Local Outdoor organizations and local interest web sites

The following sites have been rated with Bob's Opinionated Rating of 1 to 5 stars. A site is rated on the content available to the public. It does not reflect the organization itself, nor does it consider how 'stylish' a site is.

*	pathetic: barely worth the click getting there
**	below average: who we are, and that's about it - wouldn't visit more than once
***	average: useful current information about the organization, schedules
****	above average: good content on the sport / activity, or online services
*****	excellent: lots of interesting dynamic information, would return here often

Sites do evolve over time, and to be fair, should be re-evaluated annually. These sites were rated during January 2001.

Updated fixing broken links added some comments and some additional sites by John July 2015.

• Hostelling International Canada ****
  Details of all the hostels including maps. Make reservations online. Online version of the Alberta Hosteller newsletter with the activity schedule of the Hostel Outdoors Group (HOGs). Schedule not current as of late January 2005 unfortunately.

• Alberta Speleological Society ****
  A great site to learn about cave formation and the sport of caving. A good article on bats. Several interesting photos of the Castleguard cave.

• Alberta Whitewater Association ***
  

• Alpine Club of Canada - Calgary Section ***
  Site has undergone an upgrade with an improved calendar etc. Still not much trip / condition reporting though.

• Alpine Club of Canada - National ****
  Information on huts, membership, national and international trips, and links to local sections of the ACC.

• Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area ***
  The Cross Conservation Area is just a few km SW of Calgary. Offers tours and educational programs.

• Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival ***
  Home of the Banff Mountain Film Festival, Book Festival, and Photography Competition.

• Bivouac Mountaineering Directory *****
  Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia - a frequently updated geographic based directory of mountains with route descriptions and reports. Schedules for several Vancouver area outdoor clubs. 2010 update still a great resource for the serious western Canada alpinist. Subscription Fee required

• Bow Waters Canoe Club ***
  

• Nature Calgary / Calgary Field Naturalists' Society ***
  Nature Calgary holds meetings, organizes field trips and has in the past published a number of natural history books, including guides to natural areas of the city or greeting cards. Society also advocate for the preservation of natural areas within the Calgary area. For example society was involved with the development of the Weed Lake area in partnership with Ducks Unlimited.

• Calgary Mountain Bike Alliance ***
  Advocacy group for biking access.

• Calgary Outdoor Club ****
  Free membership (voluntary donation requested). Schedule seems active with events both outdoor events and social events. Established 2003 and grown very quickly to close to 3,000 members as of January 2006. The largest membership base of any Calgary outdoor club?

• Calgary Scrambling and Mountaineering Club ****
  Club focuses on those activities and trips whose intent is to reach a mountain ridge or summit or is about learning and developing skills needed for such attempts. These activities range from Easy Scrambles to full on Mountaineering trips and expeditions. This includes such things as scrambling, climbing (sport and trad), alpinism, ice climbing, ski touring/ascents and other general mountaineering activities.

• Calgary Outdoor Recreation Enthusiasts ***
  New club, schedule, discussion board. Appendix A is vaguely familiar.

• Calgary Roadrunners ***
  From fun runs to marathons and training. Lots of links to races and running sites.

• Calgary Ski Club ***
  

• Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society Southern Alberta chapter ***1/2
  Extensive review of local environmental issues.

• Canadian Ski Patrol System - Calgary **1/2

• Eastern Slopes Grizzly Bear Project ****
  How do bears get fat on berries? They can eat over 200,000 per day. Good links list.

• Elbow Valley Cycle Club ***
  

• Vern Dewit ****
  Personal site of Vern Dewit - excellent descriptions and great photography.

• Foothills Nordic Ski Club ***
  Organizers of the "cookie race" in Peter Lougheed provincial park.

• Foothills Wanderers Orienteering Club ***
  Learn about orienteering.

• PeakFinder ****
  

• Search and Rescue Alberta Association **1/2
  

• Bob Spirko ****
  Personal site of Bob Spirko - excellent descriptions and includes obscure trips that some Ramblers like!

• Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies ***
  

• Trout Unlimited Canada - Bow River Chapter ***
  Some information on local fish, habitat, and maps of Bow River.

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