The Canadian Rockies offer several hundred alpine climbs —enough to last a lifetime— featuring anything from glaciers, stunning lakes, rock, icefields, and peaks exceeding 11,000’. Straddling the continental divide between British Columbia and Alberta, the area is famous for its jaw-dropping panoramic views, spectacular geography, diverse wildlife, and alpine climbing routes for all ability levels. The Rockies are also home to four national parks — Banff, Jasper, Yoho, and Kootenay — and encompass a wealth of the vast Columbia Icefield and the complex Castleguard Caves. Climb in some of the most famous locations, such as Mt. Athabasca (reaching a phenomenal 3,491m), Castle Mountain, Mt Louis, or Edith Cavell. Breathe the fresh alpine air, work on your skills, and make memories that will last a lifetime! Find out more about alpine climbing in the Canadian Rockies from ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide Jeff Bullock!
Finest collection of true alpine climbs in the world
A lifetime’s worth of experiences and objectives for any alpine climber
Everything from stunning glacial lakes to snowy mountain tops
Whether you want to reach a summit or simply work on your alpine climbing skills, the Canadian Rockies offer a myriad of options for everyone. The area offers so many classic Rockies high points — choose a route and let your guide lead the way! Spend a day on the rock, snow, and ice terrain acquiring new climbing techniques and skills important for alpine climbing. Get out of your comfort zone, step into the great outdoors, and do something you never imagined you could! Your guide will customize the day to fit your skills and objectives while making sure you are safe and have fun.
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in the Canadian Rockies, please refer to the official Alberta website and official Province of British Columbia website.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get in this adventure:
What’s not included:
This alpine climbing adventure is ideal for beginner to experienced alpine climbers. You will need a good level of fitness as you will be moving for a minimum of three hours on the rocks plus some additional hiking. Even though rock climbing is all about using good movement technique rather than muscling up a cliff using brute strength, a week in the alpine environment will test you. Be prepared for full days of strenuous climbing in cold temperatures and changeable weather conditions.
If you’ve never alpine climbed before, this private day of climbing with a guide is an ideal opportunity to learn the basics. Alpine climbing is not for first-time rock climbers, but if you have some experience in rock climbing, there are routes that you can successfully complete with the help of a guide. This course is meant to develop skills and techniques that will take your climbing to the next level. You will spend time on rock, snow and ice terrain to round out the skill set with guides that have years and years of mountain experience to share with you.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
If you have your own gear, feel free to bring it. If not, you can rent crampons, harness, axe and a helmet for $20.00 per day. You’ll need:
Group sizes and prices:
If you are traveling with a bigger group, let us know and we will make arrangements.
Min. age requirements:
If your group has climbers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
One of your quickest options for getting to the Rockies is the Calgary International Airport, located just an hour and a half from Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies and and 4 hours away from Columbia Icefields. From there you can rent a car or take a shuttle to the Canadian Rockies.
Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet. Depending on your wishes and objectives, fitness level, and previous climbing experience, your guide will choose the most appropriate location for alpine climbing.
