Mt Green

Temperatures rose dramatically yesterday and things got really warm. But overnight the temperatures dropped and some new snow fell.  When things get this warm its time to head high and north facing.  I lapped grizzly shoulder for some dust on crust early morning and then drove down to meet the boys in the Bonney zone. 

 I have approached Mt-Green from several ways and this way seems to be the best. You go into the Bonney zone and head high to the top of the moraines from there you can get a great descent down to the valley floor and head up to the high col.From there its a simple ridge to the summit.

The boot pack up to the col is a little aggressive and you must be confident with conditions. Today things felt a little windslabbed down low but as Ian boot packed up the snow felt better. And then the tour to the summit was a simple ridge tour.

When we got to the summit the clouds were below us and the sun at our back which under the right conditions forms a Specter of the Brocken, a really cool phenomenon(click on it to find out more).Something to be witnessed. I have had it many times in the mountains and  am always blown away by it, this is the first time I have been able to almost catch it on camera. 

Considering the warming the snow we skied was smooth and fast, it slowly got warmer and warmer as we got lower but that’s to be expected on a 5500 foot run. Another fantastic 10 000 foot day in the mountains.  10 420 feet

Finally MT-SIFTON

I guess I was right when I mentioned that I could not imagine what else I would ski in the next 48 days. Today Ian and I ventured up into Rogers pass towards Mt-Sifton, we skied off little sifton and then headed towards the big Sifton. Looking at it I have always felt that there was no easy way up this peak and that should I wish to ski the chute I would have to climb right up it.  But today Ian and I toured around the west side of the summit and around to the north bowl.From there it was a simple jaunt up the ridge, skinning most of the way and then boot packing the final 400 feet. It seemed too simple. Why have I waited so long to summit this peak? Maybe waiting for the conditions that we had today.

 
A fantastic line so glad to have finally skied it.

We then toured back up little sfiton for some last turns before heading home. Here is Ian enjoying some powder before skiing 5000 feet to valley bottom.
I am always amazed at how much I have to learn. I feel like I know the pass really well and then I tour around and get a new vantage and learn more. Little did I realise that there was a great north facing line off little sifton, as well as some great lines of the back side of Grizzly peak.  10240 feet

The split

Today I decided on trying a split day. Meaning up early and a quick 5000 feet and then home for more breakfast around 9.45. A walk into town and lunch with the family and then when afternoon nap time comes around I am off again to finish off the remaining 5000.

The skiing in the fingers was great, still deep and fast  with powder spraying up to my waist. A couple of runs in the morning and then I repeated a similar combo in the afternoon. I skied my F1’s in the afternoon and was 5% faster due to their ease of walking. Pity they don’t ski as well as they walk, I can’t wait to try the new scarpa F3’s. They will be the evolution of ski touring if they can ski. I have had them in my hands and felt that they may be the answer to my questions…

Back by 4.45 with 10 300 feet of skinning below me. And I finally got up the gumption to see what number I was at. i have been avoiding it because I am not where I had hoped to be. But I am over the hump and today was day 51. only 49 to go…. what a long way I have come and I have so much to go. I can’t imagine what I will ski in the next 49 days.