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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