This is a relay message from Tom Wolfe who is currently in the field:
Laurie Skreslet and I have been leading two patrols of Outward Bound youth
courses in K-Country the past two weeks. We travelled in the
Picklejar--Mist--Sheep--Elbow region on the first week, finding many snow
pockets on NE slopes starting at treeline. Mist ridge still had old remnant
cornices most of the way--good for refilling the water bottles.
This past week was spent in the Aster Lake area. My group travelled over Elk
Pass and the Petain Glacier to Upper Kananaskis Lake. We hunkered down for two
days below the Petain Glacier weathing a wild storm with strong N winds that
left up to 10 cm of storm snow in the alpine (July 12-13). Travel over Petain
Glacier was good with 5-10 cm foot penetration and >125cm snow pack.
We climbed Mt. Joffre en route via a direct line on the North Face, finding
excellent travel with good steps on slopes up to 47 degrees. Good ice screws
down 50-80 cm and good T-slots. 7 pitches to summit slopes through the rock
band.
Travel down from Aster involved crossing several steep icy snow slopes--ice
axes and hard boots definitely recommended.
This week we're continuing from our camp at Point Campground north to exit over
the French Glacier to Mud Lakes.
Tom Wolfe
AAG/SG ACMG
_______________________________________________
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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