scot'teryx

Mike: Date of the climb was Decemebr 17/18 (Mon/Tues)- sorry about leaving that out. Bronco: The lookout is not open to the public, or else I would have been in there in no time. I think we might have been able to ice climb the side of it up to get to the deck and then break a window to get in. Hmmmmmmm

Rainier and sunset from Summit on Granite Mountain [ 12-19-2001: Message edited by: scot'teryx ]

Left late from the trailhead at around noon and headed up the Pratt Lake Trail to the Granite Mountain junction. Only 2 others in front of us, and a good trail up to the gulch at 3200 feet. We tried to pack light for an overnighter with a Walrus 2 man tent and 2 stoves and other cold weather gear. With the conditions of the mountain that I have heard recently we had all gear that we would ever need (Snowshoes, Crampons, Ice Axe, Picket) Once at the gulch there was only one set of tracks from someone that was about 1000 feet above us, as the hiker behind us did not have snowshoes which made for less than warranted hiking. As the gulley does a shotgun type of scenario, the trail we took crossed the main gulley before it split, then ascended the middle ridgeline (35-45 degree slopes), with the lower portion in some trees. The day was beautiful with blue skies and the sun warming our backs. At 4000 feet we had to take off the snowshoes and put on the crampons. At this time my calves were burning pretty bad since I only have the MSR Denali Classics, and with 45 lbs on my back it was pretty rough (Ryan had the Denali Ascents and had no problem). We decided to go straight for the false summit by shooting for the Pearly Gates of Granite (as they appeared like Mt Hood). It was long and rough, with real icy snow, and that freakishly long runout that the gulch has, and falling with a big pack with crampons is a less than desirable scenario for arresting. We made the false summit and were happy to see the lookout tower just ahead of us. We still had about 1 hour of daylight, so we decided to brave the elements and set up camp right next to the lookout tower on the east side. I spent some time creating a wall barrier of snow inside the framework of one side of the lookout tower to block the wind, so it might be up there for awhile, so if you see it up there, email me so I know it's still standing! There was virtually no wind and a beautiful sunset (images are available on summitpost.com under Granite Mountain). We were in our sleeping bags by 615pm, and ready for a good nights sleep. That never happened - we got bombarded by the storm, 40+mph winds blasted the tent all night, and snow kept burying a small portion of my side of the tent making it a 1.5 man tent. After much contemplation we finally got up around 930am (15 hours later!) to find whiteout conditions and winds that could knock us over. We hated the thought of having to break camp, especially after I left the vestibule open after a midnight bathroom break. So lots of gear was buried inside of the vestibule. "Time for breakfast? I think not, let's get off this darn mountain!" We got our packs ready and finally took down the tent and then the conditions worsened, we could not see down the route, no landmarks or anything. We knew that if we went straight down we would eventually hit I-90, and that the gulch traversed at 3200 feet, but how to get there? We decended with crampons and ice axe very slowly for the first 1000 feet as winds blew spindrift across the 35-45 degree slope. Were we in the gulch? We could not tell, but it was the last place we wanted to be with all the fresh snow that hit last night, making avalanche danger a little higher. We finally hit treeline and were ecstatic, now all we had to do was get down to the trail. We wound up crossing creeks and other terrain that I never remember seeing, and wound up on the Pratt Lake Trail at 3400 feet. This was exciting, we had made it, and safely. Once on the trail we sprinted with snowshoes on as far as we couls through snow and mud until we had to carry them as to not waste time. Plenty of snow at the parking lot, and we zoomed out of there to get some coffee in Northbend. A true Epic climb! (At least for this novice)

A couple of Quarks will do me just fine!

They only keep the gate open, but never plow. Up to the last mile was easy going in a 4-wheel drive w/o chains, but from there on it could get nasty as far as ground clearance on the vehicle. Maybe with some nice weather it could provide easy access.

