Reference
Resource Docs
- ACC Event WAIVER
- Please Print both pages of this waiver on one piece of paper only. Fill-in and bring with you to all Events. Submit waiver to Event Leader when you arrive.
- Still Under Construction... MA refs, Handbooks links, etc...
New Routes
- Future Construction... Ice & Rock
F.A.Q's
Some Common Questions & Answers:
- DO I HAVE TO BE AN ACC MEMBER TO PARTICIPATE IN SECTION EVENTS?
- YES.
- Rationale: Mainly due to Liability Insurance requirements, anyone participating in Section events are required to be current, paid members of the ACC. Memberships are available via the ACC National website.
- 'Local Resident' Members must also affiliate with our Thunder Bay Section as part of their annual ACC Membership.
- ACC Members from other Sections are also welcome at our Events if space is available. Be sure to contact the Event Leader prior to the event to discuss your participation.
- CAN I BRING MY PET TO AN EVENT?
- NO.
- Rationale: As much as many of us are ardent pet lovers, unfortunately the bases of climbs are not safe areas for our 'best friends and chosen family members'. (The duration of our events, especially in the cold weather, is also not fair to any animals sitting idle.)
- Some people have allergies, and being in remote climbing areas with a potential allergic reaction is not something that needs to be dealt with by our volunteers and the participants.
- Potential, costly damage to Club or other Member's gear or clothing.
- This rule is mostly for the pet's own safety!
- WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I HAVE TO PROVIDE?
- To start...not much!
- The answer to this question truly depends on the Type and Level of Event you are participating in.
- All Events will be Categorized by Level, and definitions of the Levels are available on the Calendar of Events page. Additional information about gear requirements may also be detailed in the Events Description by the Leader.
- Typically for Beginner Level Events, only footwear needs to be provided by the member.
- Gear such as harnesses, helmets, ropes, anchor gear, climbing axes, and belay/rappel devices are all provided by the Section Gear Cache at NO CHARGE.
- For Events above the Beginner Level, most Personal Climbing Gear is required by the participants.
- CAN I SHOW UP LATE OR LEAVE EARLY FROM AN EVENT?
- Typically NO.
- Rationale: Safety, Liability, and Accountability.
- Many of our Events are run at locations that are very isolated and outside of reliable cell-service. We "Go In as Group, and Leave as a Group". In the event of any mishaps, there is a much better chance of mitigating any serious situations with the presence of the Group available for assistance.
- If you need an exception from this Standard Practice, please discuss/inform your intentions with the Event Leader ahead of the event date.
- WHAT IS THE MINIMUM AGE FOR A PARTICIPANT?
- Though we don't have an absolutely firm rule on this answer as a Section, it WILL be dependent on the Event, the Trip Leaders, and the Location. Generally participants should be mature in attitude, reasonably independent of direct supervision, and be at least 18 years of age, given the physical demands of the sport and the self-awareness required for outdoor climbing, or other section activities.
- Any request for participants Under 18yrs of age should be discussed and approved by the Event Leader before the event date.
- CAN EVENTS BE CANCELLED?
- ABSOLUTELY!...and for various reasons.
- Weather is generally the biggest factor that Leaders must take into account. It is the goal of every event to provide all participants with the safest, most enjoyable experience possible.
- Lack of participants. For some events, a minimum number of participants is necessary.
- Too many participants. Though we wouldn't outright cancel an Event because of too much interest, as the Event Leaders, we always do our best to accommodate all Members who are interested in a given Event. This occasionally may require a sequential or tiered approach to the scheduling of the Event. You will be notified well before the beginning of the Event if it is highly subscribed and requires modification to its original posted timeline.
- Unsafe location. For many reasons, a chosen location may become unsafe during the course of an Event, or unforeseen changes to a chosen location may require an Event being moved, rescheduled, or cancelled.
- Unsafe participant(s) behavior. Event Leaders shoulder the safety and well-being of the Group at an Event - from the start time once the waivers are signed until the conclusion when Members have safely returned to depart. If any participant is exhibiting unsafe, unpredictable, or disrespectful behavior in the opinion of the Leader, the Event can be terminated. The locations of our Events do not allow for any Member to become a willful liability to the Group in any respect.
- I paid my Membership Fees, NOW WHAT CAN I EXPECT?
- First and foremost, we are a CLUB; we are NOT a Profit-Driven-Fee-For-Service operation. All our Leaders are 100% volunteers. We all pay the same ACC Membership fee.
- As with any Club, we are only as strong and dynamic as our Members' contributions. The more you put into the Club, the more you will stand to gain; experiences, relationships, memories, skills, etc. Those of us who have been around for more than one season tend to share a genuine passion for the outdoors, this sport, and enjoy sharing this experience with others who are like-minded.
- In the Thunder Bay Section, the vast majority of all our Events are at No-Charge to our Section Members. We try to keep the cost of participation to an absolute minimum at all times. There may be associated transportation costs, or third party rental fees, but our Events generally carry NO additional participation fee above your ACC Membership.
- On the National level, the ACC also has many opportunities available for it's Members. Visit www.alpineclubofcanada.ca for all the details and links to the many other ACC Sections and their activities across Canada.
- As our Section Members progress with basic and technical skills, involvement and commitment in the Section, contribute meaningfully in Leadership capacities, there exists opportunities for Certified Training subsidies for Members beneficial to our Section. Examples include Wilderness First Aid or many ACC National Certifications held in Western Canada.
