[MCR] Columbia Icefields, boundary glacier and A2

Subject: [MCR] Columbia Icefields, boundary glacier and A2
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:00:07 -0600
Spent the last 3 days at the icefields from June 20-22.
There was no freeze in the last 3 days at lower elevations. This morning (June 22) at 3:30am it was +5, raining lightly in the parking lot.

Yesterday up boundary glacier over col and down North Glacier on Athabasca. the ramp on the boundary glacier is still holding together and the snow was soft but supportive. Coming down the North glacier side the snowpack was supportive for the upper half then went to post-holing from knees to mid thigh till the snow ran out near the top of the ramp.

Today climbed A2. Snow was wet yet supportive in upper part of glacier with boot top penetration. A few cm of new snow above 8500ft that came down this morning. Didn't hear any activity off of Athabasca on the east side though the sun never really broke through.

All during the last 3 days it has felt humid and muggy on the snow. The snowpack is isothermal in many places and only where over a metre thick is the snowpack supportive.

Wouldn't have wanted to be on any slopes of any steepness or consequence today.

The warm trend has certainly helped to consolidate the snowpack. With a cooling trend and a good freeze conditions should get much better.

Peter Amann

Matt Reynolds
Peter Amann
pamann@xxxxxxxxxxxx

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