
Clinic
Alpine Ambassadors Gateway Trip - Canmore
Official activity for Canmore Alpine Ambassadors Water Ice Program 2025.
- Sat, Feb 8, 2025 — Sun, Feb 16, 2025
- Alpine Ambassadors
- Climbing
- Adults
- Challenging
- FULL (12 capacity)
- FULL (3 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
Application process was handled separately through the Alpine Ambassadors Gateway page (deadline was November 1st). Only selected participants will be added to this roster.
Lodging
We will be in 4 Air BnB’s right in Canmore. Your specific lodging will be communicated close to the arrival date.
Travel
Check your email in December for a shared planning sheet. All participants are expected to arrive in Canmore early enough on Sat 2/8 afternoon in order to attend the Orientation meeting scheduled at 6:00 PM at the Alpine Club of Canada lodge, where we'll do introductions to one another as well as to some of the guides and volunteers and discuss plans and expectations for the week. Sunday will likely start at 6am or even earlier for some of you, so it will be advantageous for you to arrive earlier on Saturday so that you have time to get settled before our meeting.
Based on previous years experiences, starting the drive on Fri afternoon will help you split the drive and will guarantee you will get in Canmore early enough on Sat afternoon in order to get settled and make it on time at the required 6 PM orientation. DO NOT COUNT on doing the the whole drive on Sat, you will risk to not get in Canmore on time.
Vehicles
Its very important that we ensure we have enough vehicles for everyone. We'll need 7 cars for the group of 14, and each car should be able to transport 4 people including the driver. If you plan to fly and rent a car, please plan to rent a 4wd high clearance vehicle, and add the name of the person (or people) you're sharing the car with as additional drivers.
Please enter this info into the planning sheet (when will be sent out by email) so we make sure we're good to go on all fronts!
Gear
See Required equipment rubric.
Tips
Each year, the participants pool cash to tip the guides. One of the participants takes the lead on collecting cash and distributing it evenly among the guides, along with a thank you card signed by everyone. If someone is interested in taking the lead on this for this year, it goes a long way in getting the best guides to continue working with us in future years.
Meals
All the Airbnbs are fully equipped so you have the option to cook or eat out. There are grocery stores a close drive from your air bnb and plenty of restaurants. If you drive from US (most of us will, feel free to bring your favorite (not custom prohibited) packed snacks / foods if you want to minimize shopping efforts.
General Schedule
On Sat 2/8 at 6:00 PM we meet for orientation at Alpine Club of Canada lodge (pizza to be provided by The Mountaineers). On Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, you'll either climb multi pitch in a group of 3 or crag in a group of 4-8. Wednesday will be a rest day. We’ll do a debrief on the final Saturday evening at a group dinner with the guides (participants pay for their dinner), so plan to travel home on Sunday (not Saturday night). Many of your days will have a pre-dawn start - some of the climbing areas have quite a long drive+approach to get to.
Cell Phones and WhatsApp
It is imperative that everyone can be contacted by cell phone during your time in Canmore. Please check with your provider in advance and select a plan that will allow you to use your cell in Canmore. Many of the crags have limited service, so texting ability is important. Also, please bring an In-Reach if you have one.
Make sure you install the WhatsApp app on your phone . We will use it a lot for groups chats with the guides while planning each evening the game plans for the next day.
Training
We highly recommend you put some energy into training for this trip. The weather in Canmore can be harsh and can sap your energy quickly. You will get the most out of this trip if you are in both general good fitness as well as in ice-climbing-specific shape. Recommended 8-9 week training program put together by Ambassador Ian Lauder will be shared soon. Take a look, and reach out to one another if you want training partners!
Required Equipment
Winter Ice and Winter Alpine Day Climbing List:
Group gear for each team of three. On cragging days you won’t need all of this.
- Ropes-
- The current ACMG policy for climbing in rope teams of three with the two followers climbing at the same time is to use two single rated ropes. If you have lightweight 60 or 70 meter single rated ropes with dry treatment bring them. The guides will have ropes also, but the more we have the better since they get wet and we will also need them for cragging days.
- If you only have a double set of smaller diameter 60 or 70 meter ½ ropes then bring those also since we may be doing some skill sessions climbing in pairs.
- Eight quick draws
- Six shoulder length slings with two carabiners each
- 14 ice screws – need two long ones for belay anchors and V-threading and a split of medium and shorter screws. If you have them bring some 10cm stubbies. A good selection for what we will be doing is something like:
- 2- 21cm
- 7-17cm
- 5-13cm
Clothing and boots
- Ice Climbing Boots (Stiff, insulated).At least 4 season boot (e.g La Sportiva Nepal) is a must / 4 season boots highly recommended
- Synthetic "mountain pants." Some sort of technical soft shell pants
- Light Gore Tex or equivalent jacket and pants (some ice climbs are wetter than others!)
- Two or three synthetic layers of fleece for under the jacket
- Long underwear
- Big insulation top (down or synthetic jacket for standing around).
- Multiple insulated waterproof gloves with dexterity (e.g Black Diamond Punisher), two pairs fleece gloves, mitts, hat
- Multiple Socks
- Hat, neck gaiter / Buff
- Microspikes, poles (you will need them for icy approaches)
- Hand warmers
Personal Climbing Gear
- Harness
- Technical Crampons are a must (not just glacial strap ons).
- Two technical ice climbing tools, leashes, tat, cordelette / anchor kit
- Belay device, 4locking carabiners. Make sure you have a belay device(s) that work with smaller diameter ice climbing ropes and two single rated ropes.
- Helmet, rappel kit
- In Reach, Rocky Talkies (if you have them)
- Avalanche safety gear if you have it. If conditions permit and we go into more complex terrain everyone in the team will need to have:
- Probe
- Shovel
- Beacon
Miscellaneous
1 liter of water, bring a termos as well (if you have it)
2 sandwiches/day (consider bringing a thermos with soup and/or hot drink, especially on the cragging days)
Snacks for each day
40L or smaller pack (and all of this should fit into that pack easily).
Headlamp (light with fresh batteries)
First Aid Kit & 10 Essentials
Camera
Sunscreen
Phone with international plan and WhatApp installed, GPS capability
Laptop / tablet recommended (you will be thankful to have it in the room for route research and trip planning
Notebook+pen