Camp Highlights

  • Guiding at 2:1 ratios by ACMG certified alpine guides
  • Stay at two iconic ACC huts - Elizabeth Parker and Abbot Pass
  • Group food is portered in to reduce backpack loads
  • Summit classic peaks such as Mt. Victoria and Mt. Lefroy

Dates & price

  •  August 7th - 12th
  • $2,395 + Tax / Person

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Classic Summits and Iconic Huts Combine to Make for a Unique ACC Adventure

Visit two of the ACC's most iconic huts, experience the pristine beauty of the Lake O'Hara region and maximize your chances of summiting some of the most iconic mountains of the Rockies with a 2:1 guiding ratio on this ever popular summer camp.

The stunning mountains around Lake O’Hara are some of the best that the Rockies have to offer. The classic climbs and hikes in the area were some of the first to be completed in the Rockies after the Canadian Pacific Railway opened up the area to tourism. The pristine lakes, meadows and glaciers of the Lake O’Hara region continue to be classics, attracting numerous visitors every year.

Please note: Parks Canada is in the process of completing a slope stabilization project on the Abbot Pass Hut. We expect the hut to be open in time for this camp but can't 100% guarantee this will be the case. In the event that we are forced to cancel the camp, a full refund will be offered to all participants. 
Camp Objectives

The Elizabeth Parker hut offers access to mountains like Mt. Odaray (3159 m), Ringrose Peak (3278 m), Mt. Yukness (2847 m), Schäffer Ridge (2692 m), and Glacier Peak (3283 m).

From Abbot Pass you can access the classic climbs on Mt. Victoria (3464 m), Mt. Lefroy (3423 m), and Mt. Huber (3368 m).

Whether you’ve visited the Lake O’Hara area before or not, there are plenty of possible classic routes to keep you coming back.

Day by Day Adventure Itinerary 
  •  
  • Day 1: Meet your group at the Lake Louise Alpine Centre and take the 8:30 am bus into Lake O’Hara. Overnight at the beautiful Elizabeth Parker Hut and explore the local area.
  • Day 2 & 3: Two full days to summit some of the peaks in the vicinity of the Elizabeth Parker hut.
  • Day 4: Move base to the Abbot Pass Hut. If the group is strong there is an opportunity to push on for a summit the same day.
    • Day 5: A full day to target one of the classic objectives from Abbot Pass.
    • Day 6: Opportunity to bag one final objective before hiking down to Lake O’Hara and catching the 4:30 or 6:30 pm bus back to the parking lot
Is this Camp For Me?
Intermediate

This camp is designed for climbers with intermediate mountaineering experience and a good level of fitness. Climbs will be on alpine rock, snow and ice with typical mountaineering packs each day. Access from the bus to EP Hut is a 10 minute walk and participants will be expected to help carry the food and some group gear. Access to Abbot Pass Hut is a via a steep scree slope and participants will be expected to carry a portion of food and group gear.

Food, Accommodation and Guiding

Food

Meals are a combination of tasty, dehydrated backpacking meals, pre-prepared meals and goodies provided by specialist backcountry caterers based out of the Bow Valley. While some of the group’s food is portered into the Abbot Pass hut to keep packs light on the steep hike, participants will be asked to help out with some group gear and food. We’re able to accommodate most allergies, medical dietary restrictions and vegetarian diets. Additional surcharges apply for vegan, lactose-free, or gluten-free diets. Check out our sample menu for full details of catering on ACC Adventures camps and courses.

Accommodation

The first three days of the camp are based out of the Elizabeth Parker hut. The Wiwaxy cabin (the smaller of the two buildings on The Alpine Club’s lease) was the first hut built at Lake O’Hara, in 1912. The bigger hut was built in 1919. The historic log buildings are named after Elizabeth Parker, one of the six founding members of The Alpine Club of Canada. For the final two nights of the trip, the group will move to the Abbot Pass hut. Located on the col between Mt. Lefroy and Mt. Victoria, the hut itself offers a spectacular view down the valley towards the Chateau Lake Louise. The Abbot Pass hut sits on the divide between Alberta (Lake Louise) and British Columbia (Lake Oesa).

Guiding

Our 2:1 guiding ratio (2 clients per guide) will give you the best possible chance of success. The small groups mean that you can split up based on objectives and pacing, and get the individualized attention needed to tackle more challenging alpine rock routes.  

This camp is guided by Association of Canadian Mountain Guides-certified Alpine and Apprentice Alpine guides.

  • “The guides did a good job of making sure everyone got on something appropriate to their objective and skill level.”
  • “My guide expectations were already high and these were met...”
  • “The group (guides and participants) was really friendly and supportive.”
- ACC Mountaineering Camp Participants-

Adventure Map

more information

  Email us
   403 678 3200 ext. 213
  Gear list

Organizing Fantastic ACC Adventures For Over 100 Years

  • Local Knowledge - based out of Canmore, AB, we know the Rockies region and the best local caterers, guides and porters
  • Dedicated resources - full-time office staff, ACMG guides and group equipment on-hand to ensure your trip runs smoothly
  • Not-for-profit - any money we make on camps and courses is reinvested into providing services for our members and the mountain community

Cancellation policy and travel Insurance

Please be sure to review our cancellation policy before registering for ACC Adventures:
 
Cancellation Policy
We sell Tugo® Travel Insurance suitable for both ACC Adventures and personal trips: 

Travel Insurance

Included WITH YOUR CAMP FEE

  • 6 days professional guiding at 2:1 ratios by certified ACMG alpine guides 
  • 3 nights accommodation at the Elizabeth Parker Hut
  • 2 nights accommodation at the Abbot Pass Hut
  • All meals from dinner on day 1 to lunch on day 6
  • Portering of group food to reduce backpack weights
  • Bus transportation to and from Lake O'Hara
  • Parks Canada Wilderness Passes
  • All group gear

Participants Must Provide

  • Transportation to and from the Lake O'Hara parking lot
  • Personal gear (see gear list)
  • Breakfast and lunch on day 1, dinner on day 6

Your Guides

Kirsten Knechtel

Kirsten was raised in Banff, AB where her passion for the mountains and mountain adventure began. Kirsten’s family were outdoor enthusiasts and by the age of 6 she began ski racing, age 10 ski touring, and by age 14 she had climbed many classic alpine routes in the Canadian Rockies. Her career as a guide was a natural step. By age 25 she was a fully certified mountain guide. Kirsten has a variety of guiding experience behind her. She has worked as a manager of a catskiing operation and guided many heliskiing, catskiing and private ski touring trips. In the summer she has worked with the British military training, run her own private guiding business and spent well over 10 years working at the Alpine Club’s General Mountaineering Camp, Marmot Women’s camps and other ACC programs.

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