It seems like ages ago that the MSS crew packed up the van and headed west to the sunny skies of Skaha, to escape the lingering winter conditions in the Bow Valley.
Skaha holds a special place in the hearts of Canmore climbers, and every spring when conditions are still cool and snowy around here, you can be sure to find sunshine and warm rock in Skaha!
We spent 8 days learning the full gamut of rock climbing techniques and skills. Efficient movement, anchor building and cleaning, gear placements, leading techniques, hazard management and a continuation of the rescue techniques covered in the last section of the course. Everyone in the group did great, improving their climbing technique and understanding of the basic safety systems, as well as many folks progressing quickly to lead climbing on sport routes, and easier gear climbs.
But Skaha is as much about climbing, as it is about the great camping at Banbury on the shore of Skaha Lake. Campfires, great dinners courtesy of Brian at the Yamnuska kitchen and relaxing with a drink at the end of a great day of climbing rounded out the experience, not to mention the odd session of holding our tarp together during the evening wind/rain storm! On the 8th day we drove home with tired muscles and tender finger tips from so much climbing!
Following a few days of well deserved rest, we headed out to practice our learned climbing techniques on the challenging multi-pitch and Alpine Rock routes of the Bow Valley. From the towering cliffs that overhang the picturesque Lake Louise to the classic Alpine routes surrounding the Banff townsite, we had a blast as we finished up almost two straight weeks of climbing skills and adventures!
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