Canadian Semesters
3 months of mountaineering & leadership training
Dates & Prices Program Objectives Instructor Ratios Location Climate Agenda (Spring) Agenda (Fall) Arrival & Meeting Instructions Course Break Transport Accommodation & Meals Gear & Clothing Booking Program Video Past Participant's Website Semester FAQS
The classic Yamnuska Mountain Skills & Outdoor Leadership Semester now in its 34th year has been updated with more technical climbing, more mountaineering and more rescue training. The Canadian Semesters begin in March and September and include summer and winter conditions.
Dates & Prices
2010: Fall - September 17 - December 7 - $11, 200 CDN, cancellation insurance $712
2011: Spring - March 14 - June 4 - $11, 200 CDN, cancellation insurance $712
2011: Fall - September 16- December 6 - $11, 200 CDN, cancellation insurance $712
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Minimum enrolment is 6 students, an amended program may be offered should enrolment be less.
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$100 refundable gear damage deposit required from all students.
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Tax Receipt issued for tuition costs.
Price includes:
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All accommodation
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All out-trip meals (meals while in Canmore are not included)
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All transport
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Instruction
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Use of all technical gear
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All group camping gear (tents, stoves etc)
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Park fees
Price does not include:
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5% Goods & Services Tax
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Meals while in Canmore, AB
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Costs of living during the 5 day course break
View cancellation insurance details
Program Objectives & Certificates
To train you to become an independent and fully self sufficient mountaineer. To develop your all round competence to an advanced intermediate level across the spectrum of mountaineering skills. This in tandem with the development of individual and group leadership skills.
On completion of the program you will be eligible for the "Yamnuska Mountain Skills Certificate", "Avalanche Safety Training 2 Certificate" and the "Wilderness First Responder Certificate".
Instructor Ratios
The instructor ratio (number of students per instructor) has a very large impact on the quality of the program. Ratios are selected based upon the difficulty and hazard associated with the teaching terrain. On most sections the ratio is 1:6 which is fine for single pitch climbing or general mountain terrain. As the program progresses students will lead more and more and instructors will often be relegated to an advisory and coaching role. On multi-pitch climbs the ratio may be as low as 1:2.
Course Location
The course is based in Canmore, Alberta in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains just minutes from Banff National Park. Section locations vary according to conditions but we typically range north to the Columbia Icefields, west to Rogers Pass in the Selkirk Mountains and east along the edge of the Rockies in Kananaskis Country.
Yamnuska HQ in Canmore
Spring Semester Agenda
Day 1: Orientation day.
We welcome you to our Yamnuska office at 9.00am. following introductions,
we will review the semester objectives and agenda then swing right into
preparing for the months ahead. We need to make sure that you have the
proper clothing and gear and issue equipment for the first section. We
will also introduce leadership topics that will assist us to function
effectively as a group.
Please read arrival instructions
Ice Climbing & Mixed Climbing
This section is broken into 3 segments, 2 days of
basic ice climbing near Canmore, an avalanche awareness training day in
the classroom and then a 5-day trip up the Banff/Jasper Parkway for
advanced ice climbing and mixed climbing. It is on this section where you
will first get to know and to work with your fellow participants. During
the following weeks the group's ability to function well together will be
crucial to the success of the program.
Day 2 - 3: Introduction to Ice Climbing.
Two days of basic skills training near Canmore. We
introduce movement skills on progressively steeper ice and start learning
the rope safety techniques that we will apply throughout the program.
Day 4: Avalanche Awareness.
The sooner you start learning this the better for
you'll be able to apply this knowledge throughout the rest of the program.
Mainly in the Yamnuska classroom covering avalanche theory, route finding,
stability assessment and rescue techniques.
Day
5 - 9: Advanced Ice Climbing, Mixed Climbing.
For this section we relocate up the Banff /Jasper
highway to some of Canada's most famous frozen waterfalls.
Continuing on from the first 2 days of training the pace is stepped up
according to individual abilities. To allow for multi-pitch climbing the
instructor ratio will drop as low as 1:2 at times.
