Resources
Renting gear from Sawback
We have a limited inventory of rental gear. Please contact us to reserve your equipment. Here’s a link to our current rental price list and inventory.
Rental Shops close to (our) home
- Calgary Outdoor Centre – located at the University of Calgary at the west end of the city
- Mountain Equipment Co-op – Downtown Calgary, and soon another store at the west end of the city.
- Gear Up – located in Canmore, AB
Comfort Tips
Download our Comfort Tips for Ski Touring! Good advice for staying comfortable for a day of ski touring.
Gear Lists
Use these handy equipment lists to make sure you have everything you need for your trip. They’re pretty generic, so adapt each gear checklist to your specific needs. Each of our trips has a customized list, so be sure to consult the list specific to your trip if you’ve booked one of our adventures.
Waiver, Release of Liability
Release of Liability Waiver – you need to sign one of these before starting any trip with an ACMG guide. The waiver is a mechanism by which the risk associated with mountaineering and wilderness ski trips is transferred to those in a better position to bear (or insure against) that risk. It is recommended that all guests purchase travel and/or accident insurance. Your insurance broker can advise you as to what other types of insurance you may require, such as disability, evacuation, and life insurance.
Food Planning
Having Sawback provide your food is highly recommended. For a small fee you don’t have to plan, purchase, prepare or pack your food and you’re guaranteed to have good tasting, easy to prepare food in just the right quantities. Here’s a link to our backcountry ski traverse food planning worksheets to give you an idea of what we offer. Feel free to use it and adapt it to your own backcountry trip planning.
Miscellaneous Resources
- Using Google Earth as a trip planning resource with your Garmin GPS – article by Tom Wolfe (ACMG/IFMGA), summarizing the CPD he led at the ACMG’s annual meeting, October 19, 2013.
- Association of Canadian Mountain Guides – information about Canadian Mountain guides, check to make sure your guide has the correct certification and permits.
- International Federation of Mountain Guides – information about the International Federation of Mountain Guides’ Associations
- Important Phone Numbers – Emergency contacts for western Canada mountaineering.
- Avalanche Rescue Card – Steps to take in the event of an avalanche to effect a Companion Rescue.
- International Hand Signals for Helicopter Rescues – make sure you know how to communicate with search and rescue personnel.
- V-Shaped Conveyor Belt Shovelling Technique – One of the most important parts of Companion Rescue is knowing how to shovel. Manuel Genswein has done the research, now you need to learn how to do it right.
- Human Snow Conveyor – Another description of the conveyor shovel method
- Discover more things to do in Canmore
Weather forecasts
SpotWx – probably my favourite. You can make an account and a list of Favourites for quick access.
Mountain Forecast
The Weather Network – Surprisingly good forecasts here.
Evironment Canada – your tax dollars at work, so it better be good.
Snow Forecast – specific to skiers, worldwide resort coverage.
Webcams
- Canmore
- Lake Louise (RCR)
- Banff (Sulphur Mountain)
- Jasper (Marmot Basin)
- Rogers Pass
- Golden
- Revelstoke (RMR)
CAC & Public Avalanche Bulletins
Click Here For All Western Canadian Forecast Areas
Or choose one of the following direct links:
- Banff, Kootenay & Yoho National Parks
- Kananaskis Country
- Jasper National Park
- Glacier National Park (Rogers Pass)
- Purcells
Other Mountain Conditions Resources
- Mountain Conditions Report
- Canadian Avalanche Association Bulletins
- Avalanche Canada’s Weather Report
- Text Weather Forecasts
- Parks Canada’s Weather Dataloggers
Telemetry (real-time weather dataloggers)
Lots of weather dataloggers our there. Here’s a huge selection for your enjoyment.