Mt Hector

Program Agenda

Day 1: We will meet at our classroom in Canmore at 6:30 pm. After introductions, we will discuss trip objectives, review avalanche bulletins, and perform an equipment check. It is ideal to sort logistics and other details the night before so that when we meet tomorrow we can leave immediately for the trailhead. Tomorrow will be a big and challenging day.

Day 2: We will meet at our classroom at 5:00 am and carpool out to the Mt Hector trailhead on the Icefields Parkway. An early start is essential. After a steep 3.5 km climb with 720 meters of elevation gain, we will reach the toe of the glacier. Expect 3-4 hours for this section of the trip. The Hector glacier will be our route which will require route finding through crevassed terrain and a final short technical section to reach the summit. At 11,135 feet we will be ascending 830 meters over 3.5 km from the toe of the glacier to the summit. Our reward on the summit will be the views of other 11,000ers in the area: Mt Temple and Mt Victoria as well as the peaks on the Wapta Icefields. Mt Hector is one of the classic ski ascents in the Rockies and offers a staggering 1500m plus ski descent to the road. A spectacular day!

Instructors and Group Size

Your ski guides are certified by the internationally recognized Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and also licensed by Parks Canada. There will be a maximum of 4 participants per guide. There will be a maximum of 8 guests, and a minimum of 3.

Program Logistics

We will meet all guests at our classroom in Canmore at 6:30 pm on the first day (Map).

Transportation

Transportation is not included in this program. We will rely on guests’ vehicles to reach the trailhead.

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. If renting a vehicle, we recommend requesting one equipped for winter driving conditions, including winter tires.

Frequent shuttles connect Calgary International Airport and Canmore.

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 and Meals

Accommodations and meals are not included.

Accommodation in Canmore before and after the program is not included. A variety of accommodation options exist in both Canmore and Banff. 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.

Weather and Conditions Note

Weather and avalanche danger in the Canadian Rockies can vary from day to day. If the avalanche danger or weather conditions do not allow for Mt Hector to be a reasonable objective we may have to choose a different objective such as Crowfoot Peak. Regardless, expect the trip to be a great adventure in a beautiful area. We need good visibility to climb Mt Hector.

Equipment and Clothing

You will need to bring a variety of equipment as listed below. The equipment and clothing you bring will have a big impact on the quality of your experience. Please be sure to bring all the items listed. If unsure about anything please don’t hesitate to call and ask us!

Skis

Alpine Touring skis are essentially downhill skis with a special touring binding which allows the heel to lift while going uphill or across the flats and then ‘locks down’ to become a regular downhill safety binding. We recommend this system to anyone with a background in downhill skiing.

Snowboards 

If you are snowboarding you need to be an advanced splitboarder and you need to be on a splitboard. This is not a good introductory splitboard trip if you have never boarded in the backcountry before.

Both types of gear can be rented in Canmore or Calgary prior to the course.

Equipment List

You need to bring:

• Skis We recommend a short (160 – 185cm) wide ski designed for powder.  Please see note under rental information if you are renting ski equipment.
• Climbing skins ‘Stick-on type’
• Avalanche Transceivers – digital transceiver with triple antennae (rentals available)
• Collapsible Avalanche Probe (rentals available)
• Avalanche Shovel (rentals available)
• Ski Poles
• Ski boots
• Ski Helmet (or climbing helmet if you do not have a ski helmet)
• Ski Crampons – must fit your skis
• Crampons (Yamnuska will provide if you do not have your own)
• Ice Axe (Yamnuska will provide if you do not have your own)
• Climbing Harness (lightweight if possible)
• Prusik cord, slings and carabiners
• Sunglasses and ski goggles
• Thermos flask and water bottle.
• Sunblock & Lip Cream
• Hand Sanitizer
• Pocket knife
• Headlamp with fresh batteries
• Small Blister & 1st-Aid Kit
• Small repair kit for bindings, skis or splitboard (this may include straps, nuts, bolts, and small leatherman)
• Camera 
• Backpack Big enough to fit extra clothing, group gear and your food. Internal frame packs are the most comfortable and are recommended. A 40-50L pack is suitable. (rentals available)

Additional gear info:

• Skis/splitboard:  There are two viable backcountry systems, Alpine Touring and Splitboard.
• Alpine Touring:  Essentially downhill skis with a special touring binding which allows the heel to lift when going uphill and then locks down to become an alpine binding for the downhill.
• Splitboard: If you are a rider and proficient on a snowboard, the backcountry touring version is called a splitboard. This is a snowboard that can be split to make two ski-type platforms for touring on the uphill ascent. The bindings have two positions and can be switched depending on whether you are climbing or descending. Split boards also use climbing skins for the ascent. For the downhill, the board is reassembled or joined to be in snowboard (ride) mode. If you are new to this system, you will need to practice the transitions of switching the board from touring to riding and back again. Your enjoyment will be vastly greater if you are efficient and practiced with this transition. For splitboarders, regular snowboard boots will work. A splitboard specific boot will give you more comfort when in touring mode and offer extra support to make sidehilling and traversing terrain easier to manage.
• Boots:  Backcountry boots are different from regular alpine ski boots. In the backcountry, boots need to have an uphill mode that allows a free range of motion in the upper part of the boot. You should not use your regular ski boots for touring and walking uphill.
• Climbing skins:  The glue on the base of the skin should be in good condition and the skins need to be properly fitted. Try the skins on your skis/splitboard to make sure they are the right length and width before you arrive.
• Ski poles:  Backcountry poles need powder baskets on the tips.
• Avalanche Transceiver:  A three antennae transceiver is required.
• Probe:  A minimum of 240 cm in length.
• Shovel:  A metal blade shovel is required.

