[MCR] Great Divide Traverse - high line variation

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

Hi guys

Three of us just completed Great Divide Traverse last Sunday.4/21 to 5/13.
It took 22days (stuck 2nights at Wates Gibson hut due to heavy rain
and mountain top freezing level).

We could trace newer high line variation which is described in the
latest Summits and icefields by Chic and Mark.
High line is much more vertical but as book said more direct, less
slog and better view (which we couldn't see in white out most of
times).

I think snow condition won't be useful anymore especially Northern and
Central rocky part which is already 2-3weeks ago so little bit about
Southern part.

When we went through Southern part (Columbia icefields to Wapta) on
5/5-5/13, the snow coverage was very good on all glacier and
still OK in valley bottom (Alexandra river and Blaeberry).

We had a good melt freeze cycle, except kept everything frozen due to
cold wind from north on 5/10-11.

Most of place in Wapta had wind effected but sheltered high elevation
area was still dry good snow condition.
We took a Niles creek direct down exit from Daly/Niles col around
11am-12 on 5/12.
There were couple big slide debris almost reach to valley bottom from
skier's left but looks still lots of hang fire too.

Top couple cm was melted and perfect corn snow condition.
Steep slope near very bottom of creek was almost no snow so one of us
needed to take skis off.

Sharebrook lake was still well frozen and couple dirt patches appeared
on summer trail but didn't need to take skis off.

If anybody has a plan to go next year, we are more than happy to share
the info / beta so please let us know.

Now we are ready for the summer!

Thanks,

Yuji Akiyama,HG,CAA2
Martin Lefebvre, HG,CAA2
Ali Hogg, HG,CAA1