Waterfowl Lakes – Middle Gully 200m, WI3

Back in the day before Mixed climbing was a thing, yes, I remember those days, these three gullies across from Waterfowl Lakes were referred to as the Waterfowl Gullies.  The southern and central gullies became the centre of cutting edge Mixed route development in the late 1990’s.  The first (southern) gully is now referred to “One Ring Circus Gully” home to the Canadian Rockies first M9 route; Will Gadd’s “Power to Burn”.  The central gully is now named “Finishing Hammer Gully” with bolted routes up to M8+.

FHG from highway

Needless to say, Raff and I did not climb these routes.  On February 3 we were happy to romp up and down the ice section of Finishing Hammer Gully.  About 100 metres of easy solo grade 2 ice, one short 25 metre WI3 section, followed more grade 2, then a fun easy WI3 curtain, overall about 200 metres of ice.  Had so much fun, I lead the crux sections twice before heading home.  Warm weather and the route to ourselves.