[MCR] Bryce/Tsar access

Subject: [MCR] Bryce/Tsar access
Date: Sat, 23 Jul 2005 10:57:34 -0600
Seeing as we're talking about access issues, I talked to the BC Forest Service in Golden yesterday and access to some major peaks in the west Rockies via logging roads is becoming more difficult:

BCFS Sullivan River Road: This accesses the south end of the Clemenceau and Chaba Icefields, most notably Tsar Mountain. The bridge over the "gorge" was pulled out yesterday. All other bridges will be gone by the end of the summer and the entire Sullivan River will be inaccessible and peaceful again for the deer and bears and all that logging slash. So Tsar is once again a fly-in mountain or a major hiking expedition it sounds like. I snooze I lose.

BCFS Rice Brook: This accesses the S Face and E Ridge of Bryce. Also the west side of the Alexandria group, although that would require some bushwhacking I think. Apparently this road has been decommissioned too and I was told it's probably impassable past the wire gate at the top of the steep switchbacks before the road wraps around the corner into Rice Brook. It was uncertain if the bridge over Rice Brook was out, I am assuming it is gone.

It depends on the Brook crossing, but if that is doable either by bridge or fording then to get to the start of the approach to the S Face would be only 3-4 km walking along the road. Then it's the hellish slog up the avalanche path, which is bad enough going down, I've never walked up it.

The east ridge approach will be longer, probably a good 10 km. Not as good as 2 years ago when I drove to treeline and had a leisurely 3 hour walk to the bivy at the col, but better than in 1988 when Sylvia and I walked in over the Saskatchewan Glacier, Castleguard Meadows and Thompson Pass!

If the bridge over Rice Brook is gone, this would be an excellent place for a work crew to go in and spend a day putting in a wire crossing or something. Even if the road is eventually impassable for vehicles from the Bush River, Bryce S Face would be only a long 3 or easy 4 day trip. And the route is a reasonably straightforward objective technically for clients, easier than the normal routes on Robson, Assiniboine, Alberta, Deltaform for those 11'er chasers. A bit "physical" though, mostly in the approach up the avalanche path. The E Ridge would also be 3-4 days, and if a client had the skills to climb Assinibone they could do the E Ridge. And if they can do the E Ridge they can do Alberta. Probably.

I may be going to Bryce later in the summer and will let you know if what the stream crossing is like.

Mark