Gully days. I guided an ascent of Rogan's Gully yesterday, Feb 17. A large
avalanche ran down the climb sometime in the last two weeks? I suspect it was
triggered by the sun on one of the recent spring like days in the Bow Valley.
The slide ran from the start zone above the climb, down the whole length of the
climb, and filled up the creek bed to the end of the the run-out zone. Explains
the down-to-the-dirt slopes that I'd been looking at above the climb before the
snows of the last 36 hrs. The climb is filled in well with good walking between
ice steps. At least one of the rappel anchors is now buried, as is the first 15
feet of the narrows pitch. We found 5.5 mixed climbing on the right hand finish
to the narrows -some knees and chimney like grooveling. The last pitch is
getting bigger and bluer.
Cascade has taken an hit with the sun and doesn't look safe at present.
Today, Feb 18th, I guided an ascent of Guiness Gully. Loads of hooking and
standing into ice "footsteps". Good screws and only a couple of centimetres of
new snow.
Happy trails,
Barry Blanchard
Mountain Guide
www.barryblanchard.ca
www.yamnuska.com
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