[MCR] Rockies, Wapta traverse April 23-26

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

April 23rd skied to Bow Hut. Some spongy water siting on the surface  
of Bow Lake if you stepped off of the set track. Had to carry skis  
and step through the creek a half a dozen times on the way to tree  
line. Some frustrating crust collapses below the hut that left you  
standing in a bathtub.

24th. A solid freeze overnight and a strong supportive crust  
everywhere we were -Olive/St Nic col and down to Balfour Hut. Dust on  
crust hero snow, 5-10 cm deep on the bullet proof crust. Satiny  
skiing on the Diableret Glacier. Constant moderate-strong westerly  
winds.

25th. A clear cold night. Great travel and tracksetting across the  
high bench to Balfour High Col. A winter snow pack -without the  
supportive crust- on the steeper northerly slopes above 9000 feet.  
More satiny skiing down the Balfour Glacier to 8500 feet (after  
getting to the Scott Duncan Hut), and a great ski down the  
southwesterly aspect of the 9500 foot peak at the southern end of the  
Balfour Gl at 5:30 pm.

26th. - 10 C at 7:00 am. Great travel to Niles Peak and no problem  
cutting the big east facing slope there on the bulletproof supportive  
crust with dust on it. Great skiing down to the creek on the  
Schiesser/Lomas exit. Had to boot pack down through tight trees at  
the waterfall pitch as it was a waterfall. Skated across Sherbrooke  
Lake. Had to carry our skis for about 100 meters on the trail down to  
Wapta Lake, the snow is disappearing fast there.

Overall great conditions once you get onto the icefields. I would  
take ski crampons as the crust is side slippy on the steeper side  
slopes.

Happy trails,

Barry Blanchard
Mountain Guide
www.barryblanchard.ca
www.yamnuska.com


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/mcr/attachments/20100426/bdda29d1/attachment.htm>