Join the third annual Great Plains Section family climbing trip! We’ll spend 1 to 4 August climbing at Spillimacheen, British Columbia (climbing days on 2 and 3 August). The climbing at “Spilli” is moderate and featured, and the area—in the Columbia River valley between Golden and Radium—is a real treat. The crag is mountainside and involves a short but moderate approach, so this trip is best suited to children over the age of six who have some hiking experience and enjoy grades upwards of 5.7. If your children are younger than the recommended age, please reach out to the trip organizer to discuss whether this is the right opportunity for them.

Parents/guardians will be placed in groups with their children, and at least one parent/guardian must provide supervision for their children at all times (in other words, one parent must always be on the ground). Please note that the trip is weather-dependent and could be cancelled at the trip leader’s discretion in the event of unfavourable conditions. In the event of minor inclement weather, hiking or other alternatives will be provided, whenever possible. Trip participants should bring a flexible, positive attitude and a desire for adventure, no matter what that adventure turns out to be!

Trip meeting
There will be a mandatory pre-trip meeting in the spring of 2026. The meeting will cover trip logistics, expectations of participants and leaders, and participant questions.

Cost
The trip cost is $50 per adult (18+) and $10 per child participant. An active ACC Great Plains membership is required for each participant, including each child (see the ACC website for family membership options). Each family will be responsible for their own camping costs. Trip fees will be collected in the spring and are refundable up to 30 June if other participant(s) can be found to take the vacancy, or at the trip organizer’s discretion. In the event of a trip cancelation due to weather, area closures, or other extenuating circumstances, all trip fees will be refunded, but lost camping deposits will be the responsibility of trip participants.

Gear
Participants are responsible for their own personal gear. Gear requirements include climbing shoes, a harness, a carabiner and belay device, and a helmet (mandatory). Depending on the size of child climbers, full body harnesses might be required. The club has a limited number of adult harnesses and adult/child helmets available at no cost to participants on a first-come first-served basis. Please indicate on your trip application if you wish to borrow club gear. A recommended packing list will be provided to confirmed trip participants.

Meals
Participants are responsible for their own meals, including bagged lunches and snacks on climbing days.

Travel and Accommodation
We will plan to camp together at a nearby private campground—details TBD in early December. Spillimacheen is approximately 1,050 km from Regina on primarily paved primary and secondary highways. There is a short distance from the highway to the approach parking lot that is on a gravel forestry service road (FSR).

Trip Application
To apply for the trip, email Jennifer Arends (j_l_arends@yahoo.ca) with the following information:

1. Full names of all participants,
2. ACC membership number for each participant,
3. Whether you need to borrow any club gear,
4. A description of each participant’s level of climbing experience (indoor and outdoor),
5. Each participant’s date of birth, and
6. An emergency name and contact number (cannot be a trip participant).

Note that incomplete applications will not be considered, so please take care to answer all six application questions in your email. The final number of spots available on the trip will be established in early December 2025.