BOOK Your PRIVATE Alpine GUIDE

FOR TRIPS ABOVE THE CLOUDS IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES
 

You're looking to climb some of the most scenic and famous mountain peaks in Northern America but not sure if you are comfortable choosing the right route or whether you possess the skill sets to make it to the top. Let us help connect you with a Cloud Nine Mountain Guide that fits you and your group best, and we'll work to understand your goals for the trip. By choosing a route that embraces your technical skills and ability, or adding some additional days of instruction, Cloud Nine Guides can realize a day that fulfills your personal learning objectives. Other means of assistance we provide are site safety, risk management consulting, and dialing in a day that's right on point.

Step 1 is to reach out to our Program Managers to kick some tires. After your booking is confirmed, a Program Manager will then be attached to your booking and available 5 days a week from the time you book until your trip dates for you to check in on any aspect of your trip, at your leisure. 

Pricing is based on the experience level of the Guide you choose to book. Select from 3 tiers, those most experienced of which have between 20-30 years professional Guiding experience locally. A base rate for your day is billed for the first group member with an additional $85.00 added on per group member after the first.

We'll connect you with your ACMG/IFMGA Certified, Cloud Nine Mountain or Alpine Guide 7 Days in advance of your trip to finalize the finer points of your logistics, itinerary, and expected conditions; and then you're off and away.

Dates are often limited so book early.

 

  experienced Local Mountain & Alpine guides 

CHOOSE FROM 3 TIERS OF OUR CLOUD NINE MOUNTAIN GUIDES WHO BEST FITS YOUR VIBE
 

  PRE-TRIP PLANNING, SUPPORT & Consultation available

FROM FIRST CALL TO YOUR TRIP - OUR PROGRAM MANAGERS WORK WITH YOU FRONT TO BACK
 

  ALL TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE

ALL TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE FREE WITH BOOKING WITH US
 

 

 

The Private Backcountry Guiding Venues of Banff and Lake Louise

BOOK YOUR ADVENTURE HERE:

MeET THE C9G COLLECTIVE:

 

Mike Trehearne - Cloud Nine Guides
Alison Cardinal - Cloud Nine Guides
Robbie Chmelyk - Cloud Nine Guides
Dustin Klatt - Cloud Nine Guides

 

LOGISTICS

 

Guide : Guest Ratios

Guide to Guest Ratios on our Private Alpinism Programs are as follows: up to 1:6 for semi-technical objectives, 1:2 for technical objectives, and 1:1 for highly technical objectives.
 

Travel to Banff • Canmore • Lake Louise

Our suggestions for your most efficient way to access the program venue from a variety of locations and international ports of entry:

  • Calgary (YYC) to Lake Louise:
    • Those Guests traveling from or arriving by air at Calgary International Airport: Your most efficient route to join us for a program start in Lake Louise for example, will be through our base in Canmore, Alberta. A rental car may be required, though public transfers or transportation options are also available to you.
      Find a travel plan here

  • Edmonton (YEG) to Lake Louise: 
    • Those Guests travelling from or arriving by air at Edmonton International Airport: the fastest route is via Calgary by AB-2 S and then Highway 1 to Lake Louise. An alternative and more scenic route travels via Rocky Mountain House, then Saskatchewan River Crossing, turning south on HWY 93N toward Lake Louise. A rental car or personal transportation will be required.
      Find a travel plan here

  • Travelling from British Columbia: 
    • For our Guests travelling and arriving from locations in British Columbia: Please use the following map link to aid in your planning and arrival in Lake Louise. 
      Our Meeting Point in Lake Louise

 

Transfers from Calgary international Airport:

Transfers are available departing Calgary International, arriving in Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise. We'd suggest The Banff Airporter for those requiring transfers from Calgary.

Early ARRIVALS

ACCOMMODATION & TRIP PREP

For those looking to arrive early ahead of your program, there are a variety of useful pre-trip amenities and comfortable accommodation options around our base in Canmore, Alberta, the townsite of Banff, a further 20-minute drive inside the East Gates of Banff National Park, and Lake Louise. The following are our suggestions for accommodation as well as gear and equipment retailers to help you prepare post-arrival:

  • ACCOMMODATION:
     
  • GEAR PURCHASES PRE-TRIP:

    For those looking to purchase gear and equipment prior to your course, we would suggest the following local Bow Valley retailers:

    • Vertical Addiction
      • Located in Canmore, Vertical Addiction offers a complete selection of technical climbing, mountaineering and ski equipment along with a broad selection of technical clothing. 
         
    • SkiUphill
      • Located in Canmore, SkiUphill is a collective of experience driven individuals each with their own history, knowledge and stories of getting out there and getting after it. They offer expertise in backcountry skiing, trail running, climbing and any combination of those activities all while offering the best selection of curated equipment. 
         
