Last updated on June 28, 2021
The ACC Calgary Section Climbing Committee supports both rock and ice climbing within the club. While we promote many skills that overlap with alpine climbing, our focus in on the more technical aspects of rock and ice as climbing media. For alpine climbing, please check the Alpine Mentorship Program. We currently have an array of programs to meet the needs of total beginners through seasoned climbers. In addition to standard trip postings which you can find on the Event Calendar, we have a number of recurring programs. ALL our recurring programs are currently open to all levels. Click on the following links to find out more about each program:
Regular climbing events
Rock Review and Ice Review (annual all-section trips, generally June and January)
ACC Calgary Section Reviews are section-wide gatherings at the beginning of the climbing season (June for rock and January for Ice) that allow us to welcome new beginners, brush off skills, review safety, and contribute to stewardship. They generally run Friday PM-Sunday PM. Each year we pick a location for group camping/accommodations and plan a shared meal for the Saturday of the event, both of which are offered to participants generally at a subsidized cost. Trip leaders post trips separately in conjunction with the event. When participating in reviews, you will need to sign up BOTH for the “Review” event AND for individual trips as posted by leaders. Contact the leader of the Review with questions or if you are interested in helping to plan/coordinate the next review.
Rock-It (volunteer-run beginner training course)
Click here for more details
Rock Rave (weekly Wednesday evening cragging May-Sept open to all levels)
Coming soon…
Climbing at a Gym or at a Local Crag
During the winter, the Calgary Section meets regularly at the Rocky Mountain Climbing Centre, the Hanger on Wednesday evenings, and Bolder on Monday evenings at a discounted rate (ask the event coordinator about the discount). This becomes a weekly focal point for some section members who can’t keep from climbing mid-week. Once the snow disappears, we move outside to local crags on Wednesday evenings. Check the Event Calendar for more details.
The Chinook Calgary Climbing Centre: 7130 Fisher Rd SE
On occasion an event coordinator will post a climbing night at this location in the SE near Chinook Centre. This is the original Calgary Climbing Centre and the Calgary Section met here regularly for many years. Lately our events are more regularly scheduled at the Rocky Mountain location. During the summer, the club heads to the mountains on Wednesday nights instead.
The Stronghold: 140 15 Ave NW
Stronghold is located centrally and many club members meet here to train. Good bouldering and many steep, overhanging routes. It can be quite busy.
U of C Climbing Room: 2500 University Dr NW
U of C has some of the best inside crack climbing in North America. Come here to hone your crack skills before heading to desert sandstone or west coast granite.
Bolder: 5508 1 St SE
If you don’t already have a pass, our drop-in cost on Mondays will be $13.00. We’ll be waiting near the front at 7:00PM. If you come in later, the front staff will be able to point us out. https://bolderclimbing.com/
Other related programs
In addition, there are several programs under development or currently in need of volunteers to develop/continue them. Are you going to be projecting this summer, how about inviting others to join?
- Introduction to Ice
- Intermediate Rock Climbing Development
- Trad-Only Lead-Only Group
- Sport Projecting Group
- Rock-Route Stewardship
- Rock-Rescue Skills
TRIPS
Trips are made available through the Event Calendar. As climbing involves a high level of risk and we are dependent on each other to safely manage rope systems, many leaders are cautious or reticent to tackle difficult objectives with unknown partners. If you are interested in a trip, it is best practice to contact the trip leader with your experience and be prepared to climb with them first in a low-commitment setting (such as the gym or Rock Rage). Please see “8 Ways to Get on the Coolest ACC Trips” for further tips.
TRIP LEADING
We welcome new trip leaders! We are always needing new trip leaders and more trips! If you are learning, practicing, or training yourself, why not make it a shared event? ACC trip leaders are not expected to be guides, you can organize a trip for exactly the level you are interested in and capable of. There is also a network of experienced leaders that we can pair you up with for mentorship and technical skills support. If you are interested, please check out the general guidelines to becoming a trip leader. Once you have benefited from the programs currently supported by our volunteers and subsidized by the club, please consider “paying it forward.” If you have an idea for a trip or program that is not listed feel free to contact the climbing chair (climb@acccalgary.ca).
- Post a Trip (https://www.acccalgary.ca/how-to-post-a-trip-on-the-event-calendar/)
- Waivers (https://www.acccalgary.ca/documents-and-waivers/)
- Trip Leader Handbook (https://www.acccalgary.ca/club-documents/TripCoordinatorHandbook_201403.pdf)
- Climbing Best Practices (Coming Soon…)
- Trip Leader Training Subsidy (https://www.acccalgary.ca/2015/05/trip-leader-subsidy-policy/)
- Climbing Leader Questionnaire (https://www.acccalgary.ca/climbing_leader_questionnaire_201912/)
SAFETY STANDARDS and BEST PRACTICE
Climbing committee is currently developing a set of best practices based on ACMG standards to assist club members and trip leaders in staying up-to-date with the best risk-management techniques for the mountains. Incident Reports (https://www.acccalgary.ca/documents-and-waivers/) can be submitted to the climbing chair, section chair & vice chair (email link: climb@acccalgary.ca, chair@acccalgary.ca, vice.chair@acccalgary.ca )
COURSES
Throughout the year, the Training and Leadership Committee (training.leadership@acccalgary.ca) will post courses for introductory, intermediate, and advanced skills. In particular, Wilderness First Aid is a fundamental course for all aspects of mountain exploration, and is generally organized twice a year. Courses are taught by guides and are at a discounted rate through the club. Climbing-related courses include: Into to Ice, Leading on Ice, Steep Ice Clinic, Sport Leading, Intro to Traditional Climbing/Pro Placement, Rock Rescue and more.
QUESTIONS?
Contact the climbing chair (climb@acccalgary.ca) with additional questions or suggestions.
Additional Local resources: Tabvar (https://www.tabvar.org/), Banff Belay Monkeys Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/590738837611139/), Canadian Rockies Ice Climbing Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/RockiesIce/), Gravsports (http://www.gravsports.com/),
Climb On!