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The ACC Women and Non-Binary Climbing Camp

Two experienced guides will be on hand to teach skills and, if weather allows, ascend some classic peaks in the Canadian Rockies

The Alpine Club of Canada (ACC) will be hosting the Women and Non-Binary Climbing Camp from June 23 to 26 on the Icefields Parkway north of Lake Louise. For more information on registration visit here.

Highlights of the event are to climb in a gender-inclusive setting, develop key skills during instructional sessions, camp next to the Columbia Icefields and to enjoy some of the best mountaineering in the Rockies. Camp organizers said, “Designed and offered for all women and non-binary folk, this unique climbing camp provides an opportunity to work on summer leading skills and gain valuable mountaineering experience.”

In terms of objectives, the first day will likely be spent going over the skills needed for safe travel on snow and ice. Possible peaks during the camp include Mount Athabasca, A2, Boundary Peak , and Wilcox.

“Long story short this will be a great place to hone the mountaineering skills under the guidance of female ACMG mountain guides, Kirsten Knechtel and Merrie Beth Board,” said camp organizers.

About the Guides

Kirsten Knechtel: Kirsten was raised in Banff, AB where her passion for the mountains and mountain adventure began. Kirsten’s family were outdoor enthusiasts and by the age of 6 she began ski racing, age 10 ski touring, and by age 14 she had climbed many classic alpine routes in the Canadian Rockies. Her career as a guide was a natural step. By age 25 she was a fully certified mountain guide. 20 plus years later, Kirsten has a huge variety of guiding experiences behind her. She has worked as a manager of a catskiing operation, guided many heliskiing, catskiing and private ski touring trips and worked as an instructor on the ACMG guides training program. In the summer she has worked with the British military training, run her own private guiding business and spent well over 10 years working at the Alpine Club’s General Mountaineering Camp, Marmot Women’s camps and other ACC programs.

Merrie-Beth (MB) Board: is an Internationally certified Mountain Guide living in Golden, British Columbia. For the past 20 years MB has been working in the mountains, exploring, guiding and teaching. The life style of a mountain professional has been both a dream and challenge, humility and gentle perseverance at the heart of everyday. Helping others gain their own personal goals, and experience through the mountains is an honour and a privilege.

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