Mt Joffre Expedition

Traverse Itinerary

This is an ambitious and strenuous program that encompasses both a fantastic summit climb and superb scenery. Please read the 'Is it for you?' section on the sidebar to the right.

Day 1:  Meet in Canmore at 7:00 am. After issuing food and gear we pack up and drive south along the spectacular Smith-Dorrien highway to Kananaskis Lakes which will take just over an hour. We enjoy a leisurely hike around the Upper Lake for 5.5 km before striking into the forest towards Hidden Lake and the high country surrounding it. Working around Hidden Lake we reach the trail that climbs high above Foch Creek to take us into the high alpine basins above. We camp just below Aster Lake, one of the prettiest alpine lakes in the region. Distance: 11 km, total elevation gain: 575 meters.

Rock Steps on the way to the Summit

Day 2: Weather and conditions permitting our objective today will be Mount Joffre. At 11'316 ft (3449 m), this glaciated peak dominates this southern region of the Rockies. In July, there is typically still lots of snow on the glacier which makes this peak a suitable climb for beginner to intermediate mountaineers. The route traverses scree slopes, rock steps, and glaciated terrain giving guests a taste of glacier travel and apline mountaineering. In the event of poor weather or conditions there are several alternative lesser peaks we can climb. Distance: 10km, total elevation gain and loss: 1150m.

Day 3: We retrace or steps as we will descend from the sub alpine into the lush forests on the valley floor that surround Upper Kananaskis Lake. The gentle hike around that lake will allow the past two days of adventure to begin to sink in. We will finish our trip back at the Yamnuska office in Canmore. Distance 11km, total elevation loss: 575m.

Guides & Group Size

Maximum guide to guest ratio is 1:4. 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 Province of Alberta. Maximum group size is 12.

Transportation

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

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

On the trail you will be staying in modern, lightweight 3- and 2-person weather-proof tents.

Accommodation in Canmore is not included. 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.

All meals, snacks and drinks are supplied from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 3. Mountain meals are made from lightweight ingredients. Please let us know, well in advance, if you have any dietary restrictions or prefer a vegetarian menu. For those with special dietary restrictions a food surcharge of $30 for the program will apply.

Clothing & Gear

We supply group and personal climbing gear such as ropes, harnesses and ice axes. But you must bring your own personal backpacking gear, clothing and general equipment.

CLOTHING LIST

We suggest layers of light, easily carried clothing that allow for fast and easy adjustment to best suit fast changing temperature 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. This list covers items needed for all likely conditions during the mountaineering season. Your guide will go through your clothing and gear with you prior to the course.

You will need to bring:

• LONG UNDERWEAR, top and bottom, polypro, wool, capilene or fleece.
• WOOL/BLEND SOCKS (extra pairs).
• Warm LONG PANTS to climb in. These could be windproof nylon/synthetic blend mountaineering pants, fleece pants, nylon exercise pants with light long johns or wool trousers.
• Light SHIRT or T-SHIRT.
• Wool or fleece LONG SLEEVE SHIRT.
• FLEECE SWEATER (medium weight).
• Heavyweight fleece or insulated JACKET.
• Waterproof OUTER JACKET with hood (Gore-Tex).
• Waterproof OUTER PANTS, preferably with sidezips on legs.
• Waterproof knee-length GAITERS that will fit over large boots .
• Waterproof mountaineering GLOVES or wool / fleece mitts /gloves plus waterproof overmitts.
• WARM HAT (that covers ears).
• SUNHAT with wide brim.

Optional Items:

• ROCK SHOES
• NECK TUBE.
• Cotton SHORTS.
• RUNNING SHOES or light Hiking Shoes (you may wear these on approach to the Campsite and around camp - strongly recommended if you are planning on renting or wearing Heavy Mountaineering Boots for the ascent).

EQUIPMENT LIST

You will need to bring: (Items in blue are available to rent from Yamnuska)

• SLEEPING BAG - We suggest a three-season bag rated down to -7 Celsius.  Make sure you bring a stuff sac that will reduce your bag to its minimum size (i.e. one with compression straps) so you don't use up all the room in your pack.
• SLEEPING PAD - ('Thermarest' &/or  'Ensolite')
• BACKPACK - Big enough to fit extra clothing, sleeping bag, and share of food. Internal frame packs are most comfortable.  A 55-65 Liter pack is suitable.
• LIGHT WEIGHT MOUNTAINEERING BOOTS or BACKPACKING BOOTS: You will need boots designed specifically for this use. Some backpacking boots are suitable but they must be firm enough, waterproof and able to take crampons. Mountaineering boots are made from leather or plastic. Leather boots have either a semi-rigid or a rigid sole. Plastic boots have rigid soles. The most important feature of a mountaineering boot 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.
• SUNGLASSES with good UV protection
• Extra Strength SUN CREAM.
• Lip Cream with UV protection
• HEADLAMP with fresh batteries.
• WATER BOTTLE (1L minimum).
• POCKET KNIFE
• BLISTER KIT ('moleskin', 'Second Skin')
• FIRST-AID Items (band-aids, ibuprofen & aspirin / Tylenol is enough as guides have a kit also).
• CAMERA and spare batteries.
• TREKKING POLE (S) (optional).
• EAR PLUGS for tent sleeping.
• Unbreakable large plastic BOWL
• Light MUG & Spoon, Pocket Knife

OPTIONAL MOUNTAINEERING GEAR

If you have your own, feel free to bring:

• ICE AXE. We suggest a general mountaineering axe optimum 70cm length.
• CRAMPONS. Must fit your boots.
• SIT HARNESS.

If you don't have these items we will lend them to you. Please let us know what you need in advance.

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. Full payment is required at time of 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 review 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.

We also request that you complete and return our on-line mountain experience questionnaire.

There are two basic types of insurance that most travellers 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:

In Kananaskis Country there may be a charge for rescue if you need to be evacuated by professional services.  We strongly recommend a travel and medical insurance that will cover you in the unlikely event of an emergency. 

Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance:

We recognize many of our guests are busy profesionals and their schedules can change without notice.  We strongly recommend the optional 'Cancel for any reason' insurance through our adventure insurance provider.  Flight delays and other unplanned events are unfortunately a reality and it may not be possible for us to delay a trip departure for a guest(s).

Yamnuska offers an "Adventure Travel Protection Plan" through Travel Guard insurance. This plan offers comprehensive coverage for all your travel needs including trip cancellation/interruption, emergency medical expenses, and personal effects loss. For more information and to purchase this coverage visit Travel Guard's website. 

For the convenience and peace of mind for our guests, we chose Travel Guard as a comprehensive insurance provider.  We highly recommend purchasing this insurance and ask that you familiarize yourself with their program and our cancellation policies (available under the Booking Info tab).