Tod

Wow, that's a first. I can't remember hearing about someone who's switched back to skiing and been in so much bliss. It's usually the other way around... Glad to hear you found your true calling. It's all about finding the best ride down, no matter what your on. I skied for 9 years and for the last 15 years I've been on a board. I've often wondered what it would be like to try skiing again, but I have too much fun to get up the nerve to do it. I bought a pair of tele skis awhile back so I could do the backcountry, but once I found the Split Decision I had no reason to ski....

Crystal seems to be pretty proactive in reducing theft. One year they set up a roadblock because of a report of skis stolen. It must of been a string of them in one day 'cause I can't see them doing that for one pair of skis. We were questioned at the roadblock and they looked at our equipment through the window. I'm thinking though that the type of person Crystal attracts is generally less inclined to steal than say at Snoqualmie. Except for Enumclaw, there really isn't a whole lot of random people in close access to Crystal as there is at the other areas.

I see the potential for a stake out...! Truthfully, I had that happen to a friend of mine at Alpental years ago. It really sucks and makes you want to find the person and give them justice. I feel your pain...

My guess is the peak in the foreground left is Mt. Northgraves. The peak in the back right is actually two peaks in one, Foley in front with the glacier to it's left and Welch in the background as the taller one standing over the glacier. Conway Peak may be in there also to the right of Foley. The picture is taken from the east, quite possibly taken from on or near Mount Nowell (or the Hicks Crk, Silverhope Crk, Mt. Green, Mt. Payne, Mt. Wittenburg area).

Here's a site I've put together and will be advertising later on. The sites main purpose will be stock photos, gift images, and showing images on the internet for fun and friends. The site name will change, but right now it is: tod.bloxham.org Let me know what you think! Tod

There seems to be not a great reason for doing tele turns in a resort with AT gear. Maybe he was just trying to see if he could do it? As far as in the backcountry, tele turns on AT gear would seem like a normal thing to do for short sections of downhill, particularly if the snow is soft. I ride a Voile Split Decision and I'm doing tele turns on it all the time while I'm in tour mode. It takes more time to put it in downhill mode than AT gear so you have to learn how to do a few downhill and/or tele turns to be able to tour in it. In soft powder it's actually pretty fun to do a few tele turns on a snowboard!

That looked like a possibility from the trail map. I'm thinking I'll get a map in Kamloops that will help detail that and other possibilities out. I'm going to be there from 12/30 to 1/4 with some friends for a ski holiday. One of my buddies who I backcountry and climb with is going to be there so we figured we'd check out some of the local action if there is any. Just pulled out my West Coast Ice book and scoped it out. That looks like a good possibility. Any other recomendations that are closer to Kamloops?

I'm going to be up in the Kamloops area (or more specifically Sun Peaks) over New Years. Does anyone have any good suggestions for some local ice climbs or some good backcountry ski tours? Tod

I was up there yesterday. Good freshiez... A lot of the trees and brush that are normally covered later in the year are still poking through so it'll get better, but it's definitely a good ski now. The good line is to stay close to the gulley (skiers right of gulley). There are good glades all near the edge of the gulley that you can ski without having to go into the gulley. A great place to yo-yo! Access is easy. Ski down the "residential" road across from Yodelin, it takes you right to the slope below Lichtenburg Mtn. On the ski down the road there are two options, stay on the road and ski the west side of the drainage, or turn onto a second road that takes you up the east side of the drainage. Take option 2 (east side of drainage because it'll get you closer faster and avoid crossing Nason Creek. Be courteous of the property owners at the end of the road (a log cabin), you'll have to ski right past it.

