Nestled deep in the Columbia Icefields Mount Columbia is considered one of the grandest ski objectives in the Canadian Rockies. Arguably one of the best locations in Canada for true ski mountaineering, the Icefields is home to 225 square kilometres of glacier ice that is over 350m thick in places. The area hosts 11 of the 54 highest peaks in the Canadian Rockies and standing at 3747m, Mt Columbia is the highest peak in Alberta, the second-highest in the Canadian Rockies and is the main objective of this mini ski expedition.
While Mt Columbia is not technically difficult it is a long trip, so a good level of physical fitness is required for this ski mountaineering training expedition.
Itinerary
Day 1 (Evening): We will meet at our office in Canmore at 7:30 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.
Day 2: We will drive the 3 hours to the Columbia Icefields where we will then begin the journey up the Athabasca glacier. We will use this day to travel to and establish a base camp in the vicinity of the Trench. The Trench is a deep draw in the Columbia Icefields situated between the towering Mt Bryce, Mt Columbia, and the North and South Twins. This impressive campsite will put us in a position to summit Mt Columbia the following day.
Day 3: Summit day! With an alpine start, we will approach the East Face of Mt Columbia. The face will involve steep snow climbing of up to 40 degrees with the use of an ice axe and potentially crampons. Reaching the summit and the highest point in Alberta we will be rewarded with stunning views stretching through the Rockies, Selkirk’s, and Purcell’s.
Day 4: With an early start and light packs Snowdome or Andromeda are potential ski ascents in the area before we begin our descent beneath the icefall of Snowdome and continue to the toe of the Athabasca glacier. We will return to Canmore for the course close.
Instructors & Group Size
Your 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 the group at 7:30 pm on the first day here at our office in Canmore (Map). Please come prepared with all of your personal gear and clothing, but leave enough room in your pack for additional group gear and food as well.
Transportation
Participants are responsible for their own transport to Canmore which is a 1 hour (100km) drive west of Calgary.
We rely on guests’ personal vehicles to reach program locations.
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
During the trip we will be camping in 2-3 person, 4-season tents and cooking on camp stoves; basic dishes will be required.
All meals, snacks, and drinks are supplied from lunch on the second day to lunch on the last. Meals are prepared by our in-house chef from fresh, nutritious ingredients and then dehydrated to make them suitable for backcountry travel. For guests with dietary restrictions, we are able to modify the program food pack to meet your individual needs. As food pricing and preparation for these diets is more costly, there is a surcharge. Our kitchen staff will assess your restrictions to inform you if the diet can be accommodated and what surcharge would apply. Vegetarian meals will not be surcharged.
Accommodation in Canmore 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.
Weather and Conditions Note
This is a challenging program in complex terrain and as with any trip into the mountains, neither weather nor avalanche conditions can be guaranteed. Poor visibility or avalanche conditions may require a change to the itinerary. Regardless expect the trip to be a great adventure in a beautiful area.
Equipment and Clothing
You will need to bring your own clothing, skis, poles, climbing skins, avalanche gear, backpack, sleeping bag and sleeping pad. We have many of these items available to rent and can pre-arrange them for you. We supply group items (ropes, harnesses, crevasse rescue gear, tents, stoves, etc).
You will be able to leave excess gear in Canmore while on the trip.
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
Participants must be on Alpine Touring Skis. Alpine Touring skis are essentially downhill skis with a special touring binding that allows the heel to lift when going uphill or across the flats and then locks down to become a regular downhill safety binding. Skis, boots, and poles can be rented in Calgary and Canmore prior to the trip.
If you are a very experienced splitboarder you can bring this type of equipment. We recommend a splitboard with a hard boot system.
Equipment List
You need to bring:
- Skis. We recommend a short (160 – 185cm) wide ski designed for powder. Please see the note under rental information if you are renting ski equipment.
- Climbing skins ‘Stick-on type’
- Ski Poles
- Ski Boots
- Climbing harness (lightweight if possible) loaners available
- Crampons – loaners available (please advise us in advance if you need to borrow these from us)
- Ice Axe loaners are available
- Locking biners (2), non-locking biners (2) loaners available
- Prussick cord (1) loaners available
- 120cm sewn sling (1) loaners available
- Avalanche Transceiver – digital transceiver with a triple antenna – rentals available (please advise us in advance if you need to rent this from us)
- Collapsible Avalanche Probe rentals are available
- Avalanche Shovel (lightweight snow shovel designed for companion rescue) rentals are available
- Backpack (at least 65L, large enough for a sleeping bag, spare clothes, and your share of group food & equipment) rentals are available
- Sunglasses and ski goggles
- Water bottle (at least 1-litre capacity), and a Thermos for Hot Drinks is optional
- Bowl, Large Mug and Cutlery – Unbreakable plastic or light metal set works best. No glass or ceramics.