Mixed Climbing is an integral part of the program featuring use of ice tools and crampons to climb rock that may be unclimbable by conventional means.
This last segment is based out of one of the nearby youth hostels.
Day 10: Day off in Canmore
A well-earned rest and the chance to catch up on some personal
maintenance.
Introduction to Back Country Skiing (Boarding)
During the ski/boarding sections we work with telemark, alpine touring gear and
snowboards. We suggest you use Alpine Touring gear and not use telemark
gear unless you are already an expert skier in powder and crud conditions
(on alpine or telemark gear). Likewise only experienced riders should
consider using a board and then it must be a "Split Board".
It is on this section that you will first learn the skills of outdoor living and traveling in winter. You will learn winter camping and shelter building skills, navigation, 'Leave No Trace' environmental ethics, the basics of avalanche terrain and snow pack assessment and review simple ski and board skills.
Day 11:
Ski
familiarization.
Practice and review of ski skills at local ski hill,
familiarization with ski touring gear.
Day 12: Backcountry Ski Tour (day trip)
A chance to try out ski gear and get any problems fixed, review basic
backcountry techniques and begin on navigation and avalanche awareness
field skills.
Day 13: Preparation for Backcountry Ski Trip.
This day is spent working on trip planning and on putting final
touches on our ski gear.
Day 14 - 17: Backcountry Ski Tour
We spend four days backcountry in Banff National Park and begin to build
up our winter camping experience in addition to more practice in terrain
and travel skills.
Day 18: Day off in Canmore
Advanced Avalanche Safety, Backcountry Skiing (Boarding)
Day 19: Prepare and plan for 5-day field
trip.
Day 20 - 24: 5-day field trip
This segment is more focused on avalanche awareness
as we head into the steep and deep of the Rockies or the Purcell
Mountains. We look at practical application of recognizing, evaluating and
avoiding avalanche hazard. Integral to this component are route finding
and track setting skills. This is not to mention the often fantastic
powder skiing which accompanies this. At the end of this segment you will
have completed the fieldwork necessary to qualify for the AST 2 Certificate. The group will either be camping or
using snow shelters at higher elevations near treeline.
Day 25 - 26: Days off in Canmore
Glacier Ski Mountaineering
The final winter skills section is ski mountaineering trip is where you begin on the high-altitude mountaineering skills common to both summer and winter. These include glacier travel and crevasse rescue as well as advanced navigation. At this time of year we can encounter both deep powder and great spring corn snow. The skiing, often magnificent, is a happy by-product.
Day 27: Prepare and plan for field trip. Night in Canmore.
Day 28 - 32: Ski mountaineering training on Wapta or Columbia Icefields.
Day 33: Day off in Canmore
Wilderness First Aid
Day 34 - 43: Wilderness First Responder.
This 80-hour professional level certification course is supplied by
Wilderness Medical Associates, North America's leading supplier of
wilderness first aid training. It includes extensive outdoor simulations
and oxygen therapy. Those passing the exam are certified for three years.
There will be a day's break during the program which is intended for
course study.
RESCUE SKILLS
Day 44 - 46:
We will expand on the
rope rescue techniques introduced on the ice climbing section and introduce you to
more advanced techniques and to the skills needed to extract victims from
remote settings and steep terrain.
COURSE BREAK
Day 47 - 51:
Your chance to take five days off and spend a little time on your own or
plan a trip with your group members.
Rock Climbing
Day 52
- 65: This is the longest segment of the Semester. A parallel approach
focuses on developing your personal climbing skills on one hand and on the
other training you in comprehensive safety and belay systems including:
'trad' (use of nuts, camming devices etc) gear placements, anchor
building, various belay systems, lead skills (sport and 'trad'),
self-rescue and rescue, multi-pitch systems.
Multi-pitch climbing and application of rock techniques to alpine situations will be included. Alpine rock is an important facet of mountaineering that requires an ability to quickly choose the appropriate technique for every situation so as to maximize both safety and speed. We will introduce peer short roping, natural belays and other important mountaineering techniques.
