June 5–7 saw a hearty crew of ACC climbers descend upon the Kootenay Plains campground for what would become a classic Rocky Mountain climbing weekend: equal parts climbing, weather forecasting, campfire storytelling, and creative interpretation of the phrase “summer conditions.”
Friday evening kicked off with over 30 climbers somehow managing to fit into one campsite. Through a combination of strategic tent placement, questionable parking decisions, and mountaineering optimism, everyone found a place to call home for the weekend. Old friends reunited, new friendships were forged, and the sounds of laughter echoed across camp as food, beverages, and climbing stories flowed freely into the evening.
Saturday morning greeted us with sunshine and optimism. At precisely 8:30 a.m., our fearless leader Peter gathered the group for the daily briefing. After outlining the plan, he divided participants into several groups: top ropers, multi-pitch climbers, and trad climbers. Spirits were high as everyone headed off toward their respective objectives.
As often happens in the mountains, however, weather forecasts proved to be more of a suggestion than a guarantee.
While most groups enjoyed a pleasant mix of sun and cloud throughout the day, Monica’s group discovered a unique microclimate apparently reserved exclusively for them. Not content with merely receiving rain, they were also treated to snowfall. The rest of the weekend participants remained deeply sympathetic while climbing comfortably in dry conditions and occasionally glancing suspiciously at dark clouds in the distance.
Despite Monica’s group’s meteorological misfortune, everyone returned safely to camp that evening with stories of climbs completed, lessons learned, and weather survived. The campground once again came alive as climbers gathered around the fire to exchange tales, enjoy food and beverages, and engage in the timeless climbing tradition of gradually increasing the height and difficulty of routes with every retelling. Remarkably, the rain stayed away throughout the evening, allowing festivities to continue well after sunset.
Sunday morning delivered another surprise: snow.
Dawn arrived quietly beneath a blanket of fresh snow, muffling the camp in an almost complete silence. One by one, climbers unzipped frosted tents and snow-covered shelters, emerging slowly into the crisp morning air. Drawn by the promise of warmth and reprieve from the wet snow, they followed a trail of footprints to the communal shelter,Upon arriving, they found some early risers had gotten the fire going, providing much needed warmth transforming a cold, snowy morning into a cozy gathering place where climbers thawed out, brewed coffee on camp stoves, dried damp gear, and debated whether the weather was improving or simply changing forms.
As the morning progressed, climbers began packing up with tired arms, muddy boots, new skills, and plenty of stories. Many participants made the strategic decision to relocate to Nordegg and seek refuge at the Miner’s Café, where coffee and famous pie offered a compelling alternative to alpine weather analysis. Reports indicate morale remained exceptionally high among this group.
Meanwhile, a dedicated contingent of climbers headed to Little Russia to practice rope skills and squeeze in some additional climbing. Around 10:00 a.m., the sun reappeared, snow began melting, and hopes rose accordingly. Unfortunately, Little Russia eventually lived up to the weekend’s weather theme and delivered another round of rain to the hardworking climbers. This development was met with varying degrees of enthusiasm, particularly after receiving updates that their fellow club members were comfortably consuming pie indoors.
The weekend delivered sunshine, rain, snow, climbing, campfires, friendship, and pie—a combination that perfectly captures the unpredictable spirit of climbing in the Canadian Rockies.
A huge thank you to Peter for organizing and leading the trip, to all the participants who contributed to the welcoming atmosphere, and especially to Monica’s group for bravely conducting the weekend’s weather testing on behalf of everyone else.
Until next time, may your anchors be solid, your coffee be hot, and your group’s weather be slightly better than Monica’s.
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