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Yamnuska Mountain Adventures

Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Ice Climbing, Backcountry Skiing

  • Avalanche
    • Avalanche Skills Training 1 – Canmore/Calgary
    • AST 1 (Classroom Webinar/Rockies Field Day)
    • Avalanche Skills Training 1 for Ice Climbers
    • Avalanche Skills Training 1 Refresher
    • Advanced Companion Rescue Course
    • Avalanche Skills Training 2 – Canadian Rockies
    • Avalanche Skills Training 2 – Rogers Pass
    • Avalanche Skills Training 2 – Purcell Lodge
  • Mountaineering
    • Beginner Programs
      • Scrambling Skills and Safety
      • Snow and Ice Long Weekend
      • Intro to Mountaineering
      • Women’s Intro to Mountaineering
      • Youth Mountaineering Course
      • Wapta Ice Hike
    • Intermediate and Advanced Programs
      • Yoho Peaks
      • Intro to Alpine Rock in the Bugaboos
      • Intro to Alpine Ice at the Columbia Icefields
      • Lake Louise Classics
      • Moraine Lake Alpine Classics
      • Rogers Pass Alpinist Camp
      • Bugaboos Granite
      • Tonquin Valley Alpine Climbing
    • Canadian Rockies 11,000ers
      • Mount Temple
      • Mount Willingdon
      • Mount Cline
      • Mt Woolley & Diadem
      • Mount Hector
      • Mount Athabasca
      • Mount Andromeda
      • Mt Joffre Expedition
      • Mount Victoria
      • Mt Edith Cavell
      • Mount Forbes
      • Mount Assiniboine
      • Mount Robson
    • Fast and Light Series
      • Castle Mountain
      • Mt Louis Kain Route
      • Bugaboo Spire – North East Ridge
      • Mt Sir Donald – Northwest Ridge
      • Mt Aberdeen
      • Mt Stanley
      • Mt Fay – West Ridge
      • Mt Temple – East Ridge
    • One-Day Crevasse Rescue for the Alpinist
    • Navigation 1 (Back to Basics with Map & Compass)
    • Navigation 2 (Digital Trip Planning & Electronic Navigation)
    • One Month Summer Mountaineering Program
    • Private Mountaineering and Guiding
      • Climb Mount Athabasca
      • Bugaboos Climbing Guides
      • Climb Mount Assiniboine
      • Climb Mount Robson
  • Skiing
    • Instructional Backcountry Skiing & Boarding
      • Intro to Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding
      • Splitboarding Intro
      • Backcountry Freerider
      • Ultimate Steep & Deep Clinic
    • Guided Steep & Deep Programs
      • Rogers Pass Powder Skiing
      • Signature Series Splitboarding Camp with Justin Lamoureux
      • Kootenays Powder Adventure
      • Backcountry Powder Pass
    • Ski Mountaineering & Classic Traverses
      • Intro to Ski Mountaineering
      • Crevasse Rescue for Skiers & Splitboarders
      • The Wapta Traverse
      • Bow to Yoho Advanced Ski Week
      • Remote Ski Camp – Freshfields
      • Bugaboos to Rogers Pass Ski Traverse
    • 11’000ers Ski Programs
      • Mt Hector
      • The Lyells & Mons Ski Descents
      • Mt Columbia Ski Expedition
    • International Ski Trips
      • Troll Peninsula, Iceland Ski Safari
      • Rishiri Island Skiing in Japan
    • Navigation 1 (Back to Basics with Map & Compass)
    • Navigation 2 (Digital Trip Planning & Electronic Navigation)
    • One Month Backcountry Ski Program
    • Private Ski Guiding & Splitboarding
  • Rock Climbing
    • Rock Climbing Level 1 – Outdoor Rock Intro
    • Rock Climbing Level 2 – Learn to Lead
    • Rock Climbing Level 3 – Multi-Pitch Climbing Course
    • Rock Climbing Level 4 – Trad Rock Leader
    • Rock Climbing Level 5 – Rock Rescue
      • Foundational Rock Rescue
      • Advanced Rock Rescue
    • Signature Series Rock Leader with Sean Isaac
    • Hot Rock
    • Ghost Rock
    • El Potrero Chico Rock Road Trip
    • Beginner Experiential Rock Climbing
    • Multipitch & Instructional Rock Climbing
  • Ice Climbing
    • Ice Climbing Level 1 – Basic Ice
    • Ice Climbing Level 2 – Top Rope Management
    • Ice Climbing Level 1 & 2 – Ice Evolution
    • Ice Climbing Level 3 – Ice Leader
    • Ice Climbing Level 4 – Multi-Pitch Ice Leader
    • Steep Ice and Mixed Climbing Clinic
    • Drytooling Clinic
    • Rampart Creek Ice Camp
    • Ghost Ice Climbing Camp
    • ‘Hot’ Ice Climbing
    • Signature Series Ice Climbing with Sean Isaac
      • Early Season Ice Camp with Sean Isaac
      • Ice Leader Camp with Sean Isaac
      • Mixed Master Camp
      • Steep Ice Clinic with Sean Isaac
      • Mixed Climbing Clinic with Sean Isaac
      • Ice Lead Clinic with Sean Isaac
      • Multi-pitch Systems Clinic with Sean Isaac
    • Southern Ontario Ice Climbing
      • Southern Ontario – One-day Ice Climbing Essentials
      • Southern Ontario Ice Leader
    • Avalanche Skills for Ice Climbers
    • Beginner Experiential Ice Climbing
    • Private Multipitch & Instructional Ice Climbing
  • Mountain Semesters
    • 3-Month Mountain Skills Semester
    • 1-Month Summer Mountaineering Semester
    • 1-Month Ski & Splitboard Semester

