May 2020 CORE Newsletter

Executive News

CORE AGM May 2020

CORE’s May 2020 AGM will be held virtually. The meeting will be at 7 pm on May 26, 2020 thru Zoom. 

An email will be sent to all members, that stated on the election survey, they would attend the virtual meeting. The information required for you to join   this virtual meeting will be emailed to you, prior to May 26, 2020. If you did not elect to be at this meeting on the election survey, and now would like to join please email the executive at mailbox@corehike.org .See you there!!!

The AGM agenda will consist of, approval of the 2019 AGM minutes, chair and executive member reports, election results of the 2020/2021 CORE executive, Trip Coordinator Appreciation, and other CORE business.

 CORE TO RE-START THE CLUB

Thank you for your patience over the past two months, while the club adhered to government guidelines, and cancelled all activities and meetings. Now that the Alberta government has re-opened the provincial parks and has announced that groups of up to 50 people can gather in the outdoors (while maintaining such practices as social distancing), CORE can slowly begin to re-start the club.

The newly elected CORE executive is currently creating procedures and guidelines for its members and coordinators on how, as a group, we need to proceed on future CORE hikes/events. The executive is working towards June 15, for a phased-in start-up of events. With this target in mind, if there are any complications, or the province of Alberta mandates different requirements, the organization may have to push this date out further. This situation is in a constant fluid motion, due to the pandemic.

Renewal of CORE Membership for 2020/2021 membership year will start after the AGM (May 26, 2020)

CORE’s 2020/2021 membership renewal will be open for members and new members after the AGM on May 26, 2020.

Coordinator’s Meeting for 2020 Summer Event Planning Meeting

This meeting has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 virus, until further notice.

Valley Ridge Community Parking Lot

CORE uses the Valley Ridge Community parking lot for car pooling. CORE has been asked by the community association, when we leave our vehicles at this parking lot, to park near the east end of the lot. By the entrance to the parking lot. This is to increase safety for the “in and out” skaters accessing their gate near the west end of the lot.  The two outdoor arena’s, above this community parking lot, creates heavy vehicle and foot traffic.

CORE Photo Album

All CORE members participating in CORE activities are welcome and encouraged to post photos taken on your outings in the CORE website Photo Albums. There are Photo Management instructions on the CORE Guides web page. If you have any trouble uploading your photos, please ask the event coordinator or other experienced CORE member. Some guidelines when posting photos :

• Post just the highlights of the event
• No parking lot photos. We should not identify members vehicles
• Do not post unflattering pictures of other members
• If you mention a person’s name, use only the person’s first name

Contacting your Executive

CORE has a couple of different purpose-oriented email addresses through which you can contact various executive members. If  you have a general question’s about the club, for instance upcoming presenters planned, event, etc, please email us at mailbox@corehike.org. If it is a question about membership or joining the club, please direct your query to membership@corehike.org.

Remember that our CORE Executive members are volunteers who also have day jobs and a life outside of CORE, so please be patient if it takes a few days to respond to your queries.

ACTIVITY SCOREBOARD

Highlights of Prior Hikes to March 1, 2020

Here are a few highlights from the CORE calendar for prior hikes to March 1, 2020.   WE WILL BE BACK, YOU JUST WAIT!!!!  Please visit the CORE photo albums for more pictures from recent activities.

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News and Notes

Remember It is Tick Season:

Tick season is here. Tuck your pant legs into your socks and check yourself and your pet for ticks after leaving a grassy or wooded area where ticks may live. Wear light coloured clothing and cover up as much skin as possible. E.G. wear a hat, long-sleeve shirt, pants.

If you notice a round red rash that spreads at the site of  a bite. Have flu-like symptoms(tiredness, headaches, sore muscles and joints, fever) you should seek medical attention.

For more information go to my article on Ticks in the April 2019 newsletter.

 

 

More Wildlife is seen by Park Rangers

Due to the shutdown of the National and Provincial parks, no visitors or traffic are allowed in the parks. More Wildlife has been seen by the park rangers. They have spotted an elk herd of 40 to 50, grazing and traveling down the Bow Valley River near Banff.  As well, more bear sights.

Remember to Carry Your Bear Spray

 

 

 

 

Parks Canada to Open Some National Parks, Historic Sites Across Canada

Effective June 1, 2020 Parks Canada will begin to offer limited access and services. While Maintaining physical distancing measures. Openings will differ across Canada. Information will be updated regular on Parks Canada website.  Until then closure is still in effect. Your annual pass will be credited for the number of months the national parks have been closed. The two week park closure in March counts as a full month.

