Nearing the toe of the glacier which is at about 2060m.
Andromeda, with the Skyladder route on the right ridge
Nearing the headwall. It'll take about 3hrs and 600m to get up top.
Close-up of Skyladder.
There is a route to the right below the cliffs, but we won't take it as there is a risk of serac fall from above as you can see. We'll traverse left...
You realize the benign-looking icefalls from previous photos are ENORMOUS once you get closer.
Traversing...
Good thing we look the safe route as a garage-sized serac breaks off!
It's heading down to the ramp below the cliffs...
Starting to crash down on the ramp.
It's looking a lot bigger as the ice breaks up.
It's looking huge now and heading right towards us... it's futile to try to move - it's only been 10 seconds since the first photo.
Here's what it's like when the ice crystals hit us, a total white out. Time is 9:50:05am
4 seconds later you can begin to see the shape of Kerry.
After 6 seconds you can see Kerry and Wayne.
After 11 seconds we can see some light again.
57 seconds later Wayne is standing in the sun under clear skies, covered in ice crystals.
The other rope team heading up the ramp to the top of the 2nd (middle) icefall.
The 2nd icefall.
Moving through the 3rd (upper) icefall, things open up and begin to get flatter.
Looking back at the terrain we've covered, the nasty icefalls deceptively hidden from view.
We get our first glimpse of Mt. Columbia.
Now we can really see Columbia.
We came across a camp where the food was left out and the birds, having flown a long way to get up here, were having their way with it. Heather is throwing it in the tents for the poor folks.
Once you're up on the icefields, you can get a sense of how giant they really are.
Setting up camp before the trench at about 2700m after about 6 hours of travel from the toe of the glacier.
Camp is pretty much complete.
Heather working on the bathroom wall with Columbia in the background.
Dave and Kerry hanging out in the new kitchen.
Wayne, in his latest headwear fashions.
Drying out me boots.
Hangin' in the kitchen.
Ben's hungry enough to eat a Kashi bar with the wrapper still on.
Just after 4am, getting up and ready for our summit bid!
After a few hours of skiing, we close to the summit block. The East Face on the right is too dicey, so we're opting for the South Ridge on the left. About 400m total gain from camp, including the 200m loss/gain going over the trench in 2.5 hours.
Looking backwards, camp is way back, kilometers away beyond the trench that swallows our trail.
Up on the ridge, the other side is a drop straight down...
Ben leading up the ridge.
Kerry, Heather and Wayne way up high on the ridge.
Ben - unfortunately for everyone who drinks water in North America - had to relieve himself at the summit. 5hrs. to get here from camp.
Heading back down the South Ridge.
We meet our next door camp neighbors just making their way up to the summit.
More South Ridge.
Getting some turns in on the way back towards camp.
The Twins. For another trip.
Heather skiing the... POW!
Hangin' at camp after the summit.
Mt. Columbia as the sun sets on our successful summit day.
Heather basks in the late-day sun.
Everyone is picking up on the lastest fashion headwear, including Dave.
Kerry with his old-school headwear.
Screw the hats and toques, I want the down hood.
Here you can see how long the approach to Columbia is.
Heather and Ben resting partway up the Snow Dome.
Me atop Snow Dome with Columbia in behind.
Atop Mt. Kitchener, with Snow Dome now in the background.
Making our way back down the headwall to the cars...
