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Yamnuska Mountain Adventures

Mountaineering, Rock Climbing, Ice Climbing, Backcountry Skiing

  • Avalanche
    • Avalanche Skills Training 1 – Canmore/Calgary
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  • Mountaineering
    • Beginner Programs
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      • Yoho Peaks
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    • Fast and Light Series
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      • Mt Louis Kain Route
      • Bugaboo Spire – North East Ridge
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    • One-Day Crevasse Rescue for the Alpinist
    • Navigation 1 (Back to Basics with Map & Compass)
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    • One Month Summer Mountaineering Program
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      • Climb Mount Athabasca
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  • Skiing
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    • Navigation 1 (Back to Basics with Map & Compass)
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    • One Month Backcountry Ski Program
    • Private Ski Guiding & Splitboarding
  • Rock Climbing
    • Rock Climbing Level 1 – Outdoor Rock Intro
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    • Signature Series Rock Leader with Sean Isaac
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    • Multipitch & Instructional Rock Climbing
  • Ice Climbing
    • Ice Climbing Level 1 – Basic Ice
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    • 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

May 27, 2010 By Sylvia Watson Leave a Comment

MSS – Spring Mountaineering Section

Our second last trip of the MSS took us back to the Columbia Icefields. Two months earlier we were swinging our ice axes and kicking our crampons into the frozen waterfalls (see the video and story – here). Back then it was snowing, windy and cold. Fast forward two months and we were greeted once more with snow, wind and subzero temperatures. It was hard to believe it was Spring at the Icefields. The only contrast was the curtains of ice that once towered over us no longer existed and in their place were walls of rock.

Our lessons consisted of techniques in crevasse rescue, mountain travel and ice axe arrests. The latter of which although a last resort technique was enjoyed by all. We each took our turns sliding down the slope at break neck speeds, feet first then head first, the only thing stopping us from glissading onto the highway was the flawless ice axe arrests being performed, well maybe not the only thing, there was also an abundance of MSS students and trees in the way!

The last two days of our trip enabled us to put the skills learnt into practice. Our first objective was Boundary Peak. Nearing the summit, we kicked off our crampons and pulled out the scrambling techniques from our repertoire of skills learnt over the last eleven weeks. Our first summit of the trip provided us with stunning panoramic views. The descent to the vehicles was just as challenging with variable snow conditions, on more than one occasion ice axe arrests were used in anger.

For our final objective we would climb the mighty A2. Not visible from our campsite and not named on the map, this offshoot of Mount Athabasca although smaller was definitely a challenge. The final section was pitched out and rock protection was necessary. At the summit not only were we greeted once more by the amazing scenery but also by the Ninja Turtle guardian of A2, albeit with one arm/flipper missing!

On our safe return to camp beers were opened, coffees were percolated and the food box was ransacked. And so the final feast signified the end of our glacier mountaineering trip.With one more week of the MSS left we are all champing at the bit for our final expedition. It looks like we’ll be pulling out the skis once again and heading into Mount Columbia for this final test piece combining all that we have learned.

Bring it!!!

Zenn Teoh

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