About Us

Yamnuska Office, CanmoreWho are we?

Located in Canmore, Alberta at the gates of Banff National Park, Yamnuska Mountain Adventures is one of Canada’s premier providers of mountaineering, rock & ice climbing, backcountry skiing, hiking, and trekking experiences in the Canadian Rockies. For over 40 years, we have hosted thousands of clients from Canada and all over the world. Our brand is known for quality mountain experiences, safety, and well-organized itineraries. We have some of the best mountain guides and hiking guides in the industry. All Yamnuska Mountain Adventures climbing guides are certified through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides.

From our humble beginnings as an adult wilderness program at the YMCA’s Yamnuska Center back in 1977, we have grown to be recognized internationally for our superior guest service, exemplary safety record, and the highest standard of program delivery. We are proud to call Canmore, Alberta our home but consider the mountains of western Canada to be our classroom and playground. We are one of Canada’s oldest and premier mountain schools. Our rich and deep history of climbing in Canada is a great source of pride for all of us here at ‘Yam’.

Much has been written about Yamnuska, its history, and the committed climbers and guides who started our organization way back in 1977. We encourage you to check out the Yamnuska story on Wikipedia or in many Canadian Rockies climbing history books. When you walk down the hall in our training center we encourage you to enjoy our ‘Holly-Yam’ display which depicts many of the Major Motion Film Productions we have been involved in over the years. We are also a proud mountain skills and adventure training contractor to police and military organizations in Canada and the UK.

Our Vision

Yamnuska Mountain Adventures is passionately committed to providing exceptional mountain experiences and services in a sustainable and respectful manner with safety as our top priority.

Land Acknowledgement

Yamnuska Mountain Adventures recognizes that the traditional stewards of the land on which we live, work and play are the First Nations and Metis peoples of Canada.
Yamnuska is located within Treaty 7 territory, the traditional territories and home of the Stoney Nakoda, Blackfoot Confederacy and Tsuut’ina Nations, as well as Zone 3 Metis Nation.
We honour, respect and celebrate this territory with all those who steward this land.

