[MCR] Jasper area: Fryatt, Meisner's Ridge, Columbia Icefields

Another foray into Jasper Park this week. We went up Mt Fryatt by its West Ridge and down the SW Face on July 18 and climbed Meisner's Ridge July 20.

The ridge on Fryatt is dry and in good shape. Contrary to some sources the rock quality is not very good on this route, in character the route has similarities to Mt Assiniboine although I think it is more sustained with many mid-fifth class steps. 

The SW Face still holds a fair bit of snow but it is melting fast. This would make for a relatively fast ascent with a freeze but if it warms up at all the slopes are steep enough to avalanche and produce rockfall. We had a little bit of both on our descent. Photo attached.

On Meisner's Ridge the route is dry of course. Water available on descent. There is a wee bit of snow on the walk down, which is nice, and the scree is still mostly softish (we found the same on Fryatt) but drying out and hardening fast with these warm temps. The canyon is in good shape with about 300 m of semi-continous bouldering moves on solid waterworn stone.

After these exertions, today we decided to just go for a little hike up Wilcox Pass to have a look at past triumphs. Photos of Athabasca, Andromeda and Kitchener attached.

Mark Klassen
Mountain Guide
www.alpinism.com

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