Bronco

Such a bummer. I saw Rick for a couple of injuries over the years, he was just a super nice, humble person. We even talked about climbing a couple of times and he never mentioned that he had completed the Seven Summits. RIP

That's what I'm talking about, go Kit!

No, there's still good turns to be cranked!

Go see a good boot fitter for your boots. Evo in Fremont has some good ones. I have Atomic Backland Carbon boots that have been punched and molded to my wide forefoot and high instep. Boot fit is the most critical element of your setup. Do not skip this step. There are a ton of boots out there, I prefer a good range of motion on the cuff in walk mode for hiking, skinning and occasional climbing. I'm a little heavier than you but essentially the same size. My primary BC ski for the last decade are Dynafit Manaslus in a 169cm length with Dynafit Superlite bindings. The bindings can be annoying to some because they don't have a "flat" setting and the heel is always a little elevated when you're skinning. This setup weighs 108 oz per ski. I wouldn't go any lighter personally, these get bossed around in hard conditions. I have a fatter set of touring skis that weigh 166 oz each but are a lot more fun to ski. Lighter skis, boots and bindings are faster on the ascent but can be a liability on the descent. You have to find what works for you.

These are awesome TR's keep them coming!

Wow, this got my attention! Awesome TR, thanks so much for posting it here!

Sounds like a standard winter attempt. Routes that go easily in a day in the summer can be way harder and frustrating in the winter. Good job taking advantage of the stable weather over the weekend and thanks for sharing the photos!

As you are painfully aware, I don't tend to set the pace. It was my much faster partner who was running an ultra marathon a few days later and was super dialed with his climbing kit/fuel/rack.

Me and a partner were attempting the TFT and took the SE Face of Torment. We had let our guard down after pulling over the 'schrund and were still roped-up while scrambling up the SE face feeling like we'd passed the difficult problems. I don't remember if my partner kicked it off or if it was just the rope dislodging it but a bunch of microwave sized blocks started bouncing down above me. There was nowhere to run without pulling my partner off so I found a tiny little depression close by to press into and pull my pack up to protect my neck. Miraculously the rocks missed me and didn't chop the rope anywhere that we could detect it. I think it shook up my partner more than me, I remember him shouting my name like he wasn't expecting me to still be there with him. We did complete the Traverse quickly enough to get BBQ in Marblemount that evening. So I got that going for me.

Great photos as usual and good work finding a route without crowds. Like many folks, I had my closest call on Torment with rockfall. I remember saying to myself, "make yourself small, make yourself small" while cowering behind a tiny outcropping with my pack pulled up to cover the back of my neck. Definitely not dad approved.

Nice work, how was HWY 2 traffic on the way home?

I thought new bolts are prohibited in Washington Wilderness areas. Did something recently change?

I'm curious, which exit did you use?

More fun with a new fire on the backside of J-Burg.

No kidding, bring the tissues in case it's "dusty" in the theatre...

You guys made the right call to stay put until light. The slabs between you and camp have been the site of several accidents, some fatal. Good job on the climb!

Here's a link to current USFS closures. No change at Washington Pass but the Pasayten has real limited access to anything up the Chewuch River Drainage. https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8e69381e35144962a835ee59aafba153

From the summit of Columbia this weekend, we could see there's a steep slope you can scramble down from Monte Cristo Pass to the Columbia Glacier. The moats are pretty significant right now including the snow finger in the gully you'd normally use to get from the glacier onto the west face of Kyes. It was a little surprising considering the high snow pack we had this spring but I guess that heat wave did more damage than I figured. Glad you found a way down Monte Cristo!

If you're planning to do any climbing in the Washington Pass area, it'd be wise to check up on access. HWY 20 is closed just East of Washington Pass and probably will be until we get some significant precipitation. This likely means September or October before you can get through. Areas that are definitely closed include Cutthroat, Silver Star, Wine Spires, Spontaneity Arete and the Gardeners. Also affected is area North of the Twisp River drainage. Though the Liberty Bell are is technically just outside of the closure, I'm not sure it's a great idea to head there right now with the close proximity to the fire operations and potentially placing additional stress on resources and first responders. Same goes for Goat Wall and crags up Lost River Rd as this area is not technically closed but is subject to a Level 1 evacuation order. This is a map of the current USFS closure area:

[TR] Goode - NE Buttress 07/02/2021 Fake news!

You should reach out to Burdo. If he doesn't respond, the developers are likely not done and don't want folks in there while they're finishing up. I don't know if Burdo is the sole poster behind it but I understand he's involved with the FB account "Mazama Rocks". You might start there.

Didn't Beckey commonly use a stick for eating and after dinner hygiene?

I rely on gel blocks and shots and just wash them down with water between actual breaks where I can pop them out to eat/brush/re-insert. I hate these things and look forward to being done with them!

A friend and I had planned to tackle the Gunn-Merchant traverse a few summers ago. We did Gunn and decided it was too hot, too smokey and didn't trust Smoot. Rad - Having done Baring and Gunn, Baring is much more straightforward route and legendary in Cascade lore. Nobody knows where Gunn is or can pick it out on the skyline.

Recently skinning up Silver Star Glacier, I chatted with a descending couple and asked if they reached the summit. The guy responds, "yes, well...I touched it with my chin". I thought that sounded strange until I scrambled up to the summit and could see why someone wouldn't necessarily feel compelled to stand or even sit on the summit due to the terrific exposure. As I sat there straddling the Au Cheval summit, I thought about how many other middle aged sweaty body parts had sat on this same little piece of rock. My conclusion is that touching a chin on a summit would count as summiting but don't blame me if you develop a rash.