Mountain Culture
The ACC Aspects blog is a hub for stories, news, and insights related to mountain culture, outdoor adventures, and the climbing community in Canada. It features articles on alpine expeditions, environmental conservation, club events, and personal experiences from members. The blog also highlights ACC initiatives, hut updates, and safety tips for backcountry exploration. It’s a great resource for climbers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts looking to stay connected with the ACC community and gain inspiration for their next adventure.
For older blog stories, please visit our archived site.
GreenGreyWhite Photo Contest
The ACC is a big club – or rather 26 clubs. Our 19,000+ members and 26 sections from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland & Labrador to the Yukon are made up of passionate climbers, skiers and hikers. We’re all part of the same national club but we don’t see each other that much. GreenGreyWhite is our effort to connect our members in every corner of our country.
ACC Gazette Section Stories: Newfoundland & Labrador
On the farthest East Coast of Canada resides the beloved province of Newfoundland and Labrador. For most people, Newfoundland evokes an image of our Jellybean Row houses, our thick accent, or perhaps our Screech-drinkin’, cod-kissin’ “Screech In” ceremony. What one might not think of is our tight-knit, ever-growing community of rock climbers. Our island is a big hunk of rock out in the Atlantic Ocean. It’s green, it’s rugged, and it’s wild. Nowhere else can you find such easy access to the wilderness and a feeling of remoteness while being so close to town. While our crags are plenty, it wasn’t always that way.
2026 GMC Photo Contest
Enter your photos from the 2026 Trident GMC and win big prizes from Mountain Hardwear! This contest is open to all participants of the 2026 General Mountaineering Camp, including the Independent Camp and Artist’s week.
ACC National Clubhouse Public Hearing to Direct Control rezoning
Notice to ACC members to attend the public hearing/ submit comments for the national Clubhouse Direct Control rezoning project.
Mountain Voices: Marvel Lake: Losing Blue
This story comes to us from the book Mountain Voices. Paired with photos from the Mountain Legacy Project, Mountain Voices is a collection of unique short essays from alpinists, activists, artists, and mountain researchers as they share their unique and fascinating perspectives.
ACC Safety Bulletin: The Power of Incident Reporting
Based on incident reports, personal stories, and evolving risks in alpinism, the safety committee provides regular information on things to know/watch for in the backcountry to keep your next trip safe! The Safety Bulletin will be an on-going series covering various safety topics.
ACC Gazette Section Stories: Montréal
S’installer dans un nouveau pays vient souvent avec son lot de défis. Entre les démarches administratives, la barrière de la langue, les différences culturelles (et climatiques!), ce n’est pas toujours évident de créer des liens et de s’adapter à son nouvel environnement. (English Included)
Skiing in the Robson Pass Area
Winter bookings for the Robson Pass (Byron Caldwell) Hut are now open. Start planning your trip with booking information and a detailed trip report from SkiMo Canada’s April visit to the hut.
Summit Shaker: Summer Kickoff Week Photo Album
Whether you want to relive the action or you’re simply wondering what went down, check out the photos here!
ACC Gazette Section Stories: Ottawa
In July of 2024, 10 members of the Ottawa Section of the ACC gathered for another great adventure in the Rocky Mountains. Our plan was to hike up to the Bow Hut and spend time on the glaciers and peaks of the Wapta Icefields. We had excellent weather and great times with good friends.
Mount Queen Bess North Ridge
I felt the solid rock beneath me. I closed my eyes, relaxed, and breathed in deeply. I reminded myself that things were going well. I felt good. The fear was present, but I could overcome it. When I was ready, I continued on. This was a practiced task, one that is essential for managing risk. You must experience the fear, analyze it plainly, and then act – it cannot control you. I sat straddling Mount Queen Bess’s North Ridge, both legs pointing down towards its sheer faces as I gazed upward. Around a rocky outcropping fifteen metres below me stood my climbing partner Jude Thompson, belaying and silently hoping that I was experiencing easy terrain.
A Life Lived Outdoors: Remembering Arthur “Bud” Hall
Bud Hall loved being in wild places in the way that some people love breathing. It was simply part of who he was.
Arthur George “Bud” Hall was born in Calgary on October 26, 1926, into a family that were true pioneers of Western Canada. He passed away at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy gift to The Alpine Club of Canada that continues to shape the Canadian backcountry in ways he never requested credit for.
