At 3,272 meters (10,735 feet), Mount Balfour is the highest and most prominent peak on the Wapta Icefield. Accessed either from the Balfour or Daly hut, it involves glacier travel, snow and/or ice, and an exposed summit ridge. With glacial recession, conditions are changing on a monthly basis and require reassessment to ensure that safe travel can be achieved.
This is an intermediate mountaineering trip, ACC hut based, with the intent of summitting Mount Balfour 03 October. The trip will be supervised by ACMG Mountain Guide Brent Peters who has several successful summits of Mount Balfour all four season conditions.
An intermediate to advanced glacier travel trip, trip participants will be expected to lead rope teams and should have an intro to mountaineering course or equivalent under their belts. If you have less experience, please reach out to the trip coordinator to discuss.
Day 1 - approach to the Daly Hut. This approach is a more arduous trek than to the Bow and is more similar to the Peyto Hut approach. There will be glacier travel during the final section. 14km and 1100m elevation gain.
Day 2 - summit and descend Mount Balfour. Glacier travel, snow/ice climbing, scrambling. 14km and 700m elevation gain.
Day 3 - reverse day 1, hut to car.
Accommodations - Daly Hut. The smallest hut on the far south end of Wapta Icefield. Hut cost is included.
Food - Breakfast and dinner (appetizer dinner dessert) can be provided by PeakEATS for $45 per person per day (optional, not included in trip cost). Lunch and snacks can also be provided for an additional cost. Dietary needs can usually be accommodated. Group cooking is easier at the smaller huts as they have fewer stoves.
To sign up is as follows:
Add your name to the waitlist.
Email katherine@acccalgary.ca with details of your experience. Once this has been reviewed you will be notified if you are accepted on the event.
You then need to make your payment by clicking the yellow Pay Now button. You do not need a PayPal account. You can pay with a credit card. Or email to make other arrangements for payment.
Once you have paid, you will be added to the attendee list.
Required Items to Bring:
Gear - same as for intro to snow/ice mountaineering (details TBC) plus hut overnight gear ie sleeping bag and hut shoes, food and water.
Gear rentals are available.
Recommended Items to Bring:
Notes:
Hazards
Rockfall and Icefall
Rockfall and icefall can be caused by natural forces or by people travelling through the terrain (e.g. climbing/scrambling/hiking)
Avalanche
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.|
Communication and Rescue
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|
Terrain
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|
General Hazards
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|
Falls and Belaying
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|
Payment Options:
Coordinator $761.25 CAD
Member $761.25 CAD
Cancellation/Partial Attendance:
Please review our participant responsibility
guidelines!
*Note: Once payment has been received by the
treasurer you will be moved to the confirmed
list. There will be no refund for
cancellations.
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.