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Finally stopping that crazy suffering that is ice, climbing to concentrate on great ski tours!
3509 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2009 : 08:11 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by time2clmb
There wasn't really a clear track across the ramp on Friday either, but then again I couldn't really see too much. The higher slot just under the ramp traverse had some sketch ass looking sagging bridges on it that this new snow might end up hiding quite well.
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How much fresh snow is on the glacier up to the bottom of the silver horn?
The icefall at the turn for the ramp has some HUGE slots, and yes, those skinny bridges are now beginning to be hidden, but only by a thin skin. I know people often shortcut climber's right there, and now that could be a very dangerous time saving move. Even when snow is good, I still cut way left there before making the turn.
In the beginning of August, we had some route-finding issues at the top of the icefall right beside the nunatuk, and the new snow from yesterday could make that area (below the step across the schrund to the mini-col at the base of the Silverhorn) quite sketchy. On our way down, we found some evidence of our uptrack there, and I was quite happy not to have to route find through that section with the fresh snow. Given the dramatic changes to the icefalls in the last few years (really big holes!) I'm tempted to start taking a few wands with me, just to mark crucial spots.
We'd thought about descending the AA col, but I'd rather take my chances on the glacier than enter what was a shooting gallery of rock yesterday. Even with the cold temps, peering down into the gully turned me off immediately. Wind and high elevation rain from earlier had the gully very active. Yuck.
We returned to the CI campground and it was pouring. No one felt like huddling in the camp kitchen, so we packed up, had Pizza in Jasper, and drove home.
I don't have any pics of my own (will get some from my chums) as I spent a great deal of time looking after our rope team (I took the "weak" team and Dave the stronger one) |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
109 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2009 : 08:26 AM
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Sounds like a good trip out John!! With some weather thrown in the mix to keep it exciting!! Looking forward to see some pics.
Was the mountain busy?? |
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Finally stopping that crazy suffering that is ice, climbing to concentrate on great ski tours!
3509 Posts |
Posted - 09/07/2009 : 08:52 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by pathogy
Was the mountain busy??
We had it to ourselves. Yam was doing a S/I course there, so they might be ascending today, but I think anyone else poked their heads out of their tents to the 03:00 downpour and slept in. I never do. We always go, unless it's a violent electrical storm, at least to the top of the moraine. I was burned once by a weather change, never again.
Met a team of two scoping out the moraine approach for an attempt on the Hourglass today. A route at the top of my list. |
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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 - 09/07/2009 : 5:40 PM
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Snow line has lifted a bit in the Banff area but the higher peaks such as Cascade and Rundle still have snow. Looks like the snowline drops the farther West you go.
Was in the Smith Dorrien area today and it absolutely PUKED on us for a while and this continued down to tree line. Some accumulation up higher and a bit at tree line.
Peaks around Canmore look good still with the exception of Big Sister. |
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Calgary
20 Posts |
Posted - 09/15/2009 : 07:41 AM
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Scrambled in Lake O'Hara on the weekend.
Very little snow from earlier in the week on south aspects. Mt Victoria S. was icy but otherwise looked to be in good condition - just enough of a freeze to keep you out of previous parties' tracks.
Yukness was dry to 2700m with only patches above that on Kane's route. Still in good condition.
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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 - 09/18/2009 : 2:52 PM
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| Had some scary ass natural rock fall on the way up to the Pinnacle (Eiffel) col today. 4 events, 3 of which were large all within 20 minutes. We turned tail and got the f out and there was another party that did the same. Some precip yesterday and last night probably combined with a light freeze over night and then thaw. Spidy senses were tingling on the way up before the event too. Just a heads up for anyone climbing shit piles. |
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canmore, alberta
Canada
118 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2009 : 7:08 PM
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did tent ridge today, snowed(light flurries)most of the day, wind chill on top about -13, ground/scree not froze yet.
group access restrictions lifted for the Moraine Lake area as reported in The Outlook |
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737 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2009 : 3:41 PM
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Hello All,
I am wondering if anyone knows what the snow conditions are like in the valley behind Mt Yamnuska. I am considering going there on the weekend and am wondering if I should bother to take my snowshoes.
