For over 25 years, AWA’s signature Earth Day event was the Climb for Wilderness, when Calgarians would gather to climb stairs and raise money for Alberta’s Wilderness. This year we were excited to return to those roots with a “Climb Stairs and Cycle on Earth Day” Adventure! AWA board member Chris Saunders set to the task of creating and coordinating this adventure and talks about how it went. Thanks to participant Laszlo Jamniczky for the photos!

On Saturday April 23^rd 2022, the nearest Saturday to Earth Day, 18 participants set out to test their endurance skills against a course of outdoor staircases, with a series of short cycle rides in between. The age of the participants covered a broad range, from 3 years old to late seventies. The bikes used by the participants had a similar range from sleek lightweight racers to steady roadsters. Most of the participants arrived at the starting place on their bikes.

The course started at the Ukrainian Catholic church in Renfrew where there was a very large staircase to be ascended and climbed to kick things off. Group then cycled east along footpaths and quiet roads to do several more staircases in Renfrew. After that the route went south along the Nose Creek pathway and onto St Patrick’s Island where some unusual steps were climbed and descended at the “mound”. After the staircase at the Bridgeland LRT station the route took the group to couple of staircases in the south western part of Bridgeland. Then a lengthy cycle west along the Bow River pathway brought the group to the large staircase at the Calgary Curling Club. The group tackled the staircase successfully and then cycled up the path to the top of the bluff. Some tiredness was setting in at this point but most of the group continued on by cycling east across Centre Street to a staircase in Rotary Park. The final stretch was further east and involved a series of four staircases in Regal Heights each of which drop down to land near Edmonton Trail. Having completed that test, all that was left was a simple ride back to the Ukrainian church in Renfrew.
Throughout the course the event coordinator spoke to the group about AWA’s work and some of the challenges facing Alberta’s wilderness.

The event was a success in that all participants enjoyed the event and a significant amount of money was raised for Alberta Wilderness Association through sponsorships and donations. The coordinator is considering holding a similar event next year in a different part of the city. Watch out for the posting in early 2023.