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ICE CLIMBING IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES
Bigger, better, more - there is simply nowhere that can beat the Canadian Rockies for sheer quality or quantity of ice climbing. The Canadian Rockies are like Yosemite, the Grand Canyon and Mount Everest for ice climbers all combined. Rockies ice really is that good.
The Rockies also somehow seem to remain American ice climbers' best kept secret, despite the fact that they're easier to get to than most ice climbing destinations at home in the US. Flights to Calgary are abundant and Canmore, our home base, is an easy hour and fifteen minutes away from the airport. The bottom line is, if you even think you’d like to climb ice, you should trust us on this one - come to the Rockies and find out. This course is designed to take complete beginners and teach them the skills to make their icy dreams come true.
We’ll move between instructional sessions and climbing routes of all shapes and sizes with the goal of making you an efficient, competent and confident ice climber. Each day we’ll make sure you’re paired with climbers and climbs that match your ability, so you don’t have to worry about being held back or pushed too far. Our instructors are always something to be proud of, but this is truly a unique opportunity to learn from the absolute best guides and ice climbers anywhere.
We'll pair up to four climbers per guide for top-rope and instructional sessions to maximize your learning and fun and give you the best experience of these incredible mountains.
FOOD & ACCOMMODATIONS
Canmore is located near the Banff National Park in Canada's Rocky Mountains, and is Banff’s less famous next door neighbor. It’s also perfectly located as a central jumping-off point for climbs throughout the range. A classic Canadian mountain town, Canmore comes complete with gob-smacking views, great restaurants and bars, supermarkets and other amenities. After all, one of the best parts of any climbing vacation is the vacation, and we want to make sure that you've got something good to come home to after a day out in the cold.
We'll be based right in the heart of downtown at the gorgeous and brand new Malcolm Hotel. With a killer location, cozy rooms, multiple bars and restaurants, plus a heated rooftop pool, the Malcolm is the perfect home away from home. We'll be offering shared rooms with two queen beds, or single rooms with one.
In addition to our lovely hotel, we’ll also go out to dinner at some of our favorite restaurants in town. We'll be sure to visit both the Crazyweed Kitchen and Blake, two local favorites with inspired Canadian fare, great drinks, and an atmosphere that keeps us coming back. We like to try hard, but we also like to relax and live well, so we’ve hand-picked our favorite hotels, restaurants, bakeries and snacks to give you a taste of it all.
The Schedule
Day 1: Welcome to Canada!
You get yourself to Canmore and we'll have a room ready for you. The airport in Calgary is just a short drive away, or shuttle service is available through Banff Airporter. The journey is beautiful and only a little over an hour as you cross the front ranges and wind your way up into the Bow Valley, home to Canmore and Banff. We don’t like to make anybody do too much after a long day of travel, so you’ll be on your own for the evening, and your only job will be to find something tasty for dinner and to try to get some sleep.
Day 2: Ice 101 - The Basics
We’ll officially start the trip with pastries and coffee at the hotel before getting our gear together and heading out for the day. We’ll start with the basics of ice climbing on one of the many fantastic crags around Canmore, and we’ll focus on the basics of good footwork and body positioning, and work into the finer points of ice tools and how to swing them. We'll start on moderate terrain, but you'll be surprised how quickly you can progress once you get comfortable with the techniques. We'll finish the day by working into some steeper climbs as well, then we'll head back to town to give you time to warm up before going out to a welcome dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants.
Day 3: Ice 102 - Advanced Technique
After another breakfast, we'll once again head out to climb for the day. We'll warm up with some more top-roped climbing and we'll spend the day putting a bit of polish on our ice technique. We'll cover techniques for steep ice, and advanced techniques to help you maximize efficiency with good body positioning and proper movement. After a full day, we’ll head back to town for another night at the hotel. This time we'll give you the night off from any group activities so you can rest and recoup, or explore on your own.
