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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

July 30, 2009 By Sylvia Watson Leave a Comment

Building Skills and Friendships on the Wapta

Here is what Yamnuska Guide Abby Watkins had to say about our Women’s Intro to Mountaineering July 21st – 26th 2009:

“A week blessed with fine weather, wonderful women and the beautiful glaciers and peaks of the Wapta Icefields. Yamnuska and Alala Women’s Mountaineering Adventures joined forces this year to bring together the 6th inaugural Women’s Intro. Hiking in to the Bow Hut on July 21st with Vanessa Trudel, Vanessa Atherton, Diane Hutton and Erin Inglis, I had the feeling that the week would go well. There was a quiet confidence in the group as we took in the views of icefields and peaks in sunny summer mountain weather. Day two found us on the edge of the icefield, learning how to walk in crampons and placing ice screws. We finished the day sliding down snow underneath Mt. St. Nicholas like baby ravens playing – first practicing our self-arrests and then simply sliding down the snow for the fun of it. I still have a memory of Erin, usually so poised and refined, spinning down the hill on her back like an otter, just for the fun of it! On day three, we were up early and headed up to climb Mt. St. Nicholas. What an amazing climb along that oh so narrow ridge, to sit on the small summit surrounded by icefields, mountains rippling off to the horizon in all directions! Day four found us traversing to Peyto Hut across a quiet icefield. Our only company that day were the lady bugs and an occasional visit by the summer resident Grey Capped Rosy Finches, who seemed to like our company at times. We stopped at the Thompson Moat to practice our crevasse rescue before heading down to the secluded and well-positioned Peyto (Whyte) Hut. We spent the rest of the day hanging out in the sun. Diane even went swimming in the icy lake below the hut! On day five, we awoke early to climb Mt. Rhondda North (now renamed Hassler?). It was a perfect day and a perfect climb. We could see the big peaks in the Selkirks from the summit as well as the Louise Group, the President and Vice President, Mt. Stephen in Field and the Good Sirs. Day six was our exit day. Down across the Peyto Glacier and steep moraine. We sat quietly on the alluvial fan next to Peyto Lake listening to the atmospheric sound of a Hermit Thrush, serenading us with his deep forest, flute-like song. I am, as ever, so inspired by the women who attend the Intro to Mountaineering. Such interesting lives, such wisdom, friendship and kindness. I learn so much from teaching these courses – about life and about people. Thank you Erin, Vanessa, Vanessa and Diane for a very special week in the mountains!”

Abby Watkins
ACMG Alpine Guide

Filed Under: Trip Reports

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