Mike Wynn Circuit & variation

Decided to brave the cold and go take a look at the Mike Wynn circuit after the Jasper Public Safety troopers broke trail last weekend. -41 driving across Beauty Flats, -31 at the car at 08:15. Opted to access the high point of the route from the col SW of regular route and to try to traverse SW-NW at 2700m-2750m to access another col & drop back down into Nigel Creek. The sight from the one side of that col wasn't what we had hoped for and taking into consideration the time of day & the temperature, we decided to backtrack to the regular route. After skiing down the Cataract summer trail, back down Nigel pass and taking a look at the alternative descent from the Nigel Creek side, we think the route goes (but only in very confident LOW Avi conditions). As mentionned in the earlier Parks Canada report, the crux descent gully is a 30m rappel of WI2 ice this year so bring the necessary gear. All in all, a great diverse alpine tour in a remote setting with spectacular scenary but very little (none) skiing. Avi conditions looked really solid everywhere with the cold T. Cold on toes though!