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  • Canada West Mountain School - Experts in Mountain Adventure Since 1982

Canada West Mountain School

Mountain guiding | Avalanche skills | Outdoor instruction

  • Custom
    • Custom Programs

      • Private Avalanche Training – 2022/23
      • Custom Backcountry Skiing
      • Custom Ice Climbing
      • Custom Alpine Instruction & Guiding
      • Custom Hiking & Backpacking
      • Private Squamish Rock (Full day)
      • Private Squamish Rock (1/2-day)
    • Contact us today to create your custom course, tour or expedition!

      Canada West Mountain School specializes in private, customized training and Guided trips. We work extensively with schools, clubs, companies and individuals to arrange everything from 1-day class sessions to International expeditions.

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  • Avalanche
    • Courses

      • Custom Avalanche Training – 2022/23
      • AST Refresher 2022/23
      • AST-1 Seymour (Midweek)
      • AST-1 Classic (Seymour)
      • AST-1 Classic (Whistler)
      • AST-1 Classic Snowshoe
      • AST-1 PLUS (N. Van & Whistler)
      • AST-2 (2 weekends)
      • AST-2 (4-day course)
    • Preparation

      • Preparing for your AST Course
      • Avalanche Training FAQ
  • Skiing
    • Backcountry Courses

      • Backcountry Skiing & Splitboarding
      • Ski Touring Weekend
      • Ski Mountaineering
      • Crevasse Rescue 22/23
      • Winter Snow Camping 2022/23
    • Guided Trips

      • Custom Backcountry Skiing
      • Garibaldi Neve Traverse, BC
      • Spearhead Traverse, BC
      • Mt Waddington, BC
      • Pantheon Range, BC
  • Squamish Rock
    • Rock Courses

      • Squamish Rock Intro (1-day)
      • Top-Rope Anchors (1-day)
      • Top-Rope Anchors (2-day)
      • Sport Lead Rock Climbing
      • Trad Lead climbing
      • Lead Multi-pitch
      • Rock Rescue
      • Private Squamish Rock (1/2-day)
      • Private Squamish Rock (Full day)
    • Guided Rock

      • Guided Rock – Alpine
      • Squamish Rock Classics
    • Ice Climbing

      • Advanced Ice
      • Ice Essentials

  • Hiking
    • Hiking program

      • Mountain Navigation
      • Wilderness Survival
      • Overnight Backpacking
      • South Chilcotins Wilderness
      • Garibaldi Wilderness
      • Custom Hiking & Backpacking
    • NEW! South Chilcotin Wilderness traverse

      Join our 7-day wilderness adventure hiking though the sub-alpine wilderness of the Dickson Range in the South Chilcotin Mountains north of Pemberton. More details here –  South Chilcotin Wilderness Traverse.

    • Scrambling

      • Scrambling Essentials
      • Blackcomb Peak, BC
  • Mountaineering
    • Alpine Training

      • Mountaineering Essentials
      • Complete Mountaineering
      • Alpine Skills Week
      • Intermediate Alpinism
      • Crevasse Rescue
      • Mountaineering Refresher
    • Guided Alpine

      • Mt Garibaldi
      • Mt Matier, BC
      • Mt Joffre, BC
      • Tantalus Range, BC
      • Mt Waddington, BC
      • Bugaboos, BC
  • 1st Aid
    • Wilderness First Aid

      • Intro Wilderness First Aid (2-days)
      • Advanced Wilderness First Aid – 40 hr
      • Wilderness First Responder (80 hr)
      • WFR – Re-certification  (3 days)
      • Wilderness First Responder Bridge (40 hr)
  • Expeditions
    • Americas

      • Mt Logan – 2023
      • Mt Waddington, BC
      • Aconcagua, Argentina
    • Europe & Africa

      • Swiss Alps Classics
      • Mt Elbrus, Russia
      • Mt Kenya, Kenya
      • Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
    • Asia

      • Khan Tengri, Kyrgyzstan
      • Ama Dablam, Nepal
      • Mt Everest, Nepal
Home / Articles

2021-07-21

Summer hiking adventures

The hot and dry weather has cleared out much of the remaining snow in short order, allowing great access to all the spectacular hiking and backpacking destinations in Southwestern BC. While we continue to be vigilant about fire safety during this spell of weather, it is still a great time to get out and enjoy […]

Article by Brian Jones / Articles, Featured latest post, News Update, Uncategorized

2021-07-21

Arc’teryx Climbing Academy 2021

The Arc’teryx Climbing Academy is back Aug 26-29, 2021! Canada West Mountain School will once again be hosting all the Climbing Clinics, registration opens July 21. Check out all the clinics here at the Arc’teryx Climbing Academy Squamish 2021, there are limited spaces and clinics sell out fast, so be sure to register soon.  

