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KOOTENAY MOUNTAINEERING CLUB HIKING CAMPS

The Kootenay Mountaineering Club has been holding summer camps since 1974. Hiking camp is the best week of the year for me (an* indicates the camps I have attended). And all this for unbelievably low prices ($450 in 2014, $750 in 2024).
The amazing places we visit mountains throughout the Monashees, Selkirks, Purcells, and Rockies for three weeks are accessed by helicopter. Hiking and climbing are as demanding as you want. There is something for everyone – meadows, lakes, ridges, glaciers, moraines, wildlife, mountains of all difficulty and one of the best wildflower displays on the planet.
The phenomenal, fine-tuned organization – 20 individuals, with minimal direction, prepare and buy everything we need to survive in relative luxury for a week, and repeated by two more groups with equal efficiency.
All campers participate, costs are kept low, and a sense of community develops. Our strong environmental ethic is intended to leave our campsite with only the remnants of our bootprints. Spectacular, bountiful, homemade food that despite heavy exercise every day, usually results in weight gain. Wine.
There is an incredible variety of fellow campers, most in the 50-70 age range, from all walks of life and life experiences.
We have a unique event that I don’t think is done by any other mountaineering club, and at low cost. I don’t think there is anything to change.

YEAR LOCATION MAP CAMP
LOCATION
PARK STATUS
1974 Bonnie Gem / Purcells 82K2 224-574 Purcell Wilderness Cons.
1975 Gwillim Lakes/Valhallas 82F13 470-177 Valhalla Provincial Park
1976 Wilson Creek / Goat Range 82K6 803-696 Goat Range PP
1977 St Mary’s Alpine / Purcells 82F16 451-250 St. Mary’s Alpine PP
1978 Demers Lakes / Valhallas 82F13 492-253 Valhalla PP
1979 Wee Sandy Lake / Valhallas 82F13 595-343 Valhalla PP
1980 Bonnie Gem / Purcells 82K2 224-574 Purcell WC
1981 Clint Creek / Purcells 82K2 145-582 Purcell WC
1982 Monashee Park / Monashees 82L8 166-921 Monashee PP
1983 Gwillim Lakes / Valhallas 82F13 470-177 Valhalla PP
1984 Hume Creek / Purcells 82K14 942-286
1985 Valley of the Lakes / Purcells 82K14 959-408
1986 Anenome Pass / Purcells 82M16 065-608
1987 Limestone Lakes / Rockies 82J6 272-915 Height of the Rockies PP
1988 North Glacier Creek / Purcells 82K7 171-876
1989 Wild Cat Creek (Mistaya) / Rockies 82N10 250-268
1990 Ghost Creek (Mt Cartier) / Selkirks 82L16 278-414
1991 International Basin / Purcells 82K14 890-480
1992 Edouard Pass / Purcells 82K10 275-084
1993 Dunbar Lakes / Purcells* 82K15 315-227
1994 Valley of the Moon / Monashees 82L9 150-958
1995 Rusty Ridge / Purcells* 82F16 553-380
1996 Hope Creek / Selkirks 82K6 927-938
1997 Sugarplum Spire / Purcells* 82K14 897-352
1998 Marvel Pass / Rockies* 82J13 001-320
1999 Copeland Ridge / Monashees* 82M1 963-625
2000 Moonraker Peak / Purcells* 82N6 858-837
2001 Fitch Creek / Purcells* 82K14 931-251
2002 Blanket Creek / Monashees* 82L16 113-268
2003 Mt Soderholm / Rockies 82J12 085-210
2004 Endless Ridges / Purcells* 82K1 613-408
2005 Mt Llewelyn / Selkirks* 82K13 387-492
2006 Twilight Creek / Selkirks* 82N12 540-083
2007 Kain Creek / Purcells* 82K15 202-350
2008 International Basin / Purcells* 82K14 891-482
2009 Limestone Lakes / Rockies* 82J6 205-921
2010 Mica / Selkirks* 82D1 055-625
2011 Hume Creek / Purcells* 82K14 942-286
2012 Carnarvon Lake / Rockies* 82J7 641-817
2013 Echo Lake (Howser) / Purcells* 82K7 148-927
2014 Marvel Pass / Rockies* 82J13 999-329
2015 Valley of the Moon / Monashees* 82L9 150-958
2016 Wolverine Pass / Rocky Mountains 82N1 661-518
2017 Edouard Pass / Purcells* 82K10 275-082
2018 Sourds Creek / Monashees (Scrips R) 83D2 52* 02’ 26.82” N
118* 48’ 45.18” W
Elev. 6613′
2019 Brewster Basin / Selkirks 83M9 51* 33’ 01.05” N
118* 25’ 24.42 W
Elev. 6400′
2020 Colpitti Creek / Selkirks CANCELLED – COVID 82N12 51* 36′ 24.88″N
117* 37′ 46.53W
Elev. 7425′
2021 CANCELLED – COVID
2022 Headwaters Septet Creek / Purcells 82K15 50* 42′ 45.55″N
116* 36′ 38.36″W
Elev. 7064′
2023 Silent Pass, McMurdo Creek / Purcells 82N3 51* 03’ 4.03”N 117* 10’ 54.65”W Elev. 6653’
2024 Blanket Creek / Monashees 82L16 50* 47’ 36.00”N 118* 15’ 36.00”W Elev. 6129’

 

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I would like to think of myself as a full time traveler. I have been retired since 2006 and in that time have traveled every winter for four to seven months. The months that I am "home", are often also spent on the road, hiking or kayaking. I hope to present a website that describes my travel along with my hiking and sea kayaking experiences.

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