Description

This event is a call-out to graduates of the Basic Mountaineering Program which is offered by ACC-V (or similar programs) to express your interest in participating in ACC Vancouver’s Alpine Mentoring Program which will be rolled out in Spring/Summer 2026. This program available to ACC Vancouver Members Only.

Program Overview:

The goal of the ACC Vancouver Section Mentor Program is to help aspiring climbers reach their goals. We will match mentee’s with experienced mentors to allow them to reach their climbing goals for the year, while also creating the next generation of leaders and trip coordinators for the Vancouver Section.

In the early 2026 prospective Mentee’s will be sent an application form to express formal interest in the program, which will include providing a list of previous climbs of significance over the past 2 seasons and specifying their goals for the upcoming season. Previous completion of the Basic Mountaineering Course or similar introductory mountaineering course is a pre- requisite.

Upon receipt of the application forms, mentee’s will be paired up with mentors. In the beginning of the season, tentatively early April, an evening will be spent indoors at a local climbing gym (likely CB5 North Vancouver) as a meet-and-greet event for the mentees and mentors to meet and discuss their goals and objectives for the year.

For the remainder of the climbing season (May – Sept/Oct), mentors and mentee’s will be expect to arrange amongst themselves to spend 2 days per month (minimum) climbing and/or training together to work towards developing the building blocks to allow the mentee to achieve their goals. Program-wide technical skill sessions (anchor building, multi-pitch skills, alpine climbing efficiency, self-arrest and crevasse rescue practice, etc.) may also be offered to everyone in the program throughout the summer if mentor / trip coordinator  availability allows.

It is important to note that this program is Mentee-driven; i.e. it is up to the Mentee to reach out and coordinate climbing days with their Mentor. 

Prerequisites:

• Completion of ACC Vancouver’s Basic Mountaineering Course (or similar)
• Valid ACC Vancouver Section Membership
• Basic Climbing Skills such as:
  • belaying,
  • basic anchor building,
  • comfortable with harness use,
  • familiarity with self arrest and crevasses rescue skills,
  • basic understanding and familiarity with snow travel skills including crampon use.
• Positive attitude and team-oriented

Deadlines:

The deadline to sign up is January 16, 2026, after which an email containing the screening questions (application form) and asking for the mentees goals will be sent to all interested parties. This information will then be used to match the mentees with a suitable mentor dependant on availability and goals.  Signing up for this event does not guarantee you a spot in the mentoring program.  You will be contacted after the screening process to confirm acceptance.

Cost:

The cost of the program will be that the mentees will be responsible for transportation costs for themselves and their mentors when they are climbing together. As well mentees will be expected to co- ordinate two section trips on the calendar within a year of beginning the mentorship program. You will be contacted by the ACC Vancouver’s Trip Coordinator Director to participate in hosting trips.

 

NOTE: THIS IS NOT A PHYSICAL EVENT, WE WILL NOT BE MEETING AT THE TIME NOTED IN THIS POSTING. THIS IS SIMPLY A PLACEHOLDER TO GUAGE INTEREST FROM THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2026 CLIMBING AND MOUNTAINEERING MENTORING PROGRAM. 

Hazards:

Activity Hazards – MUST READ BEFORE REGISTERING

Participating in this activity involves many risks, dangers and hazards that could result in injury, death, paralysis, property damage, or loss to me or other third parties. These risks, dangers, and hazards may include, but are not limited to those listed below. Please review them carefully before registering.

Rockfall and Icefall: Rockfall and icefall can be caused by natural forces or by people travelling through the terrain (e.g. climbing/scrambling/hiking)

Avalanche: Avalanches can occur in the terrain you will be entering| Caused by natural forces, or by people travelling through the terrain. Anyone caught in an avalanche is at risk of personal injury, death, and/or property damage or loss.

Communication and Rescue: Communication can be difficult and in the event of an accident, rescue and treatment may not be available| Adverse weather may also delay the arrival of treatment and transport out of the field. If an Injury occurs in challenging terrain movement to an evacuation point may be slow|

Terrain: Cornices | Crevasses | Trees, tree wells, and tree stumps | Cliffs | Creeks | Rocks and Boulders |Holes and depressions below the snow surface| Variable and difficult snow conditions |Snowcat roads and road ranks | Fences and other man-made structures | Impact or collision with other persons, vehicles or objects | Encounters with domestic or wild animals | Loss of balance or control | Becoming lost or separated from the group | Slips, trips, and falls|

General Hazards : Slips trips and falls indoor or outdoor| Equipment failure| Infectious disease contracted through viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi which may be transmitted through direct or indirect contact| Negligence of other persons, including other guests| Negligent first aid| Negligence of  the Mentors / organizers / Trip coordinator, including failure to take reasonable steps to safeguard or protect you from, or warn you of risk, dangers, hazards, or provide incomplete warnings or instructions on participating in ACC activities| changing weather conditions including but not limited to high winds, rain, lightning, forest fires;

Falls and Belaying: Mountaineering and climbing present the risk of falling from the wall causing the climber to collide with the wall or ground which can lead to injury or death.The risk of a belay failure is also present which can contribute to a ground fall.

Personal injury: sprains; strains; shock; stress; cuts; abrasions; fractured or broken bones; impalement; loss of limbs; sunstroke; sunburn; dehydration; illness; soft tissue injuries; neck, head and brain injury; paralysis; psychological injury; other injury to the body.