[MCR] Rockies, Mt Athabasca

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

I guided an ascent of the AA Col route yesterday, July 9th, with five of my fellow guides and twenty two guests. Boot top step kicking up the AA Glacier and then lots of shin to knee deep work up the steep slope above the bergshrund. A mild refreeze above 9500 feet, we put crampons on for the Silverhorn Ridge where they bit into the established track, or we could kick good steps in the unused snow downslope from the track. Overall the snow has been gaining heat by the day since the hard freezes of the 6th and 7th and not refreezing much at night as the sun pumps heat into the snow and air daily. Lots of red faces in our crew, it's time to put on sunscreen twice a day, or more.

There was lots of cleaning going on off of the "Andromeda Strain" wall as we descended through the slop of the big slope leading to the bergshrund. That cleaning will have swung around to the slopes we descended later yesterday afternoon.

An enjoyable ascent given lots of trail breaking power with a particular nod to Manuel, our Argentine Mountain Guide colleague -"The bull from Chalten".

Happy trails,

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