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| Mountaineering |
| Hiking, Backpacking |
| Semesters & Leadership |
| Rock Climbing |
| Ice Climbing |
| Avalanche Safety |
| Ski & Board |
| Private Guiding |
| Wilderness First Aid |
| About Us |
| Booking Information |
| Links |
| Japanese Site |
Canadian Mountaineering Semesters
 Course Details
DATES -
PRICE -
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
The classic Yamnuska Mountain Skills Semester! Twenty years of development and
fantastic teaching areas combine to produce a unique and famous learning experience.LOCATION - CURRICULUM - CLIMATE AGENDA (SPRING) - AGENDA (FALL) COURSE BREAK - TRANSPORTATION ACCOMMODATION & MEALS - GEAR BOOKING Practically no where else in the world is it possible to learn both summer and winter mountain skills in the space of three months. Dates 2000: September 5 – December 4 2001: March 5 – June 4; September 3 – December 2 Price $8550 CDN (approx. $5750US), cancellation insurance $513 (c.$346US) Includes GST, instruction, technical gear, group camping gear, meals, accommodation, transportation. Park Passes. Program Objectives To develop all round competence to an advanced intermediate level across the spectrum of mountain skills. This in tandem with the development of individual and group leadership skills. 
Course LocationThe course is based in Canmore, Alberta in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains just minutes from Banff National Park. Section locations vary according to conditions but we typically range North to the Columbia Icefields, West to Rogers Pass in the Selkirks, South to the Purcell Mountains and East along the edge of the Rockies in Kananaskis Country. Curriculm Backpacking (fall only), glacier mountaineering, rock climbing, whitewater canoeing, WMA Wilderness First Responder, Advanced Recreational Avalanche Safety Certificate, ski mountaineering, waterfall ice climbing plus sessions in expedition planning, menu planning and packing, mountain navigation, environmental awareness and hazard evaluation. Climate We are in a continental or inland climate that varies greatly in temperatures and weather. On the Fall Semester temperatures range from +20C through early September to –25C in late November and early December. Snow starts falling in mid to late October. We can, however, get early mountain snow storms in September. Spring Semester the temperatures in March can be down to –30C and gradually warming to summer like days in June. Snow storms switch to rain about mid April. Bottom line is to be prepared for every type of weather imaginable. Sample Agenda (Spring) Day 1: Welcome, Introductions, Dinner , Course Agenda and Goals. Day 2: Preparation for Initial Ski Trip This day is spent getting personal and group gear in order, working on trip planning and going through the food for the first trip. All the essentials of backcountry trip planning are introduced on this day. Day 3: Day Ski Tour A chance to try out our gear and basic techniques and a chance to make adjustments before the commitment of a longer trip. Day 4: Ski skills at ski hill. Day 4 - 8: Back Country Ski Trip It is on this segment that you will first learn the skills of outdoor living and traveling in winter. This will be done on skis, though mainly on easy terrain. You will learn winter camping and shelter building skills, navigation, 'Leave No Trace' environmental ethics, the basics of avalanche awareness and simple ski skills (telemark or randonee). It is also where you first get to know and to work with your fellow participants. During the following weeks the group's ability to function well together will be crucial to the success of the program. Day 9: Day Off A well-earned rest and the chance to do washing and to catch up on correspondence.  Day 10 - 17: Ice Climbing For this section we move up the Banff /Jasper highway to some of Canada's most famous frozen waterfalls. This trip is based out of a rustic but comfortable hostel. We spend the first couple of days learning and refining the basic skills used for climbing this unique medium and then the pace is stepped up according to individual abilities. In no time at all you will find yourself high up on a frozen thread of ice looking out at some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the world. Day 18: Day Off Day 19: Avalanche awareness classroom day. Day 20: Preparation for Alpine Ski Trip Trip planning, menu planning and food packing happen in the morning with some classroom time in the afternoon for the science of avalanche phenomena. Day 21 - 25: Alpine Ski Trip This trip is more focused on avalanche awareness as we head into the steep and deep of the Rockies or the Purcell Mountains. We look at practical application of recognizing, evaluating and avoiding avalanche hazard. Integral to this component are route finding and track setting skills as well as the thrill of the downhill run back to camp at the end of the day. Day 26: Day Off Day 27 - 32: Glacier Ski Trip The culmination of the ski section this glacier ski mountaineering trip is where you begin on the high-altitude mountaineering skills common to both summer and winter. These include glacier travel and crevasse rescue as well as advanced navigation. Spring skiing, often magnificent, is a happy by-product. Day 33: Day Off Day 34 - 43: Wilderness First Responder. This 80-hour professional level certification course is supplied by Wilderness Medical Associates, North America’s leading supplier of wilderness first aid training. It includes extensive outdoor simulations, CPR and oxygen therapy. Those passing the exam are certified for three years. Day 44 - 49: Course Break Your chance to take five days off and spend a little time on your own or plan a trip with your group members. 
