[MCR] Peyto to Sherbrooke April 8-13

Subject: [MCR] Peyto to Sherbrooke April 8-13
Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:38:24 -0600
April 8th some size 1-2 solar sloughs off of the east face of Peyto peak

The size 2 skier triggered slab of April 8th (reported by Conrad Janzen on the MCR, April 9th) spooked me out enough, when I spied it in the field on the morning of the 9th, we didn't ski into the Baker Col as planned, but kept our skiing that day to shallower slopes of the upper Peyto Glacier and below ridgeline.

April 11th got a settlement (whumpf) 50 meters shy of the ridgeline on the Diableret Glacier and went no higher.

April 12th we could see the tin foil like sheen of sun crusts on all the southern aspects above treeline in the Little Yoho. Strong southerly winds began to blow the night, blew over one of our guy's tele ski (no brake) that went for a wee ski for about 100m below the hut -stick them in good!

13th strong south winds and sub zero temps until the head of the Niles glacier, then moist snow sitting on a crust. East face of Mt Niles spitting size 1 solar sloughs as of 10am, none running over the bench above the ski track, but spooky to see the cornices up there in the sun. Looked like a solar cycle had run on the West to SW aspects late in the day on the 12th, even a size 1.5 slab out on the SW face of the little peak between Niles and Daly. Moist snow all the way out and a couple inches of water between the snow and ice on Sherbrooke Lake, the old ski track was supportive. Several full path size 3 avalanches off of the East side of Mt Ogden, and a number of upper half path slabs on the West side of the valley (not running as far on that side). Trail down to Wapta Lake was only icy and fast on the steepest switchback.

Given the wind I suspect that much of the traverse will be a bit hammered now, but it is snowing in Banff as I type.

Happy trails

Barry Blanchard
Mountain Guide
Yamnuska Mountain Adventures
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