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Trip: Hadley Peak - Standard NW Ridge Trip Date: 09/30/2023 Trip Report: I had been meaning to scramble Hadley Peak for some time but had never got around to it. Fall seemed ideal and so when @sparverius showed up in town with a day to kill a few weeks ago, we quickly decided on it. I had never been up to Cougar Divide and was surprised by how nice the views were from the road on the way in, and how fast you can get up in the alpine. Very civilized! We had gotten a decently early start this day and so we were alone pretty much after leaving the parking lot, mostly only seeing parties only on our descent. It was a good reminder that when you are out in front kicking steps in fresh snow, even a relatively minor scramble can feel like an adventure. Unfortunately, on the way down, we saw evidence that fat bikers are coming up to Chowder Ridge from Cougar Divide and then going out Skyline Divide, maybe more so now that Skyline Divide Road is closed? Please leave the bikes and your bluetooth speakers at home, drones too (though we didn't see any this day)! OK, I'll stop ranting. Regardless, I was reminded what a fantastic backyard we have here in the North Cascades. So many adventures close to home, and so often so much solitude! Now, for the photos, which always do better than my words..... Kulshan from near the road: Shuksan: @sparverius rambling upwards towards Chowder Ridge: We have Hadley in our sights! Twin Sisters out to the west: This was a pleasant surprise: Colfax, still need to go up there: Looking across a thinly covered Park Glacier: @sparverius coming down very near the summit of Hadley: Alpine Nectar! Lincoln, still need to go up there too: Sound of Music on the exit: Shuksan closing out the day: Gear Notes: ice axe, helmet Approach Notes: Cougar Divide

I will be posting a review shortly of nine different belay jackets at http://coldthistle.blogspot.com/ . This is the intro: "Like much of the content on the Internet this review is written by an amateur. I am not a paid writer nor was I given these nine jackets for free as promotional material with the manufacturers seeking free advertizing. Only two of the jackets were loaned to me for this review, the Mammut and the MEC and like the rest they were returned after a detailed comparison was made and the pictures taken. Many thanks go to Marmot in Bellevue WA and Mountain Equipment Coop in Vancouver BC for supporting my project. The other seven jackets were paid for on my credit card. Most were returned, one I already owned, one I kept and one I am still thinking about. I'll tell you which jackets swayed me and why inside the review. Part Two will discuss a totally new collection of jackets more appropriate imo and more typically used for the Canadian Rockies/ North Cascade climbing enviroment. I personally picked these jackets out of the dozens available. I had a winter alpine climbing project in mind that I was going to spend at least one night on the climb and two full days of technical climbing plus a long decent in the dark again as the best case secenario and if everything goes perfectly. From past experience and nights out up high in the Canadian Rockies I went looking for the best jacket available for my own needs. So before you read further, a caveat. I am very specific on my likes and dislikes in gear. I have been climbing in the Canadian Rockies since the early '70s and this article is the result of my personal search for a new, extremely cold (-20C and below) weather "climbing/belay/bivy jacket" for my own needs. My likes my not be your likes. You may totally disagree with my conclusions and choices. My needs may not be your needs. What will work for me may not work for you. Use the info as you see "fit" ."

This review was like thinking you are about to get a BJ from Angelina, only for her to rip of a mask and realize it Rosie O'Donnell.