Wapta Icefield - Day 1
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August 14, 2012 - Hike into Bow Hut
Three days ago I flew into Calgary with Ivan and Leisha, and we were picked up by Hai. We drove to Canmore and met
Karine for lunch, continuing on to Lake Louise to meet the rest of the team from ACC Ottawa. There are twelve of us;
Hai, Ivan P, Leisha, Bill S, Ivan W, Bill B, Andy, Dave, Louise, Richard, Renee, and of course myself. The first two
days we spent on the Athabasca Glacier with two guides, Chris and Joe, practicing various glacier travel skills. The
second day we spent doing crevasse rescue down a deep hole and providing entertainment for the tourists walking the
glacier in big guided groups or riding in the obscene monster busses. Today however, we drove up to Bow summit on the
Icefields Parkway and hiked into the hut. This was a nice hike. Started around Bow Lake with stunning views and then
up the side of a gorge. Nature had provided a very convenient crossing of this gorge. A giant boulder dropped off by
some long receded glacier had plugged the rim. A bit of a scramble on top of the rock and you had a great route to the
other side. The next while we followed the stream gulley upwards. Lots of random paths were through here so it was a
bit of a "choose your own adventure", but all trails lead in the right direction. After we broke above tree line we
spied the hut, hanging on the cliff up to our right. We continued on to the bowl, crossed a small snow field, and then
headed up a steep rocky drainage to pop up onto the plateau. Renee had dropped behind at the snow field and by the
time I had reached the top of the scramble she had dropped out of sight. I dropped my pack, and went down to check on
her. Finally I spied her off far to the side on a well trodden trail. Obviously the first time hiker/mountaineer has
more navigational sense than us seasoned folk. Finally we reached the hut after about four hours. Had lunch and
discussed tomorrows objectives. My rope team of Hai, Leisha, and Ivan are going to attempt Mount Rhondda (3055m). Most
of us hiked up to the Wapta glacier (freaking huge!) and played around looking for route options. A dark cloud
approached so six of us retreated. The other four countinued and got caught in a fairly violent storm. We made it back
with no problems and they arrived a bit later completely drenched. Theresa served us some fantastic food, both some
afternoon snacks and a supper later.
Climbing up the slopes of Mt. Athabasca.
First day of glacier school.
Ivan, taking on the fridgid Athabasca river.
Leisha in glacier travel mode.
Crevasse rescue practice day.
Hanging out (or rather literally hanging in a glacier) with Rick.
These busses were buzzing by us constantly all day.
Bow lake.
Boulder scramble over the gorge.
Taking a break on the way to the hut.
Bow hut peeks into view on top of the cliff above.
Crossing the snow field.
Arriving at the hut. Our home for the next four days.
Playing on the toe of the Wapta.
Mount Saint Nicholas is the most prominent peak around.
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