Our Commitment
The mountains are the foundation of everything we do.
Since 1977, Yamnuska Mountain Adventures has helped people explore, learn, and achieve their goals in mountain environments around the world. Our business depends on healthy ecosystems, thriving public lands, and a culture of responsible outdoor recreation. Protecting these places is not only important to our future—it is central to who we are.
We believe in self-propelled mountain experiences. Whether hiking, scrambling, climbing, mountaineering, or backcountry skiing, we value the journey as much as the destination. Human-powered travel encourages a deeper connection to the landscape and fosters a greater appreciation for the natural environments we are privileged to explore.
At the same time, we recognize that all travel and outdoor recreation have an environmental impact. We do not claim to have all the answers, nor do we consider our sustainability efforts complete. Environmental stewardship is an ongoing process of learning, improving, and making better decisions as our understanding evolves. We are committed to continually evaluating our operations, reducing our footprint where possible, and encouraging responsible behaviour among our staff, guides, and guests.
Leave No Trace
Yamnuska follows and promotes the principles of Leave No Trace, an internationally recognized framework for responsible outdoor recreation. These principles guide how we travel, teach, and operate in mountain environments.
The seven Leave No Trace 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
Our guides integrate these principles into every program and use each trip as an opportunity to help guests better understand their role in protecting natural environments.
Responsible Travel in the Field
Our programs are designed to minimize environmental impact while maximizing meaningful experiences in nature.
When operating in mountain and backcountry environments, our guides and staff strive to:
Respect Wildlife
- Observe wildlife from a distance and never approach, feed, or disturb animals.
- Follow all park regulations and wildlife closures.
- Use binoculars and telephoto lenses rather than attempting to get closer to wildlife.
- Educate guests about responsible wildlife viewing practices.
Protect Trails and Vegetation
- Stay on designated trails whenever possible.
- Avoid creating new paths or contributing to trail braiding.
- Use established rest stops and durable surfaces.
- Leave wildflowers, plants, rocks, fossils, antlers, and other natural objects where they are found.
Protect Water Resources
- Use bridges and designated crossings where available.
- Dispose of grey water responsibly and away from watercourses.
- Encourage the use of established washroom facilities whenever possible.
- Use biodegradable soaps and cleaning products when required in the field.
Reduce Waste
- Pack out everything we bring into the backcountry.
- Collect litter when practical and safe to do so.
- Minimize unnecessary packaging.
- Encourage reusable containers and equipment whenever possible.
Our goal is simple: leave places as good as—or better than—we found them.
Improving Our Operations
Environmental stewardship extends beyond our field programs. We are continually working to improve how we operate in our office and kitchen.
Some of the steps we currently take include:
- Recycling programs for paper, plastics, metals, and other materials.
- Compost collection in all of our facilities.
- The use of reusable food storage systems to reduce single-use packaging on trips.
- Organizing meal ingredients in reusable bags to improve field efficiency while minimizing waste.
- Reusable containers for liquids and bulk food storage.
- Ongoing efforts to reduce unnecessary packaging and improve purchasing practices.
- Reduce paper use through digital documentation, communication, and responsible printing practices.
- Responsible equipment maintenance programs that maximize the lifespan of gear before replacement.
These initiatives may seem small on their own, but we believe that consistent incremental improvements can have a meaningful long-term impact.
We continue to review our operational practices and are always looking for opportunities to improve.
What We Ask of Our Guests
Every person who joins a Yamnuska program plays a role in protecting the places we visit.
We encourage our guests to:
- Stay on established trails.
- Respect wildlife and maintain appropriate viewing distances.
- Leave natural and cultural artifacts where they are found.
- Reduce waste and avoid unnecessary packaging.
- Use reusable water bottles and containers whenever possible.
- Follow Leave No Trace principles.
- Respect local communities, cultures, and regulations.
Together, we can help ensure that future generations have the opportunity to experience the same remarkable mountain environments that inspire us today.
A Continuing Journey
Environmental stewardship is not a destination—it is an ongoing commitment.
We are proud of the steps we have taken, but we know there is always more to learn and more that can be done. As our organization evolves, we will continue seeking ways to reduce our environmental impact, improve our practices, and contribute positively to the mountain environments that have shaped Yamnuska for nearly five decades.