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737 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2009 : 2:18 PM
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Rachelo...what? You didn't summit Warspite??? 
I did East Peak of Wendell + Yamnuska on Saturday...only patches of snow here and there (mostly on the backside of Yam). But that's quite likely old news considering the last bit of snow Calgary got...
Also, I experienced a first in my scrambling career...I literally got knocked off my feet by the wind while on the backside of Yam. At times, each step was like stepping into a fast moving stream. Makes me wonder if it was like the wind that Mtnview experienced on Bryant. |
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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 - 12/01/2009 : 4:03 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Rachelo
I was in Warspite Cirque this weekend, and it looks like there wasn't any new snow in the week since last.
There's been lots of snow, it's just been blown to hell by some pretty fierce winds. |
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Finally stopping that crazy suffering that is ice, climbing to concentrate on great ski tours!
3502 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2009 : 7:28 PM
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Skied all weekend with my family at Marmot Basin in Jasper. Exceptional snow everywhere we skied, below the Knob Chair base. Highway 16 was outstanding and all the blue runs skier's left of the Knob base were terrific. A couple runs weren't groomed, and the first trips down in the morning were great, but they got skied out pretty fast. We early birds got the goods though!
We didn't ski Eagle's Ridge, but some of my chums did, and said it was pretty good.
The new high speed chair is awesome, but my legs sure noticed! More skiing! Yay!
Oh, and Marmot has raised the price. Youch. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3787 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2009 : 07:45 AM
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Why, yes I did summit Warspite. Just didn't bother mentioning. I mean... uh, no.. Hells no.
It was just a little 5km intro snowshoe trip. I mean, we thought about summitting it, but then it would have been too difficult to decide whether to continue north to Smith-Dorrien, or south to Indefatigable.... So we decided to leave it for another day...
Warspite Cirque is the cirque with Warspite Lake in it. The 'Black Prince Cirque Interpretive Trail' leads to it, but that is very poorly named, since Black Prince Cirque, containing the Black Prince Tarns is actually the next cirque above it - right under Mount Black Prince, and Mount Warspite. So I stick with the logical name of Warspite Cirque for what surrounds Warspite Lake.
Here's a picture that should detail out the area:
We just went to the lake, but met Kelrod along the way who had been snowboarding the glades and mentioned the snow was good.
T2C,
Had there really been snow during the week all through the spray valley? I'd been higher up at the Burstall/Chester area the week before, so my comparisons aren't exact, but Black Prince really didn't seem to have anything. When we were in the trees, it was all crusted stuff, and not very deep, and nothing hanging out on the trees as well. I guess it might have fallen on the trees, and just been blown a few ranges over without touching the ground. There was drifted evidence of some strong wind at Warspite Lake, but the trees were calm. Possible the snow just didn't make it down there?
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Edited by - Rachelo on 12/03/2009 4:49 PM |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2009 : 2:06 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by mtnlioness
We got a shitload more snow on Monday and the skiing at Marmot is perfect. We have more snow already than we had all of last year
I'm jealous. I sit at my desk and watch the ski-cams at Marmot.
And look at the bare, brown dirt outside my window. |
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Canmore, AB
Canada
1238 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2009 : 2:37 PM
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There's tons of the white stuff out here.
Was out XC Skiing the Pipestone last Sunday and it had tons of cover. The tracks must be under a foot of snow by now.
There's a provincial XC race at the Nordic center this weekend... in case anyone was interested in checking it out. |
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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 - 12/04/2009 : 8:16 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by peter1955
quote:
Originally posted by mtnlioness
We got a shitload more snow on Monday and the skiing at Marmot is perfect. We have more snow already than we had all of last year
I'm jealous. I sit at my desk and watch the ski-cams at Marmot.
If work wasn't a priority for you there would be no need to be jealous  |
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Jasper, ab
Canada
1028 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2009 : 8:18 PM
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| It's still snowing in Jasper. It hasn't stopped. Marmot is incredible |
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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 - 12/04/2009 : 9:16 PM
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quote:
T2C,
Had there really been snow during the week all through the spray valley? I'd been higher up at the Burstall/Chester area the week before, so my comparisons aren't exact, but Black Prince really didn't seem to have anything.
Yes,when I drove down the spray coming home from Highwood pass, there was above average snowfall at Black Prince, Chester and Burstall areas. My dates are a big skewed now, but there is lots of snow for this time of year. |
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| Engor
Intermediate Member
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Calgary
838 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2009 : 09:37 AM
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Just came back from a solo ski touring trip to Berg Lake. Took me 2 days to get up there, spent the first night at Whitehorn CG, then 2 more nights at Berg Lake Shelter. I was the first one to get there this season, haven't seen any human being for 4 days.
