Bourgeau Left, Banff, Canadian Rockies (Feb 11)
Cloud cover and an early start was the name of the game today. Solar radiation on the snow and ice was minimal due to the blocking effect of broken skies.
The first pitch has a detached feeling to it, which is to be expected with all the sun it has been receiving. If you didn't swing at the pock-marks then plates of sun-bleached ice would shear off.
The last pitch just began dripping when we arrived at the base of it around 11am. One swing sticks up wet blue-goo made for happy times. Lots of hanging icicles fringing both sides of the upper tier so nice to be off before they got too much sun.
Sean Isaac
ACMG Alpine Guide