General Information

	Who can attend ?		Pre- and Post-Trip Planning		Applying and Registering for a Camp
	Equipment		Additional Information		Participant Policy

The Alpine Club of Canada has been organizing Mountain Adventures since 1906. We are very good at what we do. The expertise of your guide, manager and/or cook will ensure an exciting and memorable trip. Once the camp is underway, your meals, accommodation, group climbing gear, planning and preparation are all taken care of. All you have to do is arrive prepared to have a wonderful holiday, enjoy great climbing or skiing, scrumptious meals, and relaxing evenings with new and old friends. We have designed our schedule to offer a variety of opportunities, including camps for those still acquiring their mountain skills, and serious challenges for our more experienced members. This year plan your holidays early . . . and join us!

Who can attend?

Photo: © John Derick

Almost anyone who is fit and has a keen sense of adventure can come on an ACC trip. Some trips demand previous mountaineering or skiing experience. Others just require a great attitude, a sense of adventure and a good level of fitness. If you are unsure if a particular trip is for you, call the Camp Manager listed with the trip information. If you want a broader overview of the trip demands, contact the ACC's Mountain Adventures Coordinator at .

Please note that you must be a member of the Alpine Club of Canada to attend one of our Mountain Adventures. We have a membership structure that allows you to choose the components of your membership (section affiliation +/- huts +/- Canadian Alpine Journal). You must have the Huts Option with your membership to attend our hut-based camps. For more details on ACC membership, visit the Membership pages, or please contact our National Office by phone 403 678 3200 ext. 1, fax 403 678 3224, or e-mail .

In order to attend the General Mountaineering Camp, participants must be aged 19 or older. On all other camps, participants must be aged 16 or over but we do make exceptions for younger children in some cases. Please consult with the Manager of Club Services if you are thinking about having your child attend a camp with you.

Equipment

Photo: © Patricia Daum

You are responsible for supplying personal climbing equipment for the camp (eg. ice axe, crampons, helmet, harness, skis, etc.). A gear list is supplied in the Information Package for each camp.

You will need to ensure that all your equipment is in good working order and fits properly prior to arriving at camp. If you have borrowed or rented equipment, it is particularly important to invest some time checking that it is right for you. Make sure that you understand how your equipment works. Broken equipment or blisters can potentially ruin your trip of a lifetime! You will need to bring a repair kit that is specific to your gear.

Many camps are porter-assisted, however all participants will still have to carry a portion of the group gear; first aid kits, climbing equipment, food, etc. at all times. This is in addition to your food and other personal items. Therefore, you will need to ensure your pack is of adequate size.

If you require rental equipment, Gear Up. (on Highway 1A in Canmore) offers a 25% discount on rental gear and a 10% discount on retail climbing gear (excluding ropes) to Alpine Club of Canada Mountain Adventure participants. For further information and equipment reservations, visit www.gearupsport.com or email or call (403) 678-1636 between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Mountain Time.

Pre- and Post-Trip Planning

You will be responsible for arranging and paying for your transportation to and from the camp. You are also responsible for arranging and paying for any accommodation needs prior to and after the camp.

We will provide you with a participant list for your camp ten weeks prior to the camp (or when the camp fills, if it has not filled by that time). You can use this list to make arrangements for car-pooling to the meeting location. If you cannot make satisfactory arrangements with another participant, and have no way of getting to the meeting place alone, please contact us and we will try to help you.

Trips may not always run exactly according to schedule for reasons beyond our control (weather, wildlife, Parks regulations, etc). Because of this, we recommend that you do not book any scheduled travel (such as airline flights) within a day or two of the final anticipated day of your camp.

Special note regarding weather and helicopter transport: Please note that helicopter travel can be delayed by bad weather, and this can sometimes include overnight delays. These sorts of delays are beyond the control of The Alpine Club of Canada, and we cannot provide for your accommodation and meals in the nearest town, should this occur. Although it does not happen often, you should be prepared for the possibility of this unforeseeable additional expense if your camp involves a helicopter flight.

Participant Policy

Be sure to read the Participant Policy. This policy outlines what is expected of participants on ACC camps:

Participant Policy (Adobe PDF)

Additional Information

1. Please advise us on your application form if you have a medical condition (such as diabetes, etc.) and be prepared to supply your own medicines should such be required.
2. If you are a vegetarian or have food allergies, dietary restrictions or preferences, please provide this information where requested. It is crucial to our planning that you provide this information six weeks prior to the camp. Accommodating your needs will be at the discretion of the camp manager if notification is not received prior to this date.
3. Participants will need to be fit to enjoy the week! Approximate difficulty levels are provided to help you select the best camp for your fitness level. Our camp staff will be happy to discuss your fitness for their camps with you; they want to ensure that everyone goes home safe and happy! See the specific camp package(s) for staff contact information.
4. Please remember that there are always a variety of skill and fitness levels amongst our participants. Come prepared to share your mountaineering knowledge and to be patient and cooperative in all situations. This will greatly assist with the dynamics of our group and ensure everyone has an enjoyable time.
5. Overnight backcountry passes are included in the cost of camps that take place within National Parks, but participants are responsible for other fees associated with the use of such parks (such as park entry fees). Many of these fees are directly related to whether or not you will be charged in the event of a rescue, so you are strongly advised to avail yourself of the correct information. For more information, contact the appropriate National or Provincial Park.

Applying and Registering for a Camp

If you would like to register for a camp, please follow the steps outlined in "I want to sign up - what do I do?"