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We spent a few days in the Waterfall valley/ Mt Des
Poilus area from July 14-17. Generally reasonable weather with lots of
overcast and threatening skies. Severall thunder showers over the 4 days,
but no significant precipitation. We expected to find more storm
snow from earlier in the week, but in this location, it hadnt really accumulated
too much or had already melted off. Conditions on the Des Poilus glacier
are in transition, with thin moist snow cover below 8000' (40cm or less).
Between 8000 and 9000', glacier coverage was good, and a pretty good freeze on
the night of the 15 made excellent travel. Above 9000', the snowpack was
more of a spring snowpack than a mid summer. The snowpack depth was at
least 180cm at 9700', perhaps a fat spot but definately good coverage at that
elevation. Very few crevasses are showing. The downside is that it
is a very isothermal snowpack (moist all the way through), but not really
consolodated into good firm summer snow. Foot penetration was boot top to
almost knee deep above 9000' at 0730am on the 16. We were turned around at
the bergshrund at 9700' which crosses the entire glacier. It is currently
totally covered, but sagging, and in the several spots we attempted to cross we
were punching into the abyss. Perhaps after another week or 2 of warm
weather, the bergschurnd will open up more and any bridges across will be more
obvious. Overall, conditions on the Wapta were good if you got a good
freeze and an early start. Other guides in the area over the radio were
reporting good conditions on Mt Mcarthur, and Mt Rhonda.
Cheers
Jeff Honig, Mountain
Guide
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