 
mountain adventures
MOUNTAINEERING IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES
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Mountaineering, Climbing, and Skiing In The Canadian Rockies
This intensive mountaineering instruction course in the Canadian Rockies provides a grounding in alpine mountaineering: climbing on snow, ice, rock & mixed terrain, glacier travel, crevasse rescue & navigation. Experience the thrills of your first summits, enjoy great company & be left ready to continue on your own or to join us on our advanced programs & expeditions. The only prerequisites? A desire to learn, good physical fitness & a positive, adventurous attitude. 2008 DatesJune 15 - 20, June 29 - July 4, July 13 - 18, July 27 - Aug. 1, Aug. 2 - 7, Aug 10 - 15, Aug 25 - 30, Sept 7 - 12, Sept 14 - 19 Price
Not included: Canmore accommodation, Gratuities & 5% GST*. Cancellation insurance available for $70. Optional pre and post trip accommodation packages are available from $80 per person per night for shared room lodging ($160 for single occupancy). Purchase with booking. Subject to availability.
More climbing: Yamnuska guides and instructors are also available for private climbing after the program ... details . * A 50% rebate of the GST is available to non-residents of Canada. Instructors & Group SizeGreat people to spend a week in the mountains with, your instructors are certified by the internationally-recognized Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and licensed by Parks Canada. There will be a maximum of 6 participants per instructor. Meeting Place & TimeThe program begins at the Yamnuska office at 200, 50 Lincoln Park, Canmore, at 8:30 am on the first day. Map LocationThe course is based out of Bow Hut on the Wapta Icefields just north of Lake Louise. The peaks range from 2900 meters to 3200 meters in height and are of just the right difficulty for instruction. The extensive glaciers are ideal for gaining experience in both safe travel among crevasses and in whiteout navigation when the weather turns bad. Curriculum
Topics include:
Course Agenda
Day 1: We meet at the Yamnuska Office in Canmore at 8:30am 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 2350 m. on a shoulder adjacent to the snout of the Bow Glacier. This will take us between 3 and 5 hours. We travel 6km and climb 610 m. Day 2 - 5: 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 Olive (3110 m.), St. Nicholas ( 2900 m.), Gordon (3200 m.), Thompson (3050 m.), Balfour (3230 m.) & Rhondda (3110 m.) Day 6: Final day. A last chance to review techniques before we hike back down to Bow Lake and return to Canmore in the late afternoon. Difficulty, Fitness & Experience
The peaks attempted on this course are of moderate difficulty, in fact it is often appropriate to allow students the lead. You will need to be fit and it is a 'hiking' fitness that you will need as you will be traveling several kilometers of glacier each day, often having to break trail in soft snow. Whilst we generally pre place food and equipment in Bow Hut you may still end up carrying 40lbs or more on the first day. Any training you can do in advance, particularly that involving hiking up steep terrain, will really enhance your enjoyment of this program. No prior mountaineering experience is needed.
TransportationParticipants are responsible for their own transport to Canmore which is a 1hour (100km) drive west from Calgary. Frequent shuttles connect Calgary International Airport and Canmore. Greyhound Bus Lines (1 800 661 8747) serves Canmore from points east and west along the Trans-Canada Highway. Call 609 8790, 609 0300, 609 1490 or 609 8505 for taxis in Canmore. To reach Bow Lake participants can car pool or we will arrange a minibus at no extra cost to you. You should plan to arrive in Canmore the day before the course (see "accommodation" below") Accommodation & MealsDuring the trip we stay in alpine huts operated by the Alpine Club of Canada. Sleeping areas are communal and facilities basic. Accommodation in Canmore is not included. For your convenience we can arrange bed and breakfast hotel rooms at $160 per night. These will be at the recommended Westridge Country Inn. Double or single occupancy, the cost is the same. For those wishing to defray this cost we will try to pair them with other participants. This accommodation can be booked with the trip online or by calling us. Subject to availability. You can also make your own arrangements. Check our links page for a range of recommended Canmore accommodations. In addition the Alpine Club of Canada Clubhouse (403 678-3200) is a good hostel here in Canmore with good facilities and reasonable prices. Excess luggage can be left at your hotel or our office. All meals, snacks and drinks are supplied from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 6. Mountain meals are made from lightweight ingredients. Please let us know, well in advance, if you have any dietary restrictions or prefer a vegetarian menu. Your assistance with meal duties will be appreciated. Equipment and ClothingYou will need to bring all your own clothing, mountaineering boots (rentals available), backpack and sleeping bag. We supply technical gear (ice axes, crampons, harnesses etc.) and other group safety items. The equipment and clothing you bring to this program will have a big impact upon the quality of your experience. Please be sure to bring all items requested. If you are unsure about anything please do not hesitate to call and ask us. CLOTHING LISTWe suggest layers of light, easily carried clothing that allow for fast and easy adjustment to best suit fast changing temperature conditions. We discourage cotton clothing as it causes rapid heat loss when wet. Feel free to call us if you have any questions about what to bring. This list covers items needed for all likely conditions during the mountaineering season. Your guide will go through your clothing and gear with you prior to the course. You will need to bring:
EQUIPMENT LISTYou will need to bring: (Items in blue are available to rent from Yamnuska)
OPTIONAL ITEMSWe supply & pre place at the Hut the following items, but if you have your own & don't mind carrying the extra weight to the Hut, please feel free to bring along -
Contact Yamnuska with clothing & gear questions InsuranceThere is no charge for rescue so long as you have a valid National Park Entry Pass (included in cost). It is wise, though to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident whilst here. Obtain extra coverage if necessary. Booking InformationPlease book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. A deposit of $487 CDN (including GST) is required at time of booking. Final payment is due eight weeks before the start of the program. To avoid unnecessary cancellation penalties we suggest you take our cancellation insurance for an extra non-refundable $70, this can only be purchased at the time of booking. For detailed Booking Instructions and Conditions, click here. Please note that you will be required to sign our waiver before commencing the program. Click here for waiver copy. We also request that you complete and return our on-line mountain experience questionnaire.
Past Students' WebsitesCheck these out websites compiled by past students about the Intro course. PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT US IF
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$1325.00
Canadian includes instruction, hut accommodation,
Park Permits,
out-trip meals, local transfer to trailhead and use of technical gear.
There is considerable flexibility built into the delivery of
this course, no course is exactly the same. Snow and weather conditions will dictate the
order of presentation to some degree. The course may also move over to huts. Key topics
will be constantly revisited during the program.
Note: From Day 2 the course
agenda and the amount of time spent on each subject will depend upon conditions in the
program area, the weather, group and individual abilities and learning speeds.
Yamnuska Mountain
Adventures
