[MCR] Mount Athabasca - N Face Bypass

Went up the N Face Bypass and down the AA Col today.

Travel up to the basin below the face was excellent with a supportive crust overlain by a dusting of new snow. Great step-kicking all the way up the face to the traverse. The traverse was rather snowy, and the Scottish gully back up to the ridge crest had a metre of snow on the ice at the top. Digging was needed to get ice screws. The final ridge to the summit felt wintery with little rock showing along the ridge-crest, and small cornices on either side of the ridge.

The AA Col was in good shape with snow top to bottom, making for good step-kicking as well. Some small rocks were starting to move with the direct afternoon sun. The supportive crust finally gave in around 2700m in the afternoon.

Chris Gooliaff
ASG/ARG

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