Alberta

Description 

Alberta is the epicenter (or epicentre) of Canadian Alpine climbing with countless snow and ice covered peaks, glaciers and famous north faces. Alberta is also famous for some of the best ice climbing in the world.

Fortunately, Alberta is also well rounded and has sport and trad rock climbing a-plenty. The limestone and quartzite in the river canyons in the Canmore area probably have Canada's greatest concentrations of sport routes. Trad cragging is perhaps a little more limited than some other areas as the limestone of famous peaks like Yamnuska have great history and great routes but less solid rock; the climbing is more adventurous than a granite-trained tradster might be used to.

Getting There 

Calgary provides easy access to Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise and all of the surrounding areas. Edmonton provides access if your destinations are further north.

The Classics

Featured Route For Alberta

East Ridge 5.3 Mod. Snow  International : Canada : ... : Mt. Edith Cavell

This is one of the most classic routes the Canadian Rockies and yet another fine FA by the King of Guides, Conrad Kain. The route follows the stunning left skyline of the mountain (see George's picture).From the parking lot, take the trail to Cavell Meadows and then head up the moraines towards the bottom of the ridge. The scramble to the start of the ridge is one of the looser more unpleasant ones around, especially by headlamp.At...[more]   Browse More Classics in International

Photos of Alberta Slideshow

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Looking up at the East Ridge of Mt. Temple, one of...	Standing on the Athabasca Glacier with Mt. Androme...	BETA PHOTO: The south face of Mt. Temple showing the east ridg...
You got to love this place, even the routes that I...	Above the morning fog. On the Athabasca Glacier...	On thee Athabasca Glacier.
North Face of Athabasca	Athabasca North Face	Sunset on the North face of Mt. Assiniboine