Tasting Fear

Image shows an ice climber ascending Tasting Fear

Tasting Fear

20m WI 4-5

ATES 2 (Challenging)

Tasting Fear is a climb in the Mt Kidd Climbing area. It is a single pitch venue with a few line choices. Although it is not directly under a large avalanche path, to access it you must cross avalanche terrain. In the past, very large avalanches have reached the climbs, leaving large debris deposits and broken trees.

Popularity

  • 24 people completed the survey
  • 83% climbed it 1-5 times
  • 8% climbed it 6-10 times
  • 8% climbed it over 10 times

Time of year and day for all Mt Kidd climbs

  • The most common time for ascents and witnessing avalanche debris was February- April. December to January was the second most common time and October to November was least common
  • 64% of avalanches witnessed occurred between 6:00am-12:00pm
  • 43% of avalanches witnessed occurred between 12:00pm-18:00pm
  • 7% of avalanches witnessed occurred between 1:00- 6:00am.

Avalanche start zones for all Mt Kidd climbs

  • 83% believe the observed avalanche started well above the climb
  • 11% believe the observed avalanche started right above the climb
  • 5% were unsure where the observed avalanche started

Runout debris

  • 24% of responses reported seeing debris at the base of the climb
  • 76% of responses reported never seeing debris

Notes on avalanche debris

  • Debris was reported near the climb in late winter after a major avalanche cycle.
  • Debris was also reported on climbers’ left of the climb, where you might walk to set up a top rope. This debris spread down to the creek.
  • The two gullies on the approach to the climb have been observed to contain avalanche debris.
  • In March 2021, very large avalanches ran to the valley bottom and piled debris on the opposite side of the valley, up to 8 m deep. They ran down both of the main avalanche paths on the approach to Tasting Fear.
    The biggest debris pile was about 10 m to the left of the climb and completely buried both the trail up and the top rope set up.

Reported avalanches and incidents

  • An avalanche was witnessed on the gully immediately above the climb, although the debris did not reach the climb. It was a warm, windy day and the gully was wind loaded.

Contributing factors for all Mt Kidd climbs

  • 88% were attributed to new snow amounts
  • 40% were attributed to warming and solar radiation
  • 24% were attributed to wind
  • 10% were attributed to a cornice or human/animal trigger
  • 7% were attributed to a known reactive layer