Camp Highlights

  • Learn key skills from ACMG alpine guides at a max. 2:1 ratio
  • Use the highest habitable, permanent structure in Canada as your basecamp
  • Reach classic mountaineering summits

Dates & price

  •  August 26th - 29th, 2022
  •  $2, 100 + Tax / Person

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Arc'teryx supports our Mountaineering Program and we thank them for their assistance.

Ready to take your mountaineering to the next level?

So you've learnt how to rope up, use crampons and ice axe, and have some foundational crevasse rescue work. What next?

This summer we are taking our mountaineering program to new heights at the beloved Neil Colgan Hut. Situated high up in the Valley of Ten Peaks, develop your mountaineering skills and techniques with ACMG certified guides Kris Irwin and Sebastian Taborszky. Grab a climbing partner and enjoy a 2:1 guiding ratio; the lowest we have to offer! 

During this course, your guides will focus on route planning and more advanced mountaineering techniques. In the evenings, you'll have time to learn and practice using different gear and systems before applying them in realtime while making attempts at nearby objectives such as Mt. Fay.

*Please note that in order to join any Alpine Club of Canada trip that is based out of a backcountry hut you will need to show proof that you are double vaccinated for COVID-19*

 

Camp Objectives

This camp will go up the Perren Route and crossing the Fay Glacier to get to the Neil Colgan Hut. From the hut there are a couple small peaks to climb or the group may attempt Mt Fay. This is also a great area to practice glacier travel and other mountaineering skills.

Day By Day Adventure Itinerary
Online Evening Session: Meet your group via Zoom for a short meeting to introduce yourself and get  a chance to talk gear with your guide and discuss the objectives for the camp.
Day 1: Meet the group at 6 AM (MST) in the Moraine Lake before the parking lot. Hike along the lake, cross the stream and start heading up the Perren Route to get to the Fay Glacier. Cross the Glacier and arrive at the Neil Colgan hut. Depending on what time it is the group may be able to go up Mt Bolen.
Day 2: Wake up at the Neil Colgan Hut and after a rehydrated breakfast head out for the daily objective (Mt Fay perhaps).
Day 3: One last full day up at the hut to make an attempt at one of the nearby objectives.
Day 4: Spend the morning packing up and there is the possibility of exploring a bit or working on alpine skills before heading back down the Perren Route.

 

 

Is this Camp For Me?

Intermediate

This camp is for those who have had some mountaineering experience/glacier travel and are looking towards harder objectives. You need to be fit enough to climb easy pitches with an overnight bag to get to the Neil Colgan Hut. You need to understand multipitch rope systems and be ok following up to 5.8. If you have any questions about your suitability please call our Adventures Coordinator at 403-678-3200 ex: 213

Food, Accommodation and Guiding

Food
To keep the cost of this camp as low as possible for you, food is not provided on this camp.  Be sure to plan for 4 lunches, 3 breakfasts, 3 dinners, and all of your favourite adventure snacks!

Accommodation
This camp takes it's participants to a hut hidden among the most looked at Mountains in the Rockies. As hard as one looks however, the building cannot be spotted. This allusive hut is the Neil Colgan Hut and is the highest permanent habitable structure in Canada. You might be familiar with the Valley of the Ten Peaks, the peaks that surround Moraine Lake. However not everyone know about the climbers ACC hut just on the other side of these peaks just off the edge of the Fay Glacier.

Guiding

Our guiding ratio will be a maximum of 2:1 to give you plenty of one-to-one learning time with our excellent guides. The small groups also mean that you can split up based on objectives and pacing, and get the individualized attention needed to tackle more challenging alpine rock routes.  The ACC hires guides certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG). Visit the ACMG website to learn more about what they do!


Rentals

If you don't have everything on the gear list and aren't ready to invest in your own, there are many awesome local businesses that rent out all of the equipment you will need.  Be sure to reserve your rentals ahead of time to make sure everything you need is available for you when you need it.

  • Coming from the Bow Valley? Check out GearUp in Canmore. ACC members get 10% off all gear rentals!
  • Coming from Calgary? We recommend renting your gear from MEC, the University of Calgary Outdoors Center, or the Norseman.
  • Coming from the Revelstoke? Give Revelstoke Powder Rentals a try.

 

Your Guides

KRIS IRWIN

Kris is an ACMG Alpine Guide and lives in Banff with his wife Ellen and their daughters Aria and Annie. He is certified to lead all types of rock, ice, and mountain climbs and has been climbing in the mountains at home and abroad since 2004. Although he feels most at home on the classic ice climbs in the Rockies he has also made several first ascents in Alaska in the past few years. Kris is one of the most active waterfall ice climbing guides in the winter and in the summer can be seen leading guests throughout the Rockies, Bugaboos and Rogers Pass. An excellent instructor and personable guide, Kris always gets rave reviews from his guests
SEBASTIAN TABORSZKY

Sebastian is an ACMG apprentice alpine guide based in Canmore, AB where he works and plays. Born in Romania, he lived in Quebec for some time, where he ice climbed during his time off from working with the Canadian Coast Guard. In 2015, his need for bigger mountains closer to home brought him west where he began transitioning into guiding. Sebastian is passionate about ice and alpine climbing and hopes to pass the flame onto you.

Languages: French, Spanish, Romanian

 

  • “This was my first experience in the Rocky Mountains and the camp was a blast! By far my best Canada Day.”
  • “I enjoyed the great views, good laughs and new friends.”
- Past Camp Participants-

Adventure Map

More Information

Please try to register online before calling. If you are having issues please try to have your emergency contact information and course questionnaire filled out before calling.

  Email us
  403 678 3200 ext. 213

COURSE DOCUMENTS

Gear List

Before registering, please review our Waivers and Liability page:

Trip Waivers and Liability Page

CANCELLATION POLICY AND TRAVEL INSURANCE

Please be sure to review our cancellation policy before registering for ACC Adventures:
 
Cancellation Policy  
We sell Tugo® Travel Insurance suitable for both ACC Adventures and personal trips: 

Travel Insurance

INCLUDED WITH YOUR CAMP FEE

  • 4 days professional guiding at max 2:1 ratios by certified ACMG alpine guides 
  • 3 nights accommodation at the Neil Colgan Hut
  • All group gear

PARTICIPANTS MUST PROVIDE

  • Transportation to and from Lake Louise and parking for hut access
  • All personal meals and snacks
  • Personal gear (see gear list)

Organizing Fantastic ACC Adventures For Over 100 Years

  • Local Knowledge - based out of Canmore, AB, we know the Rockies region and the best local caterers, guides and porters
  • Dedicated resources - full-time office staff, ACMG guides and group equipment on-hand to ensure your trip runs smoothly
  • Not-for-profit - any money we make on camps and courses is reinvested into providing services for our members and the mountain community