Castle Mountain

Eisenhower Tower

At Castle Mountain's south eastern end stands Eisenhower Tower.  It is the perfect objective for the climber looking to introduce themselves to alpine rock climbing.  Excellent views, great climbing and a technical descent sum up an ascent of Eisenhower Tower.

Brewer Buttress

Slightly harder and more sustained than it's neighbour Eisenhower Tower, Brewer Butress climbs a proud line up a beautiful buttress capped by a large roof.  The route is exposed and is an excellent choice for climbers looking for a high quality, long multi-pitch alpine rock route.

Brewer Buttress can be completed in one day by guests with excellent fitness, or comfortably in 2 days with guests with good fitness using the Castle Mountain bivi hut.

Your guide will meet you at 5:30am (MST) at the Yamnuska Mountain Adventures office on the first day.

Guides & Group Size

Maximum guide to guest ratio is 1:2. Our guides are enthusiastic and extremely talented. They hold certification from the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and we are licensed to operate in the area by the Parks Canada. Maximum group size is 4, minimum 2.

Transportation

Transportation is not included for this program. We will rely on guest's vehicles to reach the trailhead.

Canmore is situated 100km (65miles) west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway. It is well served by scheduled bus lines both from Calgary (airport and downtown), Banff (20km west) and points further west. Calgary International Airport is well connected to major cities throughout North America and Europe. Vehicle rental is available both in Calgary and in Canmore.

Frequent shuttles connect Calgary International Airport and Canmore. Greyhound Bus Lines (1 800 661 8747) serves Canmore from points east and west along the Trans-Canada Highway.

Accommodation & Meals

Accommodations and meals are not included for the 1-day trip. For the 2-day trip hut accommodations are included at the Castle Mountain Hut as are meals from lunch on day 1 to lunch on day 2.

For your convenience we can arrange hotel accommodations in Canmore for $160 per night. This accommodation can be booked with the trip online or by calling us. Subject to availability.

You can also make your own arrangements. Check our links page for a range of recommended Canmore accommodations. In addition the Alpine Club of Canada Clubhouse (403 678-3200) is a good hostel here in Canmore with good facilities and reasonable prices.

Excess luggage can be left at your hotel or our office.

Equipment and Clothing

We supply group climbing gear such as ropes and hardware but you must bring your own personal climbing gear (e.g. harness and helmet), clothing and general equipment. We can lend you some personal items should you require.  A rental charge will apply for rock shoes. Let us know, in advance, what you will need.  It is required that you bring rock shoes in addition to mountaineering boots for this program.

The equipment and clothing you bring with you will play a large role in the quality of your experience. Read the following suggestion list carefully. If you have any questions or need clarification don't hesitate to call or write. There is room for substitution and changes but if you have any doubt, do contact us.

Clothing List

We suggest layers of light, easily carried clothing that allows for fast and easy adjustment to best suit fast changing weather conditions. We discourage cotton clothing as it causes rapid heat loss when wet. Feel free to call us if you have any questions about what to bring.

You will need to bring:

• Wool/blend socks
• Long underwear - top - synthetic or wool
• Soft shell climbing pants - these should be windproof nylon/synthetic blend mountaineering pants
• Mid-weight top - synthetic or wool
• Soft shell jacket - this should be a windproof nylon/synthetic blend jacket
• Outer jacket and pants - waterproof with a hood (Gore-Tex)
• Insulated jacket - synthetic or down
• Mountaineering gloves - light weight
• Hat - synthetic or wool that covers your ears and fits under a helmet
• Sunhat - with wide brim

Equipment List

You will need to bring: (Items in blue are available to rent from Yamnuska,  we can loan you the items in red). You must give us plenty of notice if wanting to rent or loan gear.

• Lightweight mountaineering boots - Or sturdy approach shoes. Ideally mountain boots should be lightweight leather or synthetic with a semi-rigid sole.  It is possible to buy boots such as the La Sportiva 'Trango' which are designed specifically for alpine rock.  A sturdy pair of approach shoes would also be appropriate for this trip.  As always, the most important feature of a mountaineering boot or approach shoe is comfort. Different brands seem to suit different feet. If buying try a few different pairs and if they are not comfortable don't buy them. There are many good brands. They include Asolo, Kayland, La Sportiva and Scarpa and 5.10.
• Daypack - Big enough to fit extra clothing, equipment and your food.  A 30-35 liter capacity is suitable.
• Rock Shoes - Comfort is essential as you will be wearing these for prolonged periods of time.
• Harness
• Helmet
• Belay device
• Sunglasses - with 100% UV protection
• Sun cream - extra strength
• Lip cream - with UV protection
• Headlamp - with fresh batteries
• Waterbottle
• Blister kit - 'moleskin', 'second skin' etc.
• First aid items - keep this small (band-aids, ibuprofen & aspirin/tylenol, etc.)
• Camera
• Trekking pole - must be collapsible (optional)

Optional Items:

We supply the following items, but if you have your own, please feel free to bring them: nut tool, belay device with pear shaped carabiner, 1 x 5m 7mm prussik, 1 x 120cm sewn sling and 2 x locking biners.

2-Day Program

For guests taking part in the 2-day program please ensure that you bring along a 3-season (0 to -5 celcius) sleeping bag as well as a small toiletries kit.

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. We require full payment on booking.  We accept Visa, Mastercard, Canadian Cheques, Money Orders and Bank Drafts.  Credit card payments are easiest, especially for international travellers.

We ask that you familiarize yourself with our detailed booking instructions and conditions.

Please note that you will be required to sign our waiver before commencing the program. Please view our sample waiver copy.

There are two basic types of insurance that most travelers need to consider: Medical and Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance. We offer our guests coverage for both and highly recommend you purchase it.

Emergency Medical Expenses Insurance:

It is wise to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident during your trip.  Obtain extra coverage if necessary.  There is no charge for rescue in the National and provincial Parks, however costs such as air or ground transportation, long term care and other services are not covered.

Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance:

We recognize that our guests’ schedules may change for many reasons; business, family, flight delays, injuries and other unplanned events.  For these eventualities the Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance is a great way to protect your investment. 

For all your travel insurance requirements we recommend the Simpson Group.  This agency offers a wide range of travel insurance options including Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Travel Medical and Personal Effect Loss for Canadian and International Travelers.  We highly recommend purchasing this insurance.  For more information and to purchase a plan, visit the Simpson Group’s website.