The Red Lobster Journal for 1984

The Saskatchewan Glacier and Mt. Spickard (almost)



The Saskatchewan Glacier - Columbia Icefields - The Canadian Rockies

 

 It was our second trip to the Columbia Icefields. Chris Cooper, Chris Haynes, Chuck McCafferty, Ken Willis, and I set out for some more clear skies and cold temperatures. Well, it didn't turn out that way.
We built a large Quinzy at the end of the first day about half way up the Saskatchewan. It was only just below freezing, and the sky was very grey. We met a couple from back east who slept in a very small and ever collapsing Quinzy beside us, and lent them some glue to repair a binding. We didn't get far, but we had a good time.




Mt. Spickard
It was our first time into the Spickard area, but not our first time up Depot Creek. The previous summer we had made an attempt on Spickard, but Bob Cuthbert had been bitten by a yellow jacket and almost didn't make it. (See story) This time Chris Haynes, Chuck McCafferty, and I set out.

Entering the hanging valley below the impressive north face of Redoubt made me feel that I was in a remote spot. The trail peters out and you are made to feel that few people venture into this boggy valley. We camped at the end of the valley by a small, ice berg filled lake. It was foggy, and there was not sign of anyone being there before. For those who had, thanks for cleaning up!
The next day we hiked up to the north side of Spickard and we gained the upper east ridge, just below the summit. The snow was quite rotten, and considering everything, Chuck thought it wiser to not push it.
It is a remote feeling area, and attractive enough that Chuck visited again for a bouldering contest. But that's another story.