OGRE CANYON CRAWL

Ogre canyon is located on the boundary of Jasper National Park and accessed through the town of Brule, about a half-hour drive from Hinton. On Hwy 40 north, just past the Athabasca River Bridge, turn west on the well-marked paved road to Brule. Follow this road for 16 Km to the Brule townsite. There is only one small store and restaurant in Brule; no other services. Our staging area in Brule is the community hall. The hall is one block off to the right of the main road, just before the playground, and across from the firehall.

The road to the base of the canyon is passable, 90% of the year, only with a 4x4 vehicle, biking or hiking. If hiking, plan for an additional four hours (two hours in, two hours out). The brochure price includes transportation from Brule to Ogre creek in our 15 passenger 4x4 van.

Once at the creek, participants are supplied with wetsuits, booties and helmets, which must all be carried in their backpack along with extra clothes, rain coat, gloves, lunch and water. From the creek we hike for about 45 minutes to reach our entry point to the canyon.

In an open staging area, just before we reach the canyon, we strip down to bathing suits, which everyone should be wearing, (there is minimal privacy here) and slip on wetsuits, booties and helmets. Our packs will be left at this spot and picked up on the way back.

Aside from a short period in late July and into August, the water is generally fairly cold (2 – 6 degrees Celsius). A technical rappel is required to enter the canyon. The trip through the canyon takes about two hours of bouldering, teamwork and hiking. In places the canyon is only 2 metres wide, but 130 metres high. Once we exit the canyon and change into dry clothes, the wetsuits and booties are rinsed and placed in garbage bags, in your pack, for the hike out.

Don’t forget your camera. Many people have purchased a disposable waterproof camera for the canyon.

Be prepared; you must have:

Large daypackcomfortable shoes/boots1 – 2 LITRES water

Lunch and snacksrain coat or ponchobathing suit or shorts

Towelextra shirt, socks, etcgloves or mitts

Sunscreenpersonal medications1 – 2 large garbage bags

hat or toque

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