[MCR] Rockies, Cascade Falls, Healy Creek slidepaths, Mt Jimmy Junior

I guided an ascent of Cascade Falls on Friday, December 18th. The route was sporting several large open and wet holes earlier in the week but these froze over nicely with the colder temperatures through the week. The climb was in good shape and we opted to walk off (and climb the last half ropelength, which was good climbing) rather than rappel down through the 11 people below us. The walk off is in good shape, mostly due to traffic from Rogan's Gully.

Saturday, December 19th I guided a ski tour to the Healy Creek slidepaths. We had a clean planar shear down 35 centimeters in the moderate range (18) of our compression test on a southsouthwest facing slope of 30 degrees at 2100 metres. The slab failed on the Dec 3rd layer which was a weakening sun crust on this exposure. We chose a less steep slope to ski and skied one and two at a time (our group was 5). The ski quality was good.

Sunday December 20th our group of 5 attempted an ascent of Mt Jimmy Junior. We found no results on our compression tests at 2350 metres. Higher, several hand shears showed bonded snow at the surface. We ran out of visibility, and time, at 2500 metres. Lots of evidence of southwest winds and small surface slabs 5-10 cms deep cracking away from our skis every twenty steps or so. We skied down through older tracks that had filled in and the ski quality was fine and fun. Having done this tour several times in the spring, as the guidebook suggests, I doubt that there will be many more winter days in the future that I'd feel good about going there. The low hazard and great travel we experienced yesterday just hasn't been the norm for December in the Rockies as of late.

Happy trails,

Barry Blanchard

Mountain Guide

Yamnuska Mountain Adventures

www.yamnuska.com