Ice Review @ Balfour Wall - Sunday, Jan 21, 2024

The Basics:
Event Type: Ice Climbing 
Event Location: Balfour Wall 
Event Starts:   Sunday, Jan 21, 2024 08:00 AM (Carpool Departure: 08:00 AM @ Mosquito Creek Hostel)  
Event Ends:   Sunday, Jan 21, 2024 04:00 PM  
Registration Cut Off:   Friday, Jan 19, 2024 08:00 PM  
Difficulty Rating:   D2 - See Conversion Chart  
Trip Coordinator(s):   Shaun Luong
 

Participant Info:
Who's Invited:   Members Only  
Attendee Screening:   Attendees are Pre-Screened
Maximum Group Size: 6
Minimum Group Size: 2
Number Registered So Far:   3 (View sign-ups, waiting list)
Are Dogs Permitted:   No

Itinerary:

We will leave the hostel and drive about 20 minutes to the parking for Balfour wall.  It's a bit of a hike up to the climbs.  Once there we'll set up top ropes and people can run laps on a variety of spots.  Balfour can get a bit busy so we may be sharing with other groups. 

https://www.theoutbound.com/canada/rock-climbing/ice-climbing-at-balfour-wall

During the day we can just climb, or people can participate in the anchor building, practice v-threads, mock lead etc.  Whatever the group wants.

Participants need to know how to top-rope belay. 

This event is for Ice Review participants.  Participants will remain on the waiting list for this event until they have signed up for the Ice Review weekend, and then will be added to this climbing event on a FCFS basis.

Required Items to Bring:

Ice tools, crampons, boots, harness, helmet, belay device.


Recommended Items to Bring:

Warm drinks, snacks for the day, lots of gloves, big puffy jacket and other warm clothes.  Ice screws if you have them and want to practice with them, ice clippers, v-thread hooker if you want to practice v-threads, some sort of personal anchor or sling.

It is recommended to use crampons that attach to boots via bails on the front and back and please fit crampons to boots prior to coming out.


How to Get There:
Event Directions:  

Drive up the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93N) for 60 km. From there you will see a small rest stop like parking lot. From there the trail is quite obvious.

 
Carpool Departure Time:   08:00 AM
Carpool Location:   Mosquito Creek Hostel
Carpool Directions:  

We will talk on Saturday to determine what time we'll leave Sunday morning and try to take as few vehicles as possible to the climbing.


Notes:

Trip Hazards – Must read BEFORE registering!

Rockfall and icefall

  • can be caused by natural forces, or by people travelling through the terrain (e.g. climbing/scrambling/hiking). What are the risks? Impact from a falling rock or ice can result in injury or death and can also damage equipment such as ropes.

Avalanche

  • can occur in the terrain in which we operate and can be caused by natural forces, or by people travelling through the terrain (e.g. skiing/snowboarding). What are the risks? Anyone caught in an avalanche is at risk of personal injury, death, and/or property damage or loss.

Terrain

  • Crevasses
  • Cornice fall
  • Trees, forest deadfall and tree stumps
  • Creeks
  • Rocks and Boulders
  • Variable and difficult walking terrain
  • Impact or collision with other persons or objects
  • Encounters with domestic or wild animals
  • Contact with poisonous flora or fauna
  • Loss of balance or control
  • Slips, trips,and falls

Falls and Belaying

  • Mountaineering and ice climbing present the risk of falling from the wall causing the climber to collide with the wall or the ground, which can lead to injury or death.
  • The risk of belay failure is also present, which can contribute to the risk of a ground fall. 

Communication, rescue and medical treatment

  • Communication can be difficult and in the event of a accident rescue and treatment may not be available
  • Adverse weather may also delay the arrival of treatment and transport out of the field
  • If an Injury occurs in challenging terrain movement to an evacuation point may be slow

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:
Please review our participant responsibility guidelines!


Cancellation Policy
If a participant is unable to attend a paid course or trip, there will be no refund unless the participant finds a suitable replacement that is acceptable to the trip coordinator. Acceptable waiting list candidates will have priority. It will then be the participant's responsibility to recover funds from the replacement. If the coordinator cancels an event, participants get a refund (less any non-recoverable costs). Note that ACC National does not refund hut fees due to weather, delay, closures, or any other reasons. The Calgary Section of the ACC is a not for profit club and we only charge attendees what it costs us to provide courses or trips.

Trip Feedback
If you have any feedback, positive or negative, concerning this trip or any other, we want to hear from you! You can send any feedback you may have to the Section Chair.

Registration for this event closed on Friday, January 19, 2024 at 08:00 PM.