Stefan

Nice report. I can't believe Bear was basically snow free at the time of the picture taking. Wow.

Daniels. Man, that would be one long walk. The road must be blocked way back from the trailhead due to some snow. Expect rain showers below 3000 feet and snow above that this weekend. Go east if you want to have a nice hike. I recommend this book for eastern Washington. You would be surprised at how nice the places are. http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductD...vcat=REI_SEARCH

Not sure if what I heard was correct, but interest on the national debt is the third highest item on the budget proposal. Something almost like $400 billion. That's pretty close to the proposed budget of the military. That's not a program folks. That's just interest.

You can say that this was probably the worst descent for these two guys over the past couple of days. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplo...e&dpfrom=th

Thanks Mike for the info. I did not know the park staff was fixed regardless of visitors. Glad the rescue had a positive ending and it sounded like there was constant communication.

Good read. Instead of one publication, make it two publications. Try to sell each individually. It would be easier to cut it down.... Or try to sell it as part 1 of a two part series. That way you can tell the magazine editors people will want to buy the next issue....

Zorro! http://www.pbase.com/nolock/image/37117149

What are you trying to hide? Here it is: http://www.pbase.com/nolock/image/35638076 and another angle: http://www.pbase.com/nolock/image/37116958 and another one. http://www.pbase.com/nolock/image/38017386

Good write up with the pictures!

Interesting trend on number of climbers registered. It notes a decreasing trend. I wonder if this has to do with fees imposed on the mountain. I am not familiar with the climbing staff, but has the Park Service decreased the climbing staff due to amount of less people registering? Or will the Park Service maintain the same amount of staff with 20,000 registered climbers versus 8,000 registered climbers?

What about the north face of South Hozomeen? Anybody done that one? Looks like about 1500feet.

Road 38 is closed right now due to small boulders and a minor creek washout across the road about 2 miles before the seasonal gate closure. This puts you almost 4 miles from from the trailhead. I expect them to clear this road by the time the gate is open.

Here is a condition report of someone who biked up the North Cascades Highway on Sunday 1/30 from Ross Lake gate: "The gate was locked at Ross Lake Trailhead, Mile Post 134, but I was able to bicycle 16 miles to Mile Post 150 (3600ft) That's a mile short of Easy Pass trailhead and 3 miles short of Mt Hardy approach. Easy walking ice and snow from 150 on (compacted by snowmobiles). I dropped back down the Highway to 2500ft and walked up East Creek Valley. All the south and west facing slopes are free of snow to 5000ft." Just thought you all would like to know.

I thought climbing was...well just that--"climbing". Why does one have to climb something "great"? It is a great activity, even it is class 3 or 4. I didn't know you had to chestbeat or do something great.

10,000 foot freezing level by next Thursday!

They are offering mountain bike riders on the trail on odd number days only. In addition, this road is not as flat as Monte Cristo, you have to push it to its end most of the way, but it will be better than Monte Cristo on the way back because it surely is downhill!

Peace out.

The forest service is recommendatating the current scenario: Gate at Dingford Creek trail for you and I, but the road will be open to the people who have private property beyond that. The forest service will maintain the road beyond Dingford as a trail, however the private people can maintain the road as a road up to level 2 of road maintenance so long as they pay for it. Basically, it is very similar to the Monte Cristo road maintenance. Except you will not be able to ride your bike as freely or as easily as you can on the Middle Fork Road. If you want to climb any north or northwest route from Lemah Mtn to Summit Chief you are looking at an additional 14 more miles because of the gate.

Then why do those badass Russkies eat Halva?

Ahhhh. But how you forget so easily. Remember, there were some Christians out there who voted for George Bush becuase he stood for moral values. I guess these same Christians believe war is a moral value.

You've never been to Argentina I can tell. Ooops! I bin to Mendoza. Lotsa meat there.

All of you forgot the most important ingredient. Girls. Squamish girls wear fur. On their legs. Dolomites. Drawback=airfare cost.

My guess it that climbers will be mum on this issue as they usually are. Even those climbers who like to climb that route on Mt. Garfield.

Great photos and trip report Paul! Good work on putting it together.

Glad to hear you are okay.