• Welcome to our fifth annual outdoor Queer Climbing Collective trip, July 17-19, 2026! We will be heading down to the David Thompson Corridor for the evening of Friday, July 17th and finishing the trip on the evening of Sunday, July 19.

Please note this trip is a closed 2S/LGBTQIA+ space, and you must be 18+ to participate.

Folks will be climbing all day Saturday and Sunday. We will be in a group campsite Friday and Saturday evening. There may be opportunities to swim at Lake Abraham or other nearby locations.

Please bring:

- camping gear:

• tent
• sleeping bag, mat, pillow
• campstove and fuel (there may be a fire ban, so don't assume you'll be able to cook over the fire!), kitchen kit (pots, plate, mug, etc.)
• flashlight and or headlamp
• toiletries (please note there are no showers, running water, or flush toilets at the campsite so plan accordingly)

- all food you require for the weekend

- water! There is no potable water where we are camping

- Climbing gear

• Helmet 

• Harness 

• Climbing shoes 

• Belay/rappel device with locking carabiner

• Lanyard or personal anchor system with locking carabiner

• Anchor kit (120 (or 180) cm sewn sling, 1 locking carabiner and 2 non-locking carabiners) 

• Sterling Hollowblock or short cord (1.5m) for rappel prusik 

• Quickdraws (a dozen or so per pair)

• Single rope (60 or 70m per pair)

• Layers appropriate for the expected forecast (e.g. puffy, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, rain pants, rain/wind jacket)

• Approach shoes or hiking shoes/boots for the hike up

• Chalk (optional)

• Pole (optional)

• Bear spray (recommended)

• Backpack

  
  Please email yegqueerclimbing@gmail.com if you are missing anything from the gear list and can't source/borrow gear. We will provide snacks (fruit, granola bars, s'mores if there's no fire ban) but everyone is responsible for their own meals.

We will be without cell service so you may want to bring a satellite phone if you own one. 

A camp chair for sitting around the fire is a nice to have. We have also had folks set up hammocks and slacklines in the past. 

Our trip takes place in the David Thompson Corridor, which is the present day home and historical meeting grounds of several Indigenous Nations including  Ktunaxa (Kootenay), Piikani (Peigan), Kainai (Blood), Siksika (Blackfoot), Tsuu T'ina (Sarcee), Atsina, Nakoda (Stoney, Assiniboine), and Nehiyawak (Cree). The Kootenay Plains are the location of many Indigenous gravesites and a place of great spiritual significance. We invite you to reflect on what it means to "visit well,", challenging colonial notions of conquering the mountain. This video is a great jumping off point for such reflection.

We will be camping at Kootenay Plains and will provide more detailed site information to registered guests.

We will be camping as a group, and unfortunately no pets can attend.  If you are looking to register for the guided group, please see the other QCC Trip sign up. We only allow use of legal substances (alcohol and cannabis), used responsibly. All participants are expected to be self-responsible, and respectful of other participants and our campsite at all times. Additionally, we require that participants be sober, alert, and attentive while climbing, hiking, or at the crag to keep themselves and others safe. 

The true cost of camping, snacks, and firewood is approximately $65 per person if you are sleeping in your own sleeping unit. The trip is sliding scale and we are asking participants to contribute $25-$100 depending on what is financially accessible for you. Once you have submitted registration to the calendar, an organizer will reach out to you to confirm your registration and organize payment. We are able to take e-transfer and cash.

Please note there is a mandatory pre-trip meeting on June 29th at 7 pm, with location TBD.

Full refund available until June 17. Any later refunds will be considered on a case by case basis. Historically our trips have filled up, so please give us as much notice as possible if you realize you won't be able to make it.