Just got off the phone with the ranger at Verlot and asked when they planned to close the road at Heather Lake up to the Mt Pilchuck Lookout. He informed that they are never going to close it! After helping someone get unstuck on the road last night (which halted our plans for our ascent and overnight trip to the lookout) I thought they would for sure close it as the road is real bad, meaning you need chains and a high clearnace vehicle. I sure hope folks are using our tracks from Saturday to track down the direct route. Anyone want to go up to the lookout and smoke me out? [ 12-11-2001: Message edited by: scot'teryx ]

A small yet loud avalanche that came down Saturday morning near the base of the Big 4

Upside down style! Rippin it up on "The Small 4 Wall"

Recently laid off, and time to do whatever I want - yet I sit here on the computer doing some other work while I gaze out my home/office window at the North Cascades and see how nice it is, and no one to hike with. Life is boring today - guess it's time to hit the Mountain Loop again tomorrow...anyone heading up that way? Thinking about Dickerman or the Big 4 again. Guess I will have to bring along the mountain bikes though. A short trudge on flat ground from the Deer Creek closure to the trailheads can be long on the way out. L8R losers "To the Top" plays at the Big 4 Ice Caves on Saturday

[ 12-10-2001: Message edited by: scot'teryx ]

So I post alot of reports on the wta.org website for others to use for beta, they are simple hikes - but nonetheless it is information for others to use. This is what I posted under "fresh reports" "Mount Si - The Alpine Lakes - Nov 22Started kind of early at 730am with a large group for an "appetite builder" hike for T-Day. It has been along time since I took the regular trail since I enjoy the old trail by Little Si much more. It was wet, kinda wet, and really wet the whole time. New blow down within the first mile. Reached the summit at 9am to have a sandwich and head back down. Found a couple of way routes that made the descent much quicker - lots of tree and root belays, but lost a ton of elevation quickly. No visibility, but a good workout. " Now get this! I get this email tonight from an anonymous person:"I am writing with regards to the trip report thatyou posted on November 22, 2001 on the WTA web site. You stated that you found a couple of "way routes"with lots of tree and root belays which made thedecent much quicker. It seems to me that thesatisfaction of completing a hike does not come from taking shortcuts, but from doing the whole thing; inyour case 8 miles round trip. By taking theseshortcuts you are reeking serious havoc on theenvironment. Mt Si is the most popular sub alpinesummit in our state with 40,000 plus users each year. What do you think would happen if 40,000 people cutthe trail each year? Do you think your tree and roothand holds would still exist? Do you think there maybe some trail erosion? We have laws set up to avoidthese circumstances. Mt Si is owned by the DNR andremains in the Mt Si Natural Resources ConservationArea. You can be ticketed and fined for using whatyou call "way routes". It is actually against the lawto be anywhere off a designated trail. Theserestrictions are justified in that the trails werebuilt so they handle high volumes of people, wheresteep hillsides do not. I really hope that you didnot take your whole troop through your "way route", asa "large group" could leave long lasting visibledamage in which other ignorant people might use as a shortcut like you did. If the DNR feels that thesurrounding habitat is becoming damaged they canpermanently close down the trails, and implement lawsto make the area off limits. This is something that Ireally do not want. I'm sure you don't either. Please stay on the trails." I really want to know your thoughts on this subject. I cut a couple of switchbacks on SNOW, and some dirt, but this guy is freakin out! So does he have a lot of nerve? OR do I change my ways and become a born again "Leave no Trace" hiker. ThanksScott

Oh Yeah, Happy Belated Turkey Day!Scot'teryx sucks!Yahoooooo!The bathtubs rule! (ever been there?) [ 11-24-2001: Message edited by: scot'teryx ]

cmon page 17!SM - right on man - right back at ya! So what about the Vroom Vroom girlz? so where'd you go today?Did anyone go hiking out in the freshiez on the Mtn Loop? I got trashed on an epic, hard work in this wet snow.So does everyone think I gotta chip?Only chip I got is Tim's Cascade Chips.The day I take this site personal is the day I make it to the summit of Mt Si in my plastics.