Rock climbing takes place in the Rockies with Skaha in BC's Okanagan Valley a backup location in case of poor seasonal conditions. A day off will be taken during the section to allow for travel or bad weather.
Day 66 -67: Days off in Canmore
Snow and Ice Mountaineering
Day 68 - 73:
Training at Columbia Icefields
Summer is fast arriving now and it's time to focus
on traditional mountaineering skills. This section's objective is
instruction in the skills needed for making ascents on snow and ice in
summer conditions. It includes use of ice axe and crampons, more glacier
travel and crevasse rescue, glacier route finding and ascents of alpine
peaks. This section is usually run from a camp at the Columbia Icefields.
Mountaineering training in
the Canadian Rockies
Day 74: Day off in Canmore
Day 75: Prepare for Mountaineering Expedition.
Day 76 - 81: Final Mountaineering Expedition
As a group you will face the challenges of traveling
and climbing in a new alpine region and putting to use the skills you have
learnt over the previous months. It is also a celebration of three months
spent in the mountains.
On the summit .. Canadian Rockies
Day 82: Course debrief day and graduation
dinner in Canmore.
Individual
interviews with the instructors to properly debrief the program and an
opportunity to plan how to further develop your mountaineering career. Graduation dinner and certificate
awards
to follow.
Day 83: Depart in morning.
Fall Semester Agenda
Day 1: Orientation day.
We welcome you to our Yamnuska office at 9.00am. following introductions,
we will review the semester objectives and agenda then swing right into
preparing for the months ahead. We need to make sure that you have the
proper clothing and gear and issue equipment for the first section. We
will also introduce leadership topics that will assist us to function
effectively as a group.
Please read arrival instructions
Advanced Mountain Hiking & Scrambling Skills
In addition to navigation, route finding, trip planning and general movement and pacing skills you will begin to get to know and to work with your fellow participants. During the following weeks the group's ability to function well together will be crucial to the success of the program.
Day 2 - 6: Five-day backpacking trip.
A trip into less traveled,
more demanding hiking and mountaineering terrain. Subjects covered include group management,
wilderness travel, scrambling skills, navigation, map and compass, route planning and wilderness 'Leave no
Trace' practices.
Day 7: Day off in Canmore
A well-earned rest and the chance to catch up on some personal
maintenance.
Rock Climbing
Day 8 - 21:
This is the longest segment of the Semester. A parallel approach focuses
on developing your personal climbing skills on one hand and on the other
training you in comprehensive safety and belay systems including: 'trad'
(use of nuts, camming devices etc) gear placements, anchor building,
various belay systems, lead skills (sport and 'trad'), self-rescue and
rescue, multi-pitch systems.
Multi-pitch climbing and application of rock techniques to alpine situations will be included. Alpine rock is an important facet of mountaineering that requires an ability to quickly choose the appropriate technique for every situation so as to maximize both safety and speed. We will introduce peer short roping, natural belays and other important mountaineering techniques.
Rock climbing takes place in the Rockies with Skaha in BC's Okanagan Valley a backup location in case of poor seasonal conditions. A day off will be taken during the section to allow for travel or bad weather.
Day 22 - 23: Days off in Canmore
Snow and Ice Mountaineering
Day 24 - 29:
Training at Columbia Icefields
We will start now on traditional mountaineering skills. This section's objective is
instruction in the skills needed for making ascents on snow and ice in
summer conditions. It includes use of ice axe and crampons, more glacier
travel and crevasse rescue, glacier route finding and ascents of alpine
peaks. This section is usually run from a camp at the Columbia Icefields.
Canadian Semester group at
Columbia Icefields. Photo N. Gallucci
Day 30: Day off in Canmore
Day
31:
Prepare and plan for Mountaineering
Expedition
Before you head off on this multi-day trip you will
spend a day preparing trip menus and
packing your food and equipment. Whilst this may not seem important, if
you are to continue doing trips in the outdoors, especially if leading
groups, it is essential that you know all aspects of trip preparation. You
will find that trip prep. gets easier each time.
