays. Flight Inclusive Notes The FLIGHT INCLUSIVE dates and prices are based on UK flights from London Gatwick to Calgary with Air Transat. Outbound flights depart the UK in the late morning and arrive in Calgary in the afternoon of the same day (Day 1 of the Land Only itinerary). Return flights leave Calgary in the evening of the last day of the Land Only itinerary, arriving in the UK in the morning of the following day. Regional departures and/or alternative carriers are available on request. Please be aware that there are often only a limited number of seats available at the advertised price. To avoid paying flight supplements, we recommend that you book as early as possible, especially during peak times. If we are unable to secure seats at the price shown, or you have requested regional departures, we will contact you with an alternative quote. Please note that you may be asked to pay for your flights in advance of your final holiday balance. Note that if you book a package including flights with KE you will benefit from full financial protection. Land Only Notes The dates shown are for the LAND ONLY itinerary, joining in Calgary. Please refer to Joining Arrangements & Transfers in the Holiday Information for further details. Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is shown on the KE website as either 'Guaranteed' or 'Limited Availability'. Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Operating since 1984, KE Adventure Travel has some of the most experienced staff in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Everyone has adventure travel at

11 PAGE 11 heart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other adventure travel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or , or visit our office, you will find the help and advice you need, from someone who has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience. KE can guarantee the very best in trip support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and other accommodation, plus the back up of one of the most respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat business. If you are looking for adventure then look no further than KE. We hope that this trip notes has answered most of your questions. Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.

12 PAGE 12 Equipment List The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. You Must Bring The Following Items: Lightweight hiking boots or good walking shoes Trekking trousers Lightweight gloves Lightweight waterproof overtrousers T-shirts and casual shirts Fleece jacket or warm jumper Waterproof jacket Torch / flashlight and batteries Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.) Water bottles 1 litre / 1 quart Photo-specific daypack Washbag and toiletries Small towel Sunhat Warm hat Sunglasses Basic First Aid Kit including: antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters (band-aids) and blister treatment, insect repellent, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). The Following Items Are Optional: Shorts Warm jacket (down) Thermal baselayer shirts Travel clothes Antibacterial hand wash Pen-knife (remember to put all sharp objects in hold baggage) Camera Equipment Checklist: Camera body(s) Lenses (wide-angle, telephoto, macro) Filters Flash unit Media (film or memory cards) Tripod Cable release Batteries

13 PAGE 13 Please note: This document was downloaded on 14 Nov 2018, and the trip is subject to change.