[MCR] Bugaboos June 29

Just had my first trip of the season up to the Bugs and things are looking good.  It is definitely still a bit early but there is already lots to do.

Road
The road is in descent shape and ok for a small car with a bit of navigating through ruts around KM 34.  I was in a Toyota Matrix and had no problems.  

Trail
The trail to the Kain hut is mostly snow free but there are a couple of significant piles of avalanche debris and a few fallen trees to negotiate along the way.

Travel Conditions
Generally, things seem a little ahead of usual.  There is still lots of snow above the hut but the moraines are melting out fast.  Travel on the lower elevation snow is good in the morning (with a good freeze) and becomes a bit of a slog in the PM when things warm up.  Up high (above ~2800m) you can still expect up to knee deep foot penetration through a breakable crust but this would only affect the last bit of glacier to the West Ridge of Pigeon Spire.  The Bugaboo-Snowpatch col is in good shape right now but there is already lots of loose rock melted out on the sides.  

Routes
Most of the regular stuff is climbable with a few snow patches remaining.  The low elevation routes in the Crescent area look dry as do many of the routes on the west face of Snowpatch.  There will inevitably be some wet sections on most routes but they are shrinking by the day.  The higher shady routes like the NE Ridge of Bugaboo and the Becky-Chouinard will likely have snow and ice in them for a little while yet.

Bears
There is a sow grizzly with two, one year old cubs hanging around Bugaboo Creek these days but there was no recent evidence of their presence on the trail.

South Howser Descent
A new descent has been established from the South Howser Tower that avoids the cornice, loose rock and rope eating flakes of the existing descent.  It roughly follows the North Face-Ridge route towards the Central Howser.  Stop in at the hut to see a detailed topo.

Cheers,

Marc Piché
ACMG, IFMGA
Mountain Guide

Snowpatch West face June 29.jpg
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Pigeon June 29.jpg
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Crescent June 29.jpg
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Bugaboo Kain June 29.jpg
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_______________________________________________
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