Bronco

From FB: Rockfall Ragged Edge, Vesper Peak. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Spooky season is upon us! For anyone looking to climb Ragged Edge, take note that there was significant rockfall last weekend between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning that altered the route significantly. @alpine_captain shared this summary of the changes: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ A large amount of rock fell from the “edge” of the main slab, right where it becomes more of a roof (which the 5th pitch traverses above). The last 10-15 feet of the 4th pitch are now more difficult and the protection opportunities are limited. These moves are hard to protect for the second as they make the final moves to the belay and a fall for a follower here would likely involve swinging out into space. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The belay at the top of the 4th pitch is now hanging, and the bolts are only ~4ft above the edge of the new section of roof. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ The beginning of the 5th pitch now sports a wide step-across move to small footholds, although the hands on either end of the span are good. This move is rather height/flexibility dependent. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ With more rain and drastic temperature swings expected this fall, keep those heads on a swivel! Rockfall events like this are hard to predict, but they often occur during or immediately after big weather events. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #climbing #rockfall #pnw #vesper #update #cascademountainascents

Nice work you two and great tribute to Dallas!

So we all have to go back up for the SW Rim now? 😃

Awesome, thanks for posting!

I feel ya, oof. 🙃

Bunch more roads and trails closed off of HWY 20 including Cascade River Rd: News Release: Cascade River Road Closure Park officials have closed Cascade River Road, Cascade Pass Trail, and Johannesburg Cross-country Zone to manage visitor safety due to the nearby Pincer Two Fire on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Cascade River Road is closed at MP 8 (Marble Creek) and there is no access to North Cascades National Park beyond the closure. There are multiple fires in and near North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Park closure information can be found on the park’s Fire Closures page. For more information and the full news release visit https://ow.ly/QzVm50SIg6H.

HWY 20 re-opened last night. Could close without notice so plan accordingly.

The N. Cascades are a special place this time of year for the bugs. Thanks for sharing the conditions!

Trip: Black Peak - SE Ridge Trip Date: 07/06/2024 Trip Report: Ended up with a free day Saturday and haven't been up Black Peak. Left the trailhead a little after 6:00 am after driving up from Mazama. No snow until the descending traverse from Maple Pass to Lewis Lake. Saw a pica. Looking at Corteo from Lewis Lake. Wing Lake still frozen but melting out. Lot's of running water on the approach which was great, I think I went through around 6 liters in the heat. Got off route a bit below the summit block and climbed some low 5th on ok rock. Great view of Goode, still pretty snowy looking. Probably 8 folks on the summit around 11:00 am, all were stoked to be out with great visibility. Quick glissade down to Wing lake. Took a detour on the trails around Lewis Lake that cost me some time and elevation. Back at the trailhead by 3:00. Great day to be out in the mountains! Gear Notes: Took an ice axe and crampons but didn't need them as the snow was pretty soft in the heat. Sun hoody was nice. Approach Notes: My GPS tracked 13.5 miles and 5,703' elevation gain.

I thought it was pretty fascinating. If anything, it paints a "less than flattering portrait" of the military's policies, not Fred.

This is the kind of stuff that makes me wonder what I'm doing sometimes. Awesome on one hand but 3am cougar encounter defended with a snowball to climb a frozen mountain sounds kind of nuts to most folks. Well done!

Alternative C was approved. It will be interesting to see this play out over the next decade. Joint Record of Decision With a Record of Decision signed in April 2024, the National Park Service and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service have decided to actively restore grizzly bears to the North Cascades of Washington, where the animals once roamed. The agencies will restore grizzly bears to the North Cascades ecosystem through the translocation of grizzly bears from other ecosystems in the Rocky Mountains or interior British Columbia. The decision is the culmination of an Environmental Impact Statement process that began in 2022. Under the decision, grizzly bears in the North Cascades will be designated as a nonessential experimental population under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act. The designation will provide authorities and land managers with additional tools for management that would not otherwise be available under existing Endangered Species Act regulations. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will publish a final 10(j) rule in the Federal Register. GrizzlyBearRestoration_ROD_Final_Signed_ForPosting.pdf

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21 year thread bump to post a 7 year old complaint. Bravo!

Crazy story and even crazier that it's deleted the day after it was posted.