Crowfoot Glades

 
April 8, got out for a few laps with the young guns. John, Colin and I had hoped to summit some peak, but the blustery conditions early in the morning had us change plans a few times. Ended up getting laps at Crowfoot Glades around noon. Always fun times with these guys. 

Skinning up to the upper glades.

Stormy skies all around.

Lunch time snacks 

Very likely my last turns of the season.

Lovely Parting Gifts - WI3 60m

Great canyon scenery on the hike up.

 

Our first view of Lovely Parting Gifts.

End of the Line

March 16, had a great day of adventure in the BATUS canyon in Peskett Creek near the west end of Abraham Lake. Cold start, was -20 when we left the highway and the temperature in the canyon never recovered with it hovering around -15 in the shade. The route up the canyon to the two ice climbs is spectacular and worthy of a trip on its own. We headed to End of the Line (WI3, 100m). I led about 20m up the route, but bailed. It was not in WI3 shape sporting poor quality technical ice with micro mushroom heads, straws and tons of excavation required to get poor quality ice screws. Too spicy for this old cowboy. We bailed and climbed Lovely Parting Gifts (WI3, 65m). LPG was flat and smooth ice, but as hard as concrete. Hard work to get good picks, feet and tough to get screws turning in the super hard ice. The line I climbed got us ot us to the top in less than 60m. Cold day in the shade, but a spectacular setting.

 

Gearing up for LPG.

Bulletproof ice.

Cool ice features in the canyon.