[MCR] Peyto - Mistaya Area - Rockies - Feb. 20-23rd, 2013

A group of 5 from Jasper and Banff National
Parks spent 4 days ski touring from Peyto Lake to Mistaya lodge at the
head of Wildcat creek last week.  Here is what we found:

Weather: Mostly overcast conditions
with periods of sun and periods of white. Winds were generally light from
the W, although we had some moderate to strong winds with a storm on the
22nd and at the Baker- Trapper col. West of the divide, approximately 15-20cm
of new snow fell on the 22nd tapering to 5-10 cm on the Wapta, and nothing
at our cars at Peyto lake.  Temps were in the -10/-15 range.

Avalanche Activity: We noted
a few cornice failures that triggered windslabs to size 2  in steep/extreme
terrain in both the Wildcat and Peyto drainages. These looked to be a couple
days old at least.

Snowpack: Snow depths on the
Peyto glacier ranged from 30 - 120 cm on the tongue to a more consistent
2 - 3 m+ once you were above 2500m.  On the Wildcat glacier, depths
ranged from 1.7 - 3m+.  Snowpack was supportive and well settled W
of the divide with no shears noted.  E of the divide was facetted
and unsupportive below treeline which gave way to supportive hard slabs
at treeline and in the alpine.

Travel Conditions: Good travel
conditions with ski pen in the 10-20 cm range and some great skiing, especially
W of the divide where there was more snow and less wind. The approach to
the Peyto glacier along the moraine is a lot rockier than last year.  

We attempted to ski out via the gully
below the glacier for something different, but turned around as it looked
like it would require a lot of walking on downsloping ledges and possibly
some ice climbing... 

This is a great short traverse with
a very comfortable lodge and access to some great ski terrain at the end
of it.

Ian Jackson
Visitor Safety Technician
Banff, Yoho, Kootenay National Parks
www.parksmountainsafety.ca
www.parcsecuritemontagne.ca
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