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Calgary 2025 ABS Conference & Alberta Exploration

The 2025 ABS Conference is being held in Calgary, Alberta from Friday Aug 1 → Sunday Aug 3, 2025 at the Calgary Convention Center.

We will add a few days of exploration in the nearby Banff area to make a seven day trip from Monday → Sunday. Inspiration for days trips came from Austin Adventure's tours starting in Calgary and their Banff Adventure, which guides small groups through a week of moderate hiking and rafting around Banff, which is just west of Calgary. We'll not likely do much from their itinerary - just ideas. Hiking disclaimer: 60 year old knees will not like 3,000' of climbing four days straight. So, let's not.

Maps

Each location is labeled A → Z.

The drive from the Calgary International Airport to the Rimrock Resort Hotel, Banff, is roughly 100 miles or about 1 1/2 hours of driving.

Overall map

Day 1: Travel to Calgary & Banff

Monday, July 29

Travel day:

• Flight: G&E from from SFO → Calgary, on WestJet 1506, 12:50 pm → 16:34.
  • Taraz will fly LAX → YYC on _TBD__
• Hotel: Rimrock Resort Hotel, 7/28 → 8/1/2025
  • checkin: 4pm, checkout: 11am, confirm #: PJPPBBTT
  • address: 300 Mountain Avenue, P.O. Box 1110 Banff, Alberta, Canada T1L 1J2, , +(1)4037623356
  • deluxe view, 2 queens, one night paid (non-refundable), $35/day self-parking
• Car: Budget, YYC (5pm) → YYC (1:3pm), Confirmation: 22009151US3, link
  • prepaid, Hyundai Elantra or similar
  • at airport, user: g.c@g, p: g6a@4bQ9GtTiUKQ28a9&

Rimrock Resort Hotel

Typical Calgary July Weather

Sunrise: 6:00am, Sunset: 9:24pm, MDT (one hour ahead) (late sunsets!)
First Quarter Moon: Thursday, August 1
Banff weather is -4' of Calgary. The Rimrock Resort is at 5,200'. Calgary is at 3,556'.

Day 5: Banff -> Calgary

Friday, August 1

Short travel day back to Calgary and start the ABS conference.

• Hotel: Hyatt Regency Calgary, 8/1 → 8/3/2025
  • checkin: 3pm, checkout: 12pm, confirm #: 17487719
  • address: 700 Centre Street SE, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6 Canada, +1 403 717 1234
  • 2 queens high floor, member advance purchase, $28/day self-parking
  • map: 700 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 5P6, Canada

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Calgary Hyatt

ABS Conference 2025

Details TBD.

The 49th annual conference will take place on August 1-3, 2025 at the Telus Convention Center in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. https://www.bahaistudies.ca/event/2025

The Telus Convention Center is connected to the Hyatt Regency (via a walkway so thatno outside walking is required.)

Calgary Hyatt

Hikes

All hikes are currently from the Austin Adventure trip. It's worth looking at more.

Minnestimma Lake, Sentinel Pass

B: Troll Falls

Three waterfalls, 2 miles from KML.

Permit needed: https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/evan-thomas-pra/

• stats: 2.9 miles/744'/1:37
• map: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/troll-falls

Troll Falls

C: 1982 Canadian Mount Everest Expedition Trail

Lake & mountain views, 26 miles S of KML. Named after the 1st Canadians to summit Mt. Everest: medium. Not indicative of hike difficulty.

Permit needed: https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/evan-thomas-pra/

• stats: 1.2 miles/360'/0:43
• map: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/1982-canadian-mount-everest-expedition-interpretive

1982 Canadian Mount Everest Expedition Trail

F: Sunshine Meadows

Gondola ride to near top (8000') with alpine meadows & lakes.

See also: https://www.banffsunshinemeadows.com/hiking

• stats: 6.6 miles/1450'/3:24
• map: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/sunshine-meadows--3

Sunshine Meadows

I: Sentinel Pass

One of the top hikes near Banff. Simple out and back from Moraine Lake Lodge, elevation 5,876'.

