In April of 2021, 4 of us were lucky to sneak into the mountains during an incredible high pressure window to ski and climb minor and major peaks in the Manatee range. For those that don't know the area it is a cluster of glaciated peaks just NE of the Meager Group near Pemberton. We enjoyed perfect, albeit hot weather with perfect blue skies and cold, preserved powder on N nd NE aspects.
In every way the trip was a success but for me it has a lot to do with the people involved. I have been very fortunate to enjoy many days in the mountains per year with the likes of Matt, John and Ziff and I always enjoy my time with them. I appreciate the way we move as a group, talk through decisions and make good calls while still 'going for it' and having a truly stellar time in the process. Thanks guys!
Some photos below might articulate the trip better then my ramblings here!
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| Camp meal, thanksgiving dinner! |
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| Dugong Peak, maybe the 'classic' ski peak of the area. The ski line goes around left and gains the summit via an asthetic ridge. Steeper lines in the facing ridge also entice. |
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| Asthetic ridge.. |
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| Ziff getting some great S facing turns, after this day, S aspects were done. |
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| Summit slopes of Dugong with tracks. |
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| Women want him, men want to be him - John Chapman. |
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| The sickle |
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| Ramora is the the peak to the left, the obvious steep line was attempted but a very weak looking cornice threathened the entire line so we backed off. |
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| Ziff, the dark horse of the coast range. Ziff has done a lot on the coast and is very humble about it all. |
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| Looking towards the eastern part of the range, some very good mellower skiing here. |
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| The area had heavy glaciation in parts. |
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| Accessing a steep ski line. |
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| Some great big glacier rolls to ski in the eastern section. |
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| Skin back to camp. |
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| Surveying the best skiing in the range. |
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| This very windy day we ascended Ramora to ski a very classic couloir (45 degrees 250m) |
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| Powder eights with Chappy! |
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| Perfect steep pow back to camp. |
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| The sickle, this is a huge feature. Maybe more committing then the N Face of Fitzsimmons. It is perfectly situated as a 'exit' run from the Ramora/Dugong bench and so we ended up skiing it 3 or 4 times - it was fantastic! |
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| Matt Gunn |
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| I like this photo of Ziff being pensive on an exposed ridge. |
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| Accessing a line. |
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| It was very hot some days, we had an extended break for lunch on this amazing mini peak in a large glacier. |
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| We ascended a very steek N aspect on Oluk on the 2nd last day to discover perfect steep powder despite the very hot temps in the range. This was maybe the best snow we encountered. |
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| Ziffy and Matty. |
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| Chappy making first turns. |
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| Ziff, partway down the Sickle. |
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| Routfinding down the Sickle. |
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| Summit scramble on Dugong |
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| Matt and Chappy hamming it up for the camera |
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| Sickle, just so great! |
