On Nov 19 we ran a couple of quick laps on the pillar that forms in Marble Canyon. It was climbable but would be a very committing lead, and not just because of the anorexic ice. The creek has not frozen over yet and while we were there an ice dam broke up the way sending a surge that raised the water level by at least two feet. Had we been belaying from the bottom the belayer would have been washed out to sea.
Several of the mixed climbs in there look ready to go, and in fact some are quite plump. I would recommend waiting a while however until the creek does freeze over.
Conny Amelunxen
Mountain Guide
> Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:08:09 -0800
> To: mcr@informalex.org
> From: mcr@informalex.org
> Subject: [MCR] wapta Nov 14-18th
>
>
> Up ski touring on the Wapta with a group last week.
>
> Skied from the road all the way to Bow hut with not too much problem in the
> canyon.
>
> The entire bowl with the seracs above the final slope to bow hut had avalanched
> as a very healthy size 3 some days prior. This slide was roughly 500m wide and
> ran at least 500m, well past where skiers cross the valley. The debris would
> have easily buried a large group. Numerous other slabs observed that day and
> the next, mostly on lee slopes.
>
> Skied only on the icefield itself between Bow and Peyto huts and ascended no
> peaks due to poor visibility, highly variable snowpack depth, and moderate to
> high south west winds most of the week.
>
> Snowpack on the icefield ranged from 2m to 30cms with bare ice. Average
> snowpack at 8-9,000ft is around 150 cms. Rounding the corner up to St. Nicholas
> on the north side was patchy bare ice with very large crevasses. That in
> conjunction with poor weather made turning around a good idea.
>
> Great skiing on the slopes above Bow Hut with 10cms of low density snow.
>
> It will be tempting with good weather ahead to venture into the alpine but the
> potential is very real, especially near ridge top, lee aspects for skier
> triggered slabs from all the wind last week. Keep in mind the variable snowpack
> depths this early in the season, it all looks the same on the surface.
>
> Cheers
> Steve Holeczi
> Alpine Guide, Assistant Ski Guide
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> These observations and opinions are those of the person who submitted them. The ACMG and its members take no responsibility for errors, omissions, or lapses in continuity. Conditions differ greatly over time and space due to the variable nature of mountain weather and terrain. Application of this information provides no guarantee of increased safety. Do not use the Mountain Conditions Report as the sole factor in planning trips or making decisions in the field.
> Please check out http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.
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