Vancouver Mountain Guides

Sure would be nice if it got cold. Nothing against snow but it kinda gets in the way of ice ;)

Join us to learn ice climbing this New Years weekend! Three spots still open in Level 1 Ice Jan 1-3. Includes accommodation, Saturday dinner, and some equipment. #learntoiceclimb #iceclimbing #westcoastice #guideschoice #vancouvermountainguides

Stewardship, advocacy, and safety! Organize, unite, and fight Vancouver’s climbing areas have no management and no representation until now. Join VCA so your voice is heard!

New! Vancouver Climbers Association (VCA). It's been a long time coming and it's important that the Vancouver climbing community organizes. We need a unified voice to fight for local climbing, and we need you to join! Different membership levels are available depending on your budget. Membership is important since we have greater strength in numbers. Please look at the website to become familiar with the mission. The Vancouver climbing community currently faces many threats that require a unified approach when speaking to stakeholders. Please join us.

Learning to multipitch! The weather was chilly but the sun was shining and the rock was dry. Here Nikola leads his first pitch on a multipitch climb after 2 days of training skills with VMG. Nikola had never lead climbed before calling us. He wanted to accelerate his climbing skills from top-roping in the gym to multipitch lead climbing. This is a daunting request! So much to learn but we worked with him, breaking down each skill and affirming his understanding before adding more complex skills to test his progress. Congratulations Nikola for your proud first lead high above Sea To Sky country. #vancouvermountainguides #guidedclimbing #learntoclimb #multipitchclimbing #squamishclimbing #vancouverclimbing #guideschoice #rockclimbing

Assessing anchor integrity is an important skill. These anchors demonstrate the use of poor quality bolts with really really strong (30KN) stainless steel hangers. The bolts are corroded like how an old car rusts. They were likely carbon steel bolts that rust over time in wet climates like the West coast. The steel contains higher amounts of iron which oxidizes and weakens over time. The shiny Fixe hangers are made from stainless steel high in nickel and very low in iron. Depending on how far you delve into the science, climbing can and is a very scientific and technical sport. It’s a good idea to learn the basics from a guide so you don’t unknowingly trust those anchors. #climbinganchors #rockclimbing #vancouverclimbing #squamishclimbing #guidedclimbing #vancouvermountainguiding

** Access Alert** Thanks to Jon Jones and Rolf Ryback for their dedication and hard work at Skaha. Please take note of changes to the north access via Canoe Trail. The old trail portion (red hatched area on map) is closed. Please continue past the first yellow gate, up the gravel road, toward a small green roofed building. A cairn trail leads right toward Canoe Crag from here.

New Level 1 Ice course starts this December! Registration open online now! Spaces are available. Includes all equipment except personnel gear and boots, dinner Saturday evening, 2 nights hotel accommodation, guided instruction.

New! Level 1 Ice for all those climbers that want to learn or get better at climbing waterfall ice. Weekends throughout the winter months. See dates online to book. Includes: crampons, ice tools, dinner Saturday evening, 2-nights accommodation, and guided instruction. Book now while space is available! #iceclimbing #guidedclimbing #lillooetice #westcoastice #winterrules

Ice season is fast approaching. Stay posted for our upcoming ice climbing courses this winter! More details to come soon. #iceclimbing #guideschoice #learniceclimbing #vancouvermountainguides

Level 5 Rock Oct 12-16! Book online now. Learn everything for climbing in one course from top roping to multipitch climbing. #climbingcourse #guidedclimbing #vancouvermountainguides #tradclimbing #vancouverrockclimbing #squamishclimbing

#macabretower from the North. We climbed a new route on this face in August. Such an amazing alpine zone!

@Cathedral lakeslodge... if you have not been you’re missing out. Hidden in the southern Okanagan above the town of Keremeos in the Pasayten mountains. Fantastic alpine peaks and lakes. Not feeling like sitting in the dirt around your campfire? Head over to the lodge and have a craft beer on the patio!

Please send an email to the government requesting an enquiry! Members deserve to know what happened to their Coop!

Sometimes when your out climbing you land a beautiful rainbow trout instead! This little alpine lake steak became dinner with a little salt, wrapped in foil, and tossed in the coals. Fuel for more new routing the next day. Cathedral Park keeps delivering! #patagonia #patagoniafishing #alpinetrout #vengarockpants #houdini #beautifulbc

Slesse descent beta. Once you finish the first rap off the block, scramble down the rubble gully skiers right. A 4th class step can be passed down climbing the rock wall skiers left. Move down right to find a tombstone shaped block with tat and a maillon. This marks the start of the West Face descent route. Scramble up a small wall (4th/low5th) and traverse over to another block with rap tat. Rappel 25m to a large terrace. #nebuttress #mtslesse #vancouvermountainguides

Climbed the NE Buttress Monday/Tuesday and its in good shape. We passed the remaining pocket glacier high on slabs climbers left (4th/low5th) but another party crossed directly over the glacier with microspikes. There is still a lot of objective danger on the approach but it’s seemed to have settled down significantly. There is always the risk that the whole pocket glacier will slide but the remaining chunk appeared stable when we were there. Ice chunks became active mid afte...rnoon on the steeper north side of the pocket glacier. From above you can see a piece separating from the main pocket glacier on the north side where the slabs are steeper. Approach slabs are clean from the rain but wet from meltwater in places. Upper 5.7 pitch (2 below summit) had a rockfall leaving the route below covered with dirt and extra loose rock debris. Bypassed on the left side - fun 5.7 climbing. Lots of meltwater at the start of the Bypass Ledge but none at the bivi ledge. Crossover descent is not well marked but there is a rough goat path. Built a few cairns to help others navigate. Please keep in mind there is a lot of objective hazard on the Slesse approach and climb. It should never be taken lightly and only attempted by very experienced climbers or with a guide.

Looking strong and in fine form for the last IFSC Lead World Cup Competition - congragulations to Adam Ondra In the women's event Laura Rogora won her first Lead World Cup competition upsetting Janja Garnbret

Skaha is currently closed due to forest fires.

Slesse conditions UPDATE. Still lots of lingering snow and ice on the NE Buttress approach and on the 4th class section midway up the route. Needs another 2 weeks of good weather to clear the snow/ice. This photo is great for visualizing the hazards on the approach. Lots of climbers are not aware of the overhead hazard on climbers left as you enter the cirque. This small eyebrow of ice can sometimes linger long after the cirque is clear. Heads up! #guideschoice #50classics #nebuttress #slesse #mtslesse #climbinghazards #alpineclimbing #climbingbeta #vancouvermountainguides #riskybusiness #alpine #nesakwatch #climbinglife

Cold beer on the couch and a film!