PLC Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 My wife and I are headed to Banff for our 10th anniversary in August and I was wondering if there's any accessible (as in daytrip) ice climbing in Jasper, like in the Columbia Ice Field. I'm looking for something similar to climbing on the seracs at Mt. Baker. From the pictures I've seen online, it looks pretty flat, at least near the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stinkyclimber Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 I don't think there are any climable seracs on the Columbia glacier, but you may be able to find something on the glacier below the north face bowl of Andromeda...but I think you will find it is a little more active than you would want! Same with the glacier coming down off the north side of Atha'B - nothing like the benign serac fields of Baker, but I could be wrong. If you are into some easy ice, then try NF of Atha'B or Skyladder on Andromeda. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken_p Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 slipstream should be in good shape this time of year. or m-16. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Frieh Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Up to date conditions: http://www.gravsports-ice.com/icethreads/ Sounds like things are forming up nicely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genepires Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 if the NF of atha is too much of a day, then you might want to give silverhorn on athab a look. Quite a bit easier but still a very good line. If you walk up the columbia glacier, you should be able to find a crevasse to TR but no stable icefall (contradiction in terms?) exists. The colman icefall is quite an strange beast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineK Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 The Skyladder on Andromeda is a little easier than the N face of Athabasca. The only drawback I can see is the decent back to AA col and down to the glacier is a little tricky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stinkyclimber Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 I think most people are downclimbing/rapping Skyladder nowadays for that reason - for most of the past few seasons, AA has been a nightmare. or else, they climb up to the Atha'B glacier descent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineK Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Interesting. I'm afraid I've been through AA col a couple times, but that was awhile ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLC Posted July 31, 2008 Author Share Posted July 31, 2008 Thanks everybody - it sounds like no easy top-roping, but accessible alpine ice, which is only about 1000 times better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulB Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 If you are into some easy ice, then try NF of Atha'B or Skyladder on Andromeda. I drove down the Parkway yesterday. The NF of Athabasca looks good: Skyladder, not so much: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineK Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Athabasca does look quite a bit better,but neither face looks very good to me. The Skyladder used to be all ice/snow and no rock in the middle of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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