    • Monods Sports
      • Located in Banff, Monods is one of the longest operating outdoor equipment and clothing retailers in the Bow Valley. Monods has a large selection of technical clothing and equipment offerings.
         
    • Ortovox
      • Our Partners at Ortovox are known for their high-quality technical outerwear and are a supporting partner of C9G and our ski guiding programs.
         
    • Black Diamond Equipment
      • Black Diamond Equipment has been providing skiers and alpinists with technical equipment since 1989, and is a supporting partner of C9G and our guided ski programs.

 

YOUR MOUNTAIN GUIDE'S TRANSPORTATION

TRANSPORTATION COSTS

In addition to your Ascent Package Fee, an additional fee will be applied to your order. These amounts are paid in full and directly to our Guiding Staff to cover the transportation routes required to arrive at your desired ascent: $50 for objectives departing from Lake Louise, $150 around Wapta Icefields, $200 for further objectives like the Columbia Icefields, and $275 for Bugaboos. In circumstances where you are able to provide your Guide with Transportation from our hub in Canmore, and where no other factors prohibit this option, this fee will be waived.

 

Mountain Meal Program

Complete or partial Meal Programs are available as additional add-ons to all our Private Guiding Programs.

Dietary restrictions can be accommodated. Please contact our Program Managers at the office for more information on Gluten Free, Lactose Free, Paleo diets, or any allergy restrictions for your trip.

 

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

Gear & Equipment Required will be based on your finalized Private Program Itinerary. Please find the following as a baseline for your reference. We are able to provide all technical equipment for the program that you choose. The only thing that we cannot provide is Mountaineering boots. 

You will require one of the following travel equipment kits to join us on your Private Program. Items can be provided additionally to your booking at your request:

  • Mountaineering Boots (we do not provide these)
  • Daypack - IMPORTANT: You will require at minimum a 30L backpack.
  • Sunglasses 
  • Climbing shoes
  • Lunch 
  • Water
  • Thermos with Hot Drink
  • Sun Screen
  • Small Blister Kit or Personal 1st Aid Kit

 

ESSENTIAL CLOTHING

This essential clothing list is provided firstly to help support a better quality experience for you while on trip.

  • Base Layers - Either wool or synthetic, or a polypro base layer are the best options. DO NOT wear cotton base layers. 
  • Mid Layers - Wool, synthetic or polypro is are best
  • Softshell Jacket or Goretex Jacket
  • Softshell Pants or Goretex Pants
  • Insulated Jacket - Large Parka style jackets are very important for the moments we're stopped during the field day. Down Parka's or Synthetic Down Parka's are a very important addition to your clothing systems for the course.
  • Socks - Wool blend, no cotton

 

TRIP CANCELLATION & INTERRUPTION INSURANCE

The best method to protect your investment with us should unforeseen arise, requiring you cancel your booking, is to purchase a Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance Policy. 

Lifestyle Insurance has covered many of Cloud Nine Guests on trips all over the world, and we have first-hand experience seeing these policies activated by our Guests. 

Safeguard your trip costs and investment with us. Request a Quote from Lifestyle Financial.

Is this coverage required?

  • For Canadian Residents, coverage is suggested but not required to register.
  • For Non-Canadian Citizens, coverage is suggested but not required. It is strongly suggested that your policy includes Emergency Medical Coverage, unless you carry an alternative policy which will respond in the event of medical emergency.

 

WAIVER - Release of Liability & Indemnity Agreement

Prior to booking you will be required to acknowledge that you have been provided a copy of our Waiver of Liability Agreement for your review. All participants, or their legal guardians wishing to participate on any Cloud Nine Programs, must acknowledge that they have been presented this document, have read it in its entirety, and understand the agreement being entered into by signing. While there is no obligation to enter into this agreement with us, it is a condition of our service provision. 

    REVIEW OUR WAIVER OF LIABILITY HERE

 

Booking TErms & Conditions

Before you book your course, please review our Booking Terms & Conditions. We do not accept bookings without your voluntary acceptance of these terms. Please read carefully as these terms outline specific policies and guidance for both our staff and clients with respect to refunds, cancellations, rescheduling, credit forward, refund exemptions etc.

    REVIEW OUR BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS HERE

 

Book a free consultation

Book a phone call or video call with either of our Program Managers or with our Director of Operations.

This is an excellent preliminary step towards booking a trip with us. It allows us to better understand your requirements and needs for your desired objective. 

ORTOVOX - Proud Supporting Partner of the Outdoor Rock Climbing Series Courses
Cloud Nine Mountain Guides are Internationally IFMGA Certified
Rock Courses Supported by Black Diamond Equipment