Ice Climbing Conditionrs Icefields Parkway and David Thompson Hwy
Icefields Parkway and David Thompson Highway
Jasper Visitor Safety just finished a four day Ice Climbing Camp at Rampart Creek hostel (January 22-25th).
We climbed in the Icefields Parkway and David Thompson Corridor.
Icefields Parkway climbs were mostly on the thinner side, but in good climbing shape.
We climbed:
Balfour wall - good shape
Finishing Hammer - approach ice was quite thin with protection difficult to place, but steeper pitches were in good shape
Whimper Wall - starting to get little sun affected but overall great shape
Lady Wilson's Cleavage - good shape
Bridal Veil Falls - top pitch is sun rotten, difficult to protect in places.
David Thompson Corridor:
Elliot Left Hand - Good climbing condition but all pitches quite wet. Top crux pitch was wet and required a lot of cleaning to find good protection.
Kitty Hawk - Our team retreated from half way up the second pitch as the climb was very thin with long runouts between marginal protection.
SARs on Ice/ Five Seven Zero - Good shape
End of The Line/ Lovely Parting Gift - Thin ice and some dry tooling involved on approach. Both climbs were too thin for our group to climb (see pictures).
Nothing but the Breast - First half of the first pitch is not in, possible to walk around. Upper pitch was nice steep climbing with good protection.