Glacier Discovery Bugaboos

Travel On Bugaboo Provincial Park's Glaciers from the Conrad Kain Hut

Glacier Discovery Bugaboos

Travel On Bugaboo Provincial Park's Glaciers from the Conrad Kain Hut

Stay In The Stunning Conrad Kain Hut.

See A New Side Of The Bugaboos.

Explore Glacial Ecosystems.

Is This Camp For You?

Entry Level

This program is designed for people who want to experience a stay in an ACC backcountry hut but don’t yet possess the skills in alpine travel required to get there independently and safely. No previous mountaineering experience is necessary, although you will require a good basic level of hiking fitness and experience.
Registration Status:

Open

Details

Before registering, please review our Trip Waivers and Liability, and Cancellation Policies.

Camps are subject to minimum enrollment in order to run.

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Trip Description

As a hiker, you’ve probably seen glaciers from afar. This trip gives you the chance to get up-close-and-personal with the ice with a 3-day trip out of the Conrad Kain Hut. With the Bugaboo, Cresent and Vowell Glaciers all accessible from the hut there is plenty of choice to be had! Known for it’s dynamic glaciers, the bugaboos can be intimidating to an unprepared party, so if this is your first time why not travel with the experts. Learn the basics and get to experience the park in a whole new way. All of our trips are led by ACMG-certified guides. We provide the guide to make up the mountain skills and experience that you might be lacking (glacier travel skills, steep snow, scrambling, navigation, use of mountaineering gear) and the hut booking to get you into one of our most popular facilities. You bring your personal gear and food, your sense of adventure, and your camera.

Guides

Guide Selection Pending

Guides for this trip are still being confirmed.

Our guiding ratio will be a maximum of 6:1 to give you plenty of one-to-one learning time with our excellent guide. This camp is guided by ACMG-certified alpine guides. The ACC hires guides certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG). Visit the ACMG website to learn more about what they do!

Objectives

This program is designed to open up our incredible hut network to people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to access the more technical huts. Maybe you’ll gain a newfound sense of appreciation for Canada’s alpine environment. Maybe you’ll be able to reach places and travel in environments you never thought that you’d visit. Maybe the taste of what’s possible will inspire you to continue your mountaineering journey and acquire the skills to reach these places independently. Either way, our Glacier Discovery program will provide a unique and memorable experience.

Day-by-Day Adventure Itinerary

Day 1 (AM)
Meet up with your group and guide who will go over the itinerary before hiking into the hut.
Day 1 (PM)
Snow school: learn the techniques you'll need for safe travel on the glacier.
Day 2
Wake up bright and early, head out onto the glacier to learn about glacier travel and get up close and personal with the crevasses. Followed by attempting a nearby peak if the conditions are favorable!
Day 3
Practice your skills and enjoy a final trip to a nearby peak, before descending back to the trail head with your photos and memories!

Food, Accommodation and Rentals

Food

To keep the cost of this course as low as possible for participants, food will not be provided as part of the course. Please bring 3 lunches 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners as well as your favorite snacks!

Accommodation

In 1972, the Alpine Club of Canada erected the Conrad Kain Hut (named after the renowned guide who first visited the area in 1910). From 1972 until 2000 the hut was maintained by BC Parks as a base for climbers and to reduce visitor impact on the fragile timberline area below Snowpatch Spire. The hut today is a modern, comfortable shelter for up to 35 people. It benefits from a local micro-hydro generator in the creek that supplies the hut with lighting, heat and hot water

Rentals

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 GearUp in Canmore. ACC members get 10% off all gear rentals!
  • Coming from Calgary? We recommend renting your gear from MEC, the University of Calgary Outdoors Center, or the Norseman.
  • Coming from the Revelstoke? Give Revelstoke Powder Rentals a try.

Included

  • 3 days of professional guiding at max 6:1 ratios by certified ACMG alpine guides
  • 2 nights accommodation at the Conrad Kain Hut
  • All Group Gear

Not Included

  • Transportation to and from the trailhead
  • Food for your trip (2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners, and snacks!)
  • Personal gear (see gear list)

Location

Adventure Hazards

Terrain

What are the Risks?

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. 

Hazard Mitigation

Mitigated by Trained and experienced Guide.

The use of Radios. 

General Hazards

What are the Risks?

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

Hazard Mitigation

Developed safety plans and procedures with decades of experience managing risk. 

Rockfall and Icefall

What are the Risks?

Rockfall and icefall can be caused by natural forces or by people travelling through the terrain (e.g. climbing/scrambling/hiking) 

Hazard Mitigation

Mitigated with certified and experienced guides, Helmets 

Falls and Belaying

What are the Risks?

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.

Hazard Mitigation

Reviewing best practices with the guide.

Equipment checks

Communication and Rescue

What are the Risks?

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.

Hazard Mitigation

First Aid / Rescue Training.

Satellite Communications

We sell Tugo® Travel Insurance suitable for both ACC Adventures and personal trips

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