Apollo helping set up a top rope anchor at Wonder Bar Crag. Photo: Gary Athens
From a Dog Walk to the Mountain Tops
A reflective look at year one with The Alpine Club of Canada Okanagan Section.
Photos and story by Gary Athens
A few years ago, I was walking my dog through the Johns Family Nature Conservancy south of Kelowna, a park that contains a number of well-known crags. At the time I didn’t know much about rock climbing and when I spotted a group of climbers on the rock, I asked them what was involved. It was an ACC Okanagan Section outing and they suggested that if I took a basic belay course that I could join them every Wednesday and see for myself. I did just that and I have since fallen in love with rock climbing and have never looked back. I am gaining more experience with every outing and meeting great people who have taught me a lot. I’ve since ventured out to many more of the climbing areas in the southern Okanagan including the incredible Skaha Bluffs.
I was drawn in to the ACC by the rock climbing, but quickly found out that the club was about a lot more than that. During the summer of 2023, I had the opportunity to join a section trip to the Elizabeth Parker Hut at Lake O’Hara in Yoho National Park. I almost declined, thinking I would do it another time, but then I heard how difficult it is to get a booking at the hut – or at Lake O’Hara in any way – and jumped at the chance. I’m now so glad that I went as it was one of the most amazing trips I have done in my life. During the week that we were there, many of the experienced climbers and hikers summited some of the peaks in the area and we all enjoyed epic day–long hikes. I come from a background of ski racing – in Banff as well as on some the biggest mountains in Europe – and I was truly blown away at what we have right here in Canada. I am so appreciative that my involvement with the club has allowed me to experience this and I definitely plan on participating in more mountaineering trips in the future.
I’m also looking forward to the winter and joining in with the club to do some backcountry skiing trips. I spent most of my life going downhill, as a ski racer on the World Cup circuit with the Canadian and Olympic ski team but these days it’s all about skiing uphill and getting some days in the snow with my dog.
I have now joined the OK Section board, and I have been enjoying fostering new members as they join our club. Another very exciting development for me is that my two sons have joined in on some rock climbing sessions and are becoming quite accomplished. ACC activities have become a great way for us to experience family time in the outdoors.
I want to give a big shout out to all those experienced alpine club members that have guided me through this journey to experience the joy of climbing and mountaineering, it’s been a fantastic and spiritual experience, full of amazing days in the mountains.
