Mountain Skills Week

Mountain Skills Week is an immersive training program designed to develop the skills required for safe and rewarding alpine climbing. Participants progress through snow, ice, and rock terrain while learning glacier travel, crevasse rescue, navigation, route planning, and hazard assessment. Led by certified ACMG guides, the program blends technical instruction with real-world alpine objectives, including summit attempts and multi-pitch climbing.

The Course

Technical instruction covers crampon and ice axe use, rappelling systems, snow and ice anchors (V-threads, T-slots, ice screws), rock anchors, lead climbing (sport and trad), multi-pitch transitions, and rope management. The week includes a summit attempt of Mt. Athabasca or a nearby peak and concludes with a classic multi-pitch rock climb in the Banff area.

Itinerary

• Day 1 – Meet at Columbia Icefields Campground; group meeting & training; evening camp at campground or hotel (plan to arrive the evening before Day 1).
• Day 2 – Continued training at Columbia Icefields; evening camp at campground or hotel.
• Day 3 – Summit attempt (Mt. Athabasca, A2, or Hilda Peak) [3:1 guest-to-guide ratio]; evening at Lake Louise/Banff campsite, hostel, or hotel.
• Days 4–5 – Climbing at Lake Louise or Banff; evenings at Lake Louise/Banff campsite, hostel, or hotel.
• Day 6 – Multi-pitch climbing day at Lake Louise or Banff [2:1 guest-to-guide ratio].

Course Package

A detailed course package will be emailed 3 days prior to the scheduled course.

Tipping Your Guide

If you have an exceptional experience, tips for guides are always appreciated. A 10–15% gratuity is customary and can be given in cash or arranged through the AAA office.

Important Documents & Policies

• Please read and review our Waiver prior to booking.
• Please read and review our Cancellation Policy.
• Cancellation Insurance is available through the Simpson Group.
• All of our guides have undergone training and evaluation by the ACMG, meeting the established criteria of a globally acknowledged professional organization.