There is a thin line between technical climbing and scrambling. We define scrambling as easy climbing requiring the use of hands and feet but not usually ropes, belays and protection.
The intent of Scrambling Skills is to give you the skills to safely climb the scramble peaks and not put yourself or partners at unnecessary risk. We will focus on the most important elements of scrambling safety: route finding, hazard assessment and movement skills on loose steep terrain and on snow and iced rock. Most scrambling accidents are the result of bad route choices and poor terrain assessment.
Rope use and technical aspects of mountaineering will not be taught in this program.
Course Agenda
Day 1: Meet at the Yamnuska Mountain Adventures office at 8:00 am. Coffee and tea will be available. Review course introduction, goals and objectives and explanation of hazards and risk.
Goals and Objectives:
- To be able to pick an appropriate scramble from the guidebook for skill level
- To be able to pack the correct and necessary gear for the day
- To be able to complete the scramble without environmental degradation of the area
- To be able to recognize the difference between class three and four terrain
- To effectively route find in class three terrain
- To recognize environmental hazards and how to deal with them
- To gain skills for movement in loose terrain and manage rock-fall issues
- Have fun and gain a summit or two!
Course Curriculum
- Equipment selection for scrambles
- Emergency gear
- Selecting proper footwear
- Dressing for the mountains
- Use of guidebooks
- Choosing peaks appropriate to experience levels
- Checking weather and conditions
- Environmental hazards: Lightning, animals, rockfall, snow and ice
- Environmental ethics
- Route finding skills
- Assessment of difficulty
- Movement skills during ascents and descents/scrambling skills
- Use of a trekking pole
- Spotting skills
- Pacing and rest stops
- Walking in balance
- Use of down pressure on handholds
Waiver presentation and signing. (please see sample waiver)
Head out and complete an easy to moderate scramble.
Day 2: Early departure from Canmore for a local scramble. This day will focus on personal leadership and decision making as well as further developing the skills learned on day one. We will also discuss terrain evaluation, route finding and group management. Meeting time and place will be determined by your guide and will be based on the day’s objective.
The course typically runs in the Canmore Kananaskis area. On occasion, we do travel as far west to Lake Louise. Typical scrambles on the course are Heart Mountain, Mt. Yamnuska, Mt. Buller, Mt. Edith, Mt. Baldy, Mt Loder.
If we do travel to Banff you will need to have a National Parks entry pass for your vehicle.
Expect to be finished by 4:00 pm on the final day.
Plus Day
Stay for an extra day and put your new skills into practice on a classic Canadian Rockies difficult scramble. The instructor to student ratio is 1:2. On this day we will cover advanced scrambling skills and how to manage more technical terrain.
$280 plus GST. Available every Monday following ‘Scrambling Skills’.
Meeting Time & Place
The course begins at the Yamnuska office at 8.00 am on Saturday morning. The Yamnuska office is located at 200, 50 Lincoln Park, Canmore. See this map for location.
Be dressed ready for the outdoors.
Instructors & Group Size
Great people to spend a week in the mountains with, your instructors are certified by the internationally-recognized Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. There will be a maximum of 12 participants.
Transportation
To keep prices down participants are responsible for their own transport to Canmore and during the program. Canmore is a 1 hour (100km) drive west from Calgary.
If you are flying from afar for the program we suggest that you rent a car for your visit. In addition to getting you to the climbing locations, it will allow you to explore our region a bit after program hours. For example, you can visit Banff and enjoy the hot pools and sample the numerous restaurants.
Frequent shuttles connect Calgary International Airport and Canmore. You can book your shuttles through either Brewster or the Banff Airporter.
Accommodation & Meals
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.
Yamnuska guests receive exclusive rates with Clique Hotels & resorts upon booking an adventure with either Yamnuska Mountain Adventures or Canadian Rockies Hiking by Yamnuska. (Please note that some rates are non-refundable)
You will need to bring a packed lunch, snacks and plenty of liquids each day.
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
Yamnuska provides the following personal technical gear. Please feel free to bring your own if desired:
- Helmet
We recommend you bring:
- Daypack* (30-40 litres)
- Lunch, snacks
- Water bottle (full!)
- 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 (optional)
- Bear spray (optional)
*These items are available for rent. Please advise us in advance.
Clothing
When scrambling, 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. We discourage cotton clothing as it causes rapid heat loss when wet.
We recommend you bring:
- Boots (mountaineering or sturdy hiking boots)
- Socks (synthetic/wool)
- Light synthetic shirt
- Softshell pants and jacket
- Midweight synthetic or down jacket
- Waterproof hardshell jacket with hood
- Waterproof hardshell pants
- Gloves
- Gaiters
- Warm hat that fits under a helmet
- Sun hat
Additional gear info:
Boots: Good boots are essential. They need to be comfortable and provide good ankle support.
Helmet: A comfortable, all-around climbing helmet that can fit over your warm hat.
Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. We require full payment on booking.
For detailed Booking Instructions and Conditions, click here.
Please note that you will be required to sign our waiver before commencing the trip. Click here for a 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.
Dates:
Price
$425 CDN per person. Includes instruction, guides expenses and group gear. Price does not include GST, park entry fees, personal gear, accommodation, meals or transportation.
Trip Cancellation Insurance is available through the Simpson Group.
Difficulty, Fitness & Experience
You need to be fit at the level of a strong hiker. No prior climbing experience is required.
