Marmot has been a supportive sponsor of the Women's Program since its inception and we thank them for their assistance.

Dates & Price

July 3 – 8, 2011
Cost per person is $1095 + applicable taxes.

Are men and women really that different?  Perhaps a question better answered in a philosophy class.  But there are certain undeniable differences that affect how we, as women, operate in a backcountry setting.  

Photo: © Jackie Clark

Designed and offered for women exclusively, this unique climbing camp provides an opportunity for women to work on summer leading skills and gain valuable mountaineering experience.

Daily activities will be organized and supervised by a female ACMG guide, however participants will be given the opportunity to plan daily trips, and to lead in the field according to their abilities. Participants will be encouraged to participate in decision making in order to enhance the learning experience.

Kirsten grew up in Banff where her passion for the mountains and mountain adventure began. Her family holidays were skiing out of backcountry lodges, climbing Bugaboo spire, sport climbing at the City of Rocks… a career in guiding became a natural step. By age 25 she was a fully certified mountain guide.

In the winter Kirsten currently works for Mica Heli Skiing, teaches avalanche courses and leads private ski touring trips. In the summer Kirsten does a mix of private guiding, instructional courses, women’s mountaineering courses and work for the Alpine Club.

The women’s camps have been particularly exciting work for Kirsten. Many of the women on these trips have continued onto further courses and ultimately have become independent and strong mountaineers. “It’s inspiring to see the progress these women make through teamwork and adventure. It’s also exciting to see the friendships develop that bring women together as climbing partners for many years.”

Moving about in the vertical realm has been a part of Lydia's life since early days growing up on a New Zealand sheep farm.  She has since shifted her focus from shimming through caves and up bush vines to the more alpine landscapes of the world, calling the mountains of Western Canada her home for the last 10 years.  A summer job working for the Alpine Club in the Bugaboos as a hut custodian sparked a desire to build a career that would keep her playing and working in the hills.  Since that time climbing and skiing has taken her through the mountains of Europe, NZ, North and South America, becoming an ACMG Ski and Assistant Alpine guide in the process.  She now thoroughly enjoys the privilege of having a "job" encouraging the yearning for higher places and sharing her passion with those she works with.   She looks forward to the opportunity of expanding the wonderful community of colleagues and friends she has come to know on the mountain pathway. 

As a farm girl growing up near Red Deer, Alberta, Sonja spent countless hours spellbound by the Rocky Mountains on the western horizon. She still resides in Red Deer, though sometimes feels that she lives in her car as she drives to and from the mountains for as many skiing and climbing days as she can pack into her schedule! Sonja’s love for the mountains, her strong organizational skills, and abundant energy serve her well as a camp manager. Sonja manages alpin e climbing, ice climbing and backcountry skiing camps for ACMG guides, the Central Alberta Section, and the National ACC.