Each CWMS mountaineering course focuses on development of climbing and mountaineering skills through a combination of applied and theoretical instruction. Courses are fine-tuned to meet the specific needs of participants and, with small class sizes, you can count on many hours of individual instruction.

Which course is for you?

Mountain Skills Refresher is an intensive early-season day of mountaineering skills development and review for those with previous mountain travel experience. Excellent to practice and update your crevasse rescue skills, snow travel and rope techniques before the climbing season!

Mountain Skills Essentials (Intro) is a 4-day course best suited for people who want an introductory level Mountaineering program to gain skills for safe travel in off-trail conditions and over permanent snow. You will also learn the basic fundamentals of glacier travel and crevasse rescue. Previous overnight backpacking skills are required for Mountain Skills Essentials.

Complete Mountaineering (Intro) is our 7-day introductory Mountaineering course designed for people wanting to pursue more technical mountain climbing, yet who have no background in rope management or climbing. This course allows enough time to fully learn all aspects of mountaineering and rock climbing, including technical rope systems; glacier travel and crevasse rescue skills; rock, snow and ice climbing; and, general mountain travel and navigation skills. Previous overnight backpacking skills are required for Complete Mountaineering.

Complete Mountaineering Plus is the same 7-day course as Complete Mountaineering only we supply all trip food, stoves and tents in addition to the regular technical gear supplied on all CWMS courses. This course is ideal for participants traveling from other regions and/or those who have limited time to prepare for their course.

Alpine Skills Week (Intro) is a 7-day introductory course designed for people who already have prior rock climbing background, yet have no mountaineering experience. Using your previous rock climbing skills as a foundation, this course focuses on Alpine skills such as snow climbing, ice climbing, glacier travel and crevasse rescue. Rock climbing skills and previous overnight backpacking experience are required for Alpine Skills Week.

Intermediate Mountaineering (Intermediate) is a 2nd level mountaineering program developed by Canada West Mountain School for climbers with previous mountaineering background who are looking to improve their skills and tackle more challenging alpine routes. This 5-day program is spent in the alpine climbing major glaciated peaks. Great for climbers looking to increase their skill and technical knowledge through practical experience. Complete Mountaineering or Alpine Skills Week (or equivalent experience) is required for the Intermediate Mountaineering course.

Advanced Mountaineering (Advanced) is the course for mountaineers who are comfortable traveling on glaciers and have general mountaineering and outdoor rock climbing experience, yet who are looking to progress into more technical mixed alpine climbing and mountaineering. Intermediate Mountaineering (or equivalent experience) is required for the Advanced Mountaineering course; a summary of your previous climbing and logged mountaineering experience must be submitted.

Complete Alpine Experience (Intro) is an opportunity to put all of your training and practical experience into one 3-week program. This is the ultimate mountaineering experience of intense, practical hands-on training to bring skill levels up to a high standard. Previous top-rope rock climbing and rope management skills are required for the Complete Alpine Experience.

Guided Alpine climbs, while more of a purely guided adventure, will also provide an instructional experience depending on the climbing objectives. These climbs to the summits of spectacular Alpine peaks will help you gain valuable experience and provide an opportunity to practice and develop your technical skills.

Customized trips of all levels allow you to choose your own itinerary, dates and objectives. We specialize in putting together Guided and Instructional programs for our students. Any of our mountaineering courses can be offered for private groups, or you can simply let us know what you would like to achieve, and we'll do the rest!

Locations
Course locations vary depending on the time of the season, yet regions such as the Spearhead Range and Overlord Glacier in Garibaldi Park, the Joffre Range, Anniversary Glacier in Cerise Creek, Garibaldi Peak, Rogers Pass, the Tantalus Range and Sky Pilot are all frequently used as our classrooms.