Fryatt Hut

<p>We spent three days (Feb. 19-21) touring in the Fryatt valley, using the ACC's Spencer Vallance Hut as a base. The Athabasca River was melting but we were able to find a path to cross, avoiding the extra kilometres along the summer route. It snowed ~20cm of fresh powder in the immediate leadup and beginning of the long weekend, which was bonding well to the previously wind-affected, rocky surfaces. Conditions were wet on the ascent Saturday but cooled down by the time we reached ~1,900m, and temperatures dropped Sunday/Monday, making for fantastic powder. We heard one avalanche trigger on the skin in and saw the aftermath of several recent slides (x3-4, wet sluff, size 1 to 2), mostly in the small gulleys/scree slopes bordering the valley. We mostly skied the ridge/gulley immediately east of the hut and steered clear of heading further into the valley toward the col between Kleodora and Karpathos/Olympus. HS was quite variable depending on the aspect. Overall a fantastic trip.</p>

Terrain Ridden

Alpine slopes, Dense trees, Mellow slopes, Open trees.

Terrain Avoided

Convex slopes, Steep slopes.

Snow Conditions

Powder.

Weather Conditions

Cold.