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While there are plenty of teaching opportunities during the week, this camp is designed for people with basic rope handling skills and some experience climbing waterfall ice. If you consider yourself any level of “intermediate” ice climber, and you have a strong desire to take your game to the next level, this camp was designed with you in mind.
If you have more limited ice climbing experience, contact us to find out whether this camp or our entry-level Intro to Ice Climbing course is more appropriate for you.
Before registering, please review our Trip Waivers and Liability, and Cancellation Policies.
Camps are subject to minimum enrollment in order to run.
Wanting to push your ice climbing to the next level this year? Or, gain the confidence to tackle bigger objectives independently? This early season ice camp aims to put you on the best possible footing for the season ahead with five days of personalized instruction and hands-on coaching from Kris and his team of assistant guides.
While many climbers retreat indoors for the winter, early December in the Rockies is a time of low avalanche hazard, easy travel and giddy excitement as the classic ice lines come into condition. Our Clubhouse’s location in Canmore, AB allows you to take full advantage of this sitting on the doorstep of some of the best (and most reliable) ice climbing in the world.
Alongside core ice climbing skills, we aim to customize this course to each individual. Kris will be available to teach anything from dry-tooling techniques to efficient rope work and a talented team of assistant guides will join you on day four to facilitate multi-pitch ice routes.
Join us this winter for a week of learning, development and plenty of enjoyable ice climbing!
Our guide for this course is an experienced Ice and Mixed climber Kris Irwin, who has completed several first assents and routes in the Rookies. He is most comfortable climbing winter ice and mixed routes on formidable peaks in Canada during the winter months.
The ACC hires guides certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG). Visit the ACMG website to learn more about what they do!
*Guiding Staff for a trip sometimes have to be swapped out due to unavoidable circumstances. In this event ACC staff with contact you as soon as possible to update you on any changes to trip staffing
Core skills you can expect to develop on this camp include
Climbing areas will change daily and are determined by the guide(s) with the consideration of input from participants. Canmore is a world-class destination for ice and mixed climbing. Depending on what forms, regions that you may have a chance to sample include:
Food is not provided on this camp. So please bring along a packed lunch and some snacks for each day.
As this course is offered out of Canmore, we welcome all participants to stay at the beautiful ACC Clubhouse and enjoy the remote atmosphere that surrounds our location. Located on a high bench overlooking the Three Sisters, Ha Ling and Mount Rundle, it's the perfect place to relax in the evenings after your climbing. You can reserve your room for the nights of the course by calling our reservations team on 403 678 3200.
If you don't have everything on the gear list and aren't ready to invest in your own, there are many awesome local businesses that rent out all of the equipment you will need. Be sure to reserve your rentals ahead of time to make sure everything you need is available for you when you need it.
Coming from the Bow Valley? Check out Gear Up in Canmore. ACC members get 10% off all gear rentals!Cornices and crevasses. Trees, tree wells, and tree stumps. Cliffs, creeks, rocks and boulders. Holes and depressions below the snow surface. Variable and difficult snow conditions. Snowcat roads and road ranks. Fences and other man-made structures. Impact or collision with other persons, vehicles or objects. Encounters with domestic or wild animals. Loss of balance or control. Becoming lost or separated from the group. Slips, trips, and falls.
Mitigated by Trained and experienced Guide.
The use of Radios.
Slips trips and falls indoor or outdoor. Equipment failure. Infectious disease contracted through viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi which may be transmitted through direct or indirect contact. Negligence of other persons, including other guests. Negligent first aid. Negligence of the guide Including failure to take reasonable steps to safeguard or protect you from, or warn you of risk, dangers, hazards, on participating in ACC activities
Developed safety plans and procedures with decades of experience managing risk.
Avalanches can occur in the terrain you will be entering. Caused by natural forces, or by people travelling through the terrain (skiing/snowboarding). Anyone caught in an avalanche is at risk of personal injury, death, and/or property damage or loss.
Certified Guides with experience and training to manage this risk.
Daily risk assessment processes.
Guest training
Rockfall and icefall can be caused by natural forces or by people travelling through the terrain (e.g. climbing/scrambling/hiking)
Mitigated with certified and experienced guides, Helmets
Mountaineering and ice climbing present the risk of falling from the wall causing the climber to collide with the wall or ground which can lead to injury or death. The risk of a belay failure is also present which can contribute to a ground fall.
Reviewing best practices with the guide.
Equipment checks
Communication can be difficult and in the event of an accident, rescue and treatment may not be available. Adverse weather may also delay the arrival of treatment and transport out of the field. If an Injury occurs in challenging terrain movement to an evacuation point may be slow.
First Aid / Rescue Training.
Satellite Communications
We appreciate that the lands known today as Canada are home to the enduring presence of all First Nations and Métis people, and the Inuit and we acknowledge the past, present, and future generations of these Nations who continue to lead us in stewarding this land, as well as honour their knowledge and cultural ties to this place. The Alpine Club of Canada’s head office is located in the traditional lands of Treaty 7, which is comprised of the Stoney Nakoda Nations of Wesley, Chiniki, and Bearspaw; three Nations of the Blackfoot Confederacy: the Piikani, Kainai, and Siksika; the Mountain Cree; and the Tsuu T’ina of the Dene people. This territory is also shared with the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. Before the signing of Treaty 7, and prior to the establishment of provincial boundaries, this region was also used by the Ktunaxa and the Maskwacis people.
General Inquiries
Phone: 403-678-3200
Email: [email protected]
201 Indian Flats Rd.
PO Box 8040 Main St, Canmore, AB, T1W 2T8, Canada
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
The Alpine Club of Canada is a registered Amateur Athletic Association and a registered Canadian charity (Registration No: 10670 4182 RR0001). The ACC’s US ACC Foundation can accept charitable donations from donors living in the United States. We will issue a charitable tax receipt for eligible donations of $20 or more.
