On Sunday, May 3, a group of 11 members from the Edmonton section headed out for a brand-new via ferrata experience near Canmore, guided by Brent Peters.
We met at Grotto Pond on a beautiful Sunday morning, sharing stories from the weekend—many of us having stayed at the ACC Canmore Clubhouse—before getting geared up. Brent outfitted us with helmets, harnesses, and lanyards, and walked us through proper safety and technique before we began.
The route starts off gently, scrambling up a narrow creek bed set at an unusual angle. As the canyon opens up, we reached a wider section featuring a picturesque waterfall that becomes the centerpiece of the climb. From here, the route ascends directly up the gorge, offering a great vantage point to watch others make their way up alongside the falls. A secondary line on the opposite side of the waterfall provided a fun opportunity for some videography as well.
The second section ramps things up significantly, transitioning into a sustained vertical climb that takes you high above the canyon. With a larger group, progress was naturally slower since only one person can be clipped into each section at a time, but it gave everyone a chance to rest, take in the views, and cheer each other on.
Once everyone reached the top, we followed a scenic switchback trail back down to the base—and because once isn’t enough, we went up for a second lap. After returning to the parking lot, we handed back our gear, thanked Brent for a great day, and made our way back to Edmonton.
All in all, it was a fantastic way to spend three hours on a Sunday morning.
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