Approach and avalanche hazard conditions for "The Odyssey"

Parks Canada Visitor Safety

Climbed the Odyssey on Feb 27. The first km of the approach on Lake Minnewanka was snow-covered, with a mix of snow drifts and bare ice for the rest of the travel. Fat biking is still reasonable, but skating would be a stretch. Lake ice was 35+ cm thick throughout the approach. Route was in good condition. One step leading to the last pitch requires some care to pass a chockstone and used a slightly suspect old log anchor on the way down. Minimal snow and no current avalanche hazard above the first several pitches. Snow in the gully leading to the final pitch is near threshold depth for avalanches but has formed a hard slab that required crampons. It did not present an avalanche hazard under the current conditions.