[MCR] Pillar Collapse in Haffner

Hi Everyone,

Spent the last 5 days with the MAST College of the Rockies (Fernie Campus) on an intro to Ice and Mixed Climbing.  Temps ranged from 4.0 at the Junkyards on the 14th all the down to -20.0 on the morning of the 18th at Haffner.  We had a near miss at Haffner Creek yesterday at approximately 1330 during the day when the solar radiation threw some substantial heat into the ice facing southerly by the early afternoon.  In conjunction with the cold temps overnight, this precipitated the unsupported pillar on the lookers right side to fail and collapse.  As is turned out, one of our students had walked behind the curtain 5 minutes prior to the event.  

This was large group (21 students) with 4 guides attending to the instruction and coaching.  Clearly, we are well into the time of the year when the daytime heating is a huge factor, particularly after such frigid overnight temps.

Keep Your Heads Up,


Paddy Jerome
ACMG IFMGA Mountain Guide
#205-176 Kananaskis Way
Canmore, Alberta
T1W 3E4 Canada
(C)403-609-0795