Steep Ice & Anchors with Girth Hitch Guiding - Friday, Mar 27, 2026

The Basics:
Event Type: Ice Climbing 
Event Location: David Thompson Corridor  
Event Starts:   Friday, Mar 27, 2026 05:00 PM  
Event Ends:   Sunday, Mar 29, 2026 05:00 PM  
Registration Cut Off:   Friday, Mar 20, 2026  
Difficulty Rating:   D2 - See Conversion Chart  
Trip Coordinator(s):   Peter Doan
 

Participant Info:
Who's Invited:   Members Only  
Attendee Screening:   Attendees are Pre-Screened
Maximum Group Size: 6
Minimum Group Size: 4
Number Registered So Far:   0 (View sign-ups, waiting list)
Are Dogs Permitted:   No

Itinerary:

Guides: Girth Hitch Guiding

ACC Edmonton is facilitating this 2-Day (Saturday and Sunday), ACMG guided course: prepares participants toward lead-climbing readiness, improved terrain reading, and the systems needed for safe descent and retreat.


Participants will refine movement efficiency, develop stable stances for screw placement, and learn to build and evaluate natural and ice anchors.


Objectives: 


Refine Movement Skills in Preparation for Leading:

  • Reinforce chair position (sagging) when moving feet up in steep terrain
  • Demonstrate I-frame
  • Finding grooves and easiest line

Stances for Screw Placements: 

  • Preparing and sighting ledges
  • H-frame on ledges
  • Windshield wiper for screw placements; screws at hip height

Ice/Tree Anchors and Rappelling:

  • Overview of strength and assessment of trees as anchors
  • Basket hitch variations
  • Review ice anchor construction
  • Rappelling with backups 

Accommodation:

4-Bed Mixed Dorm
Shunda Creek Wilderness Hostel 

Check in Friday 27 March, Check out Sunday 29 March.


Cost: (Payable to Trip Coordinator)

$538.40 (Course AND Accommodation only)


Carpooling:

The trip coordinator will facilitate a conversation between confirmed participants to assist with carpooling. Participants will be responsible to confirm carpooling arrangements.


Food:

Participants will be required to arrange their own meals during the trip.


Required Items to Bring:

Equipment List

  • Helmet
  • Harness
  • Belay device
  • Ice tools
  • Crampons
  • 4× Locking carabiners
  • 4× Non-locking carabiners
  • 1× 120cm Dyneema sling
  • Ice screws (3× 13cm, 3× 17cm, 1× 22cm)
  • 2× Ice clippers
  • 6× Quickdraws
  • 5m of 7mm cord
  • Mountaineering boots
  • 40L Backpack (ice-tool compatible)
  • Socks (synthetic/wool blend, well-proven)
  • Long underwear top and bottoms (heavyweight synthetic or wool)
  • Softshell pants and jacket
  • Midweight synthetic or down jacket
  • Warm insulating jacket
  • Waterproof hardshell jacket with hood
  • Leather gloves
  • Warm hat that fits under a helmet
  • Lunch and snacks (high-calorie, high-fat recommended)
  • Thermos flask and/or water bottle (1–2L total)
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Hand and foot warmers
  • Headlamp


Notes:

Hazards of undertaking this activity may include, but not limited to: 


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

You will be required to complete the ACC and Girth Hitch Guiding Waiver in order to partake in this activity.




**IMPORTANT**


This course is hosted by Girth Hitch Guiding and confirmation is only received after payment is transferred to the Trip Coordinator and minimum group size is reached.. If minimum group sizes are not reached and the trip does not proceed, you will be eligible for a refund.


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 and/or Girth Hitch Guiding.


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 does not refund hut fees due to weather, delay, closures, or any other reasons. ACC Edmonton is a not for profit club and we only charge attendees what it costs us to facilitate courses or trips.


Cancellation Policy
You can view our cancellation policy here.

Click Here to return to the ACC Edmonton Website Home Page

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