Happy Birthday, ACC!

First Ascent of One Pine, 1957Second Ascent of The JokeIn 2006, the Alpine Club of Canada celebrates its centennial. At the same time, the ACC Toronto Section celebrates its 50th anniversary.

One of the Toronto Section's ACC centennial projects is a book celebrating fifty years of rock climbing at Bon Echo. The first ascent of our favourite cliff took place on the first of September 1956, providing us with simultaneous 50 and 100 year anniversaries. The book is an expanded, hardbound edition of "A Guide to Rock Climbs at Bon Echo". The editors have collected photographs from many sources, added a few anecdotes and climbing stories, and will be sending it to the printers in the spring of 2006. The edition will be limited to the number of orders, and the price will be about 10% over the cost of printing and bookbinding. A lower price softcover version is being considered, as well as a digital version on a CD.

The national club has awarded us a Centennial Grant of $1000, to distribute copies of the book to libraries (the National Library in Ottawa, the Whyte Museum in Banff, the ACC Clubhouse, the Toronto Public Library, etc.), to our official friends in the Ministry of Natural Resources (the Bon Echo Provincial Park Superintendent), the local member of the provincial legislature, and to the original climbers.

Thanksgiving 2003

Custodians: Paul Geddes and Willa Harasym, 905-821-9625
Hut Bookings: Through the National Office, Canmore

In July 1906, The Alpine Club of Canada's first climbing camp (GMC) was held at Yoho Pass. Please join us in the Club's Centennial year in this historic area. There are several moderate mountaineering objectives surrounding the Little Yoho Valley, including The President 10,292 feet / 3,138 metres, The Vice President 10,056 feet / 3,066 metres and Mt. McArthur 9,889 feet / 3,015 metres. The hut is situated in a meadow at an elevation of 6,750 feet / 2,055 metres.

Access is from Takakkaw Falls parking area on the Yoho Valley road, between Field and Lake Louise. The hike in takes approximately half a day to complete with a full pack via a 7 mile / 11 kilometre trail with an elevation gain of 1,800 feet / 550 metres. In addition to the excellent climbing in the area there is a well developed trail system.

This is an area that we want to visit in the ACC's centennial year and would be happy of have others join us. In order to keep the organizing as simple as possible, participants are responsible for their own hut bookings, transportation, gear and food. Please contact us by email if you have any questions on logistics, gear, food, etc. A meeting will be held in January to discuss everyone's objectives for this camp.

This is a very popular hut in the summer months and it is recommended to make your hut bookings before the end of 2005. We plan to stay for six nights departing on Saturday, July 29. It is however possible to book your stay for a shorter period. On Saturday, July 22, prior to the camp, we will overnight at The Canadian Alpine Centre in Lake Louise (reservations 403-522-2200).

The total capacity of the cabin is 26. Complete details of the hut facilities are available from the Club website. The cost per night, per person is $19.00 for members with an ACC hut upgrade ($30.00 without) and wilderness permit ($52.00 per year or $8.00 per night), plus a Parks Canada pass.

Another of the many planned activities for the Alpine Club of Canada's centennial is a ski mountaineering camp in the St. Elias Mountains. This camp will be fully staffed with two professional guides and a cook. Tents, ropes, etc. will be provided. The camp dates are June 2 through June 17, 2006, at a cost of C$4,300. Whitehorse to Whitehorse. From Whitehorse on the banks of the Yukon River, we travel along the Alaska Highway to Kluane Lake where we take a spectacular air flight into Kluane National Park.

The Camp will be in the Badham/Donjek area at an elevation of 2820m (9,250') allowing easy acclimatization, and providing the opportunity for ski touring, first ascents, and new routes on peaks up to 3700m (12,100'). The area provides unparalleled views of Mts. Logan, Lucania, Steele, Walsh, etc. A high camp at the Steele/Walsh col is planned to facilitate climbs on Mt. Walsh 4507m (14,787'). The St. Elias is the largest glaciated mountain area outside Antarctica and Greenland. Within its borders the Hubbard Glacier is 125km (78 miles) long and Mt. Logan 5959m (19,545') is the second highest mountain in North America.

However, logistical complications severely limit the number of mountaineering visitors, so join the ACC in their centennial celebrations and visit this outstanding mountain area. This trip is aimed at intermediate level mountaineers.

For more details contact Paul Geddes, phone: 905-821-9625 Fax: 905-813-9201

For information and registration package go to: Alpine Club of Canada