Haffner Creek Ice Climbing.

Haffner Creek.

The winter not only brings great skiing to our mountains here in BC and Alberta.
For many years I have been wrapped up in the skiing of winter. Heli-skiing and ski touring saw most of my time. Climbing has been a back ground to many Mountain Guides and Ski Guides. I have neglected the development of intense mixed ice and rock climbing in the last 20 years.
While off at Christmas Loree and I hiked into Haffner Creek along the Radium Highway with Jeff Relph a co-guide at the Monashee Lodge. I have read the MCR's and heard many stories of the mixed climbing there and finally want ed to see it for myself. Off we went.

Yup I sure missed that period, I now feel my age and distance to the sport of Ice Climbing.
But here is what I saw.

The climbing now is as hard as sport rock climbing with all ice climbing tools and skills which are gymnastic in nature. Ice is not necessary but does add to the interest of the climbs.
Haffner Creek is a condensed canyon with numerous sections of 15-30m climbs mixed and straight. One could label this as ice crag, cause it sure saw a collection of folks out for the holidays.

Under the daggers

Will go again to Haffner Creek as it holds a lot of interesting climbs and folks who train for the bigger challenges of the area in Banff Park. Much to do and see.

Rog

Heli-skiing starts!

Heli Skiing in the Monashees starts finally!

We have just finished our Guides Training and Staff setup for the 2011 season.
Monashees was the host lodge for this winters for 2 of the 3 guides trainings sessions.
Each year all the ski guides and area managers get together to our minds back in the snow and skiing programs for CMH.  This includes going out skiing in the the Monashee terrain which is a delight to do.

Dave Schwan skiing on Christmas in Soards Creek, Monashees.

However the snow has been slow to arrive in the Monashee Mountains, actually most of interior BC's mountains but that did not stop us from have some good skiing.

 Rig Red in Soards Creek.
Our first week was canceled due to lack of suitable coverage in the valleys just not enough snow to be safe. A second storm came along and gave us enough snow to open the season.

Finally the skiing is excellent and stability is also good, which means a green list for Soards Creek.

As the end of the year is  now on us we are back to some good old snow fall at Monashee Lodge.

50cm of new snow in 24hours!
Great way to start the 2011 winter.......Powder!

Rog