Calabogie Caper AKA Calaboogie Nights Ice-Climbing Weekends
This is a joint Toronto-Ottawa ACC ice-climbing event in which participants are invited to stay in at the trip organizer's home and climb for two days in the Ottawa area. The event has been running for a few years now and has been very popular in both cities.
Most people from outside Ottawa car-pool from Toronto & other locations on Friday night to the house in Ottawa. We sleep here Friday night, get up on Saturday, have breakfast, make lunches, and car-pool to the climbing area. Returning on Saturday night, we have dinner at the house with the local climbing community. This is always an excellent party.
On Sunday we repeat the process. Most people leave from the climbing area and go straight home on Sunday, but you can come back to the house, regroup and then head home.
Of course we have several participants from the Ottawa area.
EQUIPMENT:
Plan ahead! You should come equipped with harness, belay device, helmet, ice tools, boots and crampons. The most difficult thing is having proper boots and crampons. If you can’t borrow or rent ice tools it’s less important because we can share. A few slings (long) and additional ropes suitable for top-roping will be needed. We’ll set up at least six top-ropes, but leading is a possibility as well, of course. We may get access to some Ottawa Section equipment, but it isn’t guaranteed (usually there are multiple events scheduled at the same time). Suitable clothing is essential, including a couple pair of gloves.
COSTS:
The only costs will be for meals and gas for driving. Many are renting equipment, which may be the biggest cost. We will ask each climber to contribute to the purchase of Pizza for the local helpers on Saturday night (approx $10).
Plan ahead! You should come equipped with harness, belay device, helmet, ice tools, boots and crampons. The most difficult thing is having proper boots and crampons. If you can’t borrow or rent ice tools it’s less important because we can share. A few slings (long) and additional ropes suitable for top-roping will be needed. We’ll set up at least six top-ropes, but leading is a possibility as well, of course. We may get access to some Ottawa Section equipment, but it isn’t guaranteed (usually there are multiple events scheduled at the same time). Suitable clothing is essential, including a couple pair of gloves.
COSTS:
The only costs will be for meals and gas for driving. Many are renting equipment, which may be the biggest cost. We will ask each climber to contribute to the purchase of Pizza for the local helpers on Saturday night (approx $10).
MEALS:
You will need to arrange breakfasts and lunches on both days. For breakfasts you can prepare something at my home - Coffee, bacon and eggs and some cereal or pancakes. We will leave it to you to organize your lunches (or to Tim Horton). For dinner on Saturday we fill the house with climbers from all over Ontario and order Pizza and "Greek on Wheels" dinners. Everyone is usually gone before supper on Sunday.
You will need to arrange breakfasts and lunches on both days. For breakfasts you can prepare something at my home - Coffee, bacon and eggs and some cereal or pancakes. We will leave it to you to organize your lunches (or to Tim Horton). For dinner on Saturday we fill the house with climbers from all over Ontario and order Pizza and "Greek on Wheels" dinners. Everyone is usually gone before supper on Sunday.
YOUR HOST:
... was chair of both the Toronto (mid 1990s) and Ottawa (mid 2000s) Sections and is still a member of both, which is why he is in a position to run a trip on both calendars. If you go to Bon Echo you may have met him, since he has been a custodian once or twice a year since around 1992!
... was chair of both the Toronto (mid 1990s) and Ottawa (mid 2000s) Sections and is still a member of both, which is why he is in a position to run a trip on both calendars. If you go to Bon Echo you may have met him, since he has been a custodian once or twice a year since around 1992!
Please refer to the ACC Toronto or Ottawa calendars for my contact information.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Toronto Section climbers are invited to stay in the home of the trip coordinator in central Ottawa about 2km south of Parliament. This location is reasonably close to the climbing areas and allows people to climb without paying for hotels or driving all the way back to Toronto. The house is conveniently close to the Greyhound bus station if anyone wants to take the bus.
Click on the map on this page to see a Google map of the location (143 Flora St.).
Accommodations will be “communal”, meaning most of you will be camping inside the house. On the second floor there is one spare bedroom plus a library with room for several sleeping bags. The third floor has a queen-sized bed, and lots of additional room for sleeping bags. Finally there is the ground floor which could be used if it gets too cosy upstairs. There are two bathrooms, one on the second and one on the third floor. You should bring sleeping bags, ground cushions and towels (although there are spares of all these if needed). The house is clean, modern, and very comfortable - as long as you are okay sleeping on the floor with a few other people around. Ear plugs might be a good investment.
PAPERWORK:
This being Ottawa, you need to think about the bureaucracy. We will require your signature on the ACC waiver form at the start of the event. You should know the content of this form BEFORE you show up for the event, so look it over...
MEETING PLACES:
If you can't stay at the house, or somehow get separated from the group, the following information may prove very useful.
ACC Parkdale Parking Lot
The usual Ottawa ACC meeting place is a government parking lot on Parkdale Ave in Ottawa. It is described as “the most northern government parking lot on Parkdale Avenue across from Emerson Street.”
If you enter “Parkdale Avenue and Emerson Street Ottawa” into Google maps you will see the northern end of Parkdale Ave. Emerson is north of Burnside.
The entire stretch of land to the west of Parkdale in this area is government, with large parking lots. Going north, go past Colombine driveway, then turn left into the last parking lot. You’ll probably see more than one Gore-Tex clad group there, as several outdoor clubs meet here to arrange carpooling.
Cabin Creek or Home Cliff parking and access:
Take Highway 148 North in Quebec towards Luskville. On 148 North, 14 km from the traffic lights in Aylmer, there is a straight stretch of road running towards the escarpment. The highway bends sharply left at the end of this stretch. Don't follow the turn. Instead, exit slightly right along a gravel road (Chemin Cregheur). Cross a paved road (Mountain Road). The gravel road takes a sharp left turn in another l.7 km, continue along for another 0.8 km and park on the west side of a rocky knoll around which the road detours. Most people park on the south side of the road, immediately past a laneway to a white farmhouse. There is a sign showing where to cross the farmer's land.
Here is a Google map of the area (and can be used to get directions). Putting any "Chemin Cregheur, Luskville" address into a car navigation system would probably get you very close.
This website shows the parking spot and the walk-in to the cliff. Stay on the trail, as this has been negotiated with the landowner and we want to keep them happy! In winter, follow the tracks in the snow - don’t wander all over the farmer’s land!
Calabogie Climbing Area
Go west/north on 417 from Ottawa for roughly 75km.
Go west/north on 417 from Ottawa for roughly 75km.
Turn left onto Calabogie Road (Hwy 508) which is a well marked exit from the 417.
Follow Calabogie Road for 30 km and you will see the intersection leading to the Calabogie ski area, right beside the road. Continue on Calabogie Road past the ski area intersection for 2.5km. The road widens (North side) near the trailhead for parking. There is a sign at the trailhead saying "Manitou Mountain Trail".
Trip Videos
See the video section of this website for a few videos of the fun!