Alpine Club of Canada, Calgary Section

Mt Forbes - Ski Mountaineering - Thursday, May 22, 2025

The Basics:
Event Type:		Skiing
Event Location:		Icefields parkway
Event Starts:		Thursday, May 22, 2025 05:00 AM (Carpool Departure: 05:00 AM @ TBD)
Event Ends:		Tuesday, May 27, 2025 10:00 PM
Registration Cut Off:		Monday, May 19, 2025 04:00 PM
Difficulty Rating:		D4 - See Conversion Chart
Trip Coordinator(s):		Joad Clement

Participant Info:
Who's Invited:		Members & Guests, 18 And Older Only
Attendee Screening:		Attendees are Pre-Screened
Maximum Group Size:		6
Maximum No. Guests:		3
Minimum Group Size:		4
Maximum No. Guests Per Member:		1
Number Registered So Far:		1 (View sign-ups, waiting list)
Are Dogs Permitted:		No

Itinerary:
This trip targets a ski ascent of Mount Forbes with helicopter approach to the Mons Hut where we will be based for 3 nights. The trip will take place on the best 4-day weather (cold and sunny ideally) window out of 6 days around the weekends of May 22- 27 OR May 29-June 3. · Day 1: 6-hour drive to heli staging area (51.79111, -117.16976: drivable end of the Valenciennes River Forestry Road). Fly in to Mons Hut. · Day 2: Ski ascent of Mt Forbes through the West Glacier, Rosita couloir, then NW face or W ridge. 1,500 m gain. 20km return, 15-hour day. · Day 3: Spare climbing day, or ascent of Mons Peak or Cambrai Mountain. · Day 4: early descent (ski then bootpack) to vehicles traversing below Mons Peak (exposed to avalanches and rock falls). 1,500 m loss. ±4km ski + ±16km walk with skis on pack and many creek crossings. We will work in 2 ropes teams. Max number of participants 6, min 4 participants to keep the helicopter cost per person manageable. Costs: · 3-night stay at Mons Hut ($50 + GST per night per person): $157.50 · Helicopter fees (fly-in only): approx. $500 to $600 per person ($2,700 for 5-person flight or $3,200 for 6. I will get a firm quote for heli company before our group call. · Carpooling fees to staging area: approx. $50 per person Some ice climbing may be found on Forbes NW face and W ridge. Boot crampons, 1 mountaineering axe + 1 ice tool should suffice to pass those ice patches. We will have a group call on Monday May 19 at 7 pm to hopefully select the departure date and discuss group gear. Mark your calendar (it’s a stat holiday). Readings: · Bill Corbett’s, The 11,000ers of the Canadian Rockies · David P. Jones, Rockies West · http://www.icefall.ca/icefall-traverse/ · https://perpetualski.ca/2015/07/forbes/
Required Items to Bring:
Beacon, probe, shovel, ski crampons, crampons fitted to ski boots, 1 mountaineering axe, 1 ice tool, glacier travel kit, climbing/ski helmet, layered winter clothing. Approach shoes for the descent to vehicles.

How to Get There:
Event Directions:
Carpool Departure Time:		05:00 AM
Carpool Location:		TBD
Carpool Directions:		TBD during our group call on Monday May 19, 7 pm

Notes:
If we have not climbed together before send me a paragraph at joad.clement@gmail.com or text at 403-875-1251 about your alpine & ski mountaineering experience. Let me know if you interested in leading the 2nd rope team.


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.

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