AMP Alpine Empowerment/capstone program - Friday, Aug 28, 2026

The Basics:
Event Type: Alpine 
Event Location: TBD 
Event Starts:   Friday, Aug 28, 2026 07:00 AM (Carpool Departure: 06:00 AM @ Valley Ridge area)  
Event Ends:   Sunday, Aug 30, 2026 04:00 PM  
Registration Cut Off:   Saturday, Aug 15, 2026  
Difficulty Rating:   D3 - See Conversion Chart  
Trip Coordinator(s):   Katherine Morianos
 

Participant Info:
Who's Invited:   Members Only  
Attendee Screening:   Attendees are Pre-Screened
Maximum Group Size: 6
Minimum Group Size: 3
Number Registered So Far:   5 (View sign-ups, waiting list)
Are Dogs Permitted:   No

Itinerary:

Alpine Empowerment is a capstone-style program designed for participants who already have foundational mountaineering, rock, and glacier-travel skills and are ready to apply them in real alpine environments. The course blends refresher training with coached leadership, giving participants the opportunity to take the lead on genuine alpine objectives while receiving targeted guidance from instructors.

Objectives: 


Objective 1: Alpine Skills Refresher

  • Simple rescue skills

  • Bailing

  • Short roping review 


Objective 2: Alpine Anchors

  • Utilizing natural anchors

  • Utilizing traditional anchors


Objective 3: Participant Led Objectives

  • Coached snow/ice alpine objective

    • Example: Andromache N.Glacier or similar

  • Coached rock alpine objective

    • Example: Niblock/Whyte from col, Baldy W.Ridge, Loder/Doorjamb

 

Day One Lesson Plan:

  • Alpine skills refresher

    • Cover and summarize skills from previous courses

  • Introduce traditional anchors in the short roping/mountaineering environment


Day Two Lesson Plan:

  • Snow/ice objective


Day Three Lesson Plan:

  • Rock objective


    3 days of guided instruction is included, food and accommodation are not included.


    Pre-requisites: Alpine Skills Weekend, Scrambling Skills & Mountaineering and Trad Leader or climbing skills resume





Required Items to Bring:

  • Helmet

  • Harness

  • 1× ATC with HMS carabiner

  • 4× Locking carabiners

  • 4× Non-locking carabiners

  • 1× 120cm Dyneema sling

  • 1× 240cm Dyneema sling

  • 5m Bundle of 7mm cordelette

  • Short prusik or 13.5" Sterling HollowBlock

  • Petzl Micro Traxion and Tibloc

  • Trad gear

  • Glacier-travel crampons

  • Glacier axe

  • Avalanche probe (240–400cm)

  • Full shank mountain boots

  • Approach shoes

  • Collapsible hiking pole with removable basket

  • Socks (synthetic/wool blend, well-proven)

  • Light base layer

  • Long-sleeve sun shirt

  • Mid-layer top

  • Warm insulating jacket

  • Softshell pants

  • Hardshell pants

  • Waterproof hardshell jacket with hood

  • Leather gloves

  • Sunglasses

  • Sunscreen

  • Headlamp


How to Get There:
Carpool Departure Time:   06:00 AM
Carpool Location:   Valley Ridge area

Notes:

Hazards 

 

Rockfall and Icefall

What are the Risks

Rockfall and icefall can be caused by natural forces or by people travelling through the terrain (e.g. climbing/scrambling/hiking)

Hazard Mitigation

Mitigated with certified and experienced guides, Helmets

 

Avalanche

What are the Risks

Avalanches can occur in the terrain you will be entering| Caused by natural forces, or by people travelling through the terrain (skiing/snowboarding)| Anyone caught in an avalanche is at risk of personal injury, death, and/or property damage or loss.|

Hazard Mitigation

Certified Guides with experience and training to manage this risk 

Daily risk assessment processes  

Guest training  

 

 

Communication and Rescue

What are the Risks

Communication can be difficult and in the event of an 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|

Hazard Mitigation

First Aid / Rescue Training| Satellite Communications | 

 

 

Terrain

What are the Risks

Cornices | Crevasses | Trees, tree wells, and tree stumps | Cliffs | Creeks | Rocks and Boulders |Holes and depressions below the snow surface| Variable and difficult snow conditions |Snowcat roads and road ranks | Fences and other man-made structures | Impact or collision with other persons, vehicles or objects | Encounters with domestic or wild animals | Loss of balance or control | Becoming lost or separated from the group | Slips, trips, and falls|

Hazard Mitigation

Mitigated by Trained and experienced Guide| Radios

 

 

General Hazards 

What are the Risks

Slips trips and falls indoor or outdoor| Equipment failure| Infectious disease contracted through viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi which may be transmitted through direct or indirect contact| Negligence of other persons, including other guests| Negligent first aid| Negligence of the guide Including failure to take reasonable steps to safeguard or protect you from, or warn you of risk, dangers, hazards, on participating in ACC activities|

Hazard Mitigation

Developed safety plans and procedures with decades of experience managing risk.

 

 

Falls and Belaying

What are the Risks

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

Hazard Mitigation

Reviewing best practices with the guide| Equipment checks|

 

 




Payment Options:
  • Coordinator $1193.85 CAD
  • Member $1193.85 CAD
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.

Waiver and Membership Requirement
Participation in this activity is subject to you having a current membership and a current signed ACC Release of Liability, Waiver of Claims, Assumption of Risks Agreement (the “Waiver”), which is signed in conjunction with purchasing/renewing your membership.

A separate Waiver is not required. Your membership Waiver in place at the time of the activity will apply to your participation in this activity. You can review your completed waiver by logging onto your profile at alpineclubofcanada.ca. If your membership renews prior to the activity taking place, you will be required to agree to a new Waiver upon renewal, this new Waiver will apply to your participation in this activity. By proceeding with the booking, you agree to the foregoing waiver terms. Bookings without a current Waiver at the time of the activity will be cancelled.

The Waiver is a legal document by which you waive or give up the right to sue or claim compensation following an accident. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY! You can review your completed waiver by logging onto your profile at alpineclubofcanada.ca.

SIGN UP HERE
The trip coordinator needs to review and accept your application for this event. Add yourself to the waiting list here.


Never (not until the event has passed) 
2 Days Before Event  
7 Days Before Event  
I have read and agree to the waiver requirements set out above. I also agree that as a Member, my ACC Waiver in place at the time of this activity will apply to my participation in such activity.

I have read and understand the risks, dangers and hazards associated with this event found on the registration page. I understand that there are many risks, dangers and hazards associated with this activity and am signing up for this event knowing the risks, dangers and hazards that exist and am freely accepting them.