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884 Posts |
Posted - 02/11/2010 : 8:49 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by time2clmb
NE slope, approx 2500 metres in the Helen Lake Crowfoot area. Remote trigger from ridgetop, size 1 running on buried hoar. Very touchy snowpack up there right now. Extensive settling / whoomfing at ridge top complete with shooting cracks. Played around triggering plenty of touchy slabs on test slopes afterwards. SH is quite large up there in the alpine off ridge top. One layer is buried (Jan.25) and the newer layer is just covered over. Wind was picking up as we left and starting to transport a fair bit of snow. Hit 3 chutes off there in the past week and a half, but not this time. House of cards.
...as a side note, a good reason why reading the ratings alone does not work....today's rating in the alpine for the region I was in was "moderate", yet locally where we were it was definately alot worse than that.
Appreciate the update; we're headed to the Parkway this weekend. |
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 Alberta-based choss climbin', flame throwin', rappel lovin', ass talkin' hater who doesn't like "Gumby" for a descriptor
6302 Posts |
Posted - 02/13/2010 : 6:14 PM
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Another quick note since things are changing alot. Today was more of the same once we hit ridge line above treeline. Lots of very large areas on the broad ridge were settling out and whoomfing. The only thing missing for it to slide was slope angle. The north facing stuff was very reactive soft slab off the ridge top. Touchy stuff. This time we were a few km's south of where we were in my last post.
Had some fantastic turns on stable protected snow yesterday on the Crowfoot side yesterday. Great skiing. |
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Canmore, AB
Canada
1238 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2010 : 09:04 AM
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Went out to Boom Lake yesterday to try out my new Atomic Rainier nordic BC skis.
As I expected, there was snow to be found on the trail to Boom Lake but I'd give it a few more weeks before it's unskiable.
From past experience, there's usually so much snow on that first footbridge that you're actually skiing above the handrails. Yesterday however, there was perhaps 30cm or so.
The trail was hardpacked and very icy. I'm pretty sure I would've walked down the steep sections if I didn't have my metal edged skis.
I'll hit either the Yoho Valley Road or Lake Ohara tomorrow but I'm expecting the same type of conditions... |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3830 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2010 : 7:39 PM
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I hiked to Tower Lake last Sunday. We snowshoed up, then ditched the snowshoes as they really weren't necessary on the hardpack. At the top, near the lake, it's still plenty deep a half-foot off the trail, but the trail is very solid and easy walking.
I hiked up Loder Peak today. The Door Jamb/Loder ridge is snowfree but for a couple tiny drifts, and the west backside of Yam is clear. What we could see of Heart also looked clear, as well as Gap Peak. The Gable traverse had a cornice, but the ridgeline looked pretty good. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
623 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2010 : 11:46 AM
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Skied Crowfoot Pass and boot packed up to the ridge on Bow Peak yesterday. Lots of settling in the snow pack and some slab releases (sz 1.5) on north / east aspects. Boot top or deeper powder made for some awesome turns but high winds in the alpine combined with the new snow should make you cautious right now, especially around the Wapta.
V. |
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Alberta-based choss climbin', flame throwin', rappel lovin', ass talkin' hater who doesn't like "Gumby" for a descriptor
6302 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2010 : 3:40 PM
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| House of cards....don't be stupid out there after the long lull of being able to ski whatever. It's been windy and it's snowing again. |
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Finally stopping that crazy suffering that is ice, climbing to concentrate on great ski tours!
3523 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2010 : 6:53 PM
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| We're heading onto the Wapta tomorrow, until Tuesday. Caution will be exercised, and I'll report back middle of next week. |
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Jasper, ab
Canada
1041 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2010 : 6:33 PM
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Just got out of the Tonquin and there is about 30 cm of fresh powder and it was still puking snow  |
Edited by - lobo on 03/13/2010 06:58 AM |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2010 : 09:35 AM
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| Revelstoke. |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2010 : 4:52 PM
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Planning on doing avalanche control on a variety of high and low targets
from sask crossing to parkers ridge on the Icefields parkway starting
Monday at noon. Weeping wall and Polar circus closed.
