Mt Edith Cavell

Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Meet all guests at our classroom in Canmore at 12:00 pm on the first day. After going through the gear, we will pack up and drive north along the Icefields Parkway to Jasper National Park where we will stay at the Mt. Edith Cavell Wilderness Hostel. This will set us up for success for our summit day and where we will end up once the peak is complete.  

Day 2: Summit Day! This summit will be a classic alpine start having us up early to have our best shot at attempting the peak. The initial approach will have us on a paved trail where we will eventually break off and head towards the East Ridge col via some moderate scrambling and some snow and ice where crampons and an ice axe may be required. From here, we will start the journey, climbing almost 700m along the impressive East Ridge. We will return to the hostel that night for a well-deserved rest before heading back to the Bow Valley. Expect 10-14 hours round trip from the Hostel.

Day 3: We will get up and be treated to one last view of Edith Cavell before returning to the Bow Valley via the Icefields Parkways.

Meeting Time and Place

We can meet all guests at our classroom in Canmore at 12:00 pm on the first day or please talk with us directly to make other arrangements. We are located at #100, 50 Lincoln Park, Canmore, AB.  Map

Guides and Group Size

The maximum guide to guest ratio is 1:1. 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 Parks Canada. The maximum group size is 2.

Transportation

Please discuss transportation options directly with our reservations team. If flying in, we recommend you rent a car from Calgary Airport.

Park Passes

Please note that program venues may be within National Parks and/or Kananaskis Country. For programs where transportation is not provided by Yamnuska/Canadian Rockies Hiking by Yamnuska, guests will be required to purchase their own pass.

National Park passes are available both online at https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/voyage-travel/admission and in-person at National park gates and some information centres.

Kananaskis Country conservation passes are available online at https://www.alberta.ca/kananaskis-conservation-pass.aspx

Accommodation & Meals

Meals and Snacks are not provided but your accommodation at the Mount Edith Cavell Hostel is included in the price. 

The Mount Edith Cavell Hostel is operated by Hosteling International. The hostel is a Wilderness hostel – there is no television, Wi-Fi, or phones – the electricity is generated by solar power and there’s no running water. This is cabin-in-the-woods living and the lack of modern distractions inevitably facilitates the making of new friends and shared experiences and adventures. It features communal sleeping areas and a separate kitchen and living area.   

Accommodation in Canmore is not included before or after the trip. A variety of accommodation options exist in both Canmore and Banff, including campsites, hostels, all levels of hotels as well as condo-style accommodation with kitchens or suites.  We recommend that you book your own pre- and post-trip accommodation well in advance as all levels of accommodation in the Bow Valley fill quickly. 

Food is not included in this program however a food package option is available.

Food Package: A food package is available that would provide all meals and snacks from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 3. Those taking the food package will have nutritious and delicious breakfasts, lunches, and trail snacks supplied. Meals are prepared by our in-house chef from fresh, nutritious ingredients. For guests with dietary restrictions, we are able to modify the program food pack to meet your individual needs.

Weather and Conditions

Please note that weather may still prevent a safe attempt on the mountain. In this case, we will either schedule another peak or a day of mountaineering instruction. The mountains call the shots and the wise mountaineer takes heed. Thus we never guarantee climbs.

Equipment and Clothing

We supply group climbing gear such as ropes and hardware but we recommend you bring your own personal climbing gear (e.g. harness, helmet and ice axe), clothing and general equipment. We can lend you some personal items should you require them.  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. Cotton clothing is not appropriate 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
• Softshell climbing pants – these should be windproof nylon/synthetic blend mountaineering pants
• Mid-weight top – synthetic or wool
• Softshell jacket – this should be a windproof nylon/synthetic blend jacket
• Outer jacket and pants – waterproof with a hood on the jacket and side zips on the pants (Gore-Tex)
• Insulated jacket – synthetic or down
• Gaiters – ensure they fit over your mountaineering boots
• Mountaineering gloves – lightweight and medium to heavyweight pairs
• Hat – synthetic or wool that covers your ears and fits under a helmet
• Sunhat – with a wide brim

• Alpha SV Jacket (Men’s & Women’s)
• Rush Jacket (Men’s & Women’s)
• Rush Bib Pant (Men’s & Women’s)
• Atom Hoody (Men’s & Women’s)
• Atom SL Hoody (Men’s & Women’s)
• Cerium Down Hoody (Men’s & Women’s)
• Nuclei Hoody (Men’s & Women’s)

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 – Ideally these boots should be lightweight leather or synthetic with a semi-rigid or rigid sole.  It is possible to buy boots such as the La Sportiva ‘Trango’ which are designed specifically for alpine rock.  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.
• Day pack – Big enough to fit extra clothing, equipment and your food.  A 30-35 litre capacity is suitable.
• Rock Shoes – Comfort is essential as you will be wearing these for prolonged periods of time.
• Harness
• Helmet
• Ice Axe – regular glacier axe, minimum 55cm in length. Lightweight versions are appropriate for this trip.
• Crampons – must fit your boots
• Belay device
• Sunglasses – with 100% UV protection
• Sun cream – extra strength
• Lip cream – with UV protection
• Headlamp – with fresh batteries
• Water bottle
• Blister kit – ‘moleskin’, ‘second skin’ etc.
• First aid items – keep this small (band-aids, ibuprofen & aspirin/Tylenol, etc.)
• Camera
• Trekking pole – must be collapsible (recommended)

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 prusik, 1 x 120 cm sewn sling and 2 x locking biners, 1 x 16-22 cm ice screw.

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. Full payment is required at the 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.

Risk is an inherent part of all mountain activities. We strive to manage and reduce it however, it is impossible to totally eliminate. Learn more about our safety and risk management approach here.  Please note that you will be required to sign our waiver before commencing the program. Please view our sample waiver copy.

The Simpson Group offers a wide range of travel insurance options including Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Travel Medical, and Personal Effect Loss for both Canadian and International Travelers. Other providers offer similar services and we encourage you to select an appropriate level of coverage. We highly recommend purchasing this insurance to cover and protect you against unforeseen events. The two basic types of insurance that most travellers need to consider are Medical and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance.

Insurance Risk 
One of the ways to mitigate risk is by purchasing appropriate insurance. Simpson Group Insurance Services who are travel & health risk specialists, work with technical and high-risk insurance solutions both in medical and non-medical spheres.  We highly recommend that you review your insurance needs to cover and protect you against unforeseen events. It is wise to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident during your trip. Simpson Group have a team standing by to answer any of your questions.

Emergency Medical Evacuation
While there is typically no charge for search & rescue in the National and Provincial Parks for active pass holders, costs such as air & ground ambulance after the rescue are not covered by your park pass. The chance of a large bill associated with this risk is a real possibility.

For Canadians
A common myth is that healthcare across provinces is fully covered. There are many things which do not carry interprovincial agreements. Ambulance services, medical evacuation, and some services which one province charges more than another you’d be responsible to pay the difference.

For Internationals
A common myth is that healthcare in Canada is free. Although it is less expensive than US healthcare, charges for non-residents can still be very high. Proper medical health insurance is essential if you were to get injured. Most coverages exclude rock climbing, mountaineering, ice climbing, backcountry skiing and the like. Simpson Group can make sure all those risks are well covered.

Trip Cancellation/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, Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance is a great way to protect your investment. We can assure you that circumstances do arise that prevent guests from participating in trips or courses and trip cancellation & interruption insurance is a relatively easy way to manage your level of risk of unforeseen events.

For all your travel insurance requirements we recommend Simpson Group Insurance Services.  For more information and to purchase a plan, visit Simpson Group’s website.