Youth Rock & Ice Summer Mountaineering Camp - Canadian Rockies

Youth Rock & Ice Summer Mountaineering Camp – Canadian Rockies

Canada / Alberta / Canmore & Banff

Bow Valley – Wapta Icefield

2 Days of Rock Climbing (Canmore / Banff / Lake Louise) & 3 Day Wapta Glacier Trek
Rock Climbing, Hiking, Glacier Travel, Peak Ascents,
Skills, Adventure, Friends and FUN

The Canadian Rockies offer a great venue for outdoor summer camps, and for this one, we combine daily rock climbing in the Bow Valley with a Wapta Glacier Trek including 2 nights in mountain huts, glacier travel training, peak bagging, and a lot of fun!

Our Rock & Ice camp is meant for youth at all levels who love to spend their entire day in the outdoors and in the mountains for 5 days in a row, rain or shine! Objectives are lots of single pitch rock climbing, followed by hiking, scrambling, glacier travel and peak bagging on the Wapta Glacier traverse for 3 days and 2 nights. Focus of rock & ice youth summer camp is learning new mountain skills, xxperience, camaraderie, and having FUN!

2026 Pricing

CAD $1300/ person + 5% GST

HIGHLIGHTS

For Youth aged 14-17 years old
2 Days Rock Climbing + Wapta Glacier Trek
Any skill level but good fitness and keen to be outdoors all day
Canmore and Banff locations
Certified ACMG guides
All technical equipment provided

PREREQUISITES

Good fitness for 7 – 8 hrs on your feet
Vertical distances (climbs) of 1000 m
No climbing experience required
Comfortable with heights and exposure

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Youth Rock & Ice Summer Mountaineering Camp – Canadian Rockies Itinerary

The camp is a combination of 2 days of daily rock climbing, and a 3-day overnight trek on the Wapta Icefield.
Trip meeting will be in Canmore at OnTop Headquarters. We can provide group transport for an added price, or parents organize their transport for drop-off and pick-up.

For our 3-day Wapta Icefield trip, we will head up to the Bow Hut on Wednesday, and go for a summit, the second day, including some glacier travel training. Descent on Friday back to the Bow Valley.

Skills and Content Covered during the Camp:
– Risk management and trip planning for hiking, scrambling and rock climbing
– Movement skills and efficiency for rock climbing, scrambling, and glacier travel
– Rope handling, belaying techniques, lowering and repelling, knots, basic self-rescue / crevasse rescue
– Navigation, GPS mapping, use of conventional maps, compass and altimeter
– Wildlife and Leave-no-Trace basics

Rock Climbing Sites:

Grassi Lakes (8 min drive from downtown Canmore)
Cougar Creek (5 min drive from downtown Canmore)
The Fazerland (12 min drive from Canmore)
Grotto Canyon (15 Min from Canmore)
Yamnuska Bluffs (20 min drive from Canmore)
Heart Creek (15 min from Canmore)
Zy Goat (12 min from Canmore)
Sunshine Bluffs (20 min from Canmore)

We also have access to other less known sites and objectives that offer relative solitude in the Bow Valley.

Wapta Icefield:
– 2 nights in the Bow Hut
– Peak bagging opportunities: Mt Rhondda North, Mt Thompson, Mt Rhondda South
– Glacier Travel skills

Phones / Use of Electronic Devices

The distractions of electronic devices and outdoor adventures and education don’t go well together. We would be happier if participants left their smart phones at home, but we accept their use during the day for taking photos, videos, navigating and mapping or calling parents if need be. We reserve the right to ask participants to leave their phones at home, if we notice habitual use such as gaming, social media or chatting apps.

Recommended accommodation in Canmore, AB

If you require accommodation in Canmore or Banff, we can gladly give you a hand with your booking in light of your preferred lodging standard, price level and location in town, may it be in a hotel or air b&b.

Here are a few of our recommended hotels in Canmore:

Gear List

Youth Mountaineering – Rock & Ice downloadable .PDF

Please download a PDF copy to use as a checklist when preparing for your trip.

Considerations

Packing for a hiking trip is a balancing act. You want your pack to be as light as possible so you can enjoy the hike instead of just suffering through it. But you also need to have enough gear to be warm (or cool), comfortable, and well-fed and watered. When buying, renting, or borrowing gear for the trip, please keep weight, performance, and function in mind.

Hiking / Climbing / Scrambling Equipment

Day hiking backpack (30-40 litres). Needs to be large enough for climbing shoes, harness and helmet. Some group gear like ropes may need to be shared among participants
Rain cover specific to your pack (optional)
Sturdy approach shoe or light trekking boot with a fairly stiff sole for walking over rocky terrain
Lightweight shoes or Crocs for river crossings, if one is planned
Collapsible, lightweight hiking poles (optional)
Technical equipment like climbing shoes, harness, belay device, helmet. Bring your own if you have it, otherwise we will have those items for you to use.

Clothing

Temperatures in the Canadian Rockies vary hugely even in the summer months. Between June and September, temperatures can range from lows of 0°C overnight to +15°C during the day, or from +15°C overnight to +30°C during the day. Somewhere in between is normal and having several clothing layering options is important. Bring light, technical clothing that doesn’t take much space in your backpack and dries quickly when sweaty or wet.

