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Jasper, ab
Canada
1028 Posts |
Posted - 06/26/2012 : 8:15 PM
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Some really high water in Jasper. Here are some shots of Medicine lake and the Maligne River. The Jacques Lake trail and the Watchtower trails are closed
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
59 Posts |
Posted - 06/26/2012 : 10:25 PM
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Yikes. A couple of weeks ago I walked down those stairs at Medicine Lake and about 200-300 metres along the shore on the left. I was kind of surprised at that point that the water wasn't higher then, even the lake outlet was dry at that point. But there was more snow up on Opal Mountain than I'd ever seen before. Now it's in the lake, I suppose.
I think it was 1982 that the river coming out of the lake flooded the main road. Must be getting close to that now. |
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Edmonton, Ab
Canada
77 Posts |
Posted - 06/27/2012 : 08:37 AM
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| @ Dieter, WOW! That's incredible amount of water in Medicine Lake right now. I can't recall ever seeing the lake that high. |
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Edmonton, AB
88 Posts |
Posted - 06/27/2012 : 09:26 AM
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| Amazing! Thanks for the update. |
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Calgary, AB
Canada
33 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2012 : 09:09 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by wayfaring stranger
quote:
A small group of us are doing a 3 day backpacking/scrambling trip in and near Waterton Park that weekend. We could use a couple more people. Send me a PM if you think you might be interested and I'll provide more details.
Thank you very much for the offer, but we have made some plan allready.
It would make an interesting ski mountaineering trip right now but if thats not your cup of tea, I don't think Northover will be an option until late summer. Two weeks ago Aster Lake was still looking like winter. There was still a fair amount of snow hanging around late August when I was up there last year |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 06/29/2012 : 10:32 AM
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Thanks, Lobo.
I think we'll try Verdant Pass or maybe Geraldine Lakes. I take it you're not in Jasper this weekend, but maybe we'll see you later this summer. I'm booked pretty much every weekend. |
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Calgary
69 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2012 : 1:50 PM
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I've been looking for snow-free hikes in Kananaskis, so went up to Picklejar Lakes yesterday, then stopped at Cat Creek Falls a few minutes down the road. We just encountered one very small section of snow (maybe 20m), some mud, but the rest was totally fine.
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Edited by - BarbaraB on 07/02/2012 6:17 PM |
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Edmonton, AB
Canada
216 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2012 : 6:56 PM
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I've been a little all over the place chasing clear skies and can report the following random bits: Elliott Peak still has a lot of snow on its main scree ramp; Cirque Peak looks like it has some substantial clear terrain leading to its summit (but will know more when I take a shot at it on Monday); Grotto Mtn was in excellent shape and pretty much everything to the east looked clear of snow (such as Fable); although the pass between them had plenty of snow (bring your gaitors), the ascent routes for Mt. Fairview and Saddle Mtn were clear when I climbed them today (St. Piran and Little Temple appear to be in similar shape); Helena/Stuart/Castle looks like it will need more time as there's plenty of snow above the lake.
Further update: Mt. Sparrowhawk still has a lot of snow, particularly in the ascent gulley between it and Read's Tower. Meanwhile, both Read's Ridge and Read's Tower are in excellent shape. Red Ridge looked to be mostly clear of snow. |
Edited by - Arcturus on 07/01/2012 5:18 PM |
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Calgary
69 Posts |
Posted - 07/02/2012 : 6:16 PM
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A few of us spent Canada Day hiking the Pasque Mountain horseshoe in southern Kananaskis, along Hwy 940. Lots of bushwhacking at the beginning and end, but beautiful ridge walk with four high points. Had views all the way south to Crowsnest Mountain, west into BC, and over to the prairies. Do take a GPS along if you choose to hike this one.
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Edited by - BarbaraB on 07/02/2012 6:17 PM |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 2:23 PM
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| Parks Canada trail reports on the Canada Day weekend seemed to be a week out of date. They reported Opal and Bald Hills as "snowbound" when "snowy patches" would have been a better description, and Wilcox Pass as "postholing" when "getting the tops of your boots damp" would have been more accurate. |
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1078 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 5:37 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by peter1955
Parks Canada trail reports on the Canada Day weekend seemed to be a week out of date. They reported Opal and Bald Hills as "snowbound" when "snowy patches" would have been a better description, and Wilcox Pass as "postholing" when "getting the tops of your boots damp" would have been more accurate.
I think you'll find that's normal. Parks Canada trail reports are generally days/weeks behind, or perhaps "conservative" is a better word. |
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Calgary
69 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2012 : 6:57 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by DCIPHER
quote:
Originally posted by peter1955
Parks Canada trail reports on the Canada Day weekend seemed to be a week out of date. They reported Opal and Bald Hills as "snowbound" when "snowy patches" would have been a better description, and Wilcox Pass as "postholing" when "getting the tops of your boots damp" would have been more accurate.
I think you'll find that's normal. Parks Canada trail reports are generally days/weeks behind, or perhaps "conservative" is a better word.
Agreed, I always find them very conservative. |
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Calgary, AB
49 Posts |
Posted - 07/04/2012 : 12:10 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by V1
Highwood this weekend
Plenty of snow patches above treeline
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Edited by - V1 on 07/04/2012 12:11 PM |
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| Engor
Intermediate Member
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Calgary
838 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2012 : 3:06 PM
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The crux on the Wedge is bone dry. Actually, the whole mountain is bone dry:
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jasper
9 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2012 : 2:15 PM
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I backpacked into Elysium Pass the other day. The trail was mostly dry with a few sustained muddy sections above 1700m, about 5 downed trees, none very difficult to surmount. Lots of moose track on the way up, and saw a black bear with one cub on my way back down, about 2km from the trailhead (just after the junction with 3e, Dorothy Christine and Viril trail). The pass itself, though snow-free, was still quite wet and infested with mosquitos. Elysium and Emigrants are both in shape for some scrambling, monarch meadows was looking quite snow free as well. The solitude was fantastic.
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Calgary, AB
49 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2012 : 3:30 PM
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Tons of mosquitoes in Mnt Howard N slopes area. Few snow patches above 2000m, some fairly large ones.  |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2012 : 09:38 AM
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Does anybody have any hard information on the Iceline trail? I have two groups headed up there, one this weekend and another next week.
Parks Canada shows it as 'Avalanche Hazard, not recommended' but as we've seen, they seem to overestimate the amount of snow and the risks. |
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the mountain parks, Alberta
Canada
102 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2012 : 09:45 AM
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| Still lots of snow at higher elevations around Lake Louise etc. Have been watching high elevation snow shedding off of the faces regularly as would be expected in this heat. Not sure which iceline you are talking about though...Yoho? |
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Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
253 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2012 : 3:32 PM
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quote:
originally posted by peter1955
Does anybody have any hard information on the Iceline trail? I have two groups headed up there, one this weekend and another next week.
Parks Canada shows it as 'Avalanche Hazard, not recommended' but as we've seen, they seem to overestimate the amount of snow and the risks.
I don't know at this time, but I did the Iceline Trail two years ago on the July 1 weekend, and the report said Avalanche conditions at that time as well. We post-holed for about 2 km near the Iceline Summit to just outside of Little Yoho Campground. But there wasn't any danger of Avalanches - they just overstated the concern...
Try giving the Field Visitor Centre a call, if you're lucky you might talk to someone who's been up there recently. |
Edited by - nomsha on 07/11/2012 3:33 PM |
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Edmonton, AB
Canada
467 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2012 : 10:52 PM
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Spray area is coming in shape quick!
Read's Tower: bone dry
Sparrowhawk: Need ice axe for one slope just before the summit (as for today). You probably don't need ice axe if you go there on the weekend.
Lougheed: bone dry
Big Sister: bone dry seen from Sparrowhawk
Nestor: bring ice axe just in case
Buller: Even the north side is dry
Red Ridge: bone dry
North Buller Pass Peak: probably dry, bring ice axe just in case.
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Alberta Recent conditions reports