Day 50 - 60: Rock Climbing SectionAfter the ice section you will have a fair amount of technical ropework and some climbing behind you. Now you will work on further developing your rock climbing skills, you'll learn about all the technical aspects of belaying, using equipment and some rescue techniques. Part of this segment is undertaking longer multi-pitch climbs in small teams. Day 61: Day Off Day 62 - 76: White-Water Paddling Skills and River Trip Due to topography large raging rivers are as much a part of the Rockies as are peaks. This section is run by Randy Clement of the Rocky Mountain Canoe School and is always a highlight of the program. You will spend the first part learning skills on the Bow and Kananaskis Rivers. The second part is a canoe trip down the historical Kootenay River. Day 77: Day Off Day 78 - 83: Glacier Mountaineering Trip Summer has come to the mountains now, much of the snow has gone and we change our approach to that used normally in summer. Instead of skis we now use ice axe and crampons and venture out on to steeper slopes of ice and snow. With this comes new rope and anchor techniques more suited to summer alpine climbing. Day 84: Day Off 
Day 85 - 90: Mountain TripAs a group you will face the challenges of traveling and climbing in a new alpine region. It is also a celebration of three months spent in the mountains. Day 91: Course Debrief, Final Banquet. Day 92: Depart in the morning.  Sample Agenda (Fall) Day 1: Welcome, introductions, dinner, course agenda and goals. Day 2 - 6: Advanced Mountain Hiking It is on the hiking segment that you first learn the skills of outdoor living and traveling. It is also where you first get to know and to work with your fellow participants. During the following weeks the group's ability to function well together will be crucial to the success of the program. Day 7: Day Off A well-earned rest and the chance to do washing and to catch up on correspondence.  Day 8 - 18: Rock Climbing The technical climbing part of the program starts. Initially you will be working on movement skills and simple belay and rope management skills. You will quickly progress on to more difficult climbs and learning all the technical aspects of belaying, using equipment and some rescue techniques. Part of this segment is undertaking longer multi-pitch climbs in small teams. Advanced movement skills, coaching and lead techniques are included. Day 19: Day Off Day 20 - 28: Glacier Mountaineering Before you head off on this multi-day trip you will spend a day preparing trip menus and packing your food and equipment. Whilst this may not seem important, if you are to continue doing trips in the outdoors, especially if leading groups, it is essential that you know all aspects of trip preparation. You will find that trip prep. gets easier each time. Finally you are on the road to the mountains where you will learn high altitude mountaineering skills common to both summer and winter, including glacier travel, crevasse rescue and advanced navigation. Based out of a high glacier camp, you will spend days practicing these techniques and climbing peaks.  Day 29: Day Off Day 30 - 43: White-water Canoeing Skills and River Trip This section is run by Randy Clement of the Rocky Mountain Canoe School and is always a highlight of the program. You will spend the first week learning skills on the Bow and Kananaskis rivers. The second week is a canoe trip down the spectacular Kootenay River. Day 44: Day Off Day 45 - 54: Wilderness First Responder. This 80-hour professional level certification course is supplied by wilderness Medical Associates, North America’s leading supplier of wilderness first aid training. It includes extensive outdoor simulations, CPR and oxygen therapy. Those passing the exam are certified for three years. Day 55 - 60: Six-Day Course Break Your chance to take six days off and spend a little times on your own or plan a trip with some of your fellow group members. Day 61: Prepare Back Country Ski Trip Day 62: Day Ski Tour A chance to try out our gear and basic techniques and a chance to make adjustments before the commitment of a longer trip. Day 63 - 66: Back Country Ski Trip We now switch to skis as our mode for winter travel. It is on this segment that you will begin to learn the skills of winter travel and how to use skis in the backcountry. You will be camping out either tenting or building snow shelters, starting on the basics of avalanche awareness and working on simple ski skills (telemark or randonee) on easy terrain. Day 67: Day Off Day 68: Avalanche Awareness, classroom day, prep next trip. Day 68 - 74: Alpine Ski Touring We work with telemark, randonee equipment (alpine touring gear) and snowboards, so the choice of ski equipment is for you to decide. This trip is more focused on avalanche awareness as we head into the steep and deep of the Rockies or the Selkirk Mountains. We look at practical application of recognizing, evaluating and avoiding avalanche hazard. Integral to this component are route finding and track setting skills as well as the thrill of the downhill run back to camp at the end of the day.  