[MCR] Wapta Traverse March 21-24

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

We completed the Wapta Traverse yesterday, via nights at Bow-Balfour-Scott Duncan. We climbed the north ridges of Olive and Lilliput along the way.

On March 21 there were recent large avalanches in the Bow Lake area. Driving back to Bow Lake March 24 we didn't see any activity that would have occurred in the previous 3 days. Lots of skiers all along the parkway yesterday.

On the icefields the snowpack depth seemed normal. 100-300 cm in moraine features and wind exposed glacier toes, and 300+ cm on more sheltered ice features. 

There had been some previous cornice and windslab activity to size 2. No deep releases.

Two recent icefalls on Balfour east face didn't trigger slab avalanches past where the ice impacted the slopes.

Crevasses in all areas were normal. We crossed a large bridge beside the uppermost rocks of the nunatak on the way to Balfour High Col.

The snowpack depth in the Sherbrooke valley seemed deeper than normal. 

Cornices were large everywhere.

Of note, temperatures were pretty cold for a "spring" ski tour. Lows of -18 to -25 in the mornings, on March 23 the high was -15. But bluebird skies, virtually no wind and good company more than made up for that.

Mark Klassen
ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide
Banff-Lake Louise, Canada

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