• 1 403 678 4164
  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Calendar
  • 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

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

March 2, 2018 By Sylvia Watson Leave a Comment

Rampart Creek Ice Climbing Camp 2018

February 17 – 19, 2018

It was a cold, dark morning when we met Yam’s guide Patrick Delaney, at the start of the three-day Rampart Creek Ice Camp.  We were six clients from parts of Alberta, Toronto and Oregon, keen for instruction or to finesse our current ice climbing skills.

Day 1: We drove up the Icefields Parkway to Tangle Falls, a broad wall of ice with a very short approach.  Setting up three lines, Patrick offered feedback and coaching as we took turns on the top ropes.  This also gave him an opportunity to assess the best way to match climber abilities for the following day’s multipitch climbs.  For some of us, this was the first day on ice this season, so it was a good way to shake out the cobwebs and limber up on our skills.

Day 2: The exciting and thrilling multipitch day!  Two additional Yam ice guides, Erica Roles and Larry Shiu, joined us as three rope teams fanned out to different destinations.  Patrick, Laura and Steve headed for MeltOut, while Larry, Ed and Bibiana drove out to Nothing But the Breast on David Thompson Highway.  Erica’s team of Tamlyn and Margaret drove north to the Weeping Wall, destined for Snivelling Gully.

Even though the temps were frigid (-22C), we were fortunate to have a bright, sunny day, which helped to create the illusion of “solar warmth”.  Once we reconvened back at the hostel for dinner, there was animated conversation about the highlights of our respective climbs.

Day 3: I checked the thermometer on my way into the dining building, and my eyes just about popped when I read -35C!  No wonder the trip to the outhouse at 2 am was excruciatingly uncomfortable!  Given these extreme temperatures (and potential hazards of frostbite), Patrick formulated a sensible “Plan B” and suggested we drive back to Canmore where the temps were a balmy -24C.  We spent the afternoon at the Junkyards, finessing our skills and gaining mileage on ice.

What I liked most about this ice climbing sport camp was the leadership and professionalism provided by Yam guide Patrick Delaney. He ensured that safety was a priority at all times; he checked in with each of us individually to ensure we were benefiting from his instruction and coaching; he was flexible in creating alternative options when extreme weather conditions necessitated a “Plan B”.

The Rampart Creek Hostel is ideally situated on the Icefields Parkway to give us access to classic routes both on the Parkway, and the David Thompson Highway.  The hostel is well maintained and managed, and thoughtfully provided foam toilet seat covers in the outhouse to prevent “bum cheek burn”!

I highly recommend this three-day camp if you’re looking to bring your ice climbing skills up to the next level.  The multi-day format means we build on learning from one day to the next. Having a Yam guide at all times means we are getting top notch coaching and instruction.

Of course, if I could change one thing, I’d ask for slightly warmer temps, but, as Bibiana C. said, “You can’t buy the weather – it is what it is!”

Thank you YMA for organizing an excellent camp, and special thanks to Yam guides Patrick Delaney, Erica Roles and Larry Shiu for their leadership.

-END-

by Margaret Imai-Compton

Filed Under: News, Trip Reports

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