Camp Highlights

Climb in a gender-inclusive setting
Develop key skills during instructional sessions
Campsites right next to the Columbia Icefields
Enjoy some of the best mountaineering in the Rockies

Dates & Price

$1,195 + Tax / Person
June 20th - 23rd, 2022

MEC sponsors the ACC’s Women and Non-Binary Program and we thank them for their generous assistance.

Our Flagship Women's Program looking to new objectives on the Icefields Parkway

Let’s face it – there are certain undeniable differences men and gender minority populations that affects how they operate in a backcountry setting. That's why we want to create more opportunities for women and non-binary folks to get out with like-identifying individuals.

Designed and offered for all women and non-binary folk, this unique climbing camp provides an opportunity to work on summer leading skills and gain valuable mountaineering experience. This year we will be pitching camp at the lovely Wilcox Campground. Situated right next to the Columbia Icefield, this location will allow for a variety of mountaineering efforts along the parkway as well as glaciers to practice some rescue scenarios if the group is interested. Long story short this will be a great place to hone the mountaineering skills under the guidance of female ACMG mountain guides, Kirsten Knechtel and Merrie Beth Board.

Camp Objectives

The Icefields Parkway boasts a plethora of rock, ice and alpine objectives. In the summer its the perfect time to work on mountaineering skills and what better way to learn than surrounded by a group of like minded folks. The first day will likely be spent on the glacier going over the skills needed for safe travel on snow and ice in the Alpine before heading out on some bigger objectives later in the camp. Possible Peaks include Mount Athabasca (3491m), A2 (2957m), Boundary Peak , and Wilcox (2884m). This camp will allow lots of time for teaching and an environment where you can ask your guides questions about mountaineering, navigation or just what it's like to be guide.

Day by Day Adventure Itinerary

Camp Itinerary

Day 1: Meet group at the Icefields Centre Parking near the base of the stairs (or in the entrance if it's raining) at 9:30 AM (MST). Be ready to go with day packs organized and lunches made. Head out for the day, possibly onto the Athabasca Glacier and then check into the campground at the end of the day.

Days 2 & 3: Potential objectives include the mountains listed above. If the camp runs at capacity, we will have two groups of three each with one ACMG certified female guides, allowing for different paces, ambitions and objectives each day. You will get the opportunity to work on rock climbing techniques at local cragging area, technical alpine rock scrambling and safe glacier travel techniques. Our climbing days will be tailored to the skills and personal objectives of the group. Instructional sessions may include: crevasse rescue, rope ascending, rock anchors, ice anchors, movement skills with ice axe & crampons, self arrests, route finding on glaciers, ice climbing and alpine belay techniques.

Evenings will involve cooking individual meals and socializing back at the Wilcox Creek Campground.

Day 4: Fit in one final day of climbing before packing up, saying goodbyes and returning to your vehicles.

Is this Camp For Me?

Intermediate

This camp is designed for women and non-binary folk with some mountaineering and climbing experience. You must also have a good level of fitness carrying and climbing with a pack for several hours.

Food, Accommodation, Guiding and Gear

Food

To bring down the cost of the camp we will not be providing food for the camp. Please come with enough food to last you the duration of the course.

Accommodation

The Wilcox Creek Campground is strategically located across from the Columbia Icefields, with access to many classic mountaineering objectives.

Guiding

Our guiding ratio will be a maximum of 3:1 to give you plenty of one-to-one learning time with our excellent, all-female guides. The small groups also mean that you can split up based on objectives and pacing. There will also be a camp manager to bring ratios down even further.

This camp is guided by female ACMG-certified alpine guides.

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

KIRSTEN KNECHTEL

Kirsten was raised in Banff, AB where her passion for the mountains and mountain adventure began. Kirsten’s family were outdoor enthusiasts and by the age of 6 she began ski racing, age 10 ski touring, and by age 14 she had climbed many classic alpine routes in the Canadian Rockies. Her career as a guide was a natural step. By age 25 she was a fully certified mountain guide. 20 plus years later, Kirsten has a huge variety of guiding experiences behind her. She has worked as a manager of a catskiing operation, guided many heliskiing, catskiing and private ski touring trips and worked as an instructor on the ACMG guides training program. In the summer she has worked with the British military training, run her own private guiding business and spent well over 10 years working at the Alpine Club’s General Mountaineering Camp, Marmot Women’s camps and other ACC programs.

MERRIE-BETH BOARD

Merrie-Beth (MB)is an Internationally certified Mountain Guide living in Golden, British Columbia. For the past 20 years MB has been working in the mountains, exploring, guiding and teaching. The life style of a mountain professional has been both a dream and challenge, humility and gentle perseverance at the heart of everyday. Helping others gain their own personal goals, and experience through the mountains is an honour and a privilege.

“We had a wonderful time on this trip, it was a fantastic location and the company and leadership were outstanding"

“The knowledge from the 2 guides and the camp manager was beyond my expectations. They were fun, knowledgeable women who motivate and inspire me”

- Past Women's Climbing 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 of professional guiding at max 3:1 ratios by certified ACMG alpine guides
Evening zoom session to go over gear, meet the group and ask the guide any questions
3 nights accommodation at the Wilcox Creek Campground next to the Columbia Icefields
All group gear

PARTICIPANTS MUST PROVIDE

Transportation to and from the trailhead
All food
Personal gear (see gear list)
National Parks vehicle permit

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