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23 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2011 : 07:57 AM
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| Went up Lady MacDonald yesterday. About the first half is snow free, after that there's maybe a metre, but enough people have gone up that it's packed down quite well. Nothing to stop you from reaching the top except winter legs. |
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Calgary
20 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2011 : 11:48 AM
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| Still winter-like on the Icefields Parkway and somewhat less so in Kootenay Pass area. Interesting bulletin on avalanche.ca. We heard a few wet slides in Kootenay Pass on Saturday that appeared to be triggered below treeline. |
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206 Posts |
Posted - 05/10/2011 : 11:06 AM
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I went up the climbers trail then up the normal decent route on Yamnuska yesterday, I was just checking some routes out on the face. Bring gators if your doing the scramble/hike route to the top.
Cheers,
Dan |
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741 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2011 : 07:44 AM
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Marlboro: Did you summit Yam?
Yak: Did you summit Lady Mac or is the final ridge too dicy?
Rachelo: A very detailed account...thank you for taking the time!
Anyone know if Mary Barclays or Lorette are free of snow/close to being free of snow up top?
Anyone with information on Mount Burke?
I heard that Waterton is up to a metre in snow (as of last weekend when my friends went snowshoeing) on the trails.
Granticulus |
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23 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2011 : 10:25 PM
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I did not summit, but that's only because I had my pup with me who was doing his first real hike. He's a bit silly and I didn't trust him at the top, or coming down (since that looked like the steepest part of the hike).
It is very doable though, we were only a few hundred metres away from the top. |
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741 Posts |
Posted - 05/13/2011 : 11:31 AM
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Yak,
Thank you for getting back to me.
I've summitted Lady Mac in January (ridge clear), April (partially clear) and in summer months. I've also been turned back in May and in October due to too much snow on the ridge. It's always nice to know the ridge conditions before you go!
Regarding your puppy...if you've ever read Gillean Daffern's book that describes the ascent, then you'll have read about a certain 4-footed friend who made it to the summit. Looks like your pup has something to look forward to!
Regards,
Granticulus |
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206 Posts |
Posted - 05/13/2011 : 9:55 PM
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Hey Granticulus,
Ya we summitted Yam it was nice out. Off to Manitoba now or else I'd be climbing the face this weekend.
Have a great weekend,
Dan |
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482 Posts |
Posted - 05/15/2011 : 2:13 PM
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| Did Windy Peak (Windy Peak Hills) loop. Good times. Snow was deep (1 m) in the trees on the way down. Isothermal and tough slogging. Bare on the ridges. |
Edited by - toad on 05/15/2011 2:21 PM |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3830 Posts |
Posted - 05/16/2011 : 12:42 AM
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That's a great loop. I spent the may long weekend last year in the livingstone and was surprised at the amount of snow. I imagine this year is pretty bad anywhere sheltered.
I was in the Elbow Valley on Saturday.
The Fullerton Loop is totally dry on the ridge with the views, and almost dry in the ice flow section - just a small amount of not-too-messy mud left. There's a lot of snow on the NE-facing slope in the middle of the loop, but the rest of Ranger Ridge on the top and the SW and SE ridges are dry but for rare small patches.
Prairie Mountain is still looking pretty white, but is always doable due to the solid trail. |
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23 Posts |
Posted - 05/16/2011 : 06:17 AM
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| Went up the east side of Rundle (above Canmore, not Banff). There's still a lot of snow in places, but easily doable -- enough people have been there already. |
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calgary, ab
Canada
122 Posts |
Posted - 05/16/2011 : 07:29 AM
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| Mt Hector is in great shape. Some struggling through avy/rockslide debris near the waterfalls, but after that point, the coverage is excellent, and travel is good. Ski crampons would help. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
80 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2011 : 4:24 PM
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Hi all, It's a long time since I posted here!
Has anyone been in the Raspberry Ridge area lately? I would appreciate any information on the trail conditions.
Thanks. |
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741 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2011 : 4:47 PM
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JRHIKE: I was up Raspberry Ridge on Saturday (May 14th). Not too much snow. The snow that I had to go through was never past my knees and was usually around my boot tops. Take gaiters and you'll have no problem. Most of the route is dry. I was up in 90 minutes. I'd post photos but I'm at the wrong computer.
I took the short (steep) route up and the long (switchbacking) route down. I lost the trail on the way down because it was covered in snow here and there and I purposed to stay off of the snow. Wasn't sure if I was on game trails but I eventually (through regained elevation) got onto the main trail before the point where it splits to give you choice of either steep/gradual ascent.
Two oddities: 1) It took me as long to come down as it took to get up and 2) on the way up I stupidly dropped a Mars Bar wrapper out of a pocket that I forgot to zip up only to find it again on the way down!
Mt Burke was much more of a slog...knee and hip-high snow through the trees. You can follow my tracks but whenever possible, I went off trail to travel the "path of least resistance"...that is to say, wherever there was no snow. So, good luck re-finding my trail once I went out of the snow. On descent, I stayed completely off-trail by traversing the south-facing aspect of Mt Burke through grass, low growth and somewhat sparse trees.
Also, I picked up a tick either on Mt Burke or on Raspberry Ridge. Didn't find out until I felt it crawling on my neck at home.
By the way, the GemTrek map really needs some updating regarding Mt Burke! I'd post a TR but I have no time.
Regards,
Granticulus |
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| Engor
Intermediate Member
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Calgary
854 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2011 : 5:26 PM
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| Did anyone hike to Aylmer Lookout recently? How much snow is still there? I'm leading a group of 14 people on May long weekend, a sort of friends-bonding trip. Aylmer Lookout is probably the most ambitious destination our group is capable of reaching, but I'm wondering if there is still too much snow for an average hiker to enjoy it. Any info much appreciated. |
Edited by - Engor on 05/17/2011 5:30 PM |
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157 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2011 : 5:36 PM
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| What are the conditions like in Jasper? Are Indian Ridge, Roche a Perdrix and Roche Miette still plastered in snow? I certainly hope they are relatively dry right now. Anyone have any recent photos of the Jasper peaks? |
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372 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2011 : 7:58 PM
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| A few friends went out by Barrier and said there was about 63 cms of snow ontop Barrier Mountain. |
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Jasper, ab
Canada
1041 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2011 : 8:48 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by MtnNinja
What are the conditions like in Jasper? Are Indian Ridge, Roche a Perdrix and Roche Miette still plastered in snow? I certainly hope they are relatively dry right now. Anyone have any recent photos of the Jasper peaks?
This is Perdrix and Roche Miette a week ago. It also snowed up high this morning
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Edited by - lobo on 05/17/2011 8:50 PM |
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157 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2011 : 8:59 PM
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Thanks so much. Greatly appreciated.
Raffi |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3830 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2011 : 11:55 AM
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| Has anyone been beyond the Elbow Valley winter gate yet? I am wondering what snow remains in the Nihahi area. Thanks. |
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23 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2011 : 8:34 PM
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| I was thinking of doing some hiking/snowshoeing around Lake Bourgeau, does anyone know what the conditions are like? Would I need the snowshoes? |
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Alberta Recent conditions reports
