[MCR] Professors Falls, Mt Rundle, Banff (Feb 8)

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

Cruiser mountain biking along the road on hard-packed snow. We left  
bikes at the end of the road but could easily continue biking along  
the trail to the drainage.

The first four pitches were bone dry. -13 C this morning had the ice  
under lots of tension but continuous hooks and steps meant no swinging  
necessary. The middle pitches were formed over with fresh ice so  
swinging was necessary causing some big settlements and shooting  
fractures. The last pitch was very wet and a mess of unconsolidated  
chandeliers. I bashed a 20cm deep trench up the steep part in order to  
get good (but not great) sticks in slightly more cohesive ice. Drilled  
a good ice screw at the base of the vertical section then didn't get  
another solid screw until almost at the top.

Sean Isaac
ACMG Alpine Guide