ITINERARY

ARRIVAL & PRE-ASCENT

The Mount Athabasca Ascent is a 1.5 Day Program. 7 days in advance of your ascent, our Program Managers will touch base to provide you with an update on expected route conditions, avalanche hazards (if applicable), and expected weather for your ascent day. Your Guide(s) will be in touch 24-48hrs in advance of departure at a minimum to further discuss final logistics and your expectations for your trip with us.

The evening prior to your ascent, your Mountain Guide will meet you (and your team) at the Columbia Icefields Campground along the Icefields Parkway at 1800hrs MST where dinner, a review of gear and equipment, expected climbing conditions, current weather, and a discussion on our risk management process relative to our proposed route will take place for the mornings departure.

To assist you in arriving smoothly at the Icefields Campground: 
You can find our meeting location here.

Your Ascent Day 

Your Guide will be up early preparing Coffee, Tea, and Breakfast for our Guests who have booked a Meal Program with us. You can expect an alpine (early) start to the day. Start times will be based primarily on conditions on the peak as well as expected weather. Most frequently our teams will depart the trailhead at 0400hrs. However there are circumstances that may dictate a departure as early as 0000hrs (midnight), or inversely circumstances that allow for a later departure around 0500hrs. Your Guide will suggest a departure time based on conditions in the interests of maximizing potential for a summit of the peak - we will, however, work with you to find a departure time that's suitable for you (and the team) so long as this does not unduly increase risk levels. 

Usually our Mountain Guides will Guide ascents of Mount Athabasca in approximately 9-10hrs. During periods where near perfect conditions exist on the peak, fast ascents with quick teams may be possible in 6-7hrs. Where more challenging conditions exist or a team requires a slower pace, ascent times approaching 15hrs can also be experienced. 

LOGISTICS

Guide : Guest Ratios

Both the AA Col Route as well as The Ramp route can be Guided with 1:6 Guide to Guest ratios. For the more technical North Face Routes, such as the Silverhorn, Regular North Face, or the North Face Bypass, Guide to Guest Ratios are limited to 1:2.
 

Travel to the columbia Icefields

Our suggestions for your most efficient way to access the program venue from a variety of locations and international ports of entry:

• Calgary (YYC) to the Columbia Icefields:

  • Those Guests traveling from or arriving by air at Calgary International Airport: Your most efficient route to join us at the Columbia Icefields will be through our base in Canmore, Alberta via Lake Louise then by turning North along the Icefields Parkway. A rental car or personal transportation will be required. 
    Find a travel plan here

• Edmonton (YEG) to the Columbia Icefields: 

  • Those Guests travelling from or arriving by air at Edmonton International Airport: Typically this will require travel via Rocky Mountain House then Saskatchewan River Crossing prior to arrival at the Columbia Icefields. A rental car or personal transportation will be required.
    Find a travel plan here

• Travelling from British Columbia: 

  • For our Guests travelling and arriving from locations in British Columbia: Please use the following map link to aid in your planning and arrival at The Columbia Icefields. 
    The Columbia Icefields Campground - Meeting Place
     

Early ARRIVALS

ACCOMMODATION & TRIP PREP

For those looking to arrive early ahead of your program, there are a variety of useful pre-trip amenities and comfortable accommodation options around our base in Canmore, Alberta, the townsite of Banff, a further 20-minute drive inside the East Gates of Banff National Park, and Lake Louise. The following are our suggestions for accommodation as well as gear and equipment retailers to help you prepare post-arrival:

• ACCOMMODATION:
   

  • CANMORE 
    ALPINE CLUB OF CANADA
    THE PAINTBOX LODGE

  • BANFF
    BUFFALOBERRY LODGE

  • LAKE LOUISE
    CANADIAN ALPINE CENTRE
    THE POST HOTEL
     

• GEAR PURCHASES PRE-TRIP:

  For those looking to purchase gear and equipment prior to your course, we would suggest the following local Bow Valley retailers:

  • Vertical Addiction
    • Located in Canmore, Vertical Addiction offers a complete selection of technical climbing, mountaineering and ski equipment along with a broad selection of technical clothing. 
       
  • SkiUphill
    • Located in Canmore, SkiUphill is a collective of experience driven individuals each with their own history, knowledge and stories of getting out there and getting after it. They offer expertise in backcountry skiing, trail running, climbing and any combination of those activities all while offering the best selection of curated equipment. 
       
  • Monods Sports
    • Located in Banff, Monods is one of the longest operating outdoor equipment and clothing retailers in the Bow Valley. Monods has a large selection of technical clothing and equipment offerings.
       
  • Ortovox
    • Our Partners at Ortovox are known for their high-quality technical outerwear and are a supporting partner of C9G and our ski guiding programs.
       
