[MCR] Rockies, Castle Tower

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

I guided an ascent of Castle Tower yesterday, July 7th.

A couple of hints that may help with finding the climber's trail that  
branches of left (west), on the approach, from the Rockbound Lake Trail:

-the Rockbound Lake Trail has turned to the north after switchbacking  
up eastwards from the valley floor to gain elevation.

-you will be on the east side of the Castle Tower ridgeline and in  
the upper valley that holds Rockbound Lake.

-the muddy creek crossing in 'Selected Alpine Climbs' is a prominent  
creek that had 3 braids yesterday, but it is the tail end of the run- 
off up there this year and it may be smaller, and drier, later this  
summer.

The snow patch on the tower is still there but fully avoidable. It is  
providing water at the base of the tower. You can get water there  
right now.

The east side of the Dragon's Back is free of snow and we used the  
direct rappel line (3 x 30m rappels) from the north side (Castle  
Tower side) of the "10 m-deep notch", then walked a dry trail back to  
Goat Plateau.

Happy trails,

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




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