Day 4: Putting it All Together
This will be the culmination of everything you’ve learned so far as we’ll tackle a variety of steeper, longer and more advanced routes. Depending on the group's interests, we can also cover anchors and equipment for lead climbing on ice (though participants will not be ready to lead yet), as well as techniques for mixed climbing on snow, ice and rock. Whatever we do, we'll reconvene in the evening to finish the day with a much deserved meal for some of the best food in the Rockies.
Day 5: Heading Home
Unfortunately all good things must come to an end, and you’ll have to go home. A short journey from hotel to airport should have you on your way. Of course we recommend staying a few more days to climb or relax, but that one’s up to you.
MEET YOUR GUIDES
Sarah Hueniken
Sarah Hueniken
Sarah Hueniken
ACMG Alpine Guide / Professional Ice & Mixed Climber / World Cup Ice Climbing Champion / Canmore Local / General Superwoman
Although Sarah climbs in some of the coldest places, she has the biggest, warmest heart in climbing. As one of the most sought after guides in Canada, Sarah has also been a part of a number of first ascent teams world
ACMG Alpine Guide / Professional Ice & Mixed Climber / World Cup Ice Climbing Champion / Canmore Local / General Superwoman
Although Sarah climbs in some of the coldest places, she has the biggest, warmest heart in climbing. As one of the most sought after guides in Canada, Sarah has also been a part of a number of first ascent teams worldwide and was the first North American woman to climb grades M11 - M14. It turns out that recognition is not what motivates her, rather what really drives her is usually curiosity. For well over a decade, Sarah has been offering female-only mountaineering courses. These courses have fostered hundreds of women to become self-sufficient in the mountains. The numbers jump to the thousands when you add in the co-ed courses she offers as well as her private guiding. For Sarah, the mountains are about connecting to herself and others.
Erica Roles
Sarah Hueniken
Sarah Hueniken
IFMGA/ACMG Mountain Guide / Canada's 11th Female IFMGA Mountain Guide / Rockies Local / All-Around Badass
Erica has been working as a guide since 2005 and became Canada's 11th Female IFMGA Mountain Guide in 2018. Born in the UK, she spent much of her childhood in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. She moved to Canada with her family in 1998
IFMGA/ACMG Mountain Guide / Canada's 11th Female IFMGA Mountain Guide / Rockies Local / All-Around Badass
Erica has been working as a guide since 2005 and became Canada's 11th Female IFMGA Mountain Guide in 2018. Born in the UK, she spent much of her childhood in Asia, the Middle East and Europe. She moved to Canada with her family in 1998 and fell in love with the mountains of Western Canada. . Erica has climbed and skied all over the world and has worked for a number of different guiding operations throughout the ranges of Western Canada including Yamnuska Mountain Adventures, RK Heliski and the Alpine Club of Canada. She loves guiding because she gets to spend time in beautiful places ,but also because of the people she meets and the experiences she gets to share with them.
Hannah Rennie
Sarah Hueniken
Hannah Rennie
ACMG Rock Guide / ACMG Apprentice Alpine Guide / SMM Squamish Retreat Leader / Mama and Crusher
Hannah has been climbing since she was a kid with her teddy bear clipped to her harness, and since then she has dedicated years to traveling, rock climbing, mountaineering, and improving her technical skills. She has climbed El Capitan in Yosem
ACMG Rock Guide / ACMG Apprentice Alpine Guide / SMM Squamish Retreat Leader / Mama and Crusher
Hannah has been climbing since she was a kid with her teddy bear clipped to her harness, and since then she has dedicated years to traveling, rock climbing, mountaineering, and improving her technical skills. She has climbed El Capitan in Yosemite Valley 4 times, sent 5.12 in 5 different countries, and loves combining the techniques from rock types around the world. She started guiding because she is passionate about teaching people the technical side of climbing as well as the emotional achievements that come with challenging yourself and connecting with nature. Most recently Hannah has been balancing her new role as a momma to little Grace Rennie along with guiding and training for an ACMG Full Alpine Guide Exam coming up in 2023.