NEWSTIPS:I appreciate the fact that this has actually taken interest of KING5. You've probably got the info that you need by reading the other thread based on this subject. Many people (including myself) have sent in letters to the park service asking/demanding that the RMI monopoly be broken up. Even though no alternatives for guiding on the mountain really will satisfy all, option 3 does seem to be the closest. Because of RMI's history and political clout, contacts, friends, there is very little reason to believe that RMI would not be awarded a concession contract, even though other guiding outfits would be willing, able and want to offer guiding at just of high a quality (if not higher) at a better price to the public. RMI's political and monopoly advantage has given them the opportunity to gouge the public.Under Alternative 1, RMI gets 8,260+ permits for Muir (double 2001 limits of 4145 permits) and all other guiding companies are limited to Emmons and are only issued 192 permits. There are no commercial free areas under this plan. Under Alternative 3, 5,260 permits are split up among 3 guiding companies (1,753 permits each) and much of the lesser used routes are off limits to guiding. To me, splitting up the permits to three concessioners will create competition not only to be one of the companies to bid for a concession spot, but also competition for the public so they get a choice, a better deal, and likely better service since the guiding companies must now prove they are better than the other.On a side note, I think it's odd that Fairweather seems to be the only one that supports RMI's monopoly (i.e. alternative 1). Everyone is entitled to their view and I support Fairweather's right to an opinion. Does anyone else feel that RMI's monopoly is a good thing? Speak up because on this forum you don't seem to be heard. What option do you prefer?Alternative 1 (1 concessioner guides Muir, Emmons, Kautz and other routes (RMI), climbing permits issued double)Alternative 2 (1 concessioner on Muir (RMI), 4 concessioners on Emmons, Kautz and other routes, slight increase in climbing permits issued)Alternative 3 (3 concessioners guide Muir, Emmons, Kautz and other routes evenly, slight increase in guided climbing permits issued, commercial free areas designated)Alternative 4 (1 concessioner guides Muir and other routes (RMI), 1 concessioner guides Emmons, Kautz and other routes, guided climb permits issued does not increase, commercial free areas designated)

Here's the schtick.... No more wallowing in the snow with your snowboard on your back, now you can ski up the slopes and snowboard down in style without getting worn out. The Split Decision is unlike any other snowboard on the mountain. It combines the mobility of backcountry ski travel, and the excitement of backcountry snowboarding while providing a quick and simple conversion from uphill touring to downhill snowboarding with no sacrifice in performance. •Length is 159cm. •Comes with tractor skins for ascending while in ski mode. •Used for 3 years. •Base and top-sheet in good shape. •Stance is regular foot with cant for rear foot. •Will fit any snowboard binding using the 4x4 hole pattern. •Bindings not included. •Has been T-Bolted for hard and secure riding ($80 value). •Regular retail is $665. Asking: $250 obo PM me if your interested. Tod

You pretty much nailed it Jerry. If there is some sort of terrain feature you can usually tell where you are with a map and compass. I can think of 4 instances of coming down from the summit of Rainier or from Muir in complete whiteout and a map, compass, and altimeter were able to keep me on track. I think a keen sense of surroundings is helpful also. With a map, compass and altimeter, if you come down from Muir or the summit of Rainier in a whiteout, you still have two major features to help guide you down the mountain, elevation and slope direction. If you know the general vicinity of where you are (i.e. you know you are below/south of Muir), you can take a compass reading and see what direction the slope is facing, and take an altimeter reading and see where on that slope you are. Granted in the worst of conditions a GPS would be quicker, but unless you are anticipating the worst conditions and/or you are not skilled at map/compass/altimeter orienteering a GPS is unneccesary weight in the pack. In my opinion the order of importance of tools for backcountry orienteering: Map Altimeter Compass GPS

There is no need to post a picture to a web server first unless that's what you like to do. Uploading to the photo gallery here is pretty easy. Finding the URL link to the picture in the cc.com gallery takes a little extra work though but really isn't that hard to do either (right click a blank spot on the gallery page, click "View Source" then look for the <img ... src="http://www.cascadeclimbers.com..." link with the .jpg file in it, that's the URL link to your picture). Maybe the gallery can be changed so the URL is shown in the gallery once you upload the photo? (hint, hint jon or timmy) If the picture is to big and takes to long to upload, then you shouldn't be uploading and attempting to put it into a TR in the first place (it'll be to big for the TR and you'll get flamed for posting it). Basic photo editing to bring down the pixel size is not hard to do with MS Paint or MS Photo Editor (which come with most PC computers). If you open the picture in MS Paint and it looks to big, then size it down, resave it and upload it to the photogallery. Pretty easy and quick once you figure out what your doing. I agree, TR's with pictures bring your TR to a another level. TR's with pictures and a map showing route bring your TR to the third level. TR's with pictures, a map and a photo of a naked woman bring your TR to the ultimate level.

Well put. If I didn't make that apparent in my last post, I too enjoy TR's immensly. They are the most helpful and entertaining part of this site (well 2nd most entertaining, the particular thread that has it's own section dedicated to it is the most entertaining). I don't care if they are well written or not. They are all helpful, cool and fun.... Keep on posting the TR's!!

