[MCR] Rockies, Murchison Falls

Subject: [MCR] Rockies, Murchison Falls
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2012 08:38:43 -0600
I guided an ascent of Murchison Falls yesterday, April 4th.

The trail in is in good shape and supportive right from the highway. The route 
is huge, and still gaining ice. Little to no sun affect over all. All the 
pitches leading up to the last had water running here and there and the ice was 
plastic and user friendly. The last pitch was winter, dry brittle ice and cool 
temps given a winter storm precipitating lightly, but constantly, with light to 
moderate winds. There are a couple of car sized cornices over the route right 
now, but the climber's left hand one has iced up to half it's high (and triple 
it's mass), it should be stable, or really hurt alot!

Overall a great day with very little evidence of other recent ascents 
-Murchison Falls is healing far faster than the few of us can beat it up.

Happy trails,

Barry Blanchard
Mountain Guide
www.barryblanchard.ca
www.yamnuska.com

image/jpg

Pulling over the top, the half ice, half snow, cornice on the left. It's bigger 
than it looks in this pic.
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