Stefan

Awesome. Great to hear it!

This is the James Hamaker party. I just climbed with him in October. This worries me now.

What would be even better would be for them to reopen the former road up Goodell Creek--or allow motorcycles to go up. Access to the Pickets would be highly improved then.

I don't think anyone will notice any difference. In fact I would appreciate it if the road that are there now, be improved and be left for public access. For example the Mid Fork Snoqualmie (in the future) and the road to Monte Cristo.

Opening up the backareas to vehicles will not be a problem in the short term--there is a little thing called "money". Which government has the money to rebuild some of these areas? Besides, Wilderness will always remain off limits to motorized access.

Follow the instincts of your dick. Wherever you can get more action, then go in that direction, wether it is with this girl or not.

Road conditions up the Middle Fork are updated weekly by the Goldmeyer Hot Springs at this phone number. 206-789-5631. As you know, a vehicle with high clearance is REQUIRED to access this road. A good summer estimate to reach the glacier below Chimney Rock is probably about 7-8 hours from the trailhead.

You will think they are awesome when you get rescued. They are awesome.

What about lunchtime at work? Riding your bike to work? Running with your children while they are on bikes to make it a family outing instead of watching tv or playing video games?

I actually see a buttress on each peak for a total of two trending in the same direction. Has one of them been climbed and the other not climbed?

For all that I have seen I don't think running helps in the mountains. Really. The best people I have seen perform in the mountains are people who use bicycles are their main source of cardio. Runners just don't seem to have the "power" that is needed. And becuase climbing takes a beating on your knees why make it worse with running???? Go bicycling. Or better yet, do mountain biking, and replace it with all your running.

No. Both of them climbed. The hard Mox you speak of is on the Bulger list. About 20-30 people have climbed that thing. Oops. I reread your post. I have no idea if the spire has been climbed......

This is not a troll. That is what they said. Annual Fee is proposed at $60.

The reason for the increase is basically for a higher level of service. For example, they said people complained about the rangers not being at their stations for taking permits--due to limited funds. MRNP would like to increase the time for rangers at the service desks. BUT my point is this: If MRNP NEVER required a fee, then people wouldn't complain about the rangers not being there, and service would NOT be required. But I have a bigger problem. MRNP is only asking for in the range of $250K to operate the whole damned thing. Fine. Why couldn't the park service just get $1MM from the defense budget?????? I am sure the defense budget will not miss $1MM out of $550Billion!!!!!

I was at the meeting last night in Tacoma. About 20 people attended the meeting. The park service went into more detail and discussion of their proposed plan (they have 4-5 options) to increase the fee and level of service. I encourage you to show up at the next one December 17th at the Mountaineers at 6:30.

If you have been on Liberty Ridge during the summer months you will understand why people don't climb Willis Wall--you constantly hear rockfall and icefall on the wall.

Climbing is a hobby. That is it.

They gate Chinook Pass at the Cayuse Pass turnoff.

Standard route off of Dorado Needle is via the north ridge until you come to steep snow (180 feet) on the east (may be melted) and then you have to contend with a bergschrund to access the McAllister Glacier later in the year. The north ridge is low but solid class 5. The NW side of Dorado Needle could be in the class 3-4 range. Early Morning Spire best way off it is probably through a minor class 5 climb just north of Marble Needle (8401) and south of Praying Mantis (8360+). Go over Marble Needle and down the SW towards the McAllister. There is a minor class 4 section to get down off of Marble Needle. I have seen Beckey's route around the 8000 foot pass north of there and it did not look appealing with all the glacial breakup on the western slopes of McAllister. I did these both last year. Though, not up the standard tough routes.

I don't know if you just rock climb, just alpine, or both. I only like to do Alpine stuff and I keep it below 5.8 so I am not sure of all the mental capabilities of doing 5.10+ sport or trad. Mentally what helps me is this: finding high carbo food that I like and eating something every 1 hour--I keep stuff in my pockets and eat on the hour (and not much each time), taking a sip of water every 15 minutes from my hose. I don't break much to keep my muscles moving. And most importantly having a partner who is motivated to do what you are doing. That partner thing is the key. The combined power of two climbers is much greater than the sum of two separate climbers.

Cavey, I think you would stop for anybody regardless of how bad you think they were a fuckwad. Most mountaineering folk are nice and would help out for another mountaineering dude in hlep. Now if you were some Frenchie dude in lycra then I would believe you.

Take a bike!!!! Unless of course you like walking the logging roads for up to 3 hours! A bike also speeds up the time.

You know what's better than Cytomax? Frozen concentrated orange juice. I buy it by the caseload when the cost goes to $.60 a can and keep in the freezer. One disadvantage.......can't really carry a can for the next day. But for one day outings, I highly recommend frozen concentrate orange juice. And if you use a bladder, buy the non-pulp stuff as it could get caught in the hose.

My main project: Learn to walk again.

Don, let me know if you want to email John Roper. I know him pretty well.