On January 12th, Castle Mountain Resort in the SW corner of Alberta will host its first ever ski mountaineering race. (Google map)
Courses and Categories
Proposed route for the competitive category totals 5100 feet of climbing (1550m) over about 14kms.
The rec category course is planned to climb only slightly more than 4000 feet (1200m) over about 10kms.
Both courses will pretty much navigate the resort’s boundary in counter clockwise direction.
Fixed rope section
Organizers did a fine job and included a fixed rope section for both categories. Therefore, at least a light ski mountaineering harness and a lanyard (sling and a carabiner) will be required in your race kit on top of the usual (helmet, beacon, shovel, probe, survival blanket…)
There will be a couple of these available to borrow from the race organizer but if you want your own then something like this should do:
http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Climbing/SlingsWebbing/PRD~5015-866/beal-dynaconnexion.jsp
More details and Registration
More will be known soon but start time should be at 10am on Saturday, January 12, 2013 with possible late registration at 8am at Castle Mountain.
Online registration will be ready in the first week of January via the Alpine Club of Canada:
http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/skimo/index
Accommodation
Accommodations are available on hill and in surrounding communities. You can call 403.627.5121 or email info@castlerental.ca for more info.
Stano says
Thanks for the fix Dylzo. Castle Mountain is obviously in the SW and not SE corner of Alberta 🙂
Dylzo says
SW corner of Alberta