[MCR] Southern Wapta Traverse

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

Three of us from Parks Canada skied across the southern Wapta Traverse this 
week, going through the Balfour High Col and onward to Scott Duncan Hut on 
Wednesday (18th), and out via Sherbrooke Lake on Thursday (19th). We had a 
bluebird morning through the High Col, and onward to the SD Hut; white and 
grim from SD Hut to the road the next day.

Snow depth on the glaciers is less than usual for this time of year, 
ranging from 180-250 cm, but for the most part the crevasses on the 
standard route are well filled in, and presented no problems to cross. 
However, as usual through the Balfour High Col, there are lots of hazards 
around. Through the crux sections we were weaving through several crevasse 
bands, often coming within a few meters of the edge, and undoubtedly on 
snow bridges.

We observed one fresh windslab at the head of Waves Creek, which looked to 
be about 50-70 cm deep and maybe 50 m wide. This was on a predictable, 
leeward convex roll in the middle of a windy pass. However we twice bailed 
from our objective due to lingering concerns about windslabs. Although we 
did not see many, the cumulative effects of a few weeks of minor snowfalls, 
winds, and isolated windslab avalanches kept us off these features in the 
alpine.

The trip down through Sherbrooke Lake was breakable crust from 2000 m down, 
supportive crust across the lake, and an icy luge run down to Wapta Lodge.

Attached is a photo of the Balfour High Col, along with Google Earth and 
GPS files of our track logs on the 18th. 

Grant Statham
ACMG Mountain Guide
Parks Canada Visitor Safety
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