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ACMG Mountain Conditions Report Summary for the Rockies and Columbia Mountains issued June 25, 2013
The record rainfalls in the Rockies have subsided and water levels are slowly dropping. These levels however, are well above normal in most areas. Regardless of what areas are accessible, it is important to note that in many locations, the landscape has changed significantly. Numerous backcountry bridges are missing and many trails near watercourses are heavily damaged and in some cases no longer there. In many cases, that means that it will not be possible to access backcountry areas. The worst hit was the front ranges especially Kananaskis Country. Most highways there are closed due to missing bridges and heavy washouts. Waterton Park has also sustained heavy damage and the Cameron Lake Road is closed due to a missing 30 metre section. In Banff Park, approximately 80% of the bridges on the eastern slopes creeks such as the Spray, Forty Mile, Cascade, Pharaoh, Johnston and Forty Mile are gone. Creeks are not where they used to be and there are numerous flood chann
els. West of Castle and into Yoho and Kootenay, the damage was much less and conditions there are typical for this time of year. For further details, see photo postings by Ian Jackson. At the Icefields and in the Jasper area, conditions are more typical for this time of year. Water levels are high but not like they are further south.
In the Bugaboos, there is still snow at the Conrad Kain Hut (2230metres), but with stable weather, some objectives there may be reasonable. In Glacier Park, there is still 80cm of snow at Fidelity (1950 Metres). The trail to Hermit meadows is mostly snow free but it is white above there. For further details, see recent posting from Glacier Park.
Lastly, given the unusual nature of this event in the Rockies, it will be wise to expect the unexpected. Most of us do not have experience predicting what can happen to steep terrain when it has been heavily waterlogged but rock-fall and further land slumps should definitely be considered.
Visitor Safety, Parks Canada and Kananaskis Country.
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These observations and opinions are those of the person who submitted
them. The ACMG and its members take no responsibility for errors,
omissions, or lapses in continuity. Conditions differ greatly over time
and space due to the variable nature of mountain weather and terrain.
Application of this information provides no guarantee of increased safety.
Do not use the Mountain Conditions Report as the sole factor in planning
trips or making decisions in the field. Please check out http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.
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_______________________________________________
These observations and opinions are those of the person who submitted them. The
ACMG and its members take no responsibility for errors, omissions, or lapses in
continuity. Conditions differ greatly over time and space due to the variable
nature of mountain weather and terrain. Application of this information
provides no guarantee of increased safety. Do not use the Mountain Conditions
Report as the sole factor in planning trips or making decisions in the field.
See http://acmg.ca/mcr for more information.
See http://informalex.org/subscribe.shtml#unsubscribe to remove your name from
this list.
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