Finished up a ski mountaineering course today at Athabasca Glacier for Jasper Hikes & Tours. We were able to ascend up the Ramp onto the neve of the Columbia Icefield with relative ease.

HS was highly variable, but averaged 110-130cm at the toe and 200cm near the neve. All major crevasses were filled in and we were able to sneak through the lower two icefalls on climber's right side (just left of the standard line), allowing us to avoid some objective hazard off of Snow Dome while also gaining experience in navigating complex glaciers. Ski pen was 1cm. The descent was not the most enjoyable experience as a result, but it made for great bridging on the crevasses!

Weather was broken in the morning with moderate katabatic (SW) winds, changing to overcast, strong winds and snowing S-1 with significant blowing snow in the afternoon. Temperature hovered around -5C all day.