Guest Service

All of our mountain guides are ACMG/IFMGA certified and in addition to their exceptional technical skills, our team is trained to give you the quality experience you expect. We pride ourselves on setting the standard in our industry for staff training and guest service.

Our modern 6,000 sq foot training facility has 2 classrooms,  a full-service backcountry kitchen, and a guide’s lounge for your comfort and convenience. We maintain an inventory of quality technical mountain gear for you to use on our programs. Our rigorous gear inspection and replacement program mean you will have high-quality and modern equipment for your trips or courses with us.

Our Guides

Yamnuska mountain guides and instructors are certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. In addition to certification, which only relates to a guide’s technical competence, all of our guides have access to Yamnuska’s staff training and guide mentoring programs which help to develop many other key qualities required of a professional Yamnuska guide. They need to be endowed with patience, empathy, and a sense of humour as well as being effective communicators and great coaches.

Safety & Risk Management

As Canada’s largest mountain skills instruction school, our safety and risk management plans are unmatched. A full-time, on-call duty manager ensures that we are prepared to deal with any emergency or program requirements around the clock. Our rigorous safety policies and procedures have been developed through our experience from more than 40 years of training and working with military organizations from around the world.

All of our safety, risk management, and avalanche plans are written by our operations team and updated constantly. We pride ourselves on our ‘Culture of Safety’ and think you will appreciate this focus on your mountain adventures with us.

Learn more about our safety and risk management approach here.

All participants must sign the Yamnuska waiver of liability prior to commencing any Yamnuska Mountain Adventures program. Read the sample waiver.

Police, Military, and First Responder Experience

We are a proud contractor to Canadian and British Forces in both technical skills and adventurous training for active and serving military personnel. Our organization has worked extensively with other police and first responder organizations to help prepare serving personnel with the skills required to operate in a mountain or technical environment. We have a long history of working with those who serve. We offer discounted pricing for active police and military servicemen and women.

Sustainability

We believe in self-propelled mountain experiences.  With us, you ‘earn your turns’ and we believe there is only one way to get to the top of a mountain or ski slope – you climb it. We are an active member of Leave No Trace and our guides act as custodians of our mountain parks and protected areas. Our respect for nature and our environment is deeply embedded in the core values of our organization and we are committed to passing these values on to future generations of mountaineers and outdoor enthusiasts. We have a very vested interest in sustaining our mountain environment for future generations.

Canadian Tourism Commission Signature Experience

Yamnuska Mountain Adventures has been recognized as a ‘Signature Experience’ provider for offering uniquely Canadian experiences by the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC).  On October 18, 2011, the CTC announced that we had been granted this prestigious honour citing our Wapta Traverse ski trip as a signature winter experience and our Wapta Ice Hike as a signature summer experience.  Both glacier traverse programs are located in Banff National Park, Canada’s oldest and largest National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Climbing

We are a proud sponsor of several youth, climbing, and mountain culture initiatives. Although we donate trips and money to numerous causes, a few of the more popular ones are listed below.

Climber’s Access Society of Alberta (CASA) The Climber’s Access Society of Alberta’s primary objective is to provide and preserve public access for climbers to the montane and alpine regions as well as related and surrounding wilderness of the Rocky Mountain Cordillera and Eastern Slope foothills of Alberta.  Yamnuska Mountain Adventures is a proud supporter of this organization.

KnuckleBasher11

The Association of Bow Valley Climbers (TABVAR) The Association of Bow Valley Rock Climbers (TABVAR) is a not for profit organization, funded by donations, whose purpose is to promote the responsible development of safe rock climbing areas serving the Calgary, Canmore, Banff, and Lake Louise climbing communities. TABVAR provides funds for fixed anchors on routes and for “environmental” projects such as erosion protection measures at the base of cliffs.  https://tabvar.org/

AVALANCHE SAFETY

We are a Founding Supplier of Avalanche Canada. We believe strongly in supporting this very important organization.

