Paco Posted October 4, 2002 Posted October 4, 2002 What's the best month for ice climbing in Banff? I'm toying with the idea of doing a two to three week trip there this winter (if I can get away from work ) and am looking for some beta. Can anyone recommend a good guidebook for the area? Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted October 4, 2002 Posted October 4, 2002 Book - http://www.rmbooks.com/books/joswat.htm Go in February. [ 10-04-2002, 08:15 AM: Message edited by: Cpt.Caveman ] Quote
Figger_Eight Posted October 4, 2002 Posted October 4, 2002 Sort've depends on the year. Usually February/March is a good time to go. Joe Josephson's Waterfall Ice is the classic guide...I'm not sure if anything new has come out since. Sean Dougherty's Selected Alpine Climbs in the Canadian Rockies will give you the summit routes. Give Mountain Magic a call, or stop in their store. They usually have a list of all the climbs that are in, and what kind of condition they're in. I'll be up there at the end of the month and will post a tr. Quote
Alex Posted October 4, 2002 Posted October 4, 2002 yeah I agree with others: late Feb into the first 2 weeks of march. The days are much longer, allowing you to go for bigger routes, the temps are cold but not too much below freezing, making for pleasant climbing conditions and plastic ice, and the crowds associated with vacation periods (christmas and new years) might not be so noticable. that said I go in January every year and its very nice, too. Alex Quote
Lambone Posted October 4, 2002 Posted October 4, 2002 Watch out for wet snow slides in the late season, a friend of mine almost got himself killed up there in March, it slid above while he was leading. Then again watch out for dry snow slides in the colder months as well! Quote
erik Posted October 4, 2002 Posted October 4, 2002 yeah special mutah fuckin ed and i will be in da house......choppin down the fatty routes shit faced!!!!! Quote
fern Posted October 4, 2002 Posted October 4, 2002 the 'best' month is really gravy because even a mediocre month in the Rockies can be awesome by the standards of other destinations. Last year I spent 1 1/2 weeks there in mid-november, during a chinook, and still got in 7 great days of climbing, each in a different area. Long days are nice - but so's a good headlamp (or two). As far as the guidbooks go - Caveman has the link for the water ice guide, but if Mixed Climbing is your deal you need to get the Sean Isaac guide too. At least rmbooks sells guides for a reasonable price though. Quote
genepires Posted October 5, 2002 Posted October 5, 2002 Alex has got it, later half of february and early march. Watch out for spring break tiem as it turns into a zoo up there. If I remember right, mid to late march is spring break all across the northern US. You can still go in any other month in the winter and get the same amount of climbing in though, just use your headlamp a little bit more. Jo-Jo's (joe josesphon sp??) book is the only good ice climbing book available, with a new update a couple of years ago. Enjoy the best ice climbing in NA. Hopefully we will meet up there. Quote
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