[MCR] Rockies, Mt Athabasca

Subject: [MCR] Rockies, Mt Athabasca
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2012 06:34:57 -0600
I guided an ascent of the AA Col route yesterday, July 9th, with five of my 
fellow guides and twenty two guests. Boot top step kicking up the AA Glacier 
and then lots of shin to knee deep work up the steep slope above the 
bergshrund. A mild refreeze above 9500 feet, we put crampons on for the 
Silverhorn Ridge where they bit into the established track, or we could kick 
good steps in the unused snow downslope from the track. Overall the snow has 
been gaining heat by the day since the hard freezes of the 6th and 7th and not 
refreezing much at night as the sun pumps heat into the snow and air daily. 
Lots of red faces in our crew, it's time to put on sunscreen twice a day, or 
more.

There was lots of cleaning going on off of the "Andromeda Strain" wall as we 
descended through the slop of the big slope leading to the bergshrund. That 
cleaning will have swung around to the slopes we descended later yesterday 
afternoon.

An enjoyable ascent given lots of trail breaking power with a particular nod to 
Manuel, our Argentine Mountain Guide colleague -"The bull from Chalten".

Happy trails,

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




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