Climbed Guinness and High Test in Field today.
The route is in great shape, with a good trail and plastic ice on all
pitches. There is alot of snowpack up there though. Today it was
frozen down low and still dry snow up high, so no problem, conditions
were awesome. But, once we get into a real warm-up of low elevation
north facing terrain, or some rain, heads up in Field. There is lots
of snow overhead in the gullies and on ledges on both sides of the
gullies. Expect a heathy spring avalanche cycle on the Mt. Dennis
routes.
24 hours late, but still relevant. Yesterday above Canmore there were
two notable avalanches. Once was a size 3 directly under the cliff of
the Ship's Prow; looks like a big one that fractured quite wide
through steep and rocky terrain, a nasty looking thing. Same day
(yesterday) a big, dirty slab avalanche came the steep cliffs on Mt.
Lawrence Grassi and ran into Miner's Gully. Probably also a size 3,
and ran pretty far down the gully. Obviously, the recent storm that
dumped in town a few days ago has changed the conditions up high. Both
these avalanches started in very steep, rocky terrain and ran down
into skiable country.
Grant Statham
ACMG Mountain Guide
_______________________________________________
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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