Fairy Meadows Granite Base Camp

Day 1: 

We meet in Canmore at 6:00 am where we will complete waivers.  Once completed we will drive about  2.5 hours to the staging area where we will meet up our helicopter and complete a safety briefing for the flight. Our short flight into the Fairy Meadows hut is sure to be one of the many highlights of the trip. Once settled in the Lodge we will complete a shorter objective if time permits and return for dinner and a sauna to cap the day off. 

Day 2-4: 

After an amazing breakfast, we will travel further from the hut.  We split into small groups based on climbing ability, experience, and personal objectives.  The daily itinerary will be tailored to each individual participant’s objective/s which may include: 

• Personalized coaching in movement skills 
• Great multi-pitch climbs 
• Revise and learn anchors, gear placements 
• Enjoy an alpine rock climbing trip in a terrific climbing area 

You will welcome the lodges sauna and well-prepared meals at the end of these days

Day 5: 

With a morning flight from the hut, we will arrive back in our staging area addicted to alpine granite crack climbing and planning our next trip into the Alpine. 

Guides and Group Size

The maximum guide to guest ratio is 1:2. Our guides are enthusiastic and extremely talented. They hold certification from the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, and we are licensed to operate in the area by Parks Canada. The maximum group size is 6, the minimum is 4.

Logistics

The program begins at the Yamnuska office at 06:00 am on Day 1. The Yamnuska office is located at 200, 50 Lincoln Park. See this map for location.

Transportation

Transportation to and from the helicopter staging is not included in this program. We will rely on guests’ vehicles to reach the helicopter staging area.

Canmore is situated 100km (65miles) west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway. It is well served by scheduled bus lines both from Calgary (airport and downtown), Banff (20km west), and points further west. Calgary International Airport is well connected to major cities throughout North America and Europe. Vehicle rental is available both in Calgary and in Canmore. The helicopter staging area will be in Golden, BC, or a 20-minute drive to the West of Golden, BC. Helicopter transport is included in the program costs. 

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

Accommodation & Meals

The Fairy Meadow Hut, a large attractive hut in a spectacular position in the Adamants will be the accommodation for the course. Sleeping areas are shared with sleeping mats provided. There is propane and hydro from a small hydroelectric generator to provide power for cooking. You will need to bring a small sleeping bag. All meals, snacks, and drinks are supplied from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 5.

Mountain meals are made from nutritious, healthy ingredients and are cooked and dehydrated in our own kitchen by our chef.  For guests with dietary restrictions, we are able to modify the program food pack to meet your individual needs. As food pricing and preparation for these diets is more costly, we have implemented the following surcharges. For vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, soy-free, nut-free, or any similar type of single restriction menu requests, there will be a surcharge. For a diet requiring any 2  or more restrictions, an additional surcharge will apply. 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.  Vegetarian meals will not be surcharged.

Please let us know the details by filling out a Food Questionnaire when you sign up for the program.

Accommodation in Canmore 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. 

Excess luggage can be left at your hotel or our office. 

Equipment and Clothing

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. Please let us know if you would like to use the following Yamnuska gear: 

• Crampons 
• Mountaineering ice axe 
• Climbing harness 
• Climbing helmet 
• Belay device, 3 locking carabiners, prussic cord, 120 cm sling 

We recommend you bring: 

• Lightweight mountaineering boots* (must be crampon compatible) 
• Rock shoes* 
• Multiday pack* (60–70 litres) 
• Daypack* (30-40 litres) 
• Sleeping bag* 
• Water bottle 
• Sunglasses 
• Sunscreen, SPF lip balm 
• Camera 
• Headlamp (with fresh batteries) 
• Earplugs 
• Blister kit 
• First aid items (Our guides carry a first aid kit, but you may bring your own Band-Aids and anti-inflammatory medication if desired.) 
• Personal toiletries including hand sanitizer
• Trekking pole (optional) 
• Music player and lightweight reading material (optional) 

*These items are available for rent. Please advise us in advance. Gear rentals price list 

Clothing

When mountaineering, it is important to be able to adjust to the changing conditions. 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 (lightweight synthetic or wool) 
• Socks (synthetic/wool, at least two pairs) 
• Light synthetic shirt 
• Softshell pants and jacket 
• Midweight synthetic or down jacket 
• Heavyweight insulated 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) 
• Gaiters (big enough to fit over large boots) 
• Waterproof mountaineering gloves 
• Warm hat that fits under a helmet 
• Sun hat 
• Running shoes or sandals 
• Hut booties
• Casual clothing for around the hut
• Bathing suit and towel for sauna

Additional gear info: 

Backpack:  It is possible to use just one multiday backpack, as long as it is comfortable enough to wear while climbing. If bringing an additional day pack, this should be very light and compressible in order to fit inside the bigger pack on the approach hike. 

Sleeping bag: We recommend a three-season bag rated to approximately -2° C. A down bag will be lighter and more compressible for the weight than a synthetic bag. A compression stuff sack is recommended to reduce volume. 

Lightweight mountaineering boots: A good pair of boots is essential.  One good option is lightweight leather or synthetic mountaineering boots with either a semi-rigid or a rigid sole. It is possible to buy boots such as the La Sportiva “Trango” which is designed specifically for alpine rock and which can take a crampon. 

Rock shoes:  A shoe that has a flat sole and is not sized uncomfortably tight will be the best choice for a variety of climbs. 

Crampons:  Mountaineering crampons should have anti-snow-balling plates, and need to be compatible with your boots. We use the Petzl Vasak. 

Mountaineering ice-axe:  Your ice axe should be 55-75 cm, and should be equipped with an adze. Yamnuska provides the Petzl Summit Axe. 

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment.

We require a 35% deposit including GST at the time of booking. The final balance is due 8 weeks before the program start date.

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.

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.  There is no charge for rescue in the national and provincial parks, however, costs such as air or ground transportation, long-term care, and other services are not covered.

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, 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 trip.