The traverse begins up the Asulkan Valley as if heading towards the Asulkan Hut except that rather than trending left after the "mousetrap" area it heads up climbers right towards the Dome. After crossing an expansive glacier you work your way to Sapphire Col where there is a small climbers hut. From here you drop down a short but steep slope to the Lily Glacier and an exit via Loop Brook and Bonney Trees.
Confident of good weather we woke up bright and early on Sunday and opened the curtains to reveal...
Heavy snowfall. Doh.
About 5cm had fallen and it was still coming down heavily.
We shuttled a car to the Loop Brook parking area. By now the snow had eased off a little so we figured we'd give it a go. At worst we could make it to the col and return the same way we came rather than dropping over onto the Lily Glacier.
Our perseverance payed off since it turned into a beautiful day. In fact of all the times we've slogged up the Asulkan Valley during the winter I think this was the first time that we'd been able to actually see anything!
The Asulkan Hut is located just above and to the right of the highest patch of trees in this photo.
We experienced the full gamut of weather conditions on the way up. One moment it was partly cloudy. The next it became overcast and difficult to see anything only to be followed by a break that would leave us absolutely cooking in the hot spring sun. Minutes later we were scrambling for jackets and gloves as a cold snow squall blew through freezing us to the core.
The pyramid-like peak in this photo is Mount Castor. Sapphire Col is at the end of the right skyline.
After 6 hours of steady climbing we arrived at the col. We ain't fast but we do get there eventually. After clearing a snow drift away from the front of the hut we ducked inside to get out of the wind and have a bite to eat. The log book was pretty beat up and I couldn't find the entries from my two previous visits here (remind me to tell the story of how Brenda almost burned the hut one time!). There's something special about finding your own handwriting from years ago in a log book, but I find there's also something a bit unnerving about it as well -- tends to make on very aware of the passage of time. Perhaps just as well that I couldn't find them.
The decent onto the Lily was a bit dubious with the new snow tending to slough off in the midday sun but we all got down safely and marveled at the spectacular view. It's great to ski in places where you've never been before and to see some of the old familiar sights from a unique perspective.
The run down the Lily and into Loop Brook was really good -- long, gentle, and wide open for hundreds and hundreds of meters. We were surprised to find such good snow so late in the day and so late in the season.
A sure sign that the ski season is drawing to a close. Booo.
Here's the GPS track in Google Earth and a couple of short videos:
Fred
Me
All in all a great trip. One we'd been thinking about since last year. A quick Backhand of God at The Burner on the way home capped a fine day out. Thanks to Steve for all of the camera work.
good decision, me thinks
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