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Feathertop Snow Cornices

PostPosted: Mon 11 Aug, 2014 9:12 pm
by walkon
A few snaps of Snow ice cornices at Mt Feathertop a few weeks back. Was a bit concerning when you saw decent size cracks in between the cornice and yesterdays foot prints :shock:

Re: Feathertop Snow Cornices

PostPosted: Mon 11 Aug, 2014 9:16 pm
by walkon
last one, till I can find the good cameras sd card.

Re: Feathertop Snow Cornices

PostPosted: Mon 11 Aug, 2014 9:20 pm
by icefest
Thanks for uploading! I'm still hoping to get a clear winter day, eventually.

Re: Feathertop Snow Cornices

PostPosted: Mon 11 Aug, 2014 9:22 pm
by Tortoise
Awesome! +1 Thanks for posting, walkon.

Re: Feathertop Snow Cornices

PostPosted: Mon 11 Aug, 2014 9:33 pm
by walkon
First day on that weekend was clear, though windy and cold. The slopes froze up in between going up and coming down, crampons and ice axe were really good and reassuring. The next was gin clear and no wind so we sat down and soaked it all in. You could see Kozi and as far to Buller accross Mt Reynard. Just going through these has put a smile on my face a mile wide even though I cant find the good cameras sd card.

Re: Feathertop Snow Cornices

PostPosted: Mon 11 Aug, 2014 10:18 pm
by andrewa
Wow....

Reminds of an MUMC Mountaineering trip I did in the 80's. We dug a snow cave in under the cornice of FT. Digging became easy because there was a huge cleft in the snow 8-10' under the cornice. The entrance to the snow cave was so steep that we had to use an ice axe to allow ourselves to get out, without sliding down one of the east faces of FT. ...

Fun times. We survived, but in hindsight, probably only by good luck.

A

Re: Feathertop Snow Cornices

PostPosted: Tue 12 Aug, 2014 7:57 am
by walkon
Weekend before last, two skiers skied off the edge of the cornice down Avalanche gully. I wonder if they still have the kahoonas to do that in a few years

Re: Feathertop Snow Cornices

PostPosted: Tue 12 Aug, 2014 10:53 am
by GBW
Great photos walkon.

Re: Feathertop Snow Cornices

PostPosted: Tue 12 Aug, 2014 12:17 pm
by jdeks
walkon wrote:Weekend before last, two skiers skied off the edge of the cornice down Avalanche gully. I wonder if they still have the kahoonas to do that in a few years



I was up there on Saturday. Those ski tracks off the cornice are still there....

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Re: Feathertop Snow Cornices

PostPosted: Tue 12 Aug, 2014 12:34 pm
by walkon
Good pics, its amazing how much snow has melted from when I was there. Were the slopes icy at all when you were going up feathertop

Re: Feathertop Snow Cornices

PostPosted: Tue 12 Aug, 2014 4:39 pm
by jdeks
walkon wrote:Good pics, its amazing how much snow has melted from when I was there. Were the slopes icy at all when you were going up feathertop



Yes, very icy. There's been a few warm days followed by cold ones. Still a lot of snow cover but a lot of had packed icy stuff too. I was in Tubbs shoes and actually unclipped the main plate to use them as psuedo as toe-crampons. Fine for going up, but coming down was quite scary and had to cut steps for a few meters. Partner with crampons was having no troubles. Definitely would not go up without an ice axe at least.