[MCR] Rockies, Mt Athabasca, AA Col

Subject: [MCR] Rockies, Mt Athabasca, AA Col
Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2012 20:21:22 -0600
My fellow Mountain Guide, Greg Golovach, and I shared trail breaking up the AA 
Col today, June 17th. The lateral moraine above Brewster's snowcoach station is 
eroding rapidly this year and there are three major drainage chutes reaching 
further uphill by the day. It would be terminally horrible to fall down one of 
these in the dark. Despite it being + 5 Celsius in the parking lot the snow 
carried well with boot top penetration most of the way (Greg and his two guests 
didn't use crampons. My guests and I used them on the Silverhorn Ridge).  Lots 
of snow everywhere and there will likely be an avalanche cycle when it gets hot.

Six fathers on top of Athabasca today,
happy Father's Day,

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




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