Mount Temple Scramble

Climb Mount Temple

We will meet all guests at our summit centre classroom at #100, 50 Lincoln Park in Canmore at 3:00 am MST on the day of the climb.  We will go over the day’s objectives, and check that people have appropriate equipment and supplies for the day.  This climb takes about 10 – 12 hours, so please come prepared for a full day out in the mountains with lots of snacks, a lunch, and appropriate clothing and footwear. Because of its proximity to the hamlet of Lake Louise people often underestimate the weather and temperature change while climbing Mt. Temple. This is a big mountain that is capped with a glacier. In the summer, this area is prone to snow and thunderstorms. A good pair of hiking or mountain boots are required to complete this scramble as we may encounter snow near the summit or at any other elevation along the way. Your boots should be able to fit crampons should we encounter snow and ice.

We start the day at the Moraine Lake Parking lot, hiking its north shore before starting up the beautiful Larch Valley Trail and its numerous switchbacks.  Once we reach Sentinel Pass and en route to the summit, a few short rock bands are easily climbed.  The final push to the top is often snow-covered.

Guides & Group Size
The maximum guide to guest ratio is 1:6. Our guides are enthusiastic and extremely talented. They hold certification from the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and we are licensed to operate in the area by Parks Canada. The maximum group size is 12, minimum 3.

Transportation

Guest will be responsible for guide transportation from our office in Canmore to Lake Louise and back.  Transportation from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake is included in this program.  Park Entry Passes are NOT included in the program cost.

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.

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 & Meals

Accommodations and meals are not included.

Accommodation in Canmore is not included. A variety of accommodation options exist in both Canmore and Banff, including campsites, hostels, all levels of hotels as well as condo-style accommodation with kitchens or suites.  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.

Equipment & Clothing

We supply group and personal climbing gear such as ropes, harnesses, and ice axes. You must bring your own personal gear, clothing, and general equipment. If you arrive without the appropriate clothing and gear for the day your guide may require that you not attend without reimbursement. Read the following suggestions and lists carefully. If you have any questions or need clarification, don’t hesitate to call or email prior to your departure.

Equipment

Yamnuska provides the following personal technical gear. Please feel free to bring your own if desired:

• Crampons
• Mountaineering ice axe
• Climbing harness
• Climbing helmet

We recommend you bring:

• Sturdy hiking boots or Light mountaineering boots* (must be crampon compatible)
• Daypack* (30-40 litres)
• Lunch, snacks
• Water bottle (full!)
• Headlamp
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen, SPF lip balm
• Camera
• Blister kit
• First aid items (Our guides carry a first aid kit, but you may bring your own Band-Aids and anti-inflammatory medication if desired.)
• Trekking pole (recommended)*

*These items are available for rent. Please advise us in advance.

Clothing

When scrambling in a high mountain environment, it is important to be able to adjust to the changing conditions. We recommend bringing clothing that can be layered to achieve comfort as you change from periods of activity to periods of rest. Cotton clothing is not appropriate as it causes rapid heat loss when wet.

We recommend you bring:

• Socks (synthetic/wool)
• Light synthetic shirt
• Softshell pants and jacket
• Midweight synthetic or down jacket
• Heavyweight insulated jacket
• Waterproof hardshell jacket with hood
• Waterproof hardshell pants
• Midweight gloves
• Gaiters
• Warm hat that fits under a helmet
• Sun hat

• 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)

Additional gear info:

Mountaineering boots: A good pair of boots is essential. They need to be warm and crampon compatible. Yamnuska uses both the Scarpa Mont Blanc and Scarpa Charmoz boots

Daypack:  For single-day climbing trips your pack should be 30–40 litres.

Crampons:  Mountaineering crampons should have anti-snow-balling plates, and need to be compatible with your boots. We use the Petzl Vasak.

Mountaineering ice-axe:  Your ice axe should be 55-75 cm, and should be equipped with an adze. Yamnuska provides the Petzl Summit Axe.

Climbing harness:  Should be sized to fit over your cold-weather clothing. It is recommended to have a harness with a belay/rappel loop

Helmet:  A comfortable, all-around climbing helmet that can fit over your winter hat.

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. Full payment is required at the time of booking.  We accept Visa, Mastercard, Canadian Cheques, Money Orders, and Bank Drafts.  Credit card payments are easiest, especially for international travellers.

We ask that you review our detailed booking instructions and conditions.

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.