Interested in climbing at Bon Echo this season and don’t know where to begin? Bon Echo 101 is for you! Bon Echo 101 is a weekend especially for newcomers to Bon Echo. They will be paired up with experienced leaders who will act as their guides to the cliff.

The cliff at Bon Echo is in a beautiful setting, rising 300 feet out of Lake Mazinaw. There is a large number of existing trad routes, from 5.0 to 5.12. However, there is no sport climbing.

Because the cliff lies within a provincial park, there are rules that must be observed (mandatory helmets is one). Make yourself familiar with them at the section website:
alpineclubtoronto.ca/bonecho/

Please read the booking process on the website before booking

CUSTODIAN: Any questions, please contact Rob Leblanc at leblancrobertwade@gmail.com

HUT FEES: 
Pre-paid via e-transfer. Fees include boat transport to the dock and cliff.
Members: $25 per day/night.
Non-members: $50 per day/night.
Age 13 to 18 half price, under 13 free.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
The hut is open. Climbers sleep in their own tents. Please pack out your garbage. The last boat trip to the dock is 4pm Sunday (unless the custodian advises otherwise). Please respect the custodian’s right to go home at a reasonable hour.

TRIP CLASSIFICATION: B/C

HAZARDS:
Communication and Rescue, Falls and Belaying, General Hazards, Rockfall, Terrain.

WAIVER: Please read the ACC waiver before attending. A Bon Echo specific waiver will need to be signed when arriving at Bon Echo.

18ft Aluminum Welded Workboat: $15,000

Also, if you have experience leading at Bon Echo then the 101 weekend needs you. We’ll have new climbers keen to be shown the ropes, and volunteer LEADERS CLIMB FOR FREE on 101 weekends. If you can make it, please contact Rob LeBlanc at leblancrobertwade@gmail.com or see the Activities Calendar for more details.

Bryan will roast a stuffed Turkey and ham over the fire, with accompanying gravies and cranberry sauce. A vegan option is also provided. The cost for this is $10 per person (on top of the normal Bon Echo fees).

In addition, everyone brings a side-dish, salad or dessert to round out the meal – enough to feed 10 people. All participants enjoy the dinner family style together.

Please contact Bryan to notify him what you will bring, whether you require the vegan option, and to provide payment for the dinner. Hope to see you all there!

Climbing continues at Bon Echo

The Bon Echo Provincial Park is temporarily closed due to the damage they received from the storm. However, in talks with the park superintendent, we’ve been given special permission for members to climb at Bon Echo 101 this coming weekend, provided that all relevant routes are assessed. We kindly ask that members ensure that they are climbing safely as there is still a fair amount of undocumented damage to the park.

Once again, we thank the members that volunteered their time to cleaning up the property and special thanks to Mark Hurst and David Henderson.

If you have experience leading at Bon Echo then the 101 weekend needs you! We have new climbers keen to be shown the ropes on June 4th and 5th. And remember, volunteer LEADERS CLIMB FOR FREE on 101 weekends. If you can make it, please contact Rob LeBlanc at leblancrobertwade@gmail.com or see the Activities Calendar for more details.

Great news! We’ll be docking in at Bon Echo on May 14th in a return to normal operations (more or less). You can find booking instructions and more information on the Bon Echo page.

Covid-19

As per Ontario guidelines, masks are for now still recommended in the hut whilst not eating or drinking, and in the sauna. However since public gathering restrictions have been lifted we’re no longer limiting participant numbers due to the pandemic.

New Pricing

The daily rate for Bon Echo has been reduced since last season, and a new youth rate introduced. Remember, nowhere else do you get ferried to climbs in an ACC boat!

• Adult members: $25 per day
• Youth members (13-18): $12.50 per day
• Under 13: free
• Non-members: $50 per day
• Bon Echo Season Pass: 10x day rate (ie $250/$125)

Route Maintenance

Many of the more popular routes received attention at the end of last season, whereby some of the older, more worn pitons were replaced by bolts with the Park’s permission. This is an ongoing process which the Route Maintenance Committee will continue working on this season.

Please forward any questions to besignup@alpineclubtoronto.ca

• Limit of 13 people (Step 2) increased to limit of 17 people (Step 3).
• Hut open to use.
• Limit of ‘one weekend a month’ lifted for the month of July.
• 5 pm pickup time restriction lifted. Arrangements are still made with the custodian.

A gentle reminder to still obey all other protocols in place. Please refer to the Bon Echo section of our website for full information.

Our Bon Echo season is upon us! Spaces are limited so don’t wait! The schedule is found on our calendar and full, up-to-date details (including Covid-19 protocols) are found on the Bon Echo page!