Banff Visitor Safety climbed the Becky Chouinard, on August 13.

With an early departure from Applebee snow conditions were good with a solid refreeze overnight. The SB col is still holding in well, we observed one small footprint size hole in the bergschrund on the way up. The snow has melted out for the last 10m to the top of the Col exposing some larger rocks embedded in loose dirt.

Descending the Pigeon Howser Col we encountered bare ice on the lower section of the glacier as we approached east creek. The climbing route is in great shape, and seeing lots of traffic daily.

On the decent off the South Howser tower, the transition from the last rappel to the glacier is complicated and uninviting, with car size snow pillars overhead we were motivated to move quickly through this section.

Descending the SB Col, the last rappel (3rd) is now 9 feet off the ground making it very difficult the use. By mid-afternoon the Col is a busy place with people descending in every fashion imaginable. Even with its current condition, we did observe human triggered rock fall and falling humans…

With the great weather this past weekend Applebee was a bustling, 24 hour community.

Alex Lawson / Aaron Beardmore
Visitor Safety
Banff, Kootenay, Yoho