Broke the trail all the way from the trailhead, and then on the way back again after a big dump. Lots of snow, very slow and arduous trailbreaking, especially between Falls of the Pool and Emperor Falls CG, where I was probably moving at the speed of 500 meters per hour. Robson River is not frozen yet above Emperor Falls CG so I forded it (very easy) on the way back to avoid exposing myself to a large avalanche slope. Berg Lake is fully frozen. |
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Jasper, ab
Canada
1028 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2009 : 09:51 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Engor
Just came back from a solo ski touring trip to Berg Lake. Took me 2 days to get up there, spent the first night at Whitehorn CG, then 2 more nights at Berg Lake Shelter. I was the first one to get there this season, haven't seen any human being for 4 days.
Broke the trail all the way from the trailhead, and then on the way back again after a big dump. Lots of snow, very slow and arduous trailbreaking, especially between Falls of the Pool and Emperor Falls CG, where I was probably moving at the speed of 500 meters per hour. Robson River is not frozen yet above Emperor Falls CG so I forded it (very easy) on the way back to avoid exposing myself to a large avalanche slope. Berg Lake is fully frozen.
Very well done Engor. Are you going to do a TR? I'd love to see some pictures, especially of Emporer Falls this time of year |
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| Engor
Intermediate Member
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Calgary
838 Posts |
Posted - 12/05/2009 : 6:02 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by lobo
Very well done Engor. Are you going to do a TR? I'd love to see some pictures, especially of Emporer Falls this time of year
Thank you, lobo. I will tomorrow hopefully. Didn't make it to Emperor Falls though, couldn't find a short trail to the falls that branches from the main trail. |
Edited by - Engor on 12/05/2009 6:03 PM |
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Edmonton, Ab
Canada
77 Posts |
Posted - 12/06/2009 : 09:45 AM
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Engor, I too would love to see photos from the trip too.
I can't recall ever seeing winter shots from the back of Robson.
Dan |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 12/07/2009 : 07:01 AM
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Heavy snow and drifting all around the Edmonton area. YakTrax don't cut it anymore. Think snowshoeing or crosscountry skis from now on.
Nice little Devon Enduro hike I had planned turned into a -20 slog through knee-deep snow and nasty winds in the river valley. Devon on Saturday and Elk Island on Sunday - both will be snowshoeing daytrips. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3787 Posts |
Posted - 12/07/2009 : 09:44 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by time2clmb
Yes,when I drove down the spray coming home from Highwood pass, there was above average snowfall at Black Prince, Chester and Burstall areas. My dates are a big skewed now, but there is lots of snow for this time of year.
Okay. Maybe the Black Prince Trail just gets more traffic, and is stomped down more, or sunglazed, or blown away more quickly. I was suprised at the difference. Plenty above the lake, so maybt it's just the more exposure of the trail up.
I snowshoed Chester to the Elephant Rocks on Saturday, and it's just piled. A good base of ~35cm at the parking lot, and ever more as you ascend. There was a good few inches of fresh snow on top of old track, and now there's a nice track so as it snows more, it's still not total trailbreaking if you can find the current trail.
Insane winds in the meadows below the lake that turned our deep snowshoe track into a smooth side and a corniced side in the time it took to make the rocks and return.
Meadow Creek and Lake are well into freezing, but not solid yet, so be careful.
I saw ski tracks skimming the edge of the lake which looked fine, but a snowshoe track crossed beside, and left some slushy prints. It's hard to tell where the edge is right now if you don't know the summer cues to look for, so stay well away. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3787 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2009 : 09:50 AM
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Snowshoed to Rawson Lake on Wednesday. There are maybe four inches of nice fresh fluffy stuff, which apparently fell during the deep freeze, as there's not a stitch of moisture in it. Won't pack, and blows all over the place.
~40cm at Upper Kananaskis Lake and the Rawson trail, maybe up to 45cm at Rawson Lake.
Trail is well packed, and would not require snowshoes right now. Crazy carpets however, are strongly recommended. |
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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 - 12/18/2009 : 10:52 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Rachelo
Snowshoed to Rawson Lake on Wednesday. There are maybe four inches of nice fresh fluffy stuff, which apparently fell during the deep freeze, as there's not a stitch of moisture in it. Won't pack, and blows all over the place.
Not to nitpick or anything but are you sure it's not just facetted snow from the cold temps? I haven't been to the k-country area since the second -30 day we had so i'm kind of curious if it is fresh snow or facets. Any idea? |
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Jasper, ab
Canada
1028 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2009 : 1:12 PM
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If anyone is interested in how the ice is looking up here I took these shots this morning.
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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 - 12/18/2009 : 2:37 PM
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| Sweet...thanks for posting those shots. |
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High River, (just south of Calgary eh!), Alberta
Canada
1697 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2009 : 2:41 PM
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Great shots lobo!
quote:
Originally posted by Rachelo
Trail is well packed, and would not require snowshoes right now. Crazy carpets however, are strongly recommended.
Let me know if you try that Rachel. I'll bring a cowbell to cheer you on (and maybe a first aid kit, stretcher...) |
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Alberta Recent conditions reports
