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#1342 - 05/01/08 03:51 PM
Icefield Alpine Forecast May 2-4
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grant
WI4
Registered: 11/06/07
Posts: 26
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We received about 15cms of wet snow on the day of April 29 that has settled on top of the 30cms we got last week. The overnight lows at 1984m have been averaging about -2oC and daytime highs have been averaging 6oC. The weekend forecast is fairly unsettled with 60% chance of flurries on Saturday and fairly warm overnight, highs should be in the 6oC to 9oC range.
Still not too much action in the way of climbing being done out here as the snow and warm temperatures have kept the avalanche forecast quite high. We have seen some sun sloughing and wet snow avalanches off the usual spots on Athabasca and Andromeda, but nothing major has really moved yet.
I talked to a party who walked into the bivy for the GCC and they said that the snow was very deep and that they felt it 'whumphing' on steeper aspects. They did not attempt to get very high as a result but did mention that the Blanchard/Doyle icehose looked particularly fat (which I can confirm) and that from close up the route looks to be in pretty decent shape.
Also, some people have asked about Slipstream, so I asked someone who climbed it in the early 80's to comment on the seracs now as opposed when he climbed it. He said that the serac was not as overhanging as it once was and didn't look to be as dangerous, but given that the route is loaded with snow at the moment, I'd say it is out of shape for a few more weeks at least. Also, he did say that it still looks like the serac does still overhang, so the objective hazards are still high.
I also saw one party climbing the West Couloir (II, M6) of Athabasca on the weekend, but didn't get to talk to them about it, so I have no idea if they found it in decent shape or not. If you guys are out there, let me know!
As always, if you make it out climbing along the Parkway please email me and let me know what you found, stop by the Icefield Info Centre, or call at 780 852 6288 if you want specific route obeservations/conditions or want to find out what the weather is doing.
Happy and safe climbing!
Edited by grant (05/01/08 03:57 PM)
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#1343 - 05/02/08 09:57 AM
Re: Icefield Alpine Forecast May 2-4
[Re: grant]
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grant
WI4
Registered: 11/06/07
Posts: 26
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It looked like someone was climbing at Little Snowdome yesterday, if anyone knows who it was or what they found, please let me know!
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#1347 - 05/04/08 08:56 PM
Re: Icefield Alpine Forecast May 2-4
[Re: grant]
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josh c
WI1
Registered: 03/16/08
Posts: 3
Loc: st. paul minnesota, united sta...
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I just thought I would add that when I and my partner climbed GCC in march we also felt like the blanchard doyl ice strip looked fat from our campsite, but when we clibed it it was mostly mixed climbing, with the ice sections being thin. Looks can be decieving. But I am sure things have changed in the last two months. cheers josh
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