If you have been there or in the area recently (in the last week), perhaps you can let me know your observations.
Thank you kindly,
Granticulus
P.S. I just posted this reply in its own thread... |
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974 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2009 : 4:23 PM
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| i clambered up the face and over the top on the 5th and from what i saw,i wouldn't bring snowshoes myself. |
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Penhold, Alberta
Canada
2012 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2009 : 5:53 PM
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Somehow I ended up on Marmot Basins mailing list and received a few e-mails letting me know they are open. Earliest opening day ever. Not bad looking conditions either.
http://www.skimarmot.com/u/snowreport.phtml |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3796 Posts |
Posted - 11/13/2009 : 11:24 PM
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There is SNOW in the Spray Valley.
Dry along highways 1 and 40 until around Mount Kidd, then steadily more.
Nakiska has a suprising amount of snow on it - up on Olympic Summit and everything, so it seems that a good bit might be natural.
There's a foot and a half or so at the Burstall parking lot, and a good twoish in most of the area. We left a track around the Hogarth Lakes, where it was above my knees (but then, I'm short). Lakes seem frozen around the edges, though the snowpack is concerning. Lots of creeks around that are still flowing.
The snow appeared to be new and fluffy the whole depth, but was strangely dry.
A few skiiers were bound for Burstall Pass, which I'd bet has quite a bit more snow, but we didn't catch any on the return.
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Canmore, AB
25 Posts |
Posted - 11/14/2009 : 07:40 AM
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Was up there on the 5th as well, there is a skiff in the valley behind, probably overkill to use snowshoes. If you want to snowshoe, the Spray has good coverage. Skied Chester Lake / Elephant Rocks on the 12th and had the best early season conditions in years. Wandering off the track found ski pens of around 15cm in a 60 - 70 cm snowpack. Not like the Rockies.
Check out the following webcam of the Yamnuska area:
http://199.213.60.56/popup.html
Cheers
Rod Plasman |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
123 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2009 : 07:15 AM
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| We were on Odlum Ridge (south of the Highwood Pass) yesterday. Lot's of snow. Much more than last year at this time. As expected the ridge itself was pretty much snow clear with 2 to 4 feet of snow on the lee side. |
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737 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2009 : 7:58 PM
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Thank you all for your kind input.
Regards,
Granticulus |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
123 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2009 : 05:06 AM
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| Up to Chester Lake yesterday. About 2.5 feet of snow in the parking lot and most of the way to the lake, with some areas of up to about 4 feet. Snowed hard all day so there will be considerably more by now. |
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Okotoks, Alberta
Canada
326 Posts |
Posted - 11/20/2009 : 06:49 AM
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| Thanks peakbagger13, was considering skinning up to Chester tomorrow but wasn't sure how much snow there would be. With 2.5 feet of snow it's not an issue, time to get those ski's out of the basement! |
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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 - 11/20/2009 : 3:05 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by wbylsma
but wasn't sure how much snow there would be.
No point waiting...can't hurt to check it out. Chester Lake area including Black Prince area, Highwood pass, Rogers Pass, Parkway, Sunshine area ect ect are all in stellar conditions. We're hitting up stuff like no tommorrow and it's paying off every time. The alpine has been totally hammered by some extremely strong wind and plenty of slab out there, but if you know where to look the skiing / riding can be fantastic.
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Edited by - time2clmb on 11/20/2009 7:00 PM |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2009 : 09:45 AM
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Sigh...
Still waiting for snow around Edmonton. Everybody seems to have some except us! |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
264 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2009 : 10:32 AM
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| Got out on Sunday in Highwood Pass area before the road closed. Almost no snow until about 2000m then it's quite good. Anything facing west had the snow blown to Saskatchewan but North/East facing slopes were stellar. Wind effect slab on some aspects but boot deep powder was to be had by all. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3796 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2009 : 10:53 AM
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| I was in Warspite Cirque this weekend, and it looks like there wasn't any new snow in the week since last. Only about 30cm of snow along the interpretive trail, with larger drifts at warspite lake. We were on a short snowshoe trip, but were told that there is a good bit more snow in the glades above, and the snowboarding was good. |
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Alberta Recent conditions reports