Glacier gear: The key with the glacier travel kit is minimizing weight and bulk

• Harness – Ski Randonee harness is strongly suggested to cut back on both weight and bulk.
• 2 Lightweight Locking Carabineers
• 1 Lightweight Pear Shape Locking Munter Carabiner
• 2 Lightweight Non-Locking Carabineers
• 2 x 6mm x 5 m Cordelette/Accessory Cord – minimum breaking strength 10KN
• 1 x 120cm Sewn Sling (double length sling)
• 1 x 19cm Ice Screw
• Aluminum Ice Axe – The shorter and lighter the better.

Clothing List

We suggest bringing light clothing of varying thicknesses that can be ‘layered’ to achieve comfort and versatility. The most important consideration for clothing is the ability to regulate temperature as you change from periods of activity to periods of rest and from the ascent to the descent.

• Long underwear top and bottoms (lightweight synthetic or wool)
• Softshell pants (nylon blend, lightly insulated)
• Medium weight fleece top
• Softshell Jacket or fleece jacket
• Insulated jacket or vest
• Waterproof jacket with hood (Gore-Tex)
• Waterproof pants
• Socks – ski socks (wool or synthetic), several sets
• Wool or fleece hat
• Waterproof ski mountaineering gloves or mitts
• Lightweight gloves
• Sunhat

• Alpha SV Jacket (Men’s & Women’s)
• Rush Jacket (Men’s & Women’s)
• Rush Bib Pant (Men’s & Women’s)
• Atom Hoody (Men’s & Women’s)
• Atom SL Hoody (Men’s & Women’s)
• Cerium Down Hoody (Men’s & Women’s)
• Nuclei Hoody (Men’s & Women’s)

Rental Information

Skis, Boots, Boards, Skins & Poles can be rented from:

• Canmore: Gear Up – 1302 Bow Valley Trail (403 678-1636)
• Lake Louise: Wilson Mountain Sports  – (1-866-929-3636)

*Please note that your ‘DIN’ or ‘Release Value’ settings on your ski bindings are critical to your safety while skiing.  Our expectation is that everyone arrives on programs with their ski binding’s release value correctly set. We have noted that some ski rental shops will not set release values on touring bindings. We advise you to rent from a shop that will set release values on your ski touring bindings unless you are proficient and comfortable setting your own DIN/release value. Failure to have Release Values correctly set could result in a serious injury.

Please call our office if you have any questions.

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. We require full payment on booking.

It is wise to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident while here. Obtain extra coverage if necessary. There is no charge for a rescue so long as you have a valid National Park Entry Pass which you can obtain on entry to Banff National Park.

Please 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.

The Simpson Group offers a wide range of travel insurance options including Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Travel Medical, and Personal Effect Loss for both Canadian and International Travelers. Other providers offer similar services and we encourage you to select an appropriate level of coverage. We highly recommend purchasing this insurance to cover and protect you against unforeseen events. The two basic types of insurance that most travellers need to consider are Medical and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance.

Insurance Risk 
One of the ways to mitigate risk is by purchasing appropriate insurance. Simpson Group Insurance Services who are travel & health risk specialists, work with technical and high-risk insurance solutions both in medical and non-medical spheres.  We highly recommend that you review your insurance needs to cover and protect you against unforeseen events. It is wise to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident during your trip. Simpson Group have a team standing by to answer any of your questions.

Emergency Medical Evacuation
While there is typically no charge for search & rescue in the National and Provincial Parks for active pass holders, costs such as air & ground ambulance after the rescue are not covered by your park pass. The chance of a large bill associated with this risk is a real possibility.

For Canadians
A common myth is that healthcare across provinces is fully covered. There are many things which do not carry interprovincial agreements. Ambulance services, medical evacuation, and some services which one province charges more than another you’d be responsible to pay the difference.

For Internationals
A common myth is that healthcare in Canada is free. Although it is less expensive than US healthcare, charges for non-residents can still be very high. Proper medical health insurance is essential if you were to get injured. Most coverages exclude rock climbing, mountaineering, ice climbing, backcountry skiing and the like. Simpson Group can make sure all those risks are well covered.

Trip Cancellation/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. We can assure you that circumstances do arise that prevent guests from participating in trips or courses and trip cancellation & interruption insurance is a relatively easy way to manage your level of risk of unforeseen events.

For all your travel insurance requirements we recommend Simpson Group Insurance Services.  For more information and to purchase a plan, visit Simpson Group’s website.