  • Black Diamond Equipment
    • Black Diamond Equipment has been providing skiers and alpinists with technical equipment since 1989, and is a supporting partner of C9G and our guided ski programs.

Your Mountain Guide's Transportation

TRANSPORTATION COSTS

In addition to your Ascent Package Fee, an additional fee of $200 will be applied to your order. These amounts are paid in full and directly to our Guiding Staff to cover the longer transportation routes required to arrive at the Columbia Icefields. In circumstances where you are able to provide your Guide with Transportation from our hub in Canmore, and where no other factors prohibit this option, this fee will be waived.
 

MOUNTAIN MEAL PROGRAMS

MEAL PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO ADD ON

Meal Programs are available as an additional add-on to your program at the time of booking. Guests are welcome to provide their own meal programs for the duration of the trip if desired.
 

NATIONAL PARK ENTRY PASSES

Guests are responsible for obtaining a National Park entry pass required for the drive through Icefields Parkway, 93N.
 

Accommodation options at the Columbia Icefields

ADD ON OR UPGRADED ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE

The majority of our Guests choose to join us with a stay at the Columbia Icefield Campground. We do however have upgraded accommodation options for your trip with us, which we can arrange for you. Note - your tent site at the Columbia Icefield Campground is not included in your trip fee.

• Columbia Icefield Campground - $16.75/night/person
• The Hilda Creek Hostel - $35/person/night; currently available only as Rent-A-Hostel, meaning renting all 6 spots for $278/night
• The Glacier View Lodge - $449 to $549/night (double occupancy)

Required Equipment & Personal Items

• Backpacks - Small Day Pack ~ 35L
• Mountaineering Boots (not provided)
• Ice Axe (optional)
• Crampons (optional)
• Harness (optional)
• Helmet (optional)
• Sunglasses (We suggest Julbo Sunglasses)
• 50+ SPF Sunscreen
• Lip Balm with SPF
• Headlamp with Fresh Batteries
• Water Bottle - 2 X Collapsable Nalgene Style Water Bottle
• Blister Kit
• Camera
• Trekking Pole
• Ear Plugs
   

essential clothing

• Base Layers - Tops and Bottoms (Wool or Synthetic Only)
• Mid Layers - Tops and Bottoms (200 Weight Wool or Synthetic is Ideal)
• Socks - Wool Blend is best, no cotton
• Light Collared Synthetic Shirt (optional, nice for the really hot sunny days)
• Softshell Jacket and Pants
• Gore-Tex Jacket and Pants
• Sun Hat
• Buff Style Neck Tube or Similar
• Insulated Hat
• Gloves - Heavyweight and Lightweight Options
• Underwear + spares
• Down or Synthetic Insulated Jacket
   

Camping Gear

For those staying with us at the Icefields Campground you will require the following:

• Sleeping Pad (we suggest Exped or Thermarest Down or Synthetic Fill with a high R-Value)
• Tent
• Sleeping Bag - 3 Season Bag rated to ~ -7˚C

TRIP CANCELLATION & INTERRUPTION INSURANCE

The best method to protect your investment with us should unforeseen arise, requiring you cancel your booking, is to purchase a Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance Policy. 

Lifestyle Insurance has covered many of Cloud Nine Guests on trips all over the world, and we have first-hand experience seeing these policies activated by our Guests. 

Safeguard your trip costs and investment with us. Request a Quote from Lifestyle Financial.

Is this coverage required?

• For Canadian Residents, coverage is suggested but not required to register.
• For Non-Canadian Citizens, coverage is suggested but not required. It is strongly suggested that your policy includes Emergency Medical Coverage, unless you carry an alternative policy which will respond in the event of medical emergency.

WAIVER - Release of Liability & Indemnity Agreement

Prior to booking you will be required to acknowledge that you have been provided a copy of our Waiver of Liability Agreement for your review. All participants, or their legal guardians wishing to participate on any Cloud Nine Programs, must acknowledge that they have been presented this document in advance of booking, have read it in its entirety, and understand the agreement being entered into by signing. While there is no obligation to enter into this agreement with us, it is a condition of our service provision. 

   REVIEW OUR WAIVER OF LIABILITY HERE

Booking TErms & Conditions

Before you book your course, please review our Booking Terms & Conditions. We do not accept bookings without your voluntary acceptance of these terms. Please read carefully as these terms outline specific policies and guidance for both our staff and clients with respect to refunds, cancellations, rescheduling etc.

   REVIEW OUR BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS HERE

Book a free consultation

Book a phone call or video call with either of our Program Managers or with our Director of Operations.

This is an excellent preliminary step towards booking a trip with us. It allows us to better understand your requirements and needs for your desired objective.