[MCR] Bugaboos- East Creek

A couple of us spent a few days in the East Creek Basin early last week.

NEW TOILET: We installed a toilet (similar to those in the Bugaboo-Snowpatch Col and West Ridge of Pigeon), and a pack hanger like the one at Applebee campground near the existing bivy spot.  This area has seen a steady increase in traffic and human waste issues were becoming a significant problem.  We found toilet paper sticking out from under a rock less than one metre from the main water source! I was, and will continue to be very careful with how I get and treat my drinking water in East Creek for a few years yet. This area is outside of the Bugaboo Glacier Provincial park and has now been designated as a Recreation Site.     


CONDITIONS: Getting into East Creek from the Pigeon Howser Col is still pretty straight forward with mostly snow on the upper half and quite a bit of exposed ice on the lower half of the glacier.  We managed to get around without crampons but only because we were not experiencing strong overnight freezes due to the thick smoke and warm temperatures.  There has been quite a bit of recent ice and rock-fall from the South Howser Tower on the skiers right side of the glacier as you get closer to the Minaret and East Creek camp.  If you are heading to the west face of the North Howser Tower, the glacier below the rappels from the Howser Bivy Boulder is still mostly snow covered and easier travel than it often is this time of year.  It is still a very steep slope that is very exposed to rock-fall from the glacier below the Central Howser and can be difficult to manage if frozen.

Marc Piché
ACMG, IFMGA
Mountain Guide

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