General Mountaineering Camp

	What is the GMC?		GMC Registration, Payment & Cancellation Policies
	Who can attend?		Waiver of Liability
	The 2010 Battle Brook GMC		GMC Confirmation of Registration Contract (Adobe PDF)
	Helicopter Safety (Adobe PDF)		Printable Policies (Adobe PDF)
	Information package:		GMC Application Form (Adobe PDF)
	| Adobe PDF

Battle Brook 2010 GMC Photo: ©Roger Laurilla

What is the GMC?

The General Mountaineering Camp (GMC) has been an Alpine Club of Canada tradition since 1906. While the numbers of participants, locations and certain practices have changed over the last almost 100 years, the mandate behind the GMC is still the same.

In 1906, almost 100 Club members (all at once!) attended the first GMC at Yoho Pass, British Columbia. They climbed, explored and learned about their mountain environment every day. They changed into their Sunday best for the evening meals and socializing, then retired to canvas tents in preparation for another early morning start. A quote from the 1907 Canadian Alpine Journal states "No lady climbing, who wears skirts, will be allowed to take a place on a rope, as they are a distinct source of danger to the entire party. Knickerbockers or bloomers with puttees or gaiters and sweater will be found serviceable and safe." On Sunday, a church service was followed by the ACC's Annual General Meeting. Entertaining and charming accounts of the ACC’s first General Mountaineering Camp can be found in these articles from the 1907 Canadian Alpine Journal.

1906 GMC report

Battle Brook 2010 GMC. Photo: © Roger Laurilla

These days, as it has always been, the location of the GMC changes every year. The volunteer GMC Committee always finds the perfect location that provides something for everyone. Nowadays, the GMC is attended by 32 members per week for six weeks. "Sunday best" dress for dinner and socializing is now optional (and rare!), but early morning starts are still the tradition. Canvas tents and wooden ice axes have been upgraded to rip-stop nylon and titanium. Members wear shorts and poly-pro instead of suit jackets and "knickerbockers". Church services are no longer performed, and the Club's Annual General Meeting is held elsewhere. We still climb, explore, learn and share mountain stories everyday.

The GMC is about climbing mountains with old and new friends. It is about learning mountain craft. It is about telling and listening to stories. It is about meeting and climbing with people that are new to the mountains, as well as those who have made the mountains their lives for sixty or more years. Whether you are an experienced mountaineer, or someone just beginning to try your skills in the mountains, you will have a grand time at the GMC.

Group photo, GMC Photo: ©Zac Robinson

GMC 2009 Photo: © Sandy Walker

All climbing and related activities are planned and organized daily by a Climbing Committee, made up of the camp manager, the guides and the amateur leaders. Each evening, the Committee plans a number of trips and posts sign-up sheets. Camp participants then write in their first and second choices. The Committee then reviews the sign up sheets, assembles parties and assigns leaders to them. With prior approval of the Climbing Committee, experienced members may form private climbing parties under their own leadership.

Who can attend the GMC?

Mountain Hard Wear is a supportive sponsor of the General Mountaineering Camp and we thank them for their assistance.

An ACC tradition since 1906

View the complete list of GMC locations since 1906!

Trident Group, 2009 GMC Photo: ©Sandy Walker

Location:Battle Brook Area
Dates: July 3rd – August 15th (six week-long camps)
Participants: 28 per week
Cost: $1650 (one week)/ $1550 (additional weeks) + GST
Upgrade to single occupancy tent:  $100 per person (limited number of single tents available)

Week 2 Full!

Information package:| PDF

We are pleased to announce the 2010 General Mountaineering Camp’s (GMC) location!  This year, join us in the remote Battle Brook area of the southern Selkirk Mountains where we’ll helicopter into a majestic spot tucked in amongst a new secluded setting.

At an elevation of 1895m/6120’, our spectacular campsite (located in the Battle Brook basin) will be comfortably situated beside a small stream and lake.   The campsite is surrounded by numerous glaciers that house the area’s major peaks including Wheeler (3336m/11,110’), Grand (3287m/10,784’), Kilpatrick (3224m/10,577’) and Purity (3149m/10,331’.) Other prospective summits include Pristine (3037m/9963’), Chastity (2921m/9583’), Vestal (2928m/9606’) and Oz (2862m/9389’). There are four unnamed, but also worthy mountains, located to the south and west of the GMC basecamp in the Van Horne Névé area.

The area’s rock presents a buffet of options from Van Horne’s granite, to the quartzite of Mt. Purity to Mt. Kilpatrick, to the mixed rock of the Mt. Wheeler/Mt. Grand area. This is a brand new area for the GMC and we’re excited to offer ACC members a chance to explore this remote and spectacular location where (according to extensive historical research) few mountaineers have ever set foot.

Photo: © Sandy Walker

The area around camp presents diverse experiences of moderate peaks, meadow hikes and non-technical scrambles. Our basecamp is also situated near a number of slabs, glaciers and snow slopes that will work well for our rock and snow schools. Not far off in the distance, more technical and longer challenges in the mountains to the north await.

This year’s camp will be staged out of Golden, B.C. where participants will drive for 1.5 hours to the helicopter launch site at McMurdo Creek. Participants will then be whisked by helicopter from McMurdo Creek to our basecamp. The flight is brief but picturesque, providing spectacular views of the Bugaboos to Rogers Pass traverse.

The camp operates on a seven day, Saturday to Saturday basis. Attendance fees will cover the flight into basecamp, double occupancy tent accommodation, quality guiding and instruction across all disciplines, sumptuous meals and group climbing equipment (other than personal gear).

The GMC is designed for all our members in terms of difficulty.  A wide range of objectives are available depending on participants’ ability, fitness, and length of day desired.  The various peaks and approaches may include everything from glacier, ice, scrambling, and technical climbing.  Introductory and intermediate skill reviews are offered on snow, rock, and ice (depending on available terrain.  In addition to climbing, opportunities to hike in the area are available.

If you’ve attended a GMC in the past, you already know how rewarding it is. If you’ve always wanted to join us, but haven’t yet, this is a great opportunity to enjoy new and varied challenges in an outstanding climbing area, remarkable vistas and of course, the renowned camaraderie of the ACC. The GMC typically has a waiting list so please register early to avoid disappointment!