Southern Ontario – One-day Ice Climbing Essentials

Note: There is considerable flexibility built into the delivery of this course. Ice and weather conditions, as well as participant ability, will dictate the order of presentation to some degree. Key topics will be revisited during the program. 

 7:30 am at the Tim Horton’s in Bancroft (4 Valleyview Dr., Bancroft)

• Welcome, introductions, goals and program agenda. 
• Issue and check gear. 
• Discussion of safety procedures, hazard awareness and basic rope techniques. 
• Discussion of knots and harnesses. 
• Top rope belays and climbing communication review. 
• Movement skills on top-roped climbs. How to ice climb efficiently and use correct body positioning to save energy and time. A lot of the time on this program will be devoted to coaching participants in movement skills and techniques.  
• Lowering skills. 
• Introduction to steep ice climbing techniques. 
• Introduction to placing and removing ice screws. 
• Top rope anchor construction using bolts, ice screws and V-threads. 
• The course ends at approximately 5:00 pm. 

Location

The course is based in Bancroft, Ontario but expect a 10-15-minute drive to reach the climbing crag. 

Meeting Time and Place

The course begins at the Tim Horton’s in Bancroft Ontario at 7:30 am. Tim Horton’s is located at 4 Valleyview Dr. In Bancroft. 

Instructors and Group Size

The “Yam Ice Team” includes most of the best ice climbing guides and instructors anywhere! Enthusiastic and extremely talented, they hold climbing certification from the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and from the International Federation of Mountain Guide Association (IFMGA). Your safety and enjoyment are paramount to them. There will be a maximum of 6 students, a minimum of 4.  Instructor/student ratios will be 1:6 on during the course. 

Transportation

Transportation is not included in this program. We will rely on guest’s vehicles to reach the trailhead. 

To keep prices down participants are responsible for their own transport to Bancroft and during the program. 

Accommodation and Meals

Accommodation in Bancroft is not included. A variety of accommodation options exist in Bancroft.  We recommend that you book your own pre– and post-trip accommodations well in advance as all levels of accommodations fill quickly. 

Food is not supplied. You will need lunch and something to drink. Please bring plenty to drink plus lots of energy snacks. We particularly suggest bringing a Thermos and hot drink. 

The equipment and clothing you bring to this course will play a large role in the quality of your experience. Read the following suggestions and lists carefully. If you have any questions or need clarification, don’t hesitate to call or email. 

Equipment

Group climbing gear such as ropes and hardware is provided, but we recommend bringing your own personal climbing gear. Rental options are available through MEC in Toronto and North York.  You will need to show up with: Please contact us if you are having any problems obtaining equipment.

• Crampons 
• Ice Climbing Tools 
• Climbing harness 
• Climbing helmet 
• Belay device with a locking carabiner 
• Mountaineering Boots (must be crampon compatible) 

We recommend you bring: 

• Daypack* (30-40 litres) 
• Water bottle 
• Sunglasses 
• Sunscreen, SPF lip balm 
• Hand Sanitizer
• Camera 
• Headlamp (with fresh batteries) 
• First aid items (Our guides carry a first aid kit, but you may bring your own Band-Aids and anti-inflammatory medication if desired.) 
• Trekking pole (optional) 

Clothing

There can be prolonged periods of inactivity in very cold temperatures throughout the course. Don’t be afraid to bring too much! We recommend bringing clothing that can be layered to achieve comfort as you change from periods of activity to periods of rest. Cotton clothing is not appropriate as it causes rapid heat loss when wet. 

We recommend you bring: 

• Long underwear top and bottoms (heavyweight synthetic or wool) 
• Socks (synthetic/wool blend) 
• Softshell pants and jacket 
• Midweight synthetic or down jacket 
• Waterproof hardshell jacket with hood 
• Waterproof hardshell pants (should have a full–length side zip so they can be put on without taking off boots and crampons) 
• Heavyweight parka (big enough to fit over all your other layers) 
• Gaiters (big enough to fit over large boots) 
• Waterproof mountaineering or ice climbing gloves (at least two pairs) 
• Warm hat that fits under a helmet 
• Face Mask

Additional gear info: 

Boots: A good pair of boots is essential. They need to be warm and crampon compatible. 

Crampons:  A good waterfall ice crampon will have vertically oriented front points, and some have the option to switch to a single point for mixed climbing. We use the Petzl Lynx for our ice and mixed climbing programs. 

Climbing harness:  A winter climbing harness should be sized to fit over your winter clothing. It is recommended to have a harness with a dedicated spot for an Ice Clipper or Caritool. 

Ice tools:  It is important to have a tool with a curved hand grip at the bottom. For thin ice and mixed climbing, it is much safer to have a hammer or nothing at all attached to the head of the tool, instead of an adze. For all-around ice and mixed climbing, Yamnuska uses the Petzl Quark. For steep ice and advanced mixed climbing, Yamnuska uses the Petzl Nomic. 

Belay device:  Many options exist for belay devices. Ensure that your device has two slots for ropes, to facilitate rappelling. We provide the Petzl Verso or Petzl Reverso on our multi-pitch instructional programs. 

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. Our ice climbing courses tend to fill up quickly. We require full payment on booking.

We ask that you make yourself familiar with 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.

There are two basic types of insurance that most travellers need to consider: Medical and Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance. We offer our guests coverage for both and highly recommend you purchase it.

Emergency Medical Expenses Insurance:

It is wise to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident during your trip.  Obtain extra coverage if necessary.

Cancellation/Trip 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, the Trip Cancellation/Interruption insurance is a great way to protect your investment.

For all your travel insurance requirements we recommend the Simpson Group. This agency offers a wide range of travel insurance options including Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Travel Medical and Personal Effect Loss for Canadian Travelers. We highly recommend purchasing this insurance. For more information and to purchase a plan, visit the Simpson Group’s website.

Please note that this coverage is for Canadian residents only. For guests who are not from Canada and who are interested in the ‘Visitors to Canada’ insurance package please contact the Simpson Group directly at JSimpson@simpson-group.com and reference your Yamnuska Mountain Adventure’s trip.