[MCR] Icefield's Ice conditions Feb 15-20,2015

Subject: [MCR] Icefield's Ice conditions Feb 15-20,2015
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2015 08:51:00 -0700
Ice conditions from Feb. 15-20th, 2015

I have been guiding the parkway up to Jasper this week.   I thought i would add to Carl's post about conditions of ice.  Most climbs I looked at or did on solar aspects have a lot of running water behind them, sun rotted and delaminated from the rock.  A lot of the top out bulges are still holding a lot of pooled slush.  With most climbs that are fed with a steady feed of precip. are down to the bare ground on the tops.
I decided to give the Weeping Wall a miss this week due to how it looked.  Rotted and sun kicked.  Especially the left side.  The right side still looked climbable...

Louise Fall is still in good shape.

Balfour Wall is melting out but still climbable

Maligne Canyon is hanging in there.  Although I gave the queen (left side) a miss due to how warm it was and unsupported the climb is.  Angel on the right side is in good shape and that's what we climbed. These were relatively dry.

Kerkeslin Falls is in ok shape still.  Just south of Jasper. But is has a large horizontal crack at the top of pitch 3.  All the way to rock.  Looking in there, the ice has delaminated from the rock. This pitch won't last long if the sun continues to heat it up.

The Tangle Falls main area is pouring with water.  It also is not in good shape. I didn't climb on it.   But there is a good separate tier on the right side that is still dry, safe and climbable.

Most big climbs on Wilson are now gone.

Jon
_______________________________________________
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.