Sunday the Crazy Pole aka Rafal Kaz. and I climbed Ghoster Coaster. Cool route with perfect ice quality, but only one real pitch of climbing. The first ascentionists described it as a WI 3+ III 135m, but this is a real stretch. The route is close to Canmore and easy to approach with a very cool setting, a great little easy/moderate route. Sort of like a mini, mini Beowulf.
Based on the first ascent description, two full pitches of WI3 start the route.
http://www.gravsports.com/Ice%20Pages%20Folder/Route%20Descriptions/Ghoster_Coaster.htm
We soloed most of the first “pitch”, there were both wet and dry lines, both with great ice quality. The real pitch of climbing has a beautiful solid grade 3 for about 35 metres. This must be the described 3+ pitch, the setting was awesome and the ice perfect. Once above this sweet section, the rest of the climb is basically a walk up. We did the final little step on thin ice into a thick patch of willows to finish the route and gain a view up the drainage.
We were hoping for another step or smear higher up, but no such luck. Lots of terrain above this route with several gullies systems, but there was not enough snow to be of concern.
The sweet pitch was so much fun, we did a few laps on it. It was grand to enjoy some warmer weather, great day.
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