Lake OHara, Opabin, Wenkchemna, Wastach Passes Traverse 02 April 2006.

When I announced this long trip on www.ramblers.ab.ca mid-Tuesday morning, I thought that I would be lucky to find 3 or 4 souls mad enough to join me. But I was pleasantly surprised when the trip filled to the maximum 8 within 30 hours. Two ladies dropped out on Friday evening, but their places were snapped up by another two including new member Lisa.

Car shuttle completed, we started up the Lake O’Hara road at 8.30am in splendid warm weather on icy tracks. Nearing the lake we passed fellow ramblers Cornelius, Bernie and Silvia walking out after a good weekend snowshoeing at the ACC Elizabeth Parker hut. Cornelius warned us that it had reached +10c on the Opabin plateau on Saturday and to be very cautious of avalanches. It was good advice. Lunch was eaten on the plateau at 12.30pm under warm skies. However as we approached Opabin Pass wearing harnesses, it clouded over and remained similarly all afternoon. The ski down to Eagles’ Eyrie was on crusty snow. Unfortunately the recent warm weather has turned the ample snow pack crusty and icy on all except North facing slopes.

The ascent of Wenkchemna Pass was a grunt dodging recent avalanche debris and involved ski carrying for the upper 50 metres. Views were limited by the cloud, which lifted as we started our descent on good snow to Eiffel Lake. It was about 5.30pm. After some discussion, it was eventually decided to continue over Wastach Pass rather than the more mundane Moraine Lake and road. This turned out to be another grunt, accomplished mostly on foot partially over recent avalanche debris. We were in a wild mountainous area seldom visited in winter and it would have been nice to linger and savour the views but at 7.00pm, time was running out. After an initial steep section, the descent to the upper Paradise Valley campground was quite pleasant but the surface crust presented some challenges. A much needed supper break was enjoyed near here.

It was with some relief that we located tracks leading to the Paradise Valley trail. This trail was followed back to our shuttle car on Moraine lake road, which we reached around 10.30pm for a 14 hour activity day. The trail had good snow cover, but was so fast and icy that many chose to use skins for the descent especially in the dark with head lamps. The parking lot was deserted. The other 2 vehicles were retrieved from Lake Ohara and we drove back to Calgary. I was in bed by 2.00am and slept well. Thanks to all the participants: John, Kaare, Joan, Bob, Terry, Sim and new member Lisa from scribe and coordinator David for making this trip such a success. I doubt that it will be repeated often! Photos to follow.

Descending Opabin pass

Eiffel peak

Ascending Wastach pass

Descending north west side of Wastach pass

The Mitre