[MCR] Columbia Icefields october 7th, 2013

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

Backed away from the route "Middle Earth" well below the glacier this morning in the wind, the snow and the white. Clear at 5am but it began snowing around 6 and looked to continue for awhile. Winds were moderate to strong from the west and made for heavy walking up the road. Snow travel was fair to good in the few sections we covered. 

Seemed like there was less snow around the Icefields than the Lake Louise group but it has also has been a lot more wind at the ice so it was hard to be sure. Also less water ice showing than around LL-Asteroid Alley, Shooting Gallery, the West Buttress routes, 
the A-Strain, Skyladder etc all looked like they had sections of gravel with some fluff on top. Middle Earth looked good from the highway on sunday night with maybe 50% snow cover, no cornice and the schrund looked passable. Slipstream was forming up-yipes!

Larry Stanier
ACMG Mountain Guide
laristan at telus.net