Everyone seems to have at least a little bit of a good point here. Sure Dru seems to be overly negative at times. Many of his posts are known to be one or two liners that aren't worth reading. His flippant remarks may be posted as sarcasm but I am sure they are misunderstood by many and end up discouraging others from posting TR's. But you know what, who cares. He's posted some cool sh*t too and as long as you can be selective on what you read it's all fine. CC.com so far has been run as a a public board with very little policing. What policing there has been usually is to protect the board, not someones ego. Until that changes people just need to keep posting and press the down arrow if they don't like what someone says. Regardless I don't think anyone should be hiding their tail between their legs in fear of someone flaming their TR. If you don't like what you hear, then don't respond. You probably didn't need to get flamed so by responding only adds to the negativity and discourages others to post. When you think someone can learn something vaulable in a TR, it's worthwhile, even if it's not entertaining. For those who seem to find any reason to flame someone's TR, you change the catch phrase of the board from "the pacific northwest climbers resource" to "the pacific northwest climbers spray board". Use the spray section if you feel the need....

It looks like the spot where the river makes a significant turn right and drops through large boulders. When they actually let water run through that section of the canyon below Gorge Dam it's the most violent set of rapids I have ever seen. It's almost visible from the Newhalem powerhouse bridge when looking east up the road. The road does a curve to the right out of sight, goes a little further up canyon then does a quick climb and right hand turn up to the slide area. There is a pullout on the road right where the slide happened that overlooks this section of canyon (and rapids when the water is running). Now I know where those boulders come from...

I agree with ehmmic completely. Regardless of whether it is/was intended as chestbeating, it's very cool to hear trip reports where people pushed themselves beyond the norm. Without hearing about trips where people push the envelope, it's harder to push yourself and it's harder for the sport and technique to evolve and grow. Personally, my favorite trips and trip reports to read are like "Challenger in a Day" or "Logan in a Day". I can think of a few trips similar to this I did in the last couple of years that were done because I read something on cc.com that inspired me to do it. Keep on writing boys and girls, it's cool sh*t! BTW - Challenger in a day is doable, but I'd probably do it as Challenger and Whatcom in a day via Whatcom Pass. I haven't been via Perfect Pass, but the river fording, bushwacking and scrambling the impasse seems like it would take too much time. The trail is a cruise up to Whatcom Pass.... Tod

I didn't know the guy, but I looked at his website everyweek. He was a pioneer of the modern cascades. He will be missed....

March 2001 the road was open all the way. When I went back in April of 2002 the road was washed out like you mentioned. That's a great ski tour in early spring....

That's a given, but when your the FS, nothing is a given. Regardless of whether there is an incomplete, vehicle bridge, completed vehicle bridge, foot bridge, or a boulder hopping ford the road/trail should never have been closed. The FS screwed up on this one big time. You've got one of the most popular sought after backcountry areas in the country closed off for 2 miles because two 100' sections are under construction. Since this virtually closed off access to the Colchuck and Stuart Lake area it shut down abot 1/4 of the area for an indefinite period of time. The only detour available is a 14+ mile hike. Give me a break! This is the backcountry, how hard is it to let people detour around 200' of bridgework and up 1/2 mile of road on foot? When a busy highway is underconstruction they rarely close the highway. If they do close the road they do it for short periods (night time) or offer a realistic detour. In this case they should have offer a detour... I guess it's pointless arguing this here since we are all frustrated for the same reason. Too bad there's no one here from the Leavenworth RS to respond...

Or you could just buy a split board so you don't have to worry about bindings pulling out, sidewalls cracking, lack of edge on one side, and many other problems that come with home made jobs.... I've had two split boards and they seem to go anywhere a tele or AT goes, and often times better since they float and climb better in deep snow. The factory boards ride very good and have no torsional stability problems. In fact I'm looking to get another one, anyone want to buy mine?

Hahahaha! I was just about to say that sounds exactly like my trip to Waddington, then I realized who you were... The plane was a Cessna 185, May, 1998. Still the most interesting/stressfull plane ride I've ever been on. The pilot wouldn't talk to us since he was stressed out and I remember that we barely cleared the trees at Scar Creek. We were so low on fuel I figured we'd have to make a forced landing on some icecap on the way back to Squamish. The famed 185 on the Tiedemann Glacier. (See pilot in background taking a leak.)