Ski Conditions

3 photos

Summer Ski-mountaineering

Mt. Hector, Banff National Park

Ski Conditions

Despite a lack of overnight freeze at road level, we decided to give Hector a try anyway.

It was a 'challenging' slog up to the waterfalls pitch in near-isothermal snow. There isn't much left to avalanche overhead, and the waterfalls are certainly filled with water and not snow. We hiked the summer access trail to circumvent them.

Once into the hanging valley, travel improved substantially with skis-on travel all the way to the summit col. Glacier HS is surprisingly good with 230+ cm probed in most spots. The glacier has better coverage than it did when I was last up there five weeks ago.

We were back at the car at 13:00 and that certainly wasn't too early today.

On The Map

These observations and opinions are those of the person who submitted them. The ACMG and its members take no responsibility for errors, omissions, or lapses in continuity. Conditions differ greatly over time and space due to the variable nature of mountain weather and terrain. Application of this information provides no guarantee of increased safety. Do not use the Mountain Conditions Report as the sole factor in planning trips or making decisions in the field.