ASTProviderAvalanche Canada Foundation

The Avalanche Canada Foundation is a registered charity formed to:

  • raise and administer funds in support of public avalanche information
  • support education in public avalanche awareness and safety
  • support programs that will prevent or minimize avalanche risk to the public
  • support research projects that facilitate public avalanche safety

Yamnuska Mountain Adventures is an annual contributor to the Gala Fundraiser Dinner in Calgary.

Mountain Guides Ball

Every year, new mountain guides ‘get their badges’ and we proudly support this fun gala evening to celebrate their significant achievement. Put on by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and the Alpine Club of Canada, we donate prizes and financially support the event through ticket purchases and media promotion.

ENVIRONMENT

Yamnuska is committed to sustainable travel and tourism by helping to promote the preservation of the fragile alpine areas of the world’s mountains. Our programs are typically human-powered endeavors and we strive to cut our impact on the environment by supporting local and national environmental organizations.  Here are some of the ways that we have offset our footprint and are helping to educate the public about the ongoing challenge of environmental ethics.

Leave No Trace Canada

Leave No Trace (LNT) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor recreation through education, research, and partnerships. Yamnuska Mountain Adventures is a proud corporate member.

LNT principles are:

  • Plan ahead and prepare
  • Travel and camp on durable surfaces
  • Dispose of waste properly
  • Leave what you find
  • Minimize campfire impacts
  • Respect wildlife
  • Be considerate of other visitors

Tree-Friendly Office

At Yamnuska Mountain Adventures we use FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper for our office printing. The Forest Stewardship Council is recognized by the WWF and Rainforest Alliance as the leading standard in responsible forest management. The paper comes from responsibly managed forests. Paper bearing this stamp indicates that it was manufactured from environmentally sustainable and ecologically sound sources. The paper is free from chlorine and acid, is not bleached, and does not go through a chemical treatment process, reducing harmful by-products.

Tourism Associations

We are proud members of Banff Lake Louise Tourism.

Sales and Industry Trade Shows

We attend the following consumer trade shows each year:

  • The Calgary Outdoor Adventure Show
  • The Toronto Outdoor Adventure Show

We regularly attend the following Industry Trade Shows:

  • Travel & Adventure Shows in the USA
  • The Banff Mountain Film Festival Sponsor Trade Show
  • Canada’s West Marketplace
  • Rendezvous Canada

Annual Sales Promotions

Like you, we think it’s unfair if everyone on a trip has paid a different price so we are transparent about our pricing policy and sales discounts. At the trade shows listed above, any purchase is eligible for a 10% discount (see restrictions below). As well, our Early Bird discounts offer guests 15% off scheduled trips and programs they purchase for the upcoming summer or winter season. The early bird discount for upcoming winter programs runs until July 1 of the previous season and for upcoming summer programs, the discount runs until December 31 of the previous season. We encourage you to take advantage of these great discount opportunities and assure you we will not suddenly offer other sale prices. The Mountain Skills, Summer and Winter Semesters, International programs, Esplanade Track, Tombstone Trail, Lodge Based ski trips, and certain hiking programs are not eligible for these discounts.  Programs that we re-sell for our partners are also not available for these discounts (i.e. Wilderness First Aid programs).

Receptive Tour Operators and Agents

With agreements, we offer some of our trips to commissioned sales agents. The terms and conditions vary based on volume and reciprocal marketing initiatives. We deal with some of Canada’s largest receptive tour operators and select international sales agents.

Our Address

Yamnuska Mountain Adventures
Suite 200 Summit Centre 50 Lincoln Park
Canmore, Alberta, Canada T1W3E9
Toll-Free North America: 1 866 678 4164
Tel.: +1 403 678 4164 | Fax: +1 403 678 4450
E-mail: info@yamnuska.com

Office Hours
Monday 8:30am to 5:00pm
Tuesday 8:30am to 5:00pm
Wednesday 8:30am to 5:00pm
Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm
Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm
Saturday 8:30am to 4:00pm
We are open Saturdays during Peak Seasons

Program Guide

Our current Program Guide was printed in 2019.

 

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