• 1 403 678 4164
  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Booking Info
  • Location
  • Contact
  • Blogs & Videos
    • Guides Talk Video Series
    • Tech Tips Video Series
    • Trip Reports
    • Gear Reviews
  • Group/Corporate
    • Movie and Film
    • Youth and School Groups
  • Photo Submission
  • WAIVER

Yamnuska Mountain Adventures

Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Ice Climbing, Backcountry Skiing

  • Avalanche
    • Avalanche Skills Training 1 – Canmore/Calgary
    • Avalanche Skills Training 1 for Ice Climbers
    • Avalanche Skills Training 1 Refresher
    • 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
      • 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 Ski Traverse
      • 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
    • Multipitch ‘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
    • Icefields Parkway Ice Camp
    • Best of the Rockies 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
    • 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

October 2, 2015 By Sylvia Watson Leave a Comment

Chamonix aka ‘Yamonix’ with Barry Blanchard

Chamonix 2015 climbersAiguillete_2_mediaChamonix_Hiking_mediaChintalaya_Chalet_media

Chamonix, France!
Birthplace of western mountaineering, location of the inaugural Winter Olympics, basecamp for the first annual Yamnuska Mountain Adventures Alpine Camp in September 2015, and Chapter 7 of Barry Blanchard’s book, The Calling, A Life Rocked by Mountains.

Could it get any better? Two weeks in Chamonix with Barry Blanchard, Yamnuska Associate Director, and legendary backcountry chef Theresa Calow at the Chalet Chintalaya.

What made this camp so great?  It was easy. In every way.  First, having a dedicated chalet meant we arrived in Chamonix (via Geneva) and just had to settle in for a week (or two).  The chalet is comfortable and tidy, sleeping 12 in shared rooms, each with its own ensuite bathroom and shower.  Not only did we have views of Mont Blanc from our rooms, we had the option to gaze at the “Blancster” (as Barry nicknamed it) from the hot tub in the garden.  And it was located within minutes of the two principal telepheriques in the valley – the Aiguille du Midi and the Brevent.

Having Barry Blanchard in residence, assisted by Andrew Wexler ACMG Yamnuska guide, meant that the alpinists climbed legendary mountaineering routes such as Cosmiques Aretes, Mont Tacul and Le Tour.  For rock climbers, Barry and Andrew guided multi-pitch routes including L’Index, Aiguillette d’Argentiere and Hotel California on the Brevent side of the valley.  Alas, the “Blancster” was out of condition this season, as the Chamonix Guides Bureau closed the standard route due to extreme rock fall (a consequence of melting ice due to climate change).

For self-guided hikers, there are hundreds of trails, both in the valley and higher up for greater views.  Hikers in our camp ticked off the Grand Balcon Nord, the Grand Balcon Sud, the Nid d’Aigle above Les Houches and the meadows around Grand Montets.

All agreed that having the marvelous system of gondolas, lifts and telepheriques throughout the valley, got us to beautiful high places, in minutes, and saved our knees, both on the ascent and the descent!  Best of all, there’s always a café or refuge within minutes of the lifts and the trails, to grab a coffee and sweet treat, or a beer and savoury snack at the end of the day.  Not to mention that the lift system allowed us to be back at the chalet in time for appetizers and wine!

“It was the perfect alpine adventure, in every way!” Jo Dean H.

Then there was the food! Theresa Calow worked hard in the kitchen to serve up healthy, delicious and varied meals throughout the week, including dishes like baked French toast and chocolate croissants for breakfast, and creamy pasta topped with scallops to accompany roasted herb chicken and asparagus for our evening meal.  Theresa cheerfully accommodated individual food preferences which included gluten free, vegetarian, non-vegetable lovers and lactose free foods.   We packed our lunches from a sumptuous lunch buffet set out each morning following breakfast.

The camp was designed to accommodate both alpinists desiring professional guiding, as well as self-guided hikers.  Participants had the option of choosing one or two weeks.

“Barry’s been guiding me for over 20 years, and this was one of the best adventures – classic routes on snow and granite, a cozy chalet to call home for a week, and excellent meals.  I was well looked after.”  John B.

Due to the great success of this camp, Barry and Theresa are reprising another Chamonix adventure in 2016.  This is your opportunity to be guided by internationally certified Yamnuska guides Barry and Andrew, to be gastronomically spoiled by Teresa, and to be bowled over by the splendour and majesty of the Mont Blanc range and the Chamonix Valley.

– END –

YMA Chamonix 2015 Trip Report
Margaret Imai-Compton

Filed Under: News

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Yamnuska is also on

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Contact Us!

Toll-Free North America: 1.866.678.4164
Phone: 1.403.678.4164
Contact Us

Button_GiftCertificate

Search

Safe Travel Stamp

ACMG_logo_RGB

Partners

Patagonia

Sponsored By

K2

K2

Sponsored By

Julbo

Sponsored By

Dynafit

To learn more about how we use your information, please read our Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2023 · developed by Artmann Comm on Genesis Framework