Edmonton Section Expeditions to Mount Temple with Wayne Vibert

In looking through some old Edmonton Section trip reports that I recently acquired, I noticed how often section members have led trips to Mount Temple, starting in our early years to most recently, last fall. First climbed in 1894, Mount Temple is now an established but challenging scramble. It has an elevation of 3544 meters and is the highest peak in the Lake Louise area, dominating views.  From 1990 or earlier and into the 2000’s, Read more

Trip Report: Fairy Meadow Ski Week 2026

Bang, bang, bang! The sound of ski boots gently persuading doors open and closed at Fairy Meadow foretold the overnight snow volume before we even looked out the window. The hut and sauna were wavering under the weight of three days worth of steady snow. Even the flooring was showing signs of distress under mother nature’s load. This was my third pilgrimage to Bill Putnam’s paradise. Our team of 20 roamed far and wide around this Read more

Women from the start of the Alpine Club of Canada

A brief note in recognition of International Women’s Day 2026 (Sunday, March 8, 2026). Left to Right: Jean Davidson leaving the summit; Doris Campbell crossing the glacier; Sylvia Evans on the way to Tonquin 1952. The Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) was founded in 1906 when Victorian ideas of appropriate activities for women were being replaced by more modern ideas of feminine capabilities. Most European mountain clubs were still segregated by gender, but the ACC Read more

Early Days with the Edmonton Section, 1937-1960

Don Campbell (1920 – 2002) was an enthusiastic member of the Edmonton section, and wrote about his early experiences in the club in this article. He joined the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) at the age of sixteen, adventuring out on climbs with Edmonton section founders Cyril Wates, Helen Burns, Rex Gibson, Dr Harry Bulyea, and others. He was a frequent photographer of activities and mountain landscapes on club trips. Despite a shoulder injury that had limited his climbing, Read more

Trip Report: 2026 YEGACC Annual Ice Climbing Retreat, Jan 24-25 2026

The morning of January 24, 2026, two groups of Edmonton climbers departed the Rampart Creek hostel, one bound for the Balfour wall and the other to Tangle falls. As we were relatively large groups (~10-11 in each), there was some anxiety about getting scooped, especially because we overshot the pre-arranged call time by ~30min. Thankfully, each site was free of people when we rolled up. At the Balfour wall we set up 5 ropes on Read more

Trip Report: Every Body Welcome Climb, Nov 29 2025

On November 29, the Alpine Club of Canada Edmonton Section partnered with the Queer Climbing Collective to run a 2S/LGBTQIA+ intro to indoor climbing evening, the Every Body Welcome Climb.  The Queer Climbing Collective (QCC) has been operating since 2021 with the support of the Edmonton Section. QCC aims to break down barriers to climbing for 2S/LGBTQIA+ climbers, who have historically been under-represented in both the climbing community and the larger outdoors community. QCC runs Read more

Helen Burns: Teacher, Climber, and Community Leader in Edmonton’s Alpine History

I first heard of Helen Burns during my Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) Edmonton Section photo competition research this past summer and was intrigued by her climbing and club accomplishments. She was the first female Chair of the Edmonton Section, but little else was written about her. Intrigued, I set about researching details of her life as written in newspaper accounts and other sources. My research revealed that she was an integral member of the Read more

Tragedy Sidetracks Early Ski Mountaineering, 1937-38

Modern day avalanche safety is a focus for the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) and is far different from early attitudes. Read the Avalanche Safety Training and the Edmonton Section article for more information. The winter of 1937-38 was a bad one for avalanches in the Canadian Rockies. With growing numbers of skiers enjoying the winter playground found in the mountain backcountry, it was only a matter of time before avalanches began to receive increased Read more

Avalanche Safety Training and the Edmonton Section

Heading out this winter for skiing or ice climbing or snowshoeing? Avalanche safety is important for everyone venturing into the snowy mountains. Avalanche Safety Training Level 1 (AST 1) covers avalanche formation and release, identifying avalanche terrain, trip planning, using avalanche forecasts, mitigating risks, travel techniques and companion rescue. Once you’ve completed an AST 1 course, reviewing avalanche training is recommended every year; there are online tools available. AST 1 Refresher courses are also available Read more

2025 Annual Volunteer Appreciation BBQ

Each year, the Don Forest Service Award recognizes Alpine Club of Canada members who have provided significant service to their section through volunteerism, leadership, and dedication to the Club’s mission. This year, we are proud to announce that three members of the Edmonton Section received this prestigious recognition for their outstanding contributions: Michele Eickholt has been keeping the board organized as your section administrator (since 2018!) and keeps members moving as a nordic touring trip organizer.  Read more

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