Waterton Ice Opener

In thinking about the annual ice opener, it just doesn't seem right to hold it after Christmas! Rolling the dice with chinooks is just part of the fun. With that in mind, take the poll to pick the date. Back up plans are rock climbing on the hump. Ice will be at Quick & Dirty, but if conditions are great we may take another poll to see about moving things to the Choice.


Unless Harms beats me to it, I think I take a BBQ up again. I'll bring some burgers, although I don't think anyone can beat Scott's hogies.

For new climbers, the gang usually sets up a few top ropes. If you haven't hit ice before, come on down, bring some ski boots whose back doesn't extend to far beyond the back lip of the sole, a harness and helmet. We usually share tools. People tend to show up at around 10am. We usually hit the Kilmorey for dinner, but will have to do the Lodge. I hear the pool is still open, so if the weather is good, think about bringing swim trunks and a tent so you can hit the hot tub and not have to worry about driving home while zonked. My back yard is open for tents.



Hemphill, if you're still around, give me an email cgoble72 gmail if you still have Austria Alpin demo tools you are interested in bringing out.

New bike path

If you read the Letbridge Herald yesterday, you probably notice that Rick Casson announced funding for a new bike path into the Waterton townsite. The bike path will be near, but apparently separate from the road. It is slated to be started next year.

I am not sure if this means widening of some parts of the road, or if it means they will use the old fiber optic line that was laid about 50m south of the road in the late 90's.

No matter what it is a much needed feature.

image from http://randsco.com/

Ice Update Oct 11

If you still have Monday off, consider driving up the Red Rock highway and try climbing or top roping the routes in the red rock canyon. The ice is thin, but definitely climbable there. Plus, it saves the 30k hike in any other time of year.

(red rock - below the bridge - oct 11)

Quick and Dirty is dripping wet and not at all formed. Neither are any of the other standard routes on the Cameron Highway. A number of thin smears are in around the Midnight Curfew and ?Malboro Man? area (between Quick & Dirty and Expert's).

The left compound gully is still mainly verglass. Sullivan's looks in, so I would imagine Drywood is climbable but thin. Midnight Madness should be in as should the Summit lake climbs, but these are just guesses.

A thin bit of ice on the Info bureau could mean someone could have an excuse to try some drytooling.

Kill Aisha (above the Warden's compound) is in, but expect stiff conditions.

A possible location for the Fernie Pillar? As seen from 2km or so above Blakiston falls on the slide run up to Anderson