Day 75: Day Off Day 76-81: Glacier Ski Mountaineering The culmination of the ski section this glacier ski mountaineering trip is where you return to the high-altitude mountaineering skills common to both summer and winter. Cold temperatures, a weak snowpack and demanding weather require confidence in glacier travel and crevasse rescue as well as advanced navigation skills. Well-situated alpine huts allow a welcome respite from winter camping. Day 82: Day Off  Day 83 - 89: Waterfall Ice Climbing Waterfall climbing has a whole different ambiance from the climbing you've done up to this point. The rope work is much the same but the setting is extraordinary. Roadside seeps and waterfalls suddenly become spectacular climbing challenges. The mental approach to ice climbing is different too. You have to fashion good mind control to climb steep ice smoothly and quickly. Before you know it three months has flown by and you return to Canmore for... Day 90: Course Debrief, Gear Cleanup, Final Banquet Day 91: Depart in morning Transportation 
During the program all transportation is supplied. Each group has a passenger van that
is used to reach program areas. During evenings and on free days, transportation is not
supplied.Accommodation and Meals Accommodation is mixed throughout the course. The greater part of the Semester you will be camping out in tents or snow caves. You may also be staying in youth hostels or alpine huts. Between activities and program sections you will be living at the Alpine Club of Canada's Clubhouse. This is a comfortable, hostel style facility. Sleeping is in dorm - style bunkrooms and the Club has communal, living, cooking and washing facilities. In addition there is a coin operated laundry, a sauna and shared storage for gear while out on trips. The Alpine Club, located about four kilometers from downtown Canmore will become your home away from home. Accommodation costs are included except for the five day mid - course break. 
Since this program is about developing all - round mountain skills, you will be involved in menu planning, food packing and food preparation
for out trips. At the Alpine Club you and the other course members will be responsible for cooking for the group. The food supplied will be
healthy and nutritious with emphasis on simplicity. Do not expect a lavish menu, but also do not expect to starve, you will eat well. All meals
with the exception of the course break are provided.PLEASE NOTE: If you are a regular vegetarian (no meat but dairy and eggs OK) and wish to remain so please let us know when you book. We can not cater to more specialized diets ('vegan', 'wheat free', 'no fat', etc..) If you follow such a diet, bring extra money to buy supplementary foods. Course Break There will be a five or six day course break half way through the program. During this time you will be responsible for your own accommodation and food. It usually is no problem to stay on at the ACC Clubhouse (c.$16/night). Participants often band together to do a trip during this time. Equipment and Clothing All group camping and all technical gear is supplied during program time. You will need to bring your own outdoor clothing, footwear, backpack, sleeping bag and ski gear. A full list of what to bring will be sent to you on booking. Booking Information To apply for this semester click below, download the application form, complete it after reading the conditions of registration and mail or fax to Yamnuska. alternatively you can call to book by phone. Click here for Application Form . 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) and a sample copy of our waiver which we will ask you to sign when you meet us. |
Mountaineering ·
Hiking, Backpacking ·
Semesters & Leadership ·
Rock Climbing ·
Ice Climbing ·
Avalanche Safety
Ski & Board · Private Guiding · Wilderness First Aid · About Us · Booking Information · Links · Japanese Site
Ski & Board · Private Guiding · Wilderness First Aid · About Us · Booking Information · Links · Japanese Site
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Yamnuska Inc. Suite 200 Summit Centre, 50 - 103 Bow Valley Trail, Canmore, Alberta, Canada, T1W 1N8 Tel: +1 403 678 4164 · Fax: +1 403 678 4450 · E-mail: info@yamnuska.com |