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Finally stopping that crazy suffering that is ice, climbing to concentrate on great ski tours!
3505 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2010 : 1:14 PM
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Seriously, 90-95% of the time spent backcountry skiing or ski mountaineering is moving up. They don't call them "climbing skins" for nothing. It offers many of the same challenges as "regular" climbing including route finding, weather awareness, technical skills and the need for superb fitness. It also adds the thrill of a possible speedy descent. Some ski mountaineering involves technical climbing with the skis off as well.
One reason we see fewer young people ski mountaineering than we do other forms of climbing has to do with the cost. Alpine skiing gear, even second-hand, is expensive compared to most other climbing gear. Increasing skiing skills can also add to the cost if you use resorts to maximize your travel up the learning curve. I look at the speed at which my daughter's skill has increased thanks to using resorts compared to my agonizingly slow progress years ago. But, lift tickets are made of gold, it would seem, based on the cost... |
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972 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2010 : 1:44 PM
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yes....now on to the alberta recent conditions....
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Finally stopping that crazy suffering that is ice, climbing to concentrate on great ski tours!
3505 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2010 : 1:49 PM
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| 20C in the city of Edmonton today, sunny and breezy. Made for an awesome trail run this morning. |
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206 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2010 : 2:13 PM
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Granticulous, we went up Tyrwhitt recently and there was no snow. Gap Mountain was snow free today, it does sit lower though. I couldn't really get a good view of other mountains in the Highwood area due to cloud coverage.
Cheers,
Dan |
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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 - 10/09/2010 : 5:37 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by nmcan84
yes,i'm completely oblivious to the mtn lifestyle and my prairie habits still hold strong in me.
...............but i still think it's time to change your name to..time2ski
Only if you change your name to NmcanTski |
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Finally stopping that crazy suffering that is ice, climbing to concentrate on great ski tours!
3505 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2010 : 6:39 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by time2clmb
Only if you change your name to NmcanTski
Milk came out my nose...
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Some info from a buddy that was out for a couple days in the Nigel Pass area...
"Hey, thanks to warm weather and some days without precip, the snow line is much higher compared to the end of Sept. Trails are still shitty with lots of mud, especially in the valley, so boots and gaiters might be in order, but above treeline the trails were a quite a bit better. Some nice fall hiking to be had!" |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3794 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2010 : 8:12 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by nmcan84
yes....now on to the alberta recent conditions....
Sorry, I've been horribly sick for a few days. I had to get out today, so I can report that the 2.2km trail between Widowmaker and Canoe Meadows is in good shape with occasional slightly muddy sections!
..But I didn't think that'd be very useful. |
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972 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2010 : 12:07 PM
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took a drive down the smith/dorrien and 40 all the way to highwood meadows.
fresh snow starting around smuts area and continuing south..not much but enough to make some scrambles trickier. |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 10/14/2010 : 2:05 PM
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| Jasper area still good (see TRs). Trails mostly dry and snow line still lifting. Even higher elevations seem to have dried up. Of course, one good dump of snow and we'll have to hand off to johngenx and his ski buddies. |
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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 - 10/14/2010 : 6:34 PM
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| Currently raining mixed with some snow on the eastern side of the Kakwa north of Grande Cache. Will probably change to full snow overnight...preciping very hard right now. |
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Jasper, ab
Canada
1029 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2010 : 07:01 AM
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| What a difference 24 hours make. Lots of snow up high in Jasper now. Snow on the ground in the foothills |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 10/15/2010 : 09:37 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by lobo
What a difference 24 hours make. Lots of snow up high in Jasper now. Snow on the ground in the foothills
Yup. 3 cm of snow at Parker Ridge. |
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Jasper, ab
Canada
1029 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2010 : 1:41 PM
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I was down at the icefields today. Here are some shots of Parker's. It dumped pretty good last night, but still not much snow
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Finally stopping that crazy suffering that is ice, climbing to concentrate on great ski tours!
