Fairly flat trip but mostly avi risk free excursion with Wietse and Vern.  In the trees most of the way and in the shade until close to the end of the valley. High point on trail in 30 to 40 min- could ditch skins if have wax or scales.   Hour and 15 to 1st bridge and 1:45 to Lake Annette turnoff.   Put my skins on here and took the old decommisioned trail on the right hand side of the creek at the turn off for Lake Annette.   Upper trail on South side of Valley above Lake Anette looked like it would have been blown clear on the scree sections.

Trail was easy to follow until lost it along the creek. – three hours to avi path off the backside of Aberdeen. – there would be one more 1-2 km section up through trees to get to the big meadow.

Good exercise but not really exciting. If had more time wanted to go all the way past big meadow to Wasatch pass.

On way out go past last (first)bridge for 2-300 m before putting on skins if need them.

Paradise Valley  pics

Verns pics

Wietse pics

Leisurely AT trip into Purple bowl -  beside Lake Louise with Clayton.  See Chic’s Ski Trails Book – Skied up to above Temple lodge(45 min).  Took Skoki summer trail which is 70m uphill from winter XC ski trail.  Follow trail for .4 km then took a cutline which goes up to right off the trail high point(orange skidoo sign).  This had a broke trail which contoured around the North end of Wolverine ridge (Chic calls Silvertip ridge)and up into the valley.  This is much better than going further on the Skoki trail (and down) to use the narrow drainage to access the valley as we did in the past. Also allows you to glide all the way out with no regaining of elevation.

Higher up near the end of the  valley at the headwall, we took a drainage which goes up to left in the trees and then cuts right to go up a ramp to access a col on Wolverine ridge(~2.5 hours with stops – 500 to 600m?).  From here you can go up the ridge to Purple peak (another 150 to 200m elev) which was mostly blown clear.

Later in year with good snow coverage and good avi conditions can drop right into Woverine bowl from up near purple peak and come out on Larch runs.  Qualifiers –  Steep, avi risk, route finding in trees and cliffs,  use at own risk , etc.  The Powder 8 championships where held in this bowl back whenever.

 or drop left into Purple bowl (less steep) and come down around the headwall towards Redoubt side. Avi risk, etc.

You can also travel Northish along Wolverine ridge(chic calls Silvertip ridge) and drop off the right side in many places for good short runs in thin trees back down to your uptrack in the valley.  Note this is same NEish aspect as the recent Coral 3 slide which was described/pic in the MCR. We found lots of collapsable sugar snow below a midpack firm layer so we skied back along our uptrack (hit one rock at the base of the headwall drainage)and then glided back on the track with only minor poling. Fast out to car from col of less than 30 – 40 min and only 8 min from ski hill.

Good trip for short days or poor weather – Can do laps on side of ridge, etc.

Poor pics due to condensation on camera due to carrying camera in pocket.

Pics here Purple Bowl

Note – some confusion on naming as Chic has this bowl as Purple bowl and Wolverine bowl used to be called Purple bowl.

Quick tele ski with Wietse into Chester. Went early to avoid crowds and to be back early.

Lots of people – skiers, snowshoers, dogs and even hikers! (30 +).  Don’t understand how the snowshoe couples miss the snowshoe uptrack(sign) and the ski up track(sign) and end up in the middle of the ski down trail!  Both times – Two separate corners, middle of the track, didn’t/couldn’t move.  Good thing we both can turn although we should have stopped to explain to them how dumb and dangerous that was.

Some seniors with wooden skis and bamboo poles – good to see.

Some beta pics on the Chester Lake Couloir

Pics here Chester 2011

Full screen slide show is best.

Short hike/scramble in Oct.  Windy.

Pictures here Kidd Lookout   Full screen slide is best.

Drove down to Waterton for a great bike and hike on the last warm day of the year with Dave Salahub and Brian and Elaine Hunter. Went up the well constructed hike trail versus Andrew’s scramble route as the scramble to scree ratio looked way too low. 

Beautiful day – great views.  Nachos and beer at Twin Butte.

Pics at – Vimy Peak      Full screen slideshow is best

Tore myself away from work for a great two day trip with Dow into the Little Yoho.  Hut was booked so we just took bivy sacks and stayed at campground.