Uses shuttle bus from https://www.google.com/maps/dir//Lake%20Louise%20Park%20and%20Ride Lake Louis Ski Resort, reservations required.

See also: https://thebanffblog.com/larch-valley-sentinel-pass/

• stats: 6.9 miles/2,457'/5:00?
• map: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/sentinel-pass--3

Sentinel Pass

H: Athabasca Glacier

Guided hike, where they provide crampons, hiking sticks and lunch. Two options available, 1/2 day and full. The location is remote and and leaving early will likely be needed to get there by the 9:30am departure.

The Athabasca is the most-visited glacier on the North American continent. Situated across from the Icefield Centre, its ice is in continuous motion, creeping forward at the rate of several centimeters per day. Spilling from the Columbia Icefield over three giant bedrock steps, the glacier flows down the valley like a frozen, slow-moving river. storymaps

Likely guides:

• https://www.icewalks.com/
• https://rockaboo.ca/summer-activities/experience-athabasca-glacier/
• https://icefieldsparkway.com/tours-experiences/icewalk-guided-tour
• https://www.banffjaspercollection.com/attractions/columbia-icefield/
• https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g154917-d669313-Reviews-Ice_Walk-Jasper_National_Park_Alberta.html

We can also take a snow coach across the Columbia Ice Field.

See also:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athabasca_Glacier
• https://www.banffjaspercollection.com/attractions/columbia-icefield/

• stats: 3 miles/650'/3 hours (1/2 day)
• stats: 5 miles/1000'/6 hours (full day)

Athabasca Glacier

Ice Walks full day pic

Near E: Johnson Lake

Simple loop around a pretty lake. All around 4500'.

See also: https://www.banfflakelouise.com/experiences/hike-johnson-lake-loop

• stats: 1.8 miles/226'/0:45
• map: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/johnson-lake

Johnson Lake

Near E: Banff Springs Hotel

An iconic, historical, huge and pricey hotel. Not likely, but I've always wanted to see it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banff_Springs_Hotel

• Website: https://www.fairmont.com/banff-springs/
• Rate: 700+
• Address: 405 Spray Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1J4, Canada

Banff Springs Hotel

D: Horseback Ride at Rafter Six Ranch

Various ride lengths through meadows, streams & forests.

• 2 hour ride: $159. Leaves at 10am & 2pm
• 1/2 day is 3 1/2 hours: $235, includes snacks, water, helmet.
• Leavs at 9am & 1pm.

See: https://www.raftersix.com/index.html

See also: https://www.banfflakelouise.com/experiences/hike-johnson-lake-loop

Rafter Six

G: Marble Canyon

Quick out and back to see when going to Lake Louise. “Highlights include stunning canyon views, waterfalls, and crystal-clear water.”

• stats: 1 miles/160'/0:25
• map: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/british-columbia/marble-canyon

See also: https://www.awalkandalark.com/marble-canyon-kootenay-national-park/

Marble Canyon

Starts near E: Lake Louise Indigenous E-bike Tour

Lake Louise is a must see and the Austin Adventure plan for families is to do a bike ride around the lake. The following possibility popped up in Google:

Embark on an Indigenous e-biking and e-fat biking tour through the stunning landscapes of Banff National Park, where adventure meets cultural insight. Thanks to an exciting collaboration between Bikescape and Buffalo Stone Woman, you’ll explore beautiful bike trails while discovering the deep connection between the land and Indigenous traditions. https://www.banfflakelouise.com/experiences/indigenous-e-bike-tour

See also:

• https://bikescape.ca/en/indigescape-summer-ebike-experience/
• https://www.banfflakelouise.com/

• stats: 6-10 miles/na/1-3 hours, $160
• map: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/british-columbia/marble-canyon

To bring: rain jacket, gloves, glasses, backpack. They provide: helmets, snacks, water, indigenous teachings.

Lake Louise

Buffalo Stone Women guides.