The 2024 BCMC summer camp will take place in the remote mountains of the Pantheon Range, located north of Mt. Waddington in the Coast Range of British Columbia. First explored by Dick Culbert and BCMC president Glenn Woodsworth in 1963, this rarely-visited area is home to a variety of technical mountain objectives from 3rd class scrambles to steep 5th class rock routes with glaciated approaches. The camp will be based at Nirvana Pass, a beautiful and rugged mountain pass that will be accessed by helicopter from Bluff Lake, about a ten hour drive from Vancouver. We will fly out on Saturday July 27th, and there will be two options for return dates, August 5th or August 10th, which participants will be able to choose from at an in-person planning meeting (date and location TBA). Helicopter costs will be approximately $850-$1000 per person for the round trip flight, and registration will not be confirmed until this fee is paid. This is not a guided trip, but rather an organized base camp where participants can climb together and share beta, but are expected to be completely independent. As such, significant mountaineering and glacier travel experience is required for all joining the trip.


A photo taken on a spring ski traverse of the Pantheon Range in 1991 by Corina Acheson

See BC Map 92 N and The Northern Coastal Ranges of British Columbia: A Climber's Guide. By Earle R. Whipple for an introduction to the area.

An interactive map, created by summer camp co-coordinator Francis, with information on some of the many objectives in the area is available here:

https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=11.1/-125.2280/51.6065&pubLink=S93tR21rcBeqzCWrRNJAp9cc&folderId=0cfcaec3-c12c-4f08-9bb1-6956c3c2f09c

For club members interested in attending the summer camp but are experiencing economic hardship, the club has created an in-kind assistance program. Each summer, the club hires camp hosts for the Watersprite recreation site.  The Watersprite camp host is a paid position and requires that hosts have WFA1 or equivalent.  If you are interested in reducing your summer camp fees, and hold a WFA1 certificate, and are experiencing demonstrated economic hardship, apply to be a Watersprite camp host. A single weekend hosting will significantly reduce your out-of-pocket costs of the summer camp. Message the summer camp organizer for details of this in-kind assistance program. Confidentiality maintained.