Hiked the Robson river trail to Berg lake, the trail is dry,
busy and in great shape. Had good clear weather and was able to get
observations on the South, West and North sides.
The upper half of the South side above the hut is still snow
covered, the South route traverse ledges below the seracs are still buried
under snow.
The West Face is also all snow from 10 000
ft up.
Emperor Face is snow covered top to bottom with
a corniced ridge.
The North Face is also completely snow covered with no
ice showing at all with a few very large cornices at the summit ridge.
On North aspects no evidence of any loose snow avalanche
activity, cold upper alpine temps persist and there is very little melting going
on above 9000 ft.
The upper peak has not had the warming trend that it
needs to clean it up and bring it into good conditions.
We were not able to see the Kain Face, the local heli pilots have not
been out there yet but we suspect a very snowy face with a corniced ridge
top.
The Park Rangers were reporting winter conditions, the mouse
trap has been very active this year, no accents yet this year, last week
the one and only known climbing party turned back
half way from the Extinguisher Tower attempting to get to the
Robson ice fall cirque du to poor travel
conditions.
Cheers
Mark Stewart