Weather was fantastic – hardly saw a cloud. Great in depth conversations on wide variety of topics.

First day into campground, drop gear and then went up and did Kiwetinok, Pollinger and McArthur.  Should have done some research first as it would have been very easy to bring light rope, harness and crampons and just continue on down glacier to do Isolated and come out over Whaleback all in one day.(Outram Traverse in reverse). 

 If equiped for glacier travel, also equally easy to do the original traverse direction starting with Whaleback. Isolated, etc and then walk off down the trail from Kiwetinok Lake.  Either way saves regaining altitude.

Kiwetinok was loose and had to be careful – some extra snow patches this year. – easier to the left with some sections of Moderate and difficult.  Downclimb on Pollinger was Moderate/difficult but easy enough given that it was dry.

 Alternate descent off Pollinger/McAthur col was scrappy  on the initial cliffbands and on the avi slope down to valley and not really recommended. The full traverse would prevent having to do this.

Good night at campground other than Dow maiming himself on my cheap stove.(cut his finger)   We decided to carry our weight and do Isolated and out over Whaleback which was a good idea. Isolated has a section of steep scrappy hard dirt with loose crap on it.  It would be better wet and soft or with snow.  We went up the left gully – short section of moderate on wet holds/crap.  This all was easier to come down but had to be careful.  If had rope this could be bypassed easily on snow on glacier. 

Good trails up Whaleback – took low angle option on right all the way to ridge versus switchback trail up to pass.  Had some problems at SE end of ridge as got too far right – missed a left turn- scramble route down? but eventualy came out on whaleback signed trail for down and out.  Route finding would be easier if doing this on the way up as you would go to the top of the signed trail and then follow cairns and trails.  See marked picture in gallery.

Great trip with good company.

Pics at Yoho Sept 2011

FULL SCREEN SLIDESHOW IS BEST!

 Some Beta pics of the President, Isolated col, Bow-Yoho ski traverse, wapta traverse and Scott Duncan Hut and Mount Daly

High on NE Ridge of Mount Bell

Successful climb/scramble of the NE ridge with Wietse and Scott. This is a long day as it took us 13 hours car to car. We took the shortcut direct to the ridge from the Taylor lake trail junction which saved about 1 hour and were on top in about 7 hours including lunches and a stop to bandage up my hand.  Small gash (3 stiches) after jamming it into a sharp rock. 

Short 15 min bushwack to open scree slope-  some dirty loose scree  in larches.  Gained the ridge near start of rock and then scrambled up  with one diversion left off the ridge crest and up to the 5.3 slab – pitched out 40 m and then carried rope to next big step.  Short roped the rest over, up or around various steps with good leading/route finding by Scott.  Rock is generally solid for any climbing parts but lots of broken crap on ledges.  great views.  We were passed near the top by a solo guy from Canmore.

 Took the scramble route down and then left across to col was loose and crappy or poor sidehilling. Snow down col was soft enough in the heat, around the lakes and then lots of mindnumbing down on the trails.  This ridge would be a lot more popular without the approach!

I was quite glad to complete this given the history with Gary on my first attempt.  We toasted him and dedicated the climb to him at the top.  It is a good climb and he would have enjoyed it when he was still capable of doing it.

Pictures at Bell NE Ridge   5.3 Aug 26/2011 – Use full screen slideshow

Much easier and quicker to shortcut to ridge from Taylor lake junction.

See Bell NE Ridge pic  for perspective. 

Wietses Pics

Scott’s pics

Previous attempts Bell 2010    (lightning/hail/rain) and Bell  2008  (accident)

 Note – some Beta pics on Taylor Lake  Pass  to Consolation Lake

and Chickadee to Boom,  Boom to O’ Brien Lake – Couloir, etc.

Note some beta pics on the Pumpkin Ski Traverse over purple peak.

Wietse’s Pictures

Pictures -  Mount Redoubt  All pics are Wietse’s since I left my camera on the charger.  Use fullscreen slide show.

Window , Allison and Turtle

 Sunny day hike with the family.  Some beta shots of Victoria, North Victoria and Aberdeen.

Pictures at lake agnes