SummitPost.org

Looking for a intro course, and so far have only found these possibilities.

curious if anyone happens to have completed either of these course, or have any opinions on either of the courses themselves or the company running them.

http://yamnuska.com/mountaineering/begi ... struction/

http://www.mountainascents.com/mountain ... nners.html

Thanks

Not that many Canadians on Summitpost. Try Clubtred for more feedback from Edmonton, Calgary or Vancouver people.
That said - the Yamnuska course is the long running standard for the area although if you want a more personal touch or smaller group I am sure that mountainascents will provide a good into course.

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the reply; shame there isn't many of us Canucks here on Summitpost. Thank you for point me in the direction of Clubtred, I appreciate it, and thank you for your opinion regarding the courses..

Yamnuska.com is the school that Dow touted. I called them and left a message with a "desk person", the guy said they were all out climbing and they would call at the end of the day. I requested a 2 day rock course. They didn't call back.

Yamnuska has good guides and runs good courses but it is a larger outfit so not suprised they may have support staff problems. I took 4 or 5 courses from Yamnuska guides 30 years ago as they do the courses for the Alpine Club of Canada(ACC) and I know dozens of people who have taken courses from them.

Marmaduke - disapointing experience - did you find another guide/course?

My lifelong friend flew out 2 days before me, so that was the reason for the 2 day course, I was on my own. They didn't call back and it was the very next day I wanted to take the course, so my timing was a bit poor. I didn't make any other calls, I just hung out in Canmore and then went home a day early.

I took the Yam Intro course in 2002 and a few guided climbs spread out to 2008 with them and all were quality experiences.

climb4hashtags - in addition to fitness training prior to your course, you should pickup a copy of
http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Climbing/BooksMapsDVDs/PRD~5024-585/mountaineers-freedom-of-the-hills-8th-edition.jsp at the local MEC.
Also consider joining the Alpine Club - edmonton has active group.