ACC Ice Climbing Weekend, Banff

Photo by M. Lynch

Photo by M. Lynch

Photo by M. Lynch

Photo by M. Lynch

Photo by M. Lynch

Mount Hector, Banff (Mar. 10th, 2019).

Outing with the U of C outdoor centre.

Elevation Gain: 1,550 m (5,085 ft), Elevation: 3394 meters, 11,135 feet

Day started out cold and crisp, -19 C. Stable conditions, luckily.

Our guide, Neil Warren. We were a group of 8 with Neil and 2 assistant guides.

We divided up into 3 rope teams. I was on a rope with assistant guide Tamara and Andy from Canmore.

Roped up, gaining the final slopes.

The snow was stable but generally wind affected.

There were a few pockets of powder to be found.

Looking back at the false summit and col from the summit block.

We broke out the ski crampons on the hard snow

We didn't stick with the ski crampons for too long since Andy didn't have a pair, so we simply unroped and boot packed it most of the way up the final snow slope to the col. The snow was wind slab cement and very supportive; it was like walking up stairs.

Summit time!

Small summit. Only 3 from or group decided to hoof it up the summit block.

It was cold at the summit, my phone kept shutting off and wouldn't allow too many pics.

On the way back down.

It’s a small world after all