snow-muncher sucks!Yeah buddy, you are such a fuckin wuss!Smoke it man, smoke it till you can't breathe no more, wind up in the hospital where my wife works and she will turn that machine off that helps you breathe and then you will DIE!!!HAHAHAHHEHEHEHEHEHEI will remember to ask her to shove a hot cherry down your throat on your last breath!I don't give a shit if you smoke it or not, but it's my given right to protest it.So to all of you who protest me.....well then......I protest you and stuff. You fuckers who think it's lame that I did not ask you to take it outside. Get a life! One of me asking 6 losers to do something else other than sit on their asses and inhale crap."Sure, no problem Scott, I'll just take my friends and stuff and go out in the wind and cold so that you can enjoy your experience." That would have worked just great. I see the post now "Some dumbshit had the nerve to ask me to smoke my pot outside of the hut"Whatever you think up in your fucked up head. BTW - where is everyone going this weekend?I am in search of the Poor Man's Enchantments up on The Mtn Loop!L8R Losers!

I must confess to creating a topic on the boards that has occupied too much time for all you losers that need to go get a job, and stop hiding behind your computers! Wait a minute, I just got laid off today! Damn dot com biz, I guess I can climb all the time now on the govt's (and mine and yours) money! See ya at Cascade Crags! (I live to damn close to the Northern Border, and Vertical World has way too many jocks and speed ascenders for this newbie.) I SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [ 11-16-2001: Message edited by: scot'teryx ]

This thread rules the Earth. What about Gravity hits? If you bring extra water you can use some snow too cool it down and get some massive "hits from the bong" Come on now, sing it with me, "Hits from the bong"

DVD Action/Adventure"Take it to the Limit"Circa 2000New Concorde Home Video 2 http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1185560&cart=112918499&style=movie Has anyoe punished themselves by actually watching the whole thing? This by far was the worst movie I have ever seen, they even put on harnesses with chalk bags and scrambled up a class 3 route, never using a rope! Why put on the harness? The wall they practiced on had holes to put your hands in! Arrghh!It sucked! [ 11-14-2001: Message edited by: scot'teryx ]

Okay, new topic time, k? I think it has been a valuable lesson learned to myself and hopefully others. Oh yeah, since this is just all bullshit and fun, you all suck!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA PS - I do suck at skiing. Any tips from you guys for someone that doesn't want to buy more freaking gear but wants to ski some easy backcountry hills? I have never telemarked and don't want to (of course I dodn'tlan on trying rock climbing as well). I actually tried to see if my Koflachs would fit in my rock ski bindings and they did, but is there enough support in plastics? Any thoughts? Once again, start a new post, this one is way old.

Well, I surely did not want to reply to this thread because so many of you do not understand the meaning of "Personal Opinion". We do live in a society where free speech is a right, and the folks here at cascadeclimbers.com allow us to speak how we feel to many folks in the climbing community, and that is all there is to it. I am not about to say that AlpineK is an ass or anything like that, as matter of fact I bet we could or would be friends, but taking this stuff personally is not what I was attempting to do. AlpineK said, "I'm sorry your such an uptight fuck. I bet your a lame ass skier too". I could come back with vicious and childish remarks, but I lived in Tahoe for 3 years and skied every run at every resort on the Northside of the Lake, so there! (don't have much else to say on that subject, all the artillery I had)Everyone that is so defensive about the fact that they or that they know people that constantly perform better when stoned, that's great and all and I can honestly say I have had more than my share of the herb. Way too much.Bonzo and LameBone, you are way too insecure about your shit. Keep smoking whatever you want, and do whatever else you want, but dont say you would kick someone in the balls if they complained about pot smoke. That's just stupid and childish.I am not even close to as experienced as many of you are, I have only hiked and climbed 3 cascade volcanoes, and still haven't made it up Rainier even after 2 attempts this year. I have only begun to experience gym climbing (1 month) and have never actually done it on outdoor rock. I'm a newbie, that's all there is to it.As far as virgin lungs, and not asking to have some for myself, I can't. I am proud member of a climbing Group called OSAT (One Step at a Time) for the last year. Climbing and hiking is my new addiction and I love it more than any high that I used to get from Alcohol or Drugs. Many of you may say, "What a pussy". Maybe I am, but when I stepped into that Hut, I asked myself why would I want to be in this situation, so I walked out. I don't even know why I began this thread, maybe it was for pity, maybe it was for something else that I was unsure of. But they were only opinions, and that was all. I guess don't have much in common with the majority of the members on this board.If any of you folks that really had strong opinions on what I said want to personally contact me, please do so. Here is my cell phone number 425-346-9302. I do not wish to hide from anyone or anything, I do not do that anymore.Let's start a new thread, like my favorite, "What did you do this weekend?"Keep climbing mountains and don't slip.Scott Harder (I buy my Arcteryx online where I get it for 50 cents on the dollar) [ 11-13-2001: Message edited by: scot'teryx ]

