touchingthevoid said Mon, 28 Feb 2011 10:20:09 -0800

Hello all, I've been out in Alberta cranking on ice for the last few weeks and will be returning home in about a weeks time. I'm super stoked to get on some good alpine routes but am completely out of the loop as to what conditions are like on the island right now. Just curious if anyone could tell me what conditions are like at Arrowsmith or Boston falls or any other alpine ice routes that might have been climbed recently. Would love to get on some long couloir climbs or something but last i heard there was some decent snowfall happening on the Island. Any and all help is appreciated!

hekki3 said Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:48:43 -0800

I'm wondering if anybody has ventured into strathcona park or arrowsmith and could comment on conditions in the higher alpine (perhaps photos)? I get the feeling that winter may be coming to an end and spring skiing could begin early...but you never know...

Francis Bruhwiler said Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:44:52 -0800

Hey Hekki,

I toured Cokely and Becher on Sunday & Monday. Here is what I do know: tops of Cokely and Becher had the only ok turns, everything below is pretty hard packed. Even up high it was only a few cms of snow on top of the hard pack, so overall pretty crappy for touring. Not much ice at all at BF and Arrowsmith has roadside ice but it looked very detached and it was very obvious that it rained hard up there last week. I am still hopeful that maybe things will form up again on arrowsmith. Was able to easily drive passed all switch backs to rock cut (like in the spring).
I would guess that before mid day north aspects up high might be pretty good for climbing right now.....
If ever you are looking for a partner to hit up arrowsmith get a hold of me.
fbruhwiler@hotmail.com, 250-725-2865

hekki3 said Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:42:37 -0800

That makes sense, and for sure if i'm around ill give you a shout, I may be on island in the coming weekends. I was also informed from a friend who knows someone that soloed "newman foraker" and "to thin" a day or so ago...with the hard snowpack it was apparently very quick travel.

hekki3 said Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:45:28 -0800

Temperatures also seem reasonable at 1800m elevation according to nav canada for the last while, around -1 to -6...So the routes up high are probably going to hold up for a bit.

http://www.flightplanning.navcanada.ca/Latest/fd/Latest-OUEST_FL060_18.html

john said Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:03:48 -0800

I was up Adder on Sunday. The forested areas were totall icy, but above at about 800m in the open there was about 12inchs of nice new snow. It started to snow around noon, with limited vis. All 3 times on adder it clouds in, I've never seen the top.

There was a red izuzu trooper at the parking area, and people skiing though we just saw there tracks, up on the adder logging rd.?

jw