Bronco

Multiple Accidents on Shasta Looks like at least one fatality on Shasta and multiple injured skier/climbers due to reported water ice. It would be interesting to know what weather conditions contributed to this to catch so many individuals and teams unaware.

Ok, sounds like you know what you're getting into. Enjoy!

Nice work, your photos got me fired up for this summer. Good luck on the surgery and heal up quick!

Blacklab, I respectfully suggest getting some solid experience navigating off trail below the treeline in the North Cascades before attempting something this ambitious. A few summers ago, our county's HRT and MRA teams spent the better part of a week looking for a pair of hikers who hiked up Downy/Bachelor Creek (on trail) and attempted to descend Sulfur Creek (no trail). The hikers made approximately 1/2 mile per day after leaving Cub Lake and one of them needed a helo evac by the time he was located. It's really easy to underestimate how much the dense vegetation and getting cliffed out can slow travel. Another mistake the lost hikers made is a lot of trails around here that show up on a map have been abandoned long ago and may have disappeared completely. I'm not sure if that's the case back East as well but we need to research for trip reports or some way of verifying if a trail is even there to have an accurate time estimate. Sorry for the rant, I've become a worry wart old guy I guess.

Hi Justin - looking at a map, don't see an exit point to the east of Bannock Mountain. Could you post a map of your proposed route?

Bastards. You're an awful long way from cell coverage up there.

Dang, kind of a long drive to get the cat off a car. Anyone else get hit by the thieves?

Here we go again. Haven't been able to bring myself to watch or listen to any games lately. Is it injuries or just terrible at baseball as usual?

Great photos!

At least the logging project is scheduled to take 3 years!

Also this - https://methowvalleynews.com/2022/04/13/work-on-mission-project-logging-will-begin-in-may/ Logging project in the Methow that will send 12 logging truck loads over HWY 20 twice per day. Should be interesting to see the shenanigans at the 4 way stop in Winthrop between the tourons who wander around eating ice cream cones while staring at their phone and logging truck drivers in a hurry to get to Darrington.

And still better than snowshoes!

Send this cat to patrol the crags for unleashed dogs: https://mynorthwest.com/3460416/infamous-bellevue-cat-wins-large-settlement-due-to-conflict-of-interest/

On Friday DOT said they have at least a week of snow clearing and then they can make repairs to the guardrails and road. Based on the big washout on HWY 20 between Marblemount and Newhalem, I'm guessing they'll find some more road damage than normal once they get the road exposed up at the pass. I'm hoping it's open by May 14th but it's not looking very likely at this point.

Maybe we should start a new thread for this but, are people successfully self arresting a slide with ice tools (as opposed to a traditional axe)? Are you using the spike of the shaft? I attempted to practice it years ago and it didn't go well with a drop pick tool. I feel like I'm missing something.

Wow, thanks for posting your TR here and congrats to Priti!

Here's a link to road status and projected opening dates: https://www.nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit/road-status.htm

Hi, welcome to the forum. The weather in May on Rainier is fickle. I've certainly been stormed off in May. The best weather for Rainier is typically the end of July and August. Unfortunately this is past the season for the Curtis, Liberty and Ptarmigan routes. Too late in the season and you won't have enough snow/ice on the route. Too early and you're wading in chest deep snow if the weather allows an attempt. If you're traveling from out of the area, it's a huge challenge to line up conditions, partners and weather. My suggestion is to have a solid plan B east of the Cascade Mountain crest like Mt. Stuart or something in the Stuart Range. It's also unlikely the roads to access the Mowich Lake and White River trailheads will be open in early May to further complicate it. The park has to plow them out each year.

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!