Day
32 - 36:
Mountaineering Expedition
As a group you will face the challenges of traveling
and climbing in a new alpine region and putting to use the skills you have
learnt over the previous weeks: using ice axe and crampons, glacier
travel, crevasse rescue, route finding and navigation in the course of
alpine ascents.
Day 37: Day off in Canmore
RESCUE SKILLS
Day 38 - 40: We will expand on the rope rescue techniques introduced on the rock climbing section and introduce you to more advanced techniques and to the skills needed to extract victims from remote settings and steep terrain.
Day 41: Day off in Canmore
Wilderness First Aid
Day 42 - 51: Wilderness First Responder.
This 80-hour professional level certification course is supplied by
Wilderness Medical Associates, North America's leading supplier of
wilderness first aid training. It includes extensive outdoor simulations
and oxygen therapy. Those passing the exam are certified for three years.
There will be a day's break during the program which is intended for
course study.
COURSE BREAK
Day 52 - 56: Five-Day Course Break
Your chance to take five days off and spend a little time on your own or
plan a trip with some of your fellow group members.
Back Country Skiing &
Boarding,
During the ski/boarding sections we work with telemark, alpine touring gear and
snowboards. We suggest you use Alpine Touring gear and not use telemark
gear unless you are already an expert skier in powder and crud conditions
(on alpine or telemark gear). Likewise only experienced riders should
consider using a board and then it must be a "Split Board".
At this time of year the snow is just beginning to build up and the best skiing is on the glaciers. The Wapta Icefields are an ideal place to first experience backcountry skiing and learn winter glacier travel skills.
On this section you will review simple ski and board skills (telemark or alpine touring skis or split board). You will practice winter backcountry travel techniques such as track setting and route finding, start using basic avalanche awareness skills and you will return to the high-altitude mountaineering skills common to both summer and winter. Cold temperatures, a weak snowpack and demanding weather require confidence in glacier travel and crevasse rescue as well as advanced navigation skills.
Day 57:
Ski
familiarization.
At local ski hill practice and review ski skills,
familiarization with ski touring gear.
Day 58: Avalanche Awareness.
The sooner you start learning this the better for
you'll be able to apply this knowledge throughout the rest of the program.
Mainly in the Yamnuska classroom covering avalanche theory, route finding,
stability assessment and rescue techniques.
Day 59: Backcountry Ski Tour (day trip)
Glacier Ski Mountaineering
Day 60: Prepare and plan for field trip.
Day 61 - 65: Back country skiing & ski
mountaineering trip on Wapta Icefields.
Winter navigation, ski
ascents, glacier travel and crevasse rescue skills on skis and snow board.
Alpine hut based.
Ski mountaineering on Wapta Icefields,
D. Waag
Day 66: Day off in Canmore
Ice Climbing & Mixed Climbing
Day 67 - 73: Waterfall Ice & Mixed Climbing
Waterfall climbing has a whole different ambiance from the climbing you've
done up to this point. The rope work is much the same but the setting is
extraordinary. Roadside seeps and waterfalls suddenly become spectacular
climbing challenges. The mental approach to ice climbing is different too.
You have to fashion good mind control to climb steep ice smoothly and
quickly. For this section we move up the Banff /Jasper highway to some of
Canada's most famous frozen waterfalls. This trip is based out of a rustic
but comfortable hostel. We spend the first couple of days learning and
refining the basic skills used for climbing this unique medium and then
the pace is stepped up according to individual abilities. You will also be
introduced to the latest climbing wave ... mixed climbing; where rock and
ice skills are combined.
Day 74 - 75: Days off in Canmore
Advanced Avalanche Safety, Backcountry Skiing (Boarding)
Day 76: Prepare and plan for 5-day field trip.
