Climb Mount Robson

The Peak

Mt. Robson is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies and its summit elevation is 3959m. It’s located on the western edge of the range, 100km west of Jasper in British Columbia’s Mount Robson Provincial Park. Its massive bulk, the first massif that moist westerlies hit after crossing B.C. results in a moist local micro-climate. At its base is temperate rainforest more typical of the coast and its upper heights are cloaked in the massive glaciation that makes it such a beautiful and challenging climb.

We prefer to attempt the Kain Face on the N.E. side of the peak, it was the first ascent route in 1913. Now it is much steeper as the glaciers have changed. It is a serious climb involving some objective hazards and while the climbing is not extremely technical (45 – 55⁰ snow and ice), conditions and weather can increase the challenge considerably. The summit day is often long and demanding and can take 14 hours or more. Even mid-summer can mean that avalanche risk and snow conditions put the peak out of climbing condition.

Other routes on the mountain include the Schwarz Ledges on the South Face. Overhung by unstable seracs this route is not very appealing. Harder routes include the North Face and the Fuhrer Ridge, these are routes we would only consider guiding with guests who have already built up a climbing relationship with our guides or have an extensive technical climbing resume.

Sample 5-Day Robson Itineraries:

Day 1:  We meet at noon (12:00 pm MST) in Canmore to review gear and make sure we’re prepared for the climb before driving via the Icefields Parkway and the Yellowhead Highway to Robson Provincial Park (4.5hrs).  We’ll set up camp at Robson Meadows for the night.

Day 2:   We fly by helicopter to the ‘Dome’ at 3000m. This is located just below the Kain Face and set up our base camp. Acclimatization and training day.

Day 3:  This is our first summit attempt day via the Kain Face route. Expect to be out for 14 or more hours. Leaving high camp in the very early hours of the morning we head to the base of the ‘Kain Face’ and commence 550m of climbing on snow, ice or both with angles reaching 50 degrees. From here the challenge continues. The route follows a beautiful snow and ice ridge that leads to the steep slopes circumventing the ‘Roof’ and, finally, the last section to the summit. To descend we reverse the climb!

Day 4:  Second summit attempt if poor conditions on day 3, or climb Mt Resplendent if conditions allow. Or, if weather permits and we were successful the previous day, we may fly out early and head to the Columbia Icefields for another climb on the last day.

Day 5:  Either fly out from the Dome or do a final climb in the Columbia Icefields. Return to Canmore where the trip finishes. This can be a long day, so make travel plans accordingly.

Costs

Private guiding options are available. Please contact us to discuss this option.

Trip Cancellation Insurance is available through the Simpson Group.

For guests with dietary restrictions, we can modify the program food pack to meet your individual needs.  As food pricing and preparation for these diets is more costly, a surcharge may apply.  Vegetarian meals will not be surcharged.  For more complex diets our kitchen staff will assess the restrictions to inform you if the diet can be accommodated and what surcharge would apply.

 Notes on hiring a guide

When hiring a guide we quote you guide fees plus expenses. Expenses you will incur include the cost of transportation for yourself and the guide to Mount Robson, camping and/or mountaineering gear rentals if applicable, Provincial Park fees and meals (for the guide also). In addition, there is the cost of any helicopter flights.

Transportation

We do not supply transportation and you are responsible for the guide’s transportation to the area and back to Canmore. Should you not be able to provide transportation we can arrange this at an extra cost. Please let our office know at the time of booking your trip.

Park Passes

Please note that program venues may be within National Parks and/or Kananaskis Country. For programs where transportation is not provided by Yamnuska/Canadian Rockies Hiking by Yamnuska, guests will be required to purchase their own pass.

National Park passes are available both online at https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/voyage-travel/admission and in-person at National park gates and some information centres.

Kananaskis Country conservation passes are available online at https://www.alberta.ca/kananaskis-conservation-pass.aspx

Weather and Alternates

Mount Robson is known for its variable weather and it is important to realize that reaching the summit is very weather dependent. We have experienced a 50% success rate over the years. This is a realistic and competitive success rate. Be wary of those advertising higher success rates.

Any booking made for a Mount Robson trip cannot be cancelled at short notice due to weather or climbing conditions. This is because in accepting a booking on Mount Robson other guiding work will have been turned down. Should Mount Robson be unsafe or the weather unsuitable then the guides will organize alternate climbs in the region or elsewhere.

Thus participants must not only be in excellent shape for high climbing they must also be willing to adapt to whatever the weather forces upon us.

Guides and Guide Ratios

The guides assigned to lead Mount Robson climbs are fully-certified Mountain or Alpine Guides. They have been certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG) or by other member countries of the International Federation of Mountain Guide Associations (IFMGA). Where numbers warrant a second guide, he or she could also be an ACMG Assistant Alpine Guide. Yamnuska’s guides operate within the official terrain guidelines of the ACMG and Yamnuska also is licensed to operate on the peak by Mount Robson Provincial Park.