3505 Posts |
Posted - 10/27/2010 : 2:27 PM
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| Nice pics. I'd ski that. With someone else's skis!! |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2010 : 10:43 AM
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| No travel allowed at all on anywhere on the Mt. Edith Cavell Road, Tonquin Valley/Astoria Trails, Astoria River through the Tonquin Valley to junction of Eremite/Wates-Gibson trail, includes Verdant Creek and Mt. Edith Cavell climbing routes, Cavell Meadows, etc. Closed to all travel from now until 15 February 2011. |
Edited by - peter1955 on 10/29/2010 11:21 AM |
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| Engor
Intermediate Member
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Calgary
838 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2010 : 08:56 AM
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Went up last Wednesday to Lipalian Mountain and Purple Peak, accessed from Lake Louise ski resort, 2 days before the ski resort opening. Little snow in most places. Donned crampons for steep areas. Gorgeous scenery on the top. I'll post a TR in a few days.
On Thurs, I cycled to Moraine Lake (the road is closed to public traffic for the winter). The road was covered in snow. Cycling was very challenging with a heavy day-pack (crampons, ice-axe, lots of food, etc), especially uphill to the viewpoint where the winter track-set trail comes to the end. Cycling is mostly easy though to Paradise Valley trailhead (first 2.5km). I wanted to do Panorama Ridge but ran out of time (and felt very tired) so I decided to hang out around Consolation Lakes instead. Little snow at the trailhead in Moraine Lake, ankle-deep snow near Consolation Lake. Moraine Lake is fully frozen.
Did Little Temple on Fri. Little snow on the ground all the way to Lake Annette, ankle-deep snow covered the trail only last hundred meters or so before the lake. The lake is fully frozen. There was MUCH more snow higher up, mostly trapped in between boulders. In many places knee-deep snow or more. The final section from Temple col to the true summit was however completely bare. Knee-deep snow near Temple Lake. The snow decreased once I reached the dense tree cover along Temple Creek. Moraine Highline Trail had little snow but several down trees that required lengthy detours or it just appeared so because I did it in the complete darkness. It was still raining by the time I reached Moraine Lake Road. I guess you may need skates to reach Moraine Lake now rather than skis or bicycle!
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Edited by - Engor on 11/07/2010 08:57 AM |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
57 Posts |
Posted - 11/10/2010 : 11:36 AM
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Guinn's Pass November 6th.
Main(Galatea)trail clear/wet as normal the turn up to the pass was filled with snow making the foot a bit slick but gators,poles and heart made for easy travel and a AWESOME day!!
The weather was a mix of everything Saturday snow rain sun wind calm...typical Fall everything not much accumulation.
As a fun note after much begging, bribery and a few tourist trails... I finally gave up my solo ways taking my best friend a real newbie up this trail Saturday and she got halfway up the Pass in my winter boots on crap footing and Announced it a big voice *Now this is Hiking*
You guessed it two silly after mid30gals have now added hiking to the many crazy adventures we get caught up in!!!
See you "Out There" and then well sitting with Captain at the closest pub:-) |
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31 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2010 : 4:37 PM
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| Was into O'Hara this weekend (ok, it's not Alberta, but close enough). There was 0-2 cm on the road to km 8, with a lot of the road being completely bare - there was more snow at the parking lot then on most of the road. 2-20 cm (increasing with elevation) after that, about 25-30 cm on the ground at Elizabeth Parker Hut. Saw a large grizzly right beside Hwy 1 near Bath Creek, causing a small bear jam. |
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calgary, ab
Canada
122 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2010 : 10:49 PM
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Saturday November 13 - Windtower
West Wind Pass trail was snowfree. Pockets of boot top deep windblown snow began once we got above the pass. Some slippery sections, but no trouble to the (very windy) summit. |
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High River, (just south of Calgary eh!), Alberta
Canada
1702 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2010 : 4:42 PM
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2010-11-15 an attempt on Mt Fullerton (ran out of time to summit)
    
http://claytonditzler.zenfolio.com/p550410751
But of course it all looks quite different now after the Alberta Clipper came thru last night. |
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Alberta Recent conditions reports