Day 77 - 81:
5-day final field trip
This segment is more focused on avalanche awareness
as we head into the steep and deep of the Rockies or the Selkirk
Mountains. We look at practical application of recognizing, evaluating and
avoiding avalanche hazard. Integral to this component are route finding
and track setting skills. This is not to mention the often fantastic
powder skiing which accompanies this. At the end of this segment you will
have completed the fieldwork necessary to qualify for the AST 2 Certificate. The group will either be camping or
using snow shelters at higher elevations near treeline.
Day 82: Course debrief day and graduation
dinner in Canmore.
Individual
interviews with the instructors to properly debrief the program and an
opportunity to plan how to further develop your mountaineering career. Graduation dinner and certificate
awards
to follow.
Day 83: Depart in morning
Arrival and Meeting Instructions
Please plan on arriving in Canmore the day before the Semester begins. We will book you into the Hostel Bear for that night unless you instruct us otherwise.
We will pick you up from the Hostel Bear at 8:30am on the first day of the Semester and drive you to our office. Please have all your outdoor gear with you.
Climate
We are in a continental or inland climate that varies greatly in temperatures and weather. On the Fall Semester temperatures range from +20C through early September to –25C in late November and early December. Snow starts falling in mid to late October. We can, however, get early mountain snow storms in September. On the Spring Semester the temperatures in March can be down to –20C and gradually warming to summer like days in June. Snow storms switch to rain about mid April. Bottom line is to be prepared for every type of weather imaginable.
Transportation
During the program all transportation is supplied. Each group has a passenger van that is used to reach program areas. During evenings and on free days, transportation is not supplied.
Accommodation & Meals
Accommodation is mixed throughout the course. During much of the Semester you will be out in the mountains camping, staying in mountain huts, hostels and even snow caving. Between trips you will be staying at the Hostel Bear located in central Canmore. This newly-opened hostel is within easy walking distance of all downtown amenities and the Yamnuska office. The hostel features comfortable dorm-type accommodation, common rooms and has a communal kitchen with optional meal service.
Since this program is about developing all round mountain skills, you will be involved in menu planning, food packing and food preparation for out trips. During your time in Canmore, you will have access to many local restaurants, including one attached to the Hostel Bear. There are also two supermarkets 5 minutes walk away in case you want to prepare your own meals at the Hostel. There are approximately 32 days when you are based in Canmore and when you will be responsible for feeding yourself.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are a regular vegetarian (no meat but dairy and eggs OK) and wish to remain so please let us know when you book. If following a more specialized diet ('vegan', 'gluten free', 'no fat', etc.) you will need to buy supplementary foods.
Course Break
There will be a course break half way through the program. During this time you will be responsible for your own accommodation and food. It usually is no problem to stay on at the Hostel. Participants often band together to do a trip during this time.
Equipment and Clothing
All group camping and all technical gear is supplied with the exception of ski gear, rock shoes and climbing boots. Reasonably priced climbing boot rentals can be arranged during the course but you must let us know in advance if you require ski gear. You will need to bring your own outdoor clothing and footwear, backpack, sleeping bag and ski gear. Download Gear List (.pdf)
There are several outdoor stores in the area from which you can buy gear and clothing during the Semester.
Booking Information
Before applying for the Semester you need to open and read the Semester Application Form . This outlines the payment and enrolment process. You will need to download this form, complete it and return it to us (mail or fax), even if you book on-line or by phone.
You can apply for this semester by calling us or on-line by using the button below.
Along with all relevant receipts we will send you a full trip logistical kit (containing meeting times, a list of what to bring and info on how to get here) and a sample copy of our waiver (see sample waiver) which we will ask you to sign when you meet us.
Following interim acceptance of your application you will also need to download the applicant questionnaire for you to fill in and our medical form which we will need your physician to complete. Return both by fax or mail.
Past Participants' Websites
Check out Andrew Pape Salmon's photo journal of the Fall 2009 Semester!
Program Video
PLEASE DON'T
HESITATE TO CONTACT US IF
YOU NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS COURSE!
