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The 2025 - 2026 Mountain Tour Calendar is as follows: 

Hilda Yo-Yo Trip

Yo-yo skiing (climb up, ski down through powder, repeat) at Hilda hostel area. Telemark or Alpine touring (AT) skis with skins are required.

Accommodation: Rampart Creek (booking done by Club) Limit of 8 participants

Dec 12 to 14, 2025

Trip Cost: $85

Prerequisite: Avalanche Safety Training Level (AST 1) One

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Kananaskis Hostel/Elk Lakes Cabin

Great beginner backpacking trip to a backcountry hut. First half of ski is on the Elk pass groomed and track set trail and the second half is down to the hut on a packed trail.

Dates: Jan 2 - 4, 2026

$80/person for dorm bed

$100/person for private room

Prerequisite: none - great beginner trip

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Nipika Ski Trails - North side on Saturday and South side on Sunday

Nipika has wonderful groomed ski trails that we will check out. A trip to the Radium Hot Springs to soothe any sore muscles are definitely in the plan!

Dates: Feb 6-8, 2026

Accommodation: Orchard Hostel in Radium

Cost:

$80/person for single bed

$70/person for double bed

Prerequisite: none 

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Pipestone trails on Saturday and Cascade Fire road on

Sunday

Pipestone trails are fun groomed trails that are narrow but go through some wonderful country. Cascade Fire road has some ups and downs to practice your control.

Dates: Feb 27 - March 1, 2026

Accommodation: Castle Mountain Hostel - limit of 8 participants

Costs: $95/person

Prerequisite: None

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Shark Mountain Trails on Saturday and Canmore Nordic

Center or Ribbon Creek Trails on Sunday

Another fun weekend on groomed trails with a stay in Canmore.

Dates: March 6-8, 2026

Accommodation: Canmore downtown hostel  - Limit of 5 participants

Cost: $130/person

Prerequisite: none​

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Stuff you should know…

Participants are responsible for their own transport to meeting locations. If car pooling, that is at their own discretion.

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For insurance purposes, participants will need to be members of the club. They would be allowed to "try out" the club for 1 ski.

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Backcountry ski equipment can be rented from the following: Gearup Mountain Sports in Canmore or Wilson Mountain Sports in Lake Louise. Shovels, probes and transceivers can be rented from the ski club.

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Payment and Pricing Policy:

Full payment must be received by zone 4 to secure your spot!

Costs that factor into the trip total charged by Parkland may include:​

• Food – a prorated portion of the communal food costs. Communal meal planning will be organized within the group.

• Club fees of $5/day or $10/weekend (covers equipment supply and maintenance) on some trips.

• Avalanche equipment rental if required:

  • Transceivers $5/day; $10/weekend

  • Probes $2/day; $3/weekend

  • Hoe Shovels $5/day; $10 weekend – currently free of charge

Cost that are not included in the trip fee include:

• Personal food on the road and when not prepared communally on the trip (often lunches/snacks).

• Fuel to travel to and from the trail head.

• Personal equipment not rented from the club.

• Training acquired in relation to the trip.

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Cancellation Policy:

You may cancel up to 20 days in advance for any reason with a full refund. If replacements are found for your spot, then you may receive a partial refund when cancelling any time closer to the trip.

Red Deer Nordic Tour Leaders may cancel the trip for a number of reasons, some of which include:

1. Insufficient numbers of participants – cancelled no later than 20 days prior to the trip or later if hostels are offering us refunds – full refund available.

2. Dangerous or unmanageable weather or other conditions – could be cancelled at any time – refund depends on what we can recover from our hostel companies. Tour Leaders have the absolute authority to cancel a trip if they deem it unwise to proceed for any reason.

3. Illness or sudden withdrawal of a Tour Leader – full refund if on or before 20 days prior to the trip; thereafter on a case-by-case basis.

4. Other reasons – refunds on a case-by-case basis.

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Expectations of participants:

We hope that everyone will truly enjoy the time spent on these trips with like-minded friends, new and old. To make that more likely, please:

1. Attend the trip orientation meeting.

2. Tell your Tour Leader if you have any health concerns or other relevant issues that might make the trip better for you if we are prepared.

3. Make sure you have everything you will need with you on the trip. An equipment list may be distributed by or requested from the Tour Leader.

4. Arrive on time and prepared for what the day brings – whether that is at the Friday night hostel, at the trailhead in the morning or anywhere in between.

5. Take responsibility for your own comfort and safety – if something is making you uncomfortable – let the Tour Leader know. They are NOT GUIDES but are simply there to show you a great trip.

6. Please follow the instructions of the Tour Leaders in the case of the emergency. Contribute your knowledge where it is helpful.

7. Bring a great outlook and have fun!

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Expectation of your Tour Leader:

Red Deer Nordic Tour Leaders are well trained in facilitating the group activities we do. They are NOT GUIDES and do not have guide training.

There will always be 1st aid supplies on hand, but these trips are taken far from immediate help in mountainous, winter conditions, so we will work together to carry out safe trips.

Tour Leaders may make decisions they deem necessary for the safety the group. These decisions include but are not limited to cancelling a trip or requesting a participant to withdraw from the trip.

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Avalanche Safety Training Policy:

Anyone travelling on skis on ungroomed ski trails on a trip carried out officially by the Red Deer Nordic Ski Club may be required to have a minimum of Avalanche Safety Training Level One (AST1) certification and must carry avalanche transceivers, probes and shovels. This increases the odds that, should a snow burial occur in any way, all participants are capable of assessing and acting on the situation and can work together to affect a rescue. This requirement may be waived for youth program trips if their parents are present – such trips will not be carried out in anything more than “Simple” avalanche terrain.

We strongly encourage all members to get the AST1 level of certification at a minimum so that all your travel in the back country is safer, whether with the club or otherwise. Courses are put on by the University of Calgary Outdoor Centre many times a month during the fall and early winter at least. Many other institutions offer training as well. Simply search AST1 on the internet. It is a weekend well spent!

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