Corba Verde - WI3, 250m (ish)

View to Corba Verde

Friday the 19, got out for a fun day of ice climbing. I have never climbed Corba Verde and was keen to check it out. Way back in the mid 1990's Ian Hunt had spied this a new line for a first ascent, but we never checked it and the first ascent went to another team. Had to break trail to the base of the route. Doesn’t look like anyone has been on this route for a few weeks? 

Great view to King Creek and the mighty Opal Range.

Well getting geared up, Laurie is like, hmm, I didn’t bring a belay device? WTH. Okay we will make this work. I led up the first pitch, a solid WI3. Set up an anchor and had Laurie lower me. We then top roped the first pitch into submission. Worth noting; the exit off the ice near the top has open water and a big portion of the ice sheet at the top is undermined by running water and a huge 1-2 foot gap between the rock and the ice sheet. Pretty sketchy. Otherwise a great day out and we got a great pump from all the laps. 

Lots of trail breaking at the base of the route as well.

Getting closer

View back to Laurie at lower belay stance.
He had to move way closer once the top rope was set up.

Laurie's photo of me leading the pitch.

Top rope in place. 

OSWB enjoying the day out.
Photo by Laurie. 

Some of the scary holes in the thin ice sheet 
on the upper section of the route. 
Scary for sure.

Photo does not really show how scary the thin ice sheet was.
Thankfully, much of the thin sheet was right of my line.

Miller time, great day out. 

Boulder Pass Ski Tour

John enjoying the nicely packed trail near Boulder Pass.

February 5 John and I planned to ski up Fossil Mountain. Fossil Mountain is the north-eastern portal of the infamous Deception Pass, the high point just before the world famous Skoki Lodge. Fossil Mountain is a popular hike/scramble. Fossil Mountain was my third summit ever, way back in October of 1992 with my good friends Jock and Keith, and another dude named Dave. We spend the Thanksgiving long weekend camped at Merlin Meadows and ran up Fossil on our way in. Seems like an eternity ago. Have not been up Fossil since 1992, so it seemed like a ski ascent was a great idea.

John and I drove separately and met at the Fish Creek parking lot. John set a great pace up the ski out of the Ski Louise resort and we made great time to the Hidden Lake turn off. Weather started clear, but by time we reached Boulder Pass the wind was whipping and the wind chill was maybe -30C? Visibility was low to zero at the pass. We pulled the plug and skied back to our cars. 

Good workout and always great to hang with John. We will be back later this season for Fossil, Richardson or Ptarmigan.

Dark skies looking west. When we started you could see Haddo Peak, not now.

Best view we got towards Fossil Mountain from Boulder Pass.
The wind chill and conditions were nasty, not worth it.