Here is a mountaineering and climbing trip report from Yamnuska Mountain Guide and Canadian Alpine Icon Barry Blanchard:
“It was my pleasure to guide Margaret Imai-Compton and Brian McCrindle on ascents of Mt Lefroy, President and Vice President, Mt McArthur and Isolated Peak during the week of July 6-11.
Our trip started with an early bus ride into Lake O’Hara on July 6th. Three hours of heavy rain fell during our ascent to Abbott Pass making conditions a bit difficult for the climb. We had to help out another unguided party whose member suffered an injury due to a freak rock fall. I radioed the National Parks Public Safety Officers to organize a helicopter rescue and we witnessed first hand why the Banff National Park rescue service is praised for its effiency and professionalism worldwide! The climber was fine in the end, but it was an exciting start to our trip!
After that excitement Margaret, Brian and I were happy to relax at the hut, eat, and get to bed early.
We walked away from the hut at 4:30 am the next morning, July 7th. The three of us summitted Mt. Lefroy with good frozen conditions and returned to the hut by 10:30 am. We were eating carrot cake and drinking coffee at Le Ralais, the bus stop come cafe at Lake O’Hara after a quick hike down from the hut.
July 8th saw us coffeeing up again in Lake Louise before hiking into the Stanley Mitchell hut, in the rain once again! Kudos to Neil Baker the uber-porter who commonly packs in 100 lbs!
July 9th we spent 11 hours out ascending first Isolated Peak, then traversing Mt McArthur to descend via the valley between it and Mt Pollinger.
After a rest day hiding from the rain, on July 11th we walked away from the Stanley Mitchell Hut at 5:00 am to ascend first the President and then the Vice President. We were back packing up at the hut at 2:30 pm and back at our car at 5:30. More coffee in Lake Louise got us home to Canmore.
A grand adventure in the company of two fine friends.”
Barry Blanchard
Mountain Guide
We thoroughly enjoyed our 6 day private guiding trip with Barry Blanchard to climb Mt. Lefroy (in the lake Louise group), the President and Vice-President, McArthur and Isolated Peak in Yoho park.
Private guiding is a fabulous way to get and see what YOU want according to your abilities and your preference for guides.
Barry, as always, was professional and charismatic. During the rock fall and heli rescue on Abbot Pass, he was my hero! I felt 100% safe and cared for and continued on with confidence.
I am a multi-repeat Yam client, precisely because I can count on the professionalism and skills of your guides, and the spectacular playground you have in the National Parks.
Thank you to Barry, to Brian McCrindle my climbing partner, and to the Yam team for a satisfying and fulfiling adventure. – Margaret Imai-Compton
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