Article by Brian Jones / Articles, Uncategorized, What's New

2021-04-29

April 28 Covid Update

The Sea to Sky communities of Squamish, Whistler, and Pemberton have requested that visitors from outside the Sea to Sky corridor postpone travel to this region until after May 25th. Press release from the District of Squamish here – https://squamish.ca/yourgovernment/news/essential-travel-only-to-sea-to-sky-communities-until-may-25/ Statement from Squamish Tourism here – https://www.exploresquamish.com/explore/explore-squamishresponsibly). As a result of these requests, Canada West […]

Article by Brian Jones / Featured latest post, News Update

2021-04-29

Spring and summer 2021

Rock climbing routes are dry and the hiking trails are slowly becoming snow-free, as winter has finally retreated to the mountains. Great spring skiing is still to be found for those who don’t want to let go of the snow sports quite yet. At Canada West Mountain School we are in full swing with our […]

Article by Brian Jones / Articles

2020-11-23

Covid-19 update – Nov 23, 2020

Winter is here in full force with snow in the mountains, ski resorts are opening and Canada West Mountain School has completed our first series of AST-1 courses under our new Covid-19 protocols. However, Covid-19 is still with us and we all still need to pull together and help reduce the risk of transmission. While […]

Article by Brian Jones / News Update, What's New

2020-10-17

Canada West Virtual Classroom

We are very excited to announce the Canada West Mountain School “Virtual Classroom” will be launched in November! Our newly developed E-Learning site will support our robust offerings of practical, field-based courses and guided trips! The new Virtual Classroom will be a key component of every Canada West Mountain School program and course offering. This […]

Article by Brian Jones / Articles, Featured latest post, News Update

2020-06-02

Canada West Mountain School Covid-19 Protocols

UPDATE for April 8, 2022 The Province of BC has removed the requirement for proof of vaccination status to attend indoor events, and with the lifting of the mask mandate earlier this year, there are no mandated restrictions affecting the delivery of our programs. However, we still encourage everyone on all programs to continue observing […]

Article by Brian Jones / Articles

2020-05-23

How to choose mountaineering boots?

One of most common questions we get is “how to choose mountaineering boots” and this is also one of the most challenging questions to give a simple answer to. Footwear is one of the most important pieces of gear that you will need on any mountaineering trip,  and the wrong boots can ruin an otherwise great […]

Article by Brian Jones / Articles, News Update

2020-03-17

COVID-19 updates

October 17, 2020 The winter season is almost upon us with fresh snow in the hills! At Canada West we have been very busy behind the scenes preparing our Virtual Classroom in anticipation of a busy winter. We are very excited and looking forward to the November launch of the  Canada West Mountain Online School […]

Article by Brian Jones / Articles, What's New

2018-06-26

Arcteryx Climbing Academy 2019

the 2019 Arcteryx Climbing Academy clinic registration opens  May 15th!  Canada West Mountain School will once again be hosting all the Climbing Clinics from August 23-25, 2019. Be sure to check out the full event running in Squamish for a celebration of climbing culture in Canada – great free seminars, climbing clinics, slide shows, world […]

Article by Brian Jones / Uncategorized, What's New

2018-04-27

Wilderness First Aid

We have finalized our dates for Wilderness First Aid training courses for Spring 2018. All the course dates can be found at our Wilderness First Aid courses Page. This spring we are again offering a full range of courses in North Vancouver and in Squamish! We can also can put together any level of Custom […]

Article by Brian Jones / Featured latest post, What's New

2017-11-06

Winter is on its way!