quote: Originally posted by AlpineK: I walk into bars all the time where people are smoking cigarettes even though I don't smoke tobacco. It's expected at bars to run into people who smoke cigarettes, but it's not the norm to find that the only shelter on the side of a volcanoe is occupied by a bunch of people smoking pot.Here is a question: If I would have walked in and said, "Hey guys, would you mind putting that out?", would you have obliged? Just curious [ 11-12-2001: Message edited by: scot'teryx ] [ 11-12-2001: Message edited by: scot'teryx ]

Just wanted to say "you suck" to the guys smoking in the climbers hut on Saturday. I (this is my opinion, and mine only) think it was very inconsiderate to ruin everyone else's experience on such a day to fill the hut with pot smoke. I really enjoyed sitting outside in the cold while you got your groove on. Real smart folks. I bet it's great to be buzzed up at 10,000 feet. Watch out for the Paradise & Nisqually Glacier on your way down. I know I will probably get slammed on this topic since I am sure a large amount of users on this board are potheads, etc, (only an assumption since there are many threads of the sort) but I have never been so pissed of at 10,000 feet. Plus I know this post will get picked apart since you must defend your right to enjoy "da kine".

Friday we did Mailbox, Saturday I went up to Gothic Basin/Del Campo, and Sunday I tagged the summit of Vesper in less than desirable conditions (from the Sunshine Mine trail/Headlee Pass), and Tuesday I climbed at Cascade Crags as they installed new flooring underneath us, but hey - it was free climbing!

I like my plastics on Mt Si, so I must be the guy you see there JERRY. The best place to wear plastics is at Wallace Falls, since that is such a mixed route (dirt, mud, leaves and pebbles) It is great place to go, and the perfect place to train for any 8000 meter peak in my opinion. I LIKE TO SCREAM SO THAT EVERYONE CAN HEAR ME.

For the most simple hikes with a great reward, I think Mt Dickerman has alot to offer, as well as Mt Forgotten. But it is true, the harder you work, the better the reward. Sahale was a pretty nice reward with all the surrounding peaks.

Attempted the summit this Monday night/Tuesday morning. Left at 1130pm from Shurman and got to 12,400 with our 2 other rope teams and all turned back to high winds and spindrift. All other teams that we saw turned back as well except for a 2 person rope team that I think I saw head down from the summit. Not quite sure though, and tried to call the WR station today to see if anyone else summited. It was a freakin beautiful day to! Numerous times I was warned of a crevasee and hunkered down as the winds and spindrift covered our teams, then I would get up to see nothing but fresh snow. Pretty freaky for a newbie on the Emmons/Winthrop side. My wife does not weigh too much and she was called "The Human Kite". The interglacier is getting more and more broken up it seems, as the main snowbridge after the first ridge seems to be less stable than when I went to Steamboat Prow a few weeks before. The right side of the snow bridge is less than 6 inches in depth with the left side a little better, but a few smaller crevasses after it (going up) make it a squabble on the rope. Camp Shurman was cool, and the Ranger hung out with us and let us use his telescope and told stories (His name was Don?, and his girlfriend is a BABE)Emmons Flats was abandoned though! After we were told it was full, what a shitty reservation system. Anyway, the corridor and the rest of that long freakin traverse were in good condition it seemed, but we never made it far enough to see anymore above 12,4K. Noticed a guy around emmons flats on a 2 person rope team that had poles only, and the girl on the end had the rope tied around her neck (3 times!) Freakin weirdos! So I guess we are heading up the DC route now in the middle of August to take advantage of the easy way up, and leave Emmons for next year. Thanks for listening Scott H