- Sunblock and lip cream
- Pocket knife
- Sleeping Bag must be warm as we will be winter camping. We recommend a bag with a -20C rating or lower that is down-filled. Make sure you bring a stuff sac that will reduce your bag to its minimum size (i.e. one with compression straps) so you don’t use up all the room in your pack.
- Sleeping pad, full length, and inflatable
- Headlamp with fresh batteries
- Small Blister and a small personal First-Aid Kit
- Small repair kit for bindings, skis, or splitboard (this may include straps, nuts, bolts, and small leatherman)
- Camera
- Personal toiletries including hand sanitizer
- Ear Plugs (optional but recommended)
- Insulated Booties
Additional gear info:
- 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.
- 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 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 layers of light, easily carried clothing that allows for fast and easy adjustment to best suit fast-changing temperature conditions. Cotton clothing is not appropriate as it causes rapid heat loss when wet. Feel free to call us if you have any questions about what to bring.
- Long underwear top and bottoms (lightweight synthetic or wool)
- Extra warm shirt (synthetic or wool)
- Medium weight fleece sweater
- Softshell or fleece jacket
- Softshell pants
- Insulated jacket (down preferred)
- Insulated pants (fleece or other synthetic)
- Waterproof jacket with hood (Gore-Tex or equivalent)
- Waterproof pants (Gore-Tex or equivalent, with side zippers)
- Socks – ski socks (wool or synthetic) – 2 to 3 pairs
- Wool or fleece hat
- Waterproof ski mountaineering gloves or mitts
- Lightweight ski gloves
- Neck tube or balaclava
- Sun hat
- Face Mask
Rental Information
Skis, Boots, Boards, Skins & Poles can be rented from:
- Calgary: Mountain Equipment Co-op. – 830-10 Ave. S.W. Calgary (Tel: 403 269-2420)
- Canmore: Gear Up – 1302 Bow Valley Trail (403 678-1636)
*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.
Yamnuska has avalanche equipment, sleeping mats, and backpacks for rent.
Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. We require a 35% deposit 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.
We ask that you 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.
There are two basic types of insurance that most travellers need to consider: Medical and Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance. We offer our guests coverage for both and highly recommend you purchase it.
Emergency Medical Expenses Insurance:
It is wise to ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident during your trip. Obtain extra coverage if necessary. There is no charge for rescue in the national and provincial parks, however, costs such as air or ground transportation, long-term care, and other services are not covered.
Cancellation/Trip 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.
For all your travel insurance requirements we recommend the Simpson Group. This agency offers a wide range of travel insurance options including Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Travel Medical, and Personal Effect Loss for Canadian Travelers.
Please note that this coverage is for Canadian residents only. For guests who are not from Canada and who are interested in the ‘Visitors to Canada’ insurance package please contact the Simpson Group directly at JSimpson@simpson-group.com and reference your Yamnuska Mountain Adventure trip.
Dates:
PRICE:
$1095 CDN includes a certified guide, meals, group camping equipment, park entry, and wilderness passes. You will need to bring adequate clothing and equipment for a backcountry ski traverse (see the gear tab for details on what is provided). GST is extra.
Trip Cancellation Insurance is available through the Simpson Group.
Please note you will be required to sign the Yamnuska Release of Liability, and Waiver of Claims prior to commencing the program. Please review the sample waiver prior to booking and call us with any questions.
Is it for you?
This is a challenging trip for ski mountaineers who have minimal winter camping experience and are in good to excellent hiking shape. Expect expedition weight packs of up to 55 pounds. There will be multiple days of travelling over 10 km with elevation gains of up to 800 meters. Guests should have intermediate to advanced downhill ski skills and feel comfortable on non-groomed blue runs in any condition at the ski hill. Although there is minimal downhill skiing on this trip guests should be able to safely descend moderately angled slopes with a pack on. Travel on this trip is limited to guests on alpine touring equipment.
Skiers and Splitboarders should be competent with their transitions (switching from ski tour mode to downhill mode). Splitboarders should be comfortable skiing downhill in split mode.
Splitboarders should have their downhill kick turns dialled, as this skill will be used frequently to traverse downhill and across slopes at mellow angles.
We strongly urge skiers and Splitboarders to bring spare parts for their setups. Most of our guides are familiar with splitboarding sets ups, but each system is different, and our expectation is that guests will have basic knowledge of common Splitboard concerns (i.e. replacing toe straps on Splitboard bindings).
Training
Understanding the prerequisites should help with your training throughout the winter. Winter ski tours and walks with a 45-50lb pack are recommended as the best training, however other activities such as cross country skiing and hiking can also be good training. Please read the itinerary and difficulty sections and be both physically and mentally prepared for the trip. If you are uncertain about your experience level, please call us.
