A bright sunny Alberta spring morning welcomed us as we began our walk in the SW Calgary Griffiths Wood Park.

Griffiths Wood is without a doubt, Calgary's most beautiful and most natural park and a Sunday walk within its quiet boundaries quickly washes away the stress of city living. After wandering through this wonderful area, we climbed a small hill to a viewpoint in the Elbow River Reconstructed Wetlands for a short sit-down.

The next section of the route required a 3 km walk along busy Glenmore Trail to 37th Street, but even this wasn't bad as we were able to walk along a grassy trail a fair distance from the traffic for the most part. Soon we were in North Glenmore Park where we had a choice of sharing the pathway with joggers, cyclists, rollerbladers and wandering pedestrians or dropping down to the Weaselhead Flats and walking along the shoreline of the reservoir.

After our lunch break, at the 14 km point in our hike, we continued along a well travelled trail along the shore of the reservoir until we reached the Calgary Rowing Club. With hindsight, it would have probably been a wise decision to rejoin the pathway system at this point but the vestiges of a trail beckoned and we continued along the shoreline to the Earl Grey Golf Course. At this point the trail we had been following petered out. Two members of our group opted for the high road and walked along the top of the escarpment, being very careful to stay on the reservoir side of the white property stakes and avoid trespassing on the hallowed grounds of one of Calgary oldest private golf clubs. Your erstwhile coordinator opted for the low road and tried to forge a trail along the ever narrowing shoreline. At this point I should emphasize that this is not now or ever will be the recommended route.

Soon we were on the pathway crossing beneath Glenmore Trail and with one small exception, our off-trail adventures were over as we struck off for the Glenmore Dam and then Sandy Beach.

Our route now became more of an urban hike as our route took us through the neighbourhoods and parks of the Elbow River communities of Britannia, Stanley Park, Parkhill, Rideau Park, Roxboro, and Erlton to Stampede Park. This section of the walk is quite difficult as you are in constant danger of tripping over your own feet as you "rubber-neck" at some of Calgary's finest homes.

As we passed by Stampede Park . . .

Passing by Fort Calgary, Dave was convinced that the pub was "just over the next hill" . . .

Soon our travels were over (33.4 km; 6.5 hours hiking time; 8.25 hours total time) and we were able to slake our thirst with a well earned pint at Brewster's in Eau Claire Market.

Participants: David; Joanne. Coordinator/Scribe/Photographer: Jim