Waterproof shell jacket with hood (Gore-Tex or similar)
Lightweight wind and water-resistant over-pants (Gore-Tex or similar)
Lightweight hiking pants or zip-offs (no cotton pants or jeans)
Comfortable, synthetic shorts (unless you have zip-off pants)
Thick fleece or wool pullover, or PrimaLoft jacket
Medium weight fleece shirt
Thin, synthetic or wool base layers, top and bottoms
Synthetic or wool t-shirt
Lightweight gloves for colder weather days
Good quality hiking socks (synthetic or wool)
Warm hat that covers your ears if temps are forecasted to be cold
Light, summer gaiters (if necessary, usually only early season)
Sun hat, preferably with a wide rim
Bandana or Buff (optional)

Other items

Lunch and snacks (eg. sandwiches, candy bars, dried fruit, nuts, etc.)
Sunglasses with high UV protection
Sunscreen and lip protection with high SPF
Bear spray and holster (optional, guides will carry one)
Small umbrella (for rainy days, optional)
Small container bug spray or cream
Water bottle or water bladder, allow more than 1 liter on hot days
Headlamp with spare battery (optional)
Small Personal first aid kit and other needs (eg. blister kit, prescription medicine, anti-inflammatory, contact lenses, prescription glasses, etc.)
Pocket knife (optional)
Light stuff sacs or Ziploc bags to keep your backpack organized and important items dry (optional)
A lightweight garbage bag for extra waterproofing (optional)
Camera, spare batteries (optional)
Compass, maps, GPS (optional)
Personal amount of toilet paper in a Ziploc bag
Hand sanitizer or sanitary hand wipes
Feminine hygiene supplies
Comfortable clothing and shoes to leave in the car for return to civilization

Group gear – will be supplied by OnTop Mountaineering and split amongst the participants to carry

Emergency tarp
Technical Equipment, such as ropes, climbing shoes, helmets, harnesses
General repair kit and Leatherman
Maps, compass, GPS, altimeter watch
Phone with power bank, radio, satellite phone or other emergency communication device
First-aid kit

FAQ

Do I need to sign a Release of Liability & Assumption of Risk Agreement (a.ka. liability waiver)?

Yes, you do. Mountaineering, skiing, climbing, hiking, via ferrata and all other wilderness and adventure travel activities are inherently risky with potential for injuries or even death.
It is very important to us that you are aware of those risks before you start the booking process, which includes filling out a booking form and paying a deposit.
With signing the liability waiver, you confirm that you understand the potential risks and hazards, and are willing to accept the risks, which includes giving up legal rights you may have.
This would also be the time to ask questions or address concerns before you book.
For your reference here is a link to our Liability Waiver. Our booking terms & cancellation policy with more details can be found here

Can I Do It?

No previous rock climbing or scrambling experience required but useful. Campers should be keen to spend an entire day in the mountains with the fitness to walk all day at a reasonable pace and often uphill. Participants should also be sure-footed to walk confidently on exposed trails in the mountains.

Climbing Grade Conversion

Climbing: French	UK	Austr.	UIAA	North America
1-2	HVD	8-9	I-II	5.2-3
2-3	MS	10-12	III	5.4-5
4	S	13-	IV	5.6
4+	VS	13+	V-	5.7
5a	HVS	14	V	5.8
5b		15	V+	5.9
6a	E1 5b	19	VI+	5.10a
6a+	E2 5c	19/20	VI+/VII-	5.10b
6b		20	VII	5.10c
6b+	E3 5c	21	VII+	5.10d
6c		21/22	VII+/VIII-	5.11a
6c+	E4 6a	22	VIII-	5.11b
7a		23	VIII	5.11c/d
7a+	E5 6b	24	VIII/VIII+	5.12a
7b		25	VIII+	5.12b
7b+	E6 6b	26	IX-	5.12c
7c		27	IX	5.12d
7c+		28	IX/IX+	5.13a
8a	E7 6c	29	IX+	5.13b
8a+		30	X-	5.13c
8b	E8 7a	31	x	5.13d
8b+		32	X/X+	5.14a
8c	E9 7b	33	X+	5.14b
8c+		34	XI-	5.14c
9a	E10 7c	35	XI	5.14d/5.15

2026 PRICES

$1300 CAD per person + 5% GST

10% discount on sibling bookings, or booking of multiple departures

Group of 2 kids: $1650 CAD
Group of 3 -4 kids: $1300 CAD
Group of 5 kids: $1150 CAD
All prices + GST (5%)

2026 SCHEDULED DEPARTURES

5 Days Monday – Friday

June 29 – Jul 3
July 06 – 10
July 13– 17
July 20 – 24
July 27 – 31
August 03 – 07
August 10 – 14
August 17 – 21

GROUP TRIP SIZE

5-6 Participants: 1 Guide

TRIP INCLUSIONS

Included:

5 Days, Certified ACMG Guide
All guide expenses
Use of technical gear: Helmets, harnesses, carabiners and belay devices, hiking poles, ice axe
2 nights in mountain huts
2 breakfasts and dinners (lightweight, dehydrated)

Not Included:

Driving to trailheads (if group transport is not chosen)
Lunches and snacks
All gear mentioned on the gear list that does not specify “provided by OnTop Mountaineering”

Add-On: