This morning attempted a route on the Howson Peak but got turned back
early in the adventure by bad weather.
Snow travel is good with boot penetration 5-10 cm. Crevasses are still
well bridged but schrunds are opening up. Ridge routes are climbable now
but still a little moist and corniced. Lots of snow still in the alpine.
It's far to warm right now to consider snow and ice routes, but as soon as
there are a few cold clear nights the alpine here will be good to go.
With the weather forecast that won't be for a week or more though.
The Howsons are a beautiful and rugged range west of Smithers and can be
reached by float plane to either Burnie Lake or Sandpiper Lake (Alpine
Lakes Air), or by helicopter to anywhere in the range (Canadian
Helicopters). It's a 1-hr hike from Burnie Lake to the Burnie Glacier
Chalet (Bear Mountaineering/Christoph Dietzfelbinger) and another 4-5 hr
hike to a bivy below Howson Pk on decent trails.
Remember the mosquito paraphernalia.
Regards,
Tom Wolfe
AAG/ASG
_______________________________________________
These observations and opinions are those of the person who submitted them. The
ACMG and its members take no responsibility for errors, omissions, or lapses in
continuity. Conditions differ greatly over time and space due to the variable
nature of mountain weather and terrain. Application of this information
provides no guarantee of increased safety. Do not use the Mountain Conditions
Report as the sole factor in planning trips or making decisions in the field.
Please check out http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.
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