Backcountry Snowshoe Getaway at Campbell Icefields Chalet

Day 1: 

We meet in Golden, BC at 8:00 am (MST) at the Alpine Helicopters hanger (204 Fisher Road, Golden, B.C. V0A 1H0) where we will complete waivers and a safety briefing for the flight. Our short flight into the Campbell Chalet is sure to be one of the many highlights on the trip. Once settled in the Lodge we will complete an avalanche companion rescue instruction and practice session before completing our first snowshoe tour in the area. We will be covering the essentials of backcountry equipment, efficient travel techniques and layering for comfort on a tour. Expect great views and a great time! 

In the evening we will have a short avalanche awareness presentation. 

Day 3-4: 

After an amazing breakfast, we will travel further from the lodge and look for longer snowshoe tours that only the Campbell range can provide. These are the days that backcountry snowshoeing is all about. We will also be consolidating your backcountry equipment use and look at building your track setting, corner building and efficient travel techniques for using snowshoes in a backcountry setting.  Some of the objectives include The Dome, Bluewater glacier and views of the Freshfields. 

You will welcome the lodges sauna and well-prepared meals at the end of these days! 

Day 5: 

With a morning flight from the lodge, we will arrive back in Golden addicted to snowshoeing and planning our next trip into the backcountry. 

Instructors & Group Size

The maximum guide to guest ratio is 1:8. Your guides are certified by the Internationally-recognized Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. They are true mountain professionals who hold extensive first aid and professional level avalanche training.  There will be a maximum of 8 participants per guide. The group maximum is 16 plus two guides.  Minimum of 6 guests on the trip.

Program Logistics

We will meet at the Golden, BC airport at 8:00 am (MST) on day 1.

After introductions and an equipment check, we will be briefed on helicopter safety and have a scenic 15-minute flight from Golden to Campbell Icefields Chalet.

The next four days will be spent in the backcountry areas around the chalet.

Transportation

Transportation is not included in this program. We meet at the heli-port at the Alpine Helicopters hanger (204 Fisher Road, Golden, B.C. V0A 1H0). 

Golden is situated 280 km (175 miles) west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway. 

Accommodation and Meals

All Meals, snacks and drinks are supplied from lunch on day 1 (Flight Day) to breakfast on day 5.  Meals are prepared by our in-house Red Seal Chefs, utilizing fresh and nutritious produce. For guests with dietary restrictions, we can modify the program food pack to meet your individual needs.  As food pricing and preparation for these diets is more costly, we have implemented the following surcharges; vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, soy-free, nut-free or any similar type of single restriction menu requests there will be a $16/day surcharge. For a diet requiring any 2 restrictions a $25/day surcharge will apply.  For any 3 restrictions, a $30/day surcharge will apply.  Vegetarian meals will not be surcharged.  For more complex diets our kitchen staff will assess the restrictions to inform you if the diet can be accommodated and what surcharge would apply. 

‘The Campbell Icefield Chalet is a modern backcountry lodge with a comfortable layout. Its amenities include running cold water, an indoor toilet and a micro-hydro electrical system. The lodge itself is wood heated, with propane back up.  The main floor consists of a fully equipped kitchen, a cool room, and a comfortable dining/living room. There is a spacious south-facing deck off the living room. The second floor has six bedrooms, sleeping 14 in bunk beds. It also has a drying room and washroom. There is a south-facing deck, accessible from the corridor. The third floor has 4 bedrooms, sleeping eight. The rooms each have two single beds that can be pushed together to form a larger bed.  

The wood-fired sauna has facilities to supply hot and cold water for showering. There are two shower stalls equipped with watering cans and a rope/pulley system. 

Communication to Golden is via a two-way radio. There is no internet service available.’ (information from Campbell Icefields Chalet)  

Pre & post-trip accommodation 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. 

Due to helicopter capacity guests are permitted 25lbs of personal luggage, plus a day pack with extra clothing and their equipment. Luggage should be packed in a small to medium-sized duffle bag (traditional suitcases are not appropriate).

Equipment & Clothing

The equipment and clothing you bring to this course will play a large role in the quality of your experience. Read the following suggestions and lists carefully. If you have any questions or need clarification, don’t hesitate to call or email. 

Equipment 

 We recommend you bring: 

• Snowshoe boots
• Snowshoes – 25-31″ (larger size provides better float in deep snow), heel riser and attached crampon (full perimeter crampon ideal but not required)
• Daypack* (30-40 litres) 
• Sleeping bag, pillowcase, sheet (*Bedding Rental available – see notes below in ‘Additional Gear Info’) 
• Water bottle 
• Sunglasses 
• Sunscreen, SPF lip balm 
• Camera
• Headlamp (with fresh batteries) 
• Earplugs 
• 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.) 
• Toiletries 
• Trekking poles  
• Music player and lightweight reading material (optional) 

Clothing 

When in the backcountry, 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: 

• Long underwear top and bottoms (lightweight synthetic or wool) 
• Socks (synthetic/wool, at least two pairs) 
• Light synthetic shirt 
• Softshell pants and jacket 
• Midweight synthetic or down jacket 
• Heavyweight insulated jacket 
• Waterproof hardshell jacket with hood 
• Waterproof hardshell pants (should have a full-length side zip so they can be put on without taking off boots and crampons) 
• Gaiters (big enough to fit over large boots) 
• Waterproof mountaineering gloves 
• Warm hat that fits under a helmet 
• Sun hat 
• Running shoes, slippers or sandals for the hut 
• Clothing for relaxing in the Chalet 
• Bathing suit and towel for the use of the Sauna 

Additional gear info: 

Lightweight boots: A good pair of warm boots is essential 

Avalanche Gear (transceiver, shovel and probe): available for rent from Yamnuska Mountain Adventures 

*Bedding at the Lodge*:  available for rent from the lodge for $25.00 for the week. This includes pillowcase, sheet, duvet cover and duvet.  Please advise us in advance if you wish to rent this.

Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. We require a 35% deposit (including taxes) at the time of booking. The final payment is due eight weeks before the start of the program.

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.

Please familiarize yourself with 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.

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, the 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.  We highly recommend purchasing this insurance.  For more information and to purchase a plan, visit the Simpson Group’s website.

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’s trip.