Periodic road closures starting at noon.
Garth Lemke
Public Safety Specialist
ACMG Assistant Ski Guide |
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Alberta-based choss climbin', flame throwin', rappel lovin', ass talkin' hater who doesn't like "Gumby" for a descriptor
6302 Posts |
Posted - 03/14/2010 : 4:58 PM
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| Finally a useful conditions report from you that has to do with the region your posting in. |
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| Engor
Intermediate Member
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Calgary
854 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2010 : 11:48 PM
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Did Fossil Mountain in Skoki on Sat. When we left the trail to the right shortly before Deception Pass, we noticed that snow was making lots of loud "whomp" sounds. Pretty scary even on a safe terrain. Huge cornices are in place on the bump between Deception Pass and Fossil Mountain. The direct ascent route to Fossil Mountain is windswept to the very top as usual. I had really bad skiing on the way back on very nasty breakable crust. The trail to Skoki Lodge is very well packed. Seen joggers there.
Conditions are right now not very favorable for skiing. A first serious damp of snow will likely produce an avalanche Armageddon there.
Did Heart-Grant MacEwan loop on Sunday. The trail is in a good condition. Snow on the top is very well packed by many previous parties but you will still appreciate donning gaiters. Brutal wind on the ridge which I've experienced before only in Waterton. The last section of the trail, where it parallels the highway, is very muddy.
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Edited by - Engor on 03/21/2010 11:49 PM |
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741 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2010 : 4:54 PM
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Anyone know what the current conditions are like on Centennial Ridge-Mount Allan & Collembola?
Let me know when you can as I'm hoping to get out there this Wednesday.
Thank you!
Granticulus |
Edited by - Granticulus on 03/29/2010 4:55 PM |
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Jasper, ab
Canada
1041 Posts |
Posted - 03/29/2010 : 5:45 PM
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| Just to let anyone who may be coming Jasper way and who plans on walking in or around the Athabasca Valley area east of town or the Valley of the Five know that the ticks are out, so take usual precautions |
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Canmore, AB
Canada
1238 Posts |
Posted - 03/30/2010 : 11:10 AM
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We got a mini blizzard in Canmore last night which left a few cm of fresh snow.
Grant, it'll be pretty white on Wed. so make sure you bring some traction devices for your boots. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3830 Posts |
Posted - 03/31/2010 : 7:51 PM
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| Quite a bit of snow is now left in Kananasis. The peaks on both sides of highway 40 are white from the lake down. Some snow was left at Pocaterra, but today's sun has turned the last remaining flakes to slush. Skiing is pretty done there. Haven't been up to see the end, but I was in the lower Burstall area on Monday as it dumped snow, and when we left mid-afternoon there was some 4-6'' of fresh snow on top of the old crust, and it was still snowing hard. |
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calgary, ab
Canada
122 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2010 : 10:32 AM
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| lots of whumphing and settlements in the flats below crowfoot glades. size 2 cornice failure avy came off crowfoot peak/glacier around 1:30pm yesterday, then another one, size 1, around 2:15pm. |
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Canmore, AB
Canada
1238 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2010 : 12:45 PM
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Skied into the Bryant Creek shelter yesterday. Tons of snow and well tracked to the shelter.
May consider a day trip into Assiniboine on the weekend. Will report back if I do. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
623 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2010 : 08:37 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by lobo
Just to let anyone who may be coming Jasper way and who plans on walking in or around the Athabasca Valley area east of town or the Valley of the Five know that the ticks are out, so take usual precautions
Arg. I hate ticks.  How much snow in the Jasper area lobo? Could mountains like Pyramid or Cinquefoil be done yet?
V. |
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Jasper, ab
Canada
1041 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2010 : 09:02 AM
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| there is no snow around town, but if you head out of the valley, like Maligne Lake, there is still lots. Cinquefoil can definitely be climbed. Roche Miette as well.Pyramid is still questionable. I have very recent pictures of all those mountains, just not here at work. |
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Alberta Recent conditions reports
