'The Bugaboos'

Course Details

DATES - PRICE - OUR APPROACH - AGENDA - INSTRUCTORS & GROUP SIZE
DIFFICULTY, FITNESS & EXPERIENCE
TRANSPORTATION - ACCOMMODATION & MEALS
GEAR - INSURANCE - BOOKING

The 'Bugs' are one of North America's most famous climbing areas. This world-renowned climbers' paradise with its awesome granite spires, beautiful glaciers and lush, green valleys attracts alpinists from around the world. Why? ... the climbing, it's superlative!

Our 'Bugaboos' week is designed to accommodate both newcomers and experienced climbers, although the distinction may blur as you rapidly progress. It's also one of few programs where you could keep coming back and doing new climbs each year! Climbs range in difficulty from easy to near impossible and you don't have to be a 'hardman' to have a great week. Our favorite climbs include: The West Ridge of Pigeon, one of the most enjoyable climbs anywhere in the world, the 'Kain' route on Bugaboo spire with its famous 'Gendarme' which was first climbed in 1916 and , at the high-end, any route on Snowpatch. which would really 'make' your season!

What we're really trying to say is that this is one of our favorite places and we'd love to show you why!

Dates

2000 Dates: July 3 - 8, July 10 - 15, July 17 - 22, July 24 - 29, July 31 - Aug 6, Aug 21 - 26

Price

$1580 CDN (c.$1075US) includes GST, instruction, low ratio guiding, hut fees, meals and use of specialized group climbing gear only. We recommend you take cancellation insurance which is $79 and covers cancellation for medical reasons. This is optional but must be purchased on booking.

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Our Approach: Instruction and Guiding

To ensure you the best mountain experience we have no more than two guests per guide. This allows us to fully cater to your ability and personal objectives. You may prefer to just get out and climb or you may prefer more emphasis on instruction, either way our 'small team' approach will allow you to get the most out of your week.

Each day you will be climbing in small, compatible groups of two plus guide. Climbs will be chosen to give you just the right amount of challenge and to showcase the climbing the area has to offer.

You will be asked to outline your personal goals and objectives and we will do our best to help you meet them as appropriate. Learning is intrinsic to all mountain experience and we will work with you to ensure that you learn the skills needed to safely climb in this area.

During the program we will work with you on the following skills:
• Moving on Rock:	- Non-technical (3rd and 4th class) rock; Technical climbing skills (5th class).
• Belaying on Rock:	- Anchor construction. - Placing protection - Moving together on non-technical terrain - Multi-pitch systems.
• Belaying Skills:	- Belay devices and techniques - Belay techniques for three-man ropes.
• Rappels and Lowers.
If time and conditions permit we will be happy review these skills with you:
• Snow School:	- Movement on snow - Use of Ice Axe
• Ice School:	- Use of Crampons
• Glacier Safety:	- Glacier Morphology - Choosing a Safe Route - Rope Use for Glaciers - Crevasse Rescue
• Navigation:	- Map and Compass Use - Whiteout Procedures - Route Planning
• Hazard Evaluation & Route Selection.
• Accident and Emergency Procedures

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Course Agenda

Day 1: Meet in Canmore at 0600 or Radium Hot Springs at 0830.

Drive to Bugaboo Provincial Park (c. 3 hours), hike up to Kain Hut (c. 3 hours). You'll be simply blown away by the location. The Hut sits perched high on a bench above Bugaboo Creek, just to the east the Bugaboo Glacier gouges past Spire to plunge in a broken, icy frenzy to the valley floor. It's behind the Hut though that the scene explodes, for dwarfing otherwise spectacular spires nearby are the huge granite east walls of Snowpatch and Bugaboo Spire!

Day 2 - 6: Split into small groups based upon ability, experience and personal objectives. This may mean an instructional group and an experienced group more interested in just climbing. Beginner objectives include East Post (8,500ft.) and Crescent Spires ('Lion's Way' is a moderate multi-pitch classic on this 9,350ft peak), Brenta Spire and, of course, Pigeon Spire (10,251ft.) which is just a great climb for all. The famous 'Kain' route on Bugaboo Spire (10,450ft.) is on everyone's list and is a feasible final objective for the beginner group. Snowpatch, (10,050ft.) when in condition, is a great finale for the advanced group. We head out on the last afternoon after a quick climb or some 'cragging'.

Instructors and Group Size

For your greater enjoyment and safety the guide ratio on climbs will not exceed 1:2. Our personnel are certified guides and assistant guides and are licensed to operate in the area by B.C. Parks.

How difficult is it? How fit and experienced need you be?

Participants need prior basic mountaineering or rock climbing experience. In the context of the Yamnuska program this would be a minimum of 'Intro To Mountaineering' or a combination of 'Snow and Ice Long Weekend' and 'Basic' or 'Complete Rock'. To enjoy this program you will need to be fit and in good physical shape as it is demanding.

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Transportation

The Bugaboos are located just west of Radium Hot Springs in the Columbia Valley of British columbia. From Canmore it is a 3.5 hour drive, the last hour of which is on a gravel logging road. We'll co-ordinate a car pool between participants. Should there be a problem with this we will arrange alternatives for you. There are regular bus services to Canmore from points east and west and from Calgary international Airport. We will send you the bus schedules when you book. If flying plan to arrive in Calgary the day before the program starts and fly out the day after it finishes.

Accommodation and Meals

These are included. the group will be using the Conrad Kain Hut, which we recommend is a large, attractive hut in a spectacular position beneath the 'Spires' . All meals, snacks and drinks are supplied from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 6. Mountain meals are made from light and medium-weight ingredients. Please let us know, well in advance, if you have any dietary restrictions.

We are happy to reserve accommodation for you in Calgary or Canmore before and after the program.

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Equipment and Clothing

On booking we will send you a complete gear and clothing list. We supply group climbing gear such as ropes & hardware but you must bring your own personal climbing gear (e.g. harness, helmet, ice axe), clothing and general equipment. We recommend that you bring 'rock shoes' in addition to mountaineering boots. We can lend you personal climbing items, let us know, in advance, what you will need.

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Insurance

Please ensure that you are covered for the cost of evacuation or rescue should you fall ill or be injured. Most health benefit plans (public and private) and some travel insurance policies do cover this. Otherwise, in the unlikely event that you need these services you may be liable for the cost (not astronomical). We can give you further information if necessary.

Booking Information

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. We require a $527CDN deposit with the balance due 8 weeks in advance, after that, full payment is required. To avoid unnecessary cancellation penalties we suggest you take our cancellation insurance for an extra, non-refundable $79, this must accompany your deposit.

For detailed booking instructions and conditions, click here.

Along with all relevant receipts we will send you a full trip logistical kit (containing meeting times, a list of what to bring and info on how to get here), an experience questionnaire and a sample copy of our waiver which we will ask you to sign when you meet us.

Two-Week Program

This course is designed to dovetail with our 'Intro to Mountaineering' and our 'Columbia Icefields' alpine ice program. Qualify for a 5% discount by taking one or more of our week-long programs in one season.

PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT US IF
YOU NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS COURSE!