Mountaineering programs in the Rocky Mountains

DAY 1

Meet at 9:00 am for a course briefing (Icefields Campground Cook Shelter)
Issue mountaineering equipment and crampons. If you bring your own equipment we will help you size it properly.
Head to the nearby training area
(Bring your climbing boots to the fitting session as well as any climbing gear you have so we can check it out)

Mountaineering knots and harness use.
Snow school (at field site nearby) includes movement on snow, use of ice axe, self-arrest on snow, belaying on snow.

DAY 2

Meet at 8:00 am to discuss the day's objectives
Ice school and crevasse rescue.  Includes glacier morphology, crampon technique, low angle ice climbing, ice screw placement, roping up for glaciers, crevasse rescue techniques, ice anchors.

DAY 3

Peak Ascent Day

Typically a 3:00 am meet to begin the ascent day of a suitable peak.
This is an exciting and challenging opportunity to put new-found skills into practice on a big mountain. There are several options for climbing the 3491m (11,454 Ft.) Mt. Athabasca. Other peaks include A2, Boundary Peak, and Mt. Wilcox. All are good introductory mountaineering challenges.

Mount Athabasca: First Ascent: August 17th, 1898, N. Collie, H. Wooley, 11,453 feet, 3491 meters "Athabasca" is a Cree word believed to mean "where there are reeds and grasses"

The peak you attempt will depend upon the mountain conditions, the weather and your level of fitness.

We only attempt Mt. Athabasca with those fit enough and when conditions/weather permitting. Should conditions mean that no peak is suitable we will schedule an extra day of instruction.

Expect a long but rewarding day for your summit attempt. We usually start very early (well before dawn) meaning you will be exposed to the incredible beauty of a mountain sunrise. These climbs are not too technical but require many of the things mountaineers must have: stamina, fitness, route finding skills and good judgment.

DAY 1

We meet at the office in Canmore at 8:30 am for introductions, a review of course goals and itinerary and an equipment check. After packing up, it's an hour and a half drive north to Bow Lake where we commence the hike to Bow Hut, which is located at 2350m on a shoulder adjacent to the snout of the Bow Glacier. This will take us between 3 and 5 hours. We travel 7km and climb 400m.

DAY 2-5

The Bow Hut is our base for the week. Its proximity to the glacier and to several peaks makes it easy for us to get out on to suitable instruction terrain every day. It's a perfect area for instruction. We may spend nights in one of the other huts in the region. Peaks often climbed on the course include Mt. Olive (3110m.), Mt. St. Nicholas (2900m.), Mt. Gordon (3200m.), Mt. Thompson (3050m.) & Mt. Rhondda (3110m.)

DAY 6

Final day. An opportunity to review techniques before we hike back down to Bow Lake and return to Canmore in the late afternoon.

On the 3 day program accommodation for the weekend is not included in this program. The instructors and most climbers stay at the “Icefields Campground” which we highly recommend facilitating communication amongst the group.

On the 6 day program, you stay in alpine huts operated by the Alpine Club of Canada. Sleeping areas are communal and facilities are basic. Bow Hut is equipped with indoor propane lighting and cooking facilities. The hut has a wood stove for heat. Outhouses are standard and large enough to offer privacy for personal washing. There are no showers or flush toilets.

Meals are not included on the 3-day program.

You will need to plan your own menu and bring up enough food for three days. Breakfasts should be simple and easy to prepare as you will be leaving fairly early each morning to meet with the group (especially on the summit day). You will also need to bring lunch and snack food with you each day. Bring plenty of high-energy snacks. Particularly on cold days, we may not stop for long lunch breaks opting for more frequent short snack breaks instead. You will also need to bring plenty of liquids, especially on the peak day, when 2-3 litres will be appropriate.

On the 6 day program all meals, snacks, and drinks are supplied from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 6. Mountain meals are made from nutritious, healthy ingredients and are cooked and dehydrated in our own kitchen by our chef.  For guests with dietary restrictions, we are able to modify the program food pack to meet your individual needs.  As food pricing and preparation for these diets is more costly, there is a surcharge.  Our kitchen staff will assess your restrictions to inform you if the diet can be accommodated and what surcharge would apply. Vegetarian meals will not be surcharged.