Come Hike with Us
The Alberta Hiking Association (AHA) is hosting its 2nd Annual Hikeathon this fall and is inviting you to join! In order to meet the needs of our growing membership we need to expand. Providing more hiking resources, advocacy, and better support to our members and Alberta’s hikers will be crucial in ensuring that hikers get a seat at the table. Funds raised from the Hikeathon will go towards expanding our website, capacity building initiatives, and administrative support to the organization. Keep an eye out for further information on the Hikeathon, the prizes, and challenges we’ve prepared and that we hope you’ll be looking forward to. As a sneak peak, one of the prizes will be a $200 gift certificate to Aurum Lodge, an eco-tourism accommodation on Abraham Lake, 40km east of Banff National Park — the perfect location to access hiking trails in the Bighorn. Spread the word! Please help by downloading the AHA Hikeathon flyer and posting it to your area groups.
Skrastins Outdoor Club – What’s in a Name
By Esther Jackson
Skrastins Outdoor Club, a seniors’ outdoor club for over 55’s, was founded in 1979 by Bill Skrastins. He established three seniors’ outdoors clubs during the 1970’s, the M&M’s, Second Sixties and the club that bears his name. READ MORE..
The Alberta Trails Act
The new Trails Act establishes a system for identifying motorized and non-motorized trails on public land (outside of the provincial parks). The Act ensures trails are planned in consideration of other land-uses and values and defines designated trails as belonging to the Crown. LEARN MORE..
Stay tuned: Another special discount code for AHA members
Atmosphere stores have offered all members of AHA a significant Discount Code in all their Alberta locations for a defined period of time in June. We expect to be mailing the Code and details out to all members in early May. PARTNER DISCOUNTS..
Resources/Events/News
It is tick season! Do you know how to protect yourself and what to do?
Here is an article about Hiking in Tick Country: How to Hike in Tick Country — Washington Trails Association (wta.org)
And a link to an Alberta Health article that includes the Submit-a-Tick surveillance program which helps to monitor the types and distribution of ticks in Alberta, and to assess the risk of acquiring Lyme disease within Alberta.
More information: Lyme disease and tick surveillance | Alberta.ca
It is worthwhile subscribing to the Washington Trails Association newsletter; they always have great articles. Washington Trails Association (wta.org)
Save the Date: The Alberta Hiking Association AGM will be held Wednesday, June 8, 7 pm by Zoom. Details to be emailed to members soon.
Alberta TrailNet will be launching their Future Trail Builders Contest on Monday, April 11th. Alberta TrailNet Society is encouraging kids to create a trail (or image of a trail) at home and enter to win a prize. The organization is also providing Trail Adventure Bingo and other fun activities for families to enjoy while exploring Alberta’s trails. The contest is open to children aged 3-16. See Alberta Trail Net Information Centre for details.
And, if you have not heard the news, a number of popular trails near Canmore will be closed for the season for infrastructure upgrades. See Some Trails Closed for Rest of 2022 (kananaskistrails.com). The Lady MacDonald trail will also be closed for 2022. (https://canmore.ca/projects/mountain-creek-hazard-mitigation/cougar-creek#:~:text=The%20Lady%20MacDonald%20hiking%20trail,site%20and%20the%20general%20public.)
Alberta Environment and Parks has hired 19 new Conservation Officers with six of these being for Kananaskis Country. The six new KC officers are being paid with some of the revenue from the Kananaskis Conservation Pass.
Alberta Hiking Association Board
The Alberta Hiking Association BOARD OF DIRECTORS invites new members to join a Board Committee. The available committees are noted below.
Board Committees
Advocacy: Expand and improve advocacy to provincial and regional governments, chaired by Don Cockerton
Communication & Social media: Develop and implement a communication plan to serve members and the hiking public, chaired by Anita Thomas.
Education: Develop and implement an education plan promoting minimal impact hiking, chaired by Marlaq Zapach
Fundraising: Establish and implement the best approaches for raising revenue, chaired by Don Cockerton
Membership & Volunteerism: Expand and improve services and outreach to members and the hiking public, chaired by Murray Fierheller
Additional Board and Committee members are needed to achieve our Strategic Plan objectives. If you can contribute, please find more information on the website at https://abhiking.ca or email Don Cockerton through the Alberta Hiking Association contact page.
—> READ MORE ABOUT OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND HOW TO GET INVOLVED..
Alberta Hiking Association Membership
Membership is open to not-for-profit organizations and individuals who support the objectives of the AHA. READ MORE ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS..
The AHA Newsletter is published quarterly, January, April, July, and October. Please send submissions by the first of each publication month through our website at Contact Us.