Join a Tradition of Mountain Exploration
The ACC’s annual General Mountaineering Camp (GMC) has been a Canadian mountaineering staple since 1906. Each summer, we venture into remote mountain wilderness, offering an exceptional introduction to modern-day mountain exploration. Our purpose-built base camp allows you to focus on conquering the peaks. Providing a tailored experience to your skills and objectives, let our guides and talented volunteer leaders let you explore the mountains how you want.
Building on the success of the 2023 Chess Group GMC, we are excited to continue the tradition with the Remillard Range, last visited by the GMC in 2001. One of the last of the Selkirks to be explored due to access issues it took until the 1970s for major activity to occur. With first assents recorded in the 1971 and 1972 Canadian Alpine Journal.
This area of the Selkirks includes many different flavours of rock, from solid limestone to less-solid marble to beautiful alpine granite. There are long ridges with expansive views in all directions. A nice part of the camp objectives will be long, scenic loops from camp involving fun ridge climbing, glacier travel and stream crossings.
Whether you seek remote alpine summits, gourmet chef-prepared meals at 1,800 metres, or the camaraderie of like-minded individuals, the GMC offers it all. We are expecting high demand for the Remillard camp this year.
If you’re an artist, check out our dedicated week designed just for you.
BOOKING INFORMATION
Dates: COMING October 25, 2023
Price: COMING October 25, 2023
Sign up for the GMC outpost to get the inside scoop on GMC 2024 dates and pricing information.
Pre-registration is open until September 30, 2023. Sign up to gain early-bird access to registration a week before everyone else!
MORE INFORMATION
Please try to register online before calling. If you are having issues please try to have your emergency contact information and course questionnaire filled out before calling.
OR Call: (403)-678-3200 ext 213
We appreciate that the lands known today as Canada are home to the enduring presence of all First Nations and Métis people, and the Inuit and we acknowledge the past, present, and future generations of these Nations who continue to lead us in stewarding this land, as well as honour their knowledge and cultural ties to this place.
The Remillard Group is located on the Traditional Lands of the Sinixt, Syilx, Secwepemc, Stoney, Ktunaxa, and Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
Our heli-accessed basecamp will be located at 1,900 metres in the Remillard range, located at the bottom of the north face of Half Dome. This central location provides access to a large variety of peaks and challenges for mountaineers just starting out as well as for seasoned veterans. Depending on participants’ level of experience, fitness, and goals, potential objectives might include:
Keep in mind that once in camp, your GMC experience will be tailored specifically to you. Each day, you decide which hike or climb or learning session you’d love to take part in. The area provides a perfect setting for our ice, snow and rock schools giving you lots of options to develop the skills you want to work on.
Beyond the climbing, the Remillard area offers extensive waterfalls, meadows, forests, boulder fields and alpine lakes to explore.
Day 1:
Meet early in the morning at the helicopter staging area from where you and your gear will be flown into the remote basecamp. Upon arrival, you’ll be introduced and orientated to the camp by our Camp Manager for the week and assigned a tent. You’ll also have the chance to meet some of the week’s guides and go on a short hike to explore the immediate area.
Day 2 – 7 (a typical day)
Day 8:
After a final breakfast, photos and goodbyes, you will fly back to the staging area via helicopter.
All Abilities!
The GMC is open to all! 16 years of age or older, novice to expert, intrepid or laid back. The large camp size (typically 31 participants, 5 guides and 4 volunteer leaders each week) allows for different groups to target a wide ranges of objectives. Each day you get to decide which group you’d like to join depending on your ability, fitness and desired length of day.
Food
Evenings will be spent enjoying great food, socializing in the dining or tea tents and resetting for the next day’s climbing. All our food is prepared by a dedicated team of chefs in a dedicated cooking tent. And all ingredients are flown in fresh each week meaning you’ll be treated to meat, fruit and vegetables (not to mention some killer desserts) through the week, no dehydrated stuff here! Have you even had a turkey dinner above 2,000 meters?
Accommodation
During the course of the camp you’ll be assigned a Mountain Hardwear Trango tent with a companion of your choice or a fellow guest. The tents are large (3 or 4 person) so there is plenty of space for both of you and your gear. If you prefer your own personal tent, this is also an option although we do charge an extra fee of $200 for this as tents are limited.
As well as your sleeping tent, there is a communal dining tent, drying tent and tea tent to hang out with your fellow participants. The camp also has two specially prepared outhouses for guests as well as two private showers (now with hot water!)
Guiding
Our ACMG certified alpine or full mountain guides will help to orientate you at the camp. Each day they will also be leading different groups to different alpine objectives. Our guides will be welcome to answering questions about the region as well as everything from crampon technique to gear recommendations.
As of 2022, we added an additional alpine guide to each week of the GMC. Along with full guides and ACC amateur leaders, this means that participants can expect to be in small groups of 3-5 people all day which adds to the enjoyment of the experience and ensures participants can travel at a pace which is right for them and interact closely with their guides.
Our full guiding roster will be listed below as each guide is confirmed.
Beautiful location, easy access to all routes, lots of variety for trips to satisfy differing levels of motivation day-to-day.
The attitude from the guides and camp staff was infectious and they were all very inspiring.
A perfect week…I’m addicted to the GMC!
“TO STAND ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN, TO LISTEN TO THE ROAR OF AN AVALANCHE, TO SEE RAVENS FLOATING IN THE AIR AND A CASCADE OF ALPINE FLOWERS WAS SORELY NEEDED. WE WERE NOT ONLY ABLE TO DREAM, BUT MAKE MEMORIES.
AS ALWAYS THE CAMP WAS LOCATED IN A SPECTACULAR LOCATION WHERE THE WORRIES OF OUR DAY, WAS FOCUSED ON OUR OBJECTIVES NOT ON THINGS BEYOND OUR CONTROL. THE CAMP RAN AS A NORMAL CAMP, IN A TIME WHEN NORMAL HAS BEEN SO ELUSIVE.
PEOPLE LAUGHED AND JOKED, TOLD STORIES, AND WORKED TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO CLIMB MOUNTAINS. THEIR EXPRESSIONS WERE NOT HIDDEN BEHIND MASKS, BUT THEIR JOY, EXCITEMENT AND OCCASIONALLY FEAR WAS CLEARLY WRITTEN ACROSS THEIR FACES.
WE LEFT CAMP WITH MEMORIES, NEW FRIENDS AND MORE THAN JUST A GLIMMER OF HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.
WITH MANY THANKS, BILL SUMMERS – GMC 2021 WEEK 2″
We sell Tugo® Travel Insurance suitable for both ACC Adventures and personal trips:
INCLUDED WITH YOUR CAMP FEE
PARTICIPANTS MUST PROVIDE
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