2017 has been a memorable summer, but we are now watching the snow falling, days are cooling and the puffy jackets are all coming out again! Our final Mountaineering and Alpine programs are completed for the year, and now reports are trickling in of  early season skiing and trailbreaking through new snow and sub-zero temperatures. […]

Article by Brian Jones / Uncategorized, What's New

2017-08-20

Wilderness First Aid

Wilderness First Aid practice evacuation

There are still a few spaces left on our September 2017 Wilderness First Aid program. All the 1st Aid courses that we are conducting this fall are held in West Vancouver. For more details visit the Wilderness First Aid courses Page, or see the link below to specific courses. This season we are again offering […]

Article by Brian Jones / Uncategorized, What's New

2017-05-16

Arc’terycx Climbing Academy 2021

Arcteryx Climbing Academy 2017

The Arc’teryx Climbing Academy is back Aug 26-29, 2021! Canada West Mountain School will once again be hosting all the Climbing Clinics, registration opens July 21. Check out all the clinics here at the Arc’teryx Climbing Academy Squamish 2021, there are limited spaces and clinics sell out fast, so be sure to register soon.  

Article by Brian Jones / News Update, What's New

2016-07-21

Squamish Rock

Squamish has always been the centre of rock climbing in Canada, and it just seems to get better every year. We just wrapped up another amazing Climbing Academy here with Arcteryx, welcoming hundreds of climbers  to experience firsthand the variety and quality of climbs on offer. Now we are into the heart of a great […]

Article by Brian Jones / Articles, What's New

2016-05-25

Arcteryx Climbing Academy

Arcteryx Climbing Academy 2016

We are looking forward to the Arcteryx Climbing Academy coming up this July! Canada West Mountain School will once again be hosting all the Climbing Clinics on July 15, 16 and 17. Be sure to check out the full event running in Squamish for a celebration of climbing culture in Canada – great free seminars, […]

Article by Brian Jones / Uncategorized, What's New

2016-05-25

The Alpine is calling

Climbing on Mount Waddington

Mountaineering season is here! After a fine winter with a lot of snow up high, the alpine routes on the South Coast are getting into great shape now. Time to pull out the ice axe and crampons and head for the hills! Whether you are heading out for a day-trip to a local scrambling objective, […]

Article by Brian Jones / Articles, Uncategorized

2015-11-25

Win an AST course!

Win an AST-1 course! Join us at MEC Snow Fest on Saturday, November 18! We’re looking forward to a fun day at the MEC store on Broadway in Vancouver. Visit us at our booth and enter to win an AST-1 course! Even if you already have taken this course, you can still “gift” the prize […]

Article by Brian Jones / Articles, News Update

2015-11-17

Avalanche Safety Gear contest

We are rapidly approaching the end of our early season Gear Giveaway! November 20th is the last date to get in on this chance to win some of the best avalanche safety gear available. Sign up for any Avalanche Skills Course (AST-1 or AST-2) before midnight on November 20th and you are automatically entered into […]

Article by Brian Jones / Articles, What's New

2015-10-02

Getting ready for Winter

Tree skiing with Canada West Mountain School

Winter is on its way and for many of us these promise to be the most exciting months of the year. Backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, and winter mountaineering are all sports easily enjoyed in Western Canada. Nothing can compare to a beautiful day in the alpine after a fresh dump of snow – many visitors come […]

Article by Brian Jones / Articles, What's New

2014-10-29

Wilderness First Aid courses

Picture of a Wilderness First Aid course

We have finalized our dates for WFA courses for Fall of 2015. All the course dates can be found at our Wilderness First Aid courses Page. This season we are again offering a full range of courses in Squamish and in our NEW Classroom in North Vancouver! We can also can put together any level […]

Article by k1l1manjar0 / What's New

2014-08-14

Rope Rescue Systems for Skiers and Climbers

A common question from our students is “how many times have you had to perform a technical rope rescue?” Though technical rope rescue systems are rarely used by most recreational climbers, if you do find yourself faced with the task of assisting someone who is having challenges or is injured, knowing basic rescue systems will […]

Article by Brian Jones / News Update / crevasse rescue, rock rescue, rope rescue, rope systems, squamish rock rescue, technical rope rescue

