[MCR] Heart Mountain Traverse

[Public Mountain Conditions Report]

Went up the NE ridge of Heart Mountain from Heart Creek yesterday,  
May 9. Lots of snow above 5500 feet. I fixed handlines twice for my 6  
British soldiers and they were happy to have them. The horseshoe  
ridgeline has 1 meter of snow drifted onto everywhere, our thanks to  
other parties who have done the traverse and kept steps established.  
Having said that we did break through the crust every 30 steps and  
end up sunk to the crotch.

Scrambled over Yamnuska on May 7th, much less snow there, if I were  
to do it again today I'd take a light ice axe to chip the foot  
compressed ice off of the important footholds.

Spring will get here ...

Barry Blanchard
UIAGM/IFMGA Mountain Guide
barryb3 at telus.net
1 403 609 4615
cell 1 403 609 1321



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