Apologies to everybody searching for my SOTA activation today.
My partner & I returned safe with only bruised egos from being staunchly rejected from Sulphur mountain Peak.
This was my 2nd attempt on Sulphur Mountain this year. Last time I brought ice axe & crampons to the party but needed snow shoes. This time I carried the snow shoes up the first 2hr, 700m ascent and 5.5km, then followed a 1.75hr chest deep snow flailing to make only 500m of progress despite the hi-loft snow shoes (amusing pictures to follow).
The storm system over the past two weeks had dumped over 150cm of snow that we had hoped to have consolidated on existing snow pack. We were wrong. A wind-loaded crust, insufficient to support my weight on with a 2m heavily faceted base, perhaps the best analogy is trying to dig your way out of a grain silo is appropriate, each step being back-filled.
Enough excuses, I maybe just crazy enough to try again before spring thaw in May.
If I was superstitious I might try and have this peak ID changed.
Actually you did rather well! The furthest progress I ever made through chest deep powder snow was about 100 metres, and I was knackered when I turned back!
Better luck next time, and with your level of commitment there WILL be a next time!
In reply to VA6MCB:
Hi Walker…I was wondering if you would be “stormed out” as we got hit with a blizzard here in Edmonton all day yesterday…100 car pileup on QEII hiway with 100 injured, and hiway eventually closed! On a positive note we got off work early…WooooHoooo SNOW DAY! Thought you might have escaped old man winters wrath as it was worse in the northern part of the province. A valient attempt!!! Glad you and your buddy are safe! Can’t wait for the spring melt to start again!
for SOTA.