The maximum ratio on a Mount Robson climb is 1:1.

Getting to Mount Robson

Mount Robson is located in Mount Robson Provincial Park which is 100km west of Jasper on Highway 16. For ease of logistics, we suggest you arrive via Calgary, travel 120km to Canmore where you can overnight then in the morning meet the guide pick up the supplies and gear before driving north to Mount Robson via the Icefields Parkway and Jasper. If flying to the region we would suggest you pick up a rental car at Calgary Airport that you can use for the trip.

Pre & Post Trip Accommodation

Accommodation in Canmore pre and post-trip is not included. A variety of accommodation options exist in both Canmore and Banff, including campsites, hostels, all levels of hotels as well as condo style accommodation with kitchens or suites.  We recommend that you book your own pre and post-trip accommodations well in advance as all levels of accommodations in the Bow Valley fill quickly.

Equipment and Clothing

We supply group camping and climbing gear and suggest you bring your own personal climbing gear (e.g. harness, helmet, ice axe, ice tools), clothing and general equipment. We can lend you a harness, helmet, ice axe, ice tool and crampons if required. Let us know, in advance, what you will need.

The equipment and clothing you bring with you will play a large role in the quality of your experience. It should be lightweight, durable and in good condition. You must be familiar with the function of your equipment. Make sure that it fits and that it works with other items of your equipment before you come. You don’t want it to let you down at 12,000ft.

Read the following suggestion list carefully. If you have any questions or need clarification don’t hesitate to call or write. There is room for substitution and changes but if you have any doubt, do contact us.

CLOTHING LIST

We suggest layers of light, easily carried clothing that allows for fast and easy adjustment to best suit fast changing temperature conditions. We discourage cotton clothing as it causes rapid heat loss when wet. Feel free to call us if you have any questions about what to bring.

You will need to bring:

• Wool/blend socks – 2-3 pairs synthetic or wool
• Underwear – 2-3 pairs
• Long underwear – top and bottom – synthetic or wool
• Softshell climbing pants – these should be windproof nylon/synthetic blend mountaineering pants
• Outer pants – waterproof and preferably with side zips on legs (Gore-Tex)
• T-shirt – synthetic or wool
• Mid-weight top – synthetic or wool
• Softshell jacket – this should be a windproof nylon/synthetic blend jacket
• Outer jacket – waterproof with a hood (Gore-Tex)
• Insulated jacket – synthetic or down
• Gaiters – must fit over mountain boots
• Mountaineering gloves – lightweight
• Mountaineering gloves – medium to heavyweight
• Hat – synthetic or wool that covers your ears and fits under a helmet
• Sunhat – with a wide brim

CLIMBING EQUIPMENT LIST

You will need to bring: You must give us plenty of notice if wanting to rent or loan gear.

• Mountaineering boots – You will need mountaineering boots with rigid soles. Mountaineering boots are made from leather or plastic, but leather is recommended. The most important feature of a mountaineering boot is comfort. Different brands seem to suit different feet. If buying try a few different pairs and if they are not comfortable don’t buy them. There are many good brands. They include Asolo, Kayland, La Sportiva and Scarpa.
• Large backpack – 60-75 litre capacity. Internal frame with accessory straps that is big enough to carry your personal gear and clothing plus your share of group camping gear and food.
• Harness
• Helmet
• Ice axe  – mountaineering axe (minimum 55cm in length)
• Technical ice tool
• Crampons
• Belay device
• Pear-shaped biner – 1 lightweight
• 5m x 7mm prussik cord – 2
• 120cm sewn sling – 1
• Locking biners – 2 lightweight
• Non-locking biners – 2 lightweight
• 16-22cm ice screw – 1
• Sunglasses – with 100% UV protection
• Sun cream – extra strength
• Lip cream – with UV protection
• Headlamp – with fresh batteries
• Waterbottle
• Blister kit – ‘moleskin’, ‘second skin’ etc.
• First aid items – keep this small (band-aids, ibuprofen & aspirin/Tylenol, etc.)
• Camera
• Trekking pole – must be collapsible (recommended)
• Bowl – unbreakable, large plastic
• Mug – lightweight
• Spoon – plastic
• Pocket knife – lightweight
• Sleeping bag – lightweight and rated to approximately -10ºC
• Sleeping pad – ‘Thermarest’
• Toilet items – personal items, keep as light as possible
• Stuff sacs – light (optional)

Please contact us directly, by email or phone to arrange a climb. Once a date and guide can be confirmed we will require a deposit of 35% of the cost. Full payment will be required 8 weeks in advance of the climb.

We ask that you familiarize yourself 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.

If you need any rental gear please let us know early to ensure its availability.

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. In Mount Robson Provincial Park there may be a charge for rescue if you need to be evacuated by professional services.

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.

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.