2014-04-18

First Aid in the backcountry

I have been having a lot of discussions about Wilderness First Aid lately. Many folks wonder what distinguishes Wilderness First aid courses and training from other traditional First Aid courses. First, we need to to look at the level of support that we can expect to have when we respond to an accident or medical […]

Article by Brian Jones / News Update

2014-01-24

Argentina 2014

On January 14th, 17 Canadian Army Cadets from across the country converged on the small mountain town of Bariloche in the Patagonia region of Argentina. Their goal? To complete a 10 day expedition through the lakes and mountains of the wild and spectacular Patagonian Nahuel Huapi National Park. Canada West Mountain School organized and lead […]

Article by Brian Jones / News Update

2013-12-09

Winter 2014 Guides and Instructors pre-season training session

Changing seasons is always great. I look forward to the winter snow season because I get to head out again with all the Guides and Instructors I haven’t seen during the summer! On Thursday, December 4,  18 Canada West mountain School Guides and Instructors showed up in the backcountry of Whistler to shake out the […]

Article by Brian Jones / News Update

2013-11-01

Getting ready for winter

Here we are at the beginning of November, winter is just around the corner! Time to check out the weather forecasts and get the skis and ice climbing gear out of storage in anticipation of another great winter! At the beginning of every season we at Canada West are doing everything we can to get […]

Article by Brian Jones / News Update

2013-07-20

Kluane: A tribute to Canada’s National Parks

Canada West Mountain School owner and IFMGA mountain guide Brian Jones has joined Canadian landscape artist and documentary filmmaker Cory Trépanier on his quest to paint Kluane National Park. Brian will lead Cory on a two-week expedition into the Kluane Icefield Ranges as part of the artist’s latest project to document Canada’s National Parks through painting […]

Article by Brian Jones / Mt Logan, News Update / Brian Jones, Cory Trépanier, Kluane, Mt. Logan, Parks Canada, TrueWild

2013-06-18

Wilderness First Aid course updates

Our Summer and Fall Wilderness First Aid courses are now scheduled and listed on the website – http://www.themountainschool.com/info/first-aid-wilderness.html.  The next 20-hour intro WFA course will be in Squamish on July 6-7, taught by our lead WFA Instructor Corey Brealey.

Article by Brian Jones / News Update

2013-06-12

Alpine Skills courses starting soon

Our first Alpine Skills course of the summer season is starting up this Monday, June 17 and there are still a couple of spaces available on this program.  We are looking forward to a great week in the alpine, conditions are shaping up fine and (hopefully) the weather will continue to cooperate! Check out the […]

Article by Brian Jones / News Update

2013-06-05

Success on Mt Barbeau, Nunavut

A successful climb of Mount Barbeau on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut! While we have all been soaking up the sun and enjoying great spring weather, John Furneaux, Darrel Ainscough and Mike Cormack have been heading up Mount Barbeau on Ellesmere Island in full winter conditions.  On June 4 the three stood on top of the 2,616 […]

Article by Brian Jones / News Update

2013-05-25

Summer 2013 Update

Mountaineering courses starting soon! Weather has been great lately in Squamish and we are starting to see summer condition in the mountains as well! We have been running some fine early season Mountain Skills Training refreshers on the local hills and the snowpack is really starting to get into good shape. Our first Complete Mountaineering […]

Article by Brian Jones / News Update / Canada West Mountain School, climbing, Climbing course, Mountaineering, Mountaineering course

2011-05-13

Down safe in Everest Base Camp

Most of our Everest 2011 Expedition Team members have arrived safely in Base Camp after a successful journey to the top of Mount Everest, Nepal. Congratulations again to Bill Borger of Calgary, Alberta for gaining the south Summit of Mount Everest in deteriorating weather. Bill, along with Then Dorjee Sherpa, Phurbha Bote Sherpa and Dawa […]

Article by Brian Jones / Mt Everest Expeditions, Mt. Everest 2011, News Update

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North Vancouver, BC

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Canada West Mountain School acknowledges that we operate on the unceded traditional territories of the Salish peoples of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lô), Lil̓wat7úl (Líl̓wat), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations


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