Effective March 24, 2020 until further notice, all national parks and historic sites are off limits to all vehicle traffic, unless you live there. This includes all parking lots and any parking on the highway or roadway through the national parks. You can travel on Highway #1, but you cannot stop anywhere along this highway in the parks. RCMP and Canada Parks wardens will be patrolling, and if they see a vehicle pulled over, they can give you a ticket or impound your vehicle. And all day use facilities and campsites remain closed.

Alberta Government is opening up Provincial Parks to the Public

Effective May 1, 2020 Alberta is opening up provincial park accessibility.

Vehicle, bicycle and walk in access to the parks has been lifted. Remember this phase in of opening up the provincial parks is in a  fluid state of change. Albert Health Services and Alberta Environment and Parks will be monitoring this phase in. If people are not following Public Health Guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic this privilege will be taken away again.

 

You Must Still Follow Public Health Guidelines:

• Stay home if you are sick – Don’t visit the parks if you are sick or were recently exposed to someone with COVID-19. You must self isolate for 10 days if you have symptoms or 14 days if you were exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 case or returned from international travel
• Only visit parks near your home. No long road trips or non essential travel.
• If you do drive a long distance, do not stop for food or gas, respect other people’s health and safety.
• Everyone needs to physical distance. 6 Feet/2 Metres from each other, if you are not isolating together.
• Try to only hike with other household members that are self-isolating together.
• Hiking in groups is not recommended, but if you do, you must stay 6 Feet/2 Metres from each other and groups no larger than 15.
• Be prepared. Bring your own water, snacks, hand sanitizer and toilet paper.
• Vault washrooms are open, but you need your own sanitary supplies.
• Avoid busy trails and popular areas. Visit early in the day, so you can head somewhere else, if the parking lot is full.
• LEAVE NO TRACE. Pack out what you pack in.
• Practice good Hygiene: Wash your hands frequently and refrain from touching your face with unclean hands. Carry hand sanitizer or soap and water.
• You cannot go into communities. E.G. Bragg Creek, Canmore, Crochane.
• Garbage pickup is still not available at this time.
• Avoid touching rails, garbage bins, and other high touch surfaces. If you do, use gloves.
•  Provincial and Federal governments are recommending the use use of cloth masks. This is an individual decision.

 Both Alberta Parks and Parks Canada has asked the public for their cooperation to choose outdoor activities that are low risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. As any emergency assistance during this time period puts additional strain on the health care system, put public safety staff at risk, including exposure to COVID-19, which then can impact resources to support search and rescue.

White Grizzly Bear Spotted in Banff National Park

On April 30th, a Canmore family got a glimpse of a white grizzly bear, while out for a drive in Banff National Park. They spotted two young bears – one was white the other was brown, eating berries along the fence beside the roadway.

Talking with bear expert, Mike Gibeau (specialist in grizzly bears and a retired Parks Canada carnivore specialist), told them it is a rare gene anomaly that makes the grizzly bear white instead of its usual brownish colour. This is not an albino bear, which is absence of pigment in the skin and hair, which are white and the eyes are usually pink. Black bear colours can be from black to white and in between. In grizzly bears it is rare.

Currently people are in self-isolation, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in a sheltered place. Bears which are typically in a sheltered place because of human activity around them, are able to come out into their natural habitats and are freer to roam.

Cougar spotted at West Bragg Creek

A young cougar was photographed on Bobcat Trail at West Bragg Creek, on May 11, 2020.  Pay attention to your surroundings. As wildlife has become used to No humans in their habitat. Carry Bear Spray. And Walk Tall.

 

 

 

 

 Avalanche Canada shuts down its forecasting service due to COVID-19 Outbreak

Avalanche Canada stated a lack of data due to the COVID-19 outbreak has prompted the warning service to shut down its website effective immediately (March 24, 2020).

Guidelines to how the Alberta government plans to sale Provincial Parks

Alberta Environment and Parks were to release the guidelines on How the parks “partnership” would work, on May 4, 2020. Due to COVID-19 pandemic this announcement has been delayed.

 Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park:

Friends of Fish Creek Park is offering different events regarding the park’s history, wildlife, archaeology and other events in the park this spring/summer/fall.

Visit Friends of Fish Creek Park event calendar for daily and weekly events.

Friends of Kananaskis Park Event Series:

For more information go to Friends of Kananaskis Park event calendar.

Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area, New Parking Fee Effective January 1, 2020

Starting January 1, 2020, visitors will be required to pay a fee of $10.00 per vehicle seven days per week, from 4 am to 11 pm. Their parking lot will be regularly patrolled by volunteers and staff and is monitored 24/7 by security cameras. ASCC is implementing a parking pass system.  Annual pass will be $120.00 for the calendar year.

For more information go to ASCC.

 Avalanche Season

Avalanche conditions are high in many parks. Before you go out into the mountains, verify the avalanche conditions in the area of the event. Go to  Parks Canada Avalanche page or  the direct link to Alberta Parks – Kananaskis.

Trailhead Parking Security

It has been reported that car break-ins and theft has been happening at trail-head parking lots. Be sure to lock up your belongings and ensure nothing is visible when you leave your vehicle to mitigate the visibility of tempting items for thieves.

Trail Closures and Trail Report Link

Alberta Parks and Banff National Park are urging people to be bear aware. There have been multiple sightings of bears, and other wildlife in the parks. Depending on which park you are in, contact either Alberta Parks (403-591-7755) or Parks Canada Banff office (403-762-1470) if you come in close vicinity of a bear, cougar, elk or wolf.

• Ha Ling Peak Trail still closed to reduce environmental degradation during the current wet and snowy conditions.
• Alberta Parks Trail Reports

• Parks Canada Trail Report

• Greater Bragg Creek Trail Report 

• Moose Mountain Summit closure as of May 21, 2019 
• Glennfield Day Use Areas and Parking Lot closed from March 2019 to October 2020 

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Members Corner

The Members Corner section of the CORE Newsletter is meant to allow CORE Members to connect with other members of like interest, or to seek or sell outdoor equipment. Please submit any request to mailbox@corehike.org and include your contact info for interested parties to contact you. No photo’s of items will be posted on CORE newsletter. Also, please keep your words to a minimum (50 words or less).  Please note that the CORE Newsletter is in the public domain, and that by submitting a request, you give permission to CORE to publish your contact information thus provided. CORE will not act as intermediary in any resulting transactions. All members who submit any request have relinquished CORE from any and all liabilities, claims, suits, and causes of action, and property (including loss of use or damage) on the part of the CORE club (individually or collectively).

{member’s AD and contact info to be posted here}

 

Adventure Stories

 

For all CORE members, this spot is for you. If you have a little story to tell about something you’ve seen on a CORE outing, or some article or book you may have read that you would like to share, please send it along and we’ll publish it in the next newsletter. Keep it to a couple paragraphs, and stick to topics related to the outdoors or the environment.  mailbox@corehike.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Hither and Yon

For most of us, it has been awhile since we have done any hiking. Now that the provincial parks are re-opening, and some national parks by June 1,we just want to get out to the mountains and hike. Do not rush into doing strenuous hiking, as this could lead to an injury. Start slow and build up.

For cardio endurance, walking on an incline is preferable. Start at a low incline and buildup. Add more weight to your workout, put your back pack on. Once you are use to this, start adding weight into your back pack. Then build up more mileage, and incline with your back pack on. Now put your hiking boots/shoes on. Your hiking boots/shoes are heavier than runners. Your body needs to adapt to the different weight of your shoes. As you will need to lift your feet over obstacles in a trail. Next step is to hike parks like Nose Hill, Fish Creek, Edworthy, etc ., with a filled back pack and hiking boots/shoes to get more distance and hill climbing. The extra weight in your back pack does make a difference even on these trails.  The biggest advantage of being able to get back outside, is being out in the fresh air, seeing the prairie crocuses, new buds on the trees, the Calgary wildlife and getting back to want you enjoy. I was still able to social distance (2 metres/6 feet) from others.

You also need to strengthen your legs, back, core, shoulder and arm muscles for hiking. I have chosen two videos that are specific for hikers, as theses videos use more of your own body weight as resistance, or you can add weights. No need to go to a gym! Just pick two or three exercises , then alternate.

Leg resistance could be as simple as doing lunges with a weighted object in your hands, extended outwards. Or squats with a weighted objective held just above each shoulders or at chest height. Calf muscles raising up and down on a ledge of a step. Triceps, pushing up from a chair. Whatever exercise’s works for you.

Complete workout for hikers/trekkers by Mountain Chasers.

Hiking Workout by Real Anime Training.

 

Soon you will be back on the trails.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        Take Care, Be Safe And Have Fun!!!!