| ref: Sodbuster's
trip report |
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Starting at the
southern gate along the canal.
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Snowshoe
trip: RT 6.5; 3.75 up. I didn't know
this peak had a register and a name until I
came across a couple of trip reports; it seemed the outing could be a
good shoulder season objective. The ascent is straightforward, our main
concern
was snow conditions at treeline. Charles came along for the jaunt. The
shallow snowpack offered little resistance, we used the snowshoes to
benefit from the crampons and edges. We ascended the steep terrain with
relative ease until treeline, where the snow got deeper. The snowpack
didn't evoke confidence; luckily, we travelled along the edge of the
ascent rib, avoiding most open snow pockets. Above treeline, the
terrain was scoured to rock. The temperature was unseasonably warm,
near zero at the top (11° Celsius on our drive here); this compensated
for the insane wind gusts that we experienced. At times the gusts were
so strong we had to stop and brace ourselves. Once at the
top, we managed to put on extra layers and takes pictures without
losing anything to the wind. We sat on our snowshoes while we grabbed a
bite and enjoyed this invigorating weather. The register was slopping
wet, I couldn't read much of it and quickly tucked it back in the pipe.
On our return, we stopped often to take video clips of
the wind gusts, I truly felt energized! We indulged with another break
in the sun at treeline, sheltered from the wind, after which I resumed
the
descent without snowshoes. Today felt like spring time!
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Mount Lawrence
Grassy (left) and Emma's Peak on the right with Ship's Prow at the far
right. |
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Almost no snow,
keeping the snowshoes for the crampons. |
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Punching to ground
but the snowpack is still shallow. |
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Deeper rotten snow,
we avoided open pockets. |
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Glad to be hiking
along the edge. |
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Starting to feel the
breeze! |
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Goggles on for the
alpine. |
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Go, stop, brace...
go, go, go! |
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Almost there. |
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Wind gusts are
fierce but the temperature is mild and the sun shines now and then. |
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Soaked register
is illegible. |
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Ship's Prow Mountain. |
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The scramble down to
Ship's Prow is snow ladden.
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Heading down. |
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The wind is
sensational, quite electrifying! |
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It's tough to keep steady. |
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Snow being transported to
Saskatchewan. |
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More wind. |
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Feels like spring. |
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Sheltered once more. |
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Another fine day in
the mountains, ah yeah! |
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