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We skied the Bow-Sherbrooke Traverse April 6-9.
Clear skies with no new snow on the trip (we didn't get the Canmore/Kananaskis storm). Moderate to strong westerlies at ridgetop on April 8 with some light wind loading as a result. Temperatures below freezing on the glaciers with minimal solar effect.
We saw the remains of several large avalanches that must have occurred just after the heavy snowfalls at the beginning of April. Deep slabs that ran on steep east aspects and were triggered by cornice falls (Onionskin, Ayesha, Balfour N Ridge). No new avalanches observed in our time up there.
We turned the Balfour crevasses on the right side near the east face. No crevasse issues there. Another track went through the crevasses close to the rock wall so that works as well. Pick your poison!
Cornices on Niles are large but not as big as they normally are this time of year.
Miserable sun crust on the upper Sherbrooke descent.
Although a work crew had been up to the Scott Duncan the propane was still not working properly and we used the Coleman stove. There is a bit of white gas up there but you better bring some.
Mark Klassen
Mountain Guide