The 2026 TABVAR Guidemap comes out in early October. Supporters get early access.

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TABVAR appThe Association of Bow Valley Area Rockclimbers
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For climbers

Bow Valley routes are bolted and maintained by volunteers, and TABVAR has helped pay for their hardware since 1994. This page covers where to find topos, what to do about bad hardware, and how to help.

Turquoise Lake Louise seen from a cliff above the shore, with the Chateau at the far end of the lake
Lake Louise

Topos are in the TABVAR app

The TABVAR app has a map of Bow Valley crags and topos for their routes. It's free, and you don't need an account to browse.

  • A map and list of crags across the Bow Valley
  • Routes by sector, with grade, bolt count, length and first ascensionists
  • A Report Issue button on every route
Browse crags and topos

Every new route TABVAR funds has to come with a topo, so newly funded routes can be published for everyone.

A rusted bolt hanger on grey limestone, with an old knotted rope threaded through it
Rusted hardware like this is exactly what to report.

Report bad hardware

Hardware wears out. If something on a route looks wrong, tell the people who can fix it.

What to look for

  • Loose or spinning hangers and nuts
  • Rusty, bent or cracked bolts and hangers
  • Anchors worn by ropes: grooved rings, chains or carabiners
  • Missing or damaged hardware
  1. Report it. Find the route in the app and tap Report Issue. You'll sign in with Google or an email code.
  2. Volunteers see it. Reports go on TABVAR's issue list, where route builders can claim them.
  3. It gets marked fixed. When the work is done, the issue is closed so everyone knows.
Report a problem

Tip: Carry a small wrench. Loose nuts can often be tightened on the spot.

All route maintenance is done by community volunteers. TABVAR shares reports as a service to the community and can't guarantee when an issue will be fixed.

Fixing it yourself

You don't need to be a TABVAR member to retrofit. Retrofit claims are paid at 125% (the extra 25% as bulk-order credit), and TABVAR can lend hardware and tools from its stashes in Canmore and Calgary.

How retrofit funding works
Two volunteers kneel on a limestone slab replacing bolts, one drilling while the other works on a bolt
Retrobolting in Grotto, August 2019

2026 TABVAR Guidemap

An interactive map of every newly approved route and retrofit from 2026, with beta and topos.

Supporters get early access when it's released in early October. The public link will be posted here after that.

Become a Supporter

The Golden Crowbar

An award for outstanding route development, voted on by climbers. The first winners, in 2025, were Matt Laird and Andrew Slootweg.

About the award

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