MPaul_Hansen

email me at MPaul_Hansen@hotmail.com

Re: US 2 expansion -some cancellation history Will add more on a later edit, about actions to defer construction in the 1960's and 1970's.

See sent email message.

RE: What got you started in climbing .... Introduced to hiking in my youth by friends...and followed. Friends then graduated to 'scrambling' and in turn to climbing when older. Since that time just another way to enjoyed the outdoors, be sociable, and get some exercise for conditioning, physical fitness.

It has been some years [ ?decades? ] since a large suspension bridge has been constructed in the US. Hope someday to tour the cable(s) and make an "ascent" of the towers. But probably not due to US insurance and liability issues. And now security issues. Such tours are permitted on a few such large bridges overseas, however. No budget at the moment for an overseas trip, but if undertaken will post a TR .....

RE: gear storage - alternative approach .... Prefer to segregate equipment [ ice, trad, alpine....etc] into plastic storage bins 3'x18"x15" or so, resting on 1" or 7/8" plywood shelving; shelving supported on wall studs with underlying 'knee braces' of 1/2", 5/8" triangular plywood with top and side strips. Knee braces mounted to wall studs thru side strip with 3 min. 3"+ wood screws, knee braces at 32" cc or 48" cc. Optional: add bungee cords/webbing on outside, to retain bins in case of an earthquake, or accidental impact.

RE: ski ballet & 'freestyle'...evolved into two events Several links exist on the history of FreeStyle Skiing but do not seem to explicitly state why Ballet was de-emphasized in favor of the two FIS sponsered events - Aerials and Moguls. Probably there are several factors, including popular and commerical appeal, ie on the World Cup Circuit and the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy. At one time "ski ballet" was a demonstration event at a past Winter Olympics, some time ago. An example of a link with some limited information: http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/sports/freestyleskiing/history.shtml Also see http://www.fis-ski.com http://www.freestyleski.com http://www.ussa.org/PublishingFolder/232.htm

Yes, situations and policies can vary, but USFS OFFICIALLY allows B/C tourers to go up the Sun Valley, Idaho groomed resort runs; w/o charge on Baldy Mtn.. Of course as long as one keeps well to the side away from those descending. This policy seems to have been working well for several years now. PS Took advantage of this by awakening at 4:30am 2 yrs ago in Elkhorn and ski ascended the 600 ft Dollar Mtn backside before opening during a 7deg F snowflurry. The snowfall abatted, and greatly enjoyed seeing the sunrise, before descending on the best 14" of Rocky Mtn light fluff I've experienced.....

Re: Survival Gear for Winter conditions.... Some good previous suggestions... Past experience is that an implement [shovel - blade ] to quickly make a trench igloo can be beneficial.

Willis Wall first ascent by Charlie Bell First ascent of Willis Wall not by Charlie Bell

Hope my email regarding the Alpine Trekkers went through. Please advise, and let me know. Thanks.....MPaul

Alpine Trekkers - inquiry from Seattle: MPaul_Hansen Greetings: Live in NE Seattle; was in Portland this summer. How would shipping be handled? Please advise for the Alpine Trekkers. Have one set for myself; need another for back-country partner. Hope to hear you soon. thanks.......MPaul Hansen PS the email to you failed as the prefix characters > 16

Speaking from the perspective of one who was unsuccessful in making a permanent relocation to NZ some time ago: Read the NZ history of the last 200 years, especially since WW II. And perhaps the James Michner book - 'Until They Sail'[Return to Eden]. And the movie based on the book of the same name, with Paul Newman. Yank men in the past were not always looked upon with favor, though times have changed attitudes, at least to some degree. Since 1965 or so, wages were not what they once were. But NZ is arguably, indeed a more elegaritan society. But personally I always wear a Canadian MapleLeaf lapel pin when travelling overseas, eh ??

"High Ice" - filmed on Whitehorse Mtn near Darrington, WA

RE: Cannonholes - ridge near PCT, s. of Bear Gap For the geology minded, from Bear Gap walking south towards Sheep Lake on the PCT, there is a "hole in the wall", a 'cannon-hole' in the rock ridge to the right above the PCT trail. Was tempted to attempt to take a photo of Rainier through it...aka like other shots made through the one on the Dome Peak ridge. But rock quality was poor. And also was far, far too dicey to ascend from the trail to the hole, being alone...and unroped + w/o pro. Maybe on another trip when equipped and w/ trained companion(s). Any takers? About 1? hour from the parking lot for the Crystal Mtn Ski Area.

Re: Hut Skiing -O. Trott's european experience Not many in the Pacific NW, not 'part of the scene' for a variety of reasons. [sorry -won't add to your list]. Many, many years (decades) ago, Dr. Otto Trott gently espoused the opinion that huts might be appropriate selectively in the Cascades, based on his experience in Europe. Just FYI ....

RE: New suspension bridge - Design should be recognized as an art. Pushing beyond known boundries can carry risks. Note the sides of the existing bridge are open trusses that allow wind to pass through, [rather than a buff face] and not permit a "shedding vortex" situation that led to increasing torsional occiliations, and then galloping. The truss work under the existing bridge is sort of box-like so it is not so prone to twist due to aero-elasticity effects from wind. Many highly technical references in the UW Engineering Library for those who wish to examine the nitty-gritty details regarding the collapse. PS I do not go on the Seattle Viaduct and have advised my friends to like-wise avoid the damaged structure.

History on US 2 ... About 40-35 years ago plans were afoot to eventually make US 2 into a four-lane highway and by-pass small towns like Sultan as was done to North Bend for I-90. The governor(s)et al at that time deferred US 2 improvements. I-90 improvements 'took center-stage' but even these were delayed DECADES !! (lawsuits,etc.) [no joke] Perhaps some entity [an expanded Sound Transit ?? } could provide occasional bus service to passes as is done in the winter to go to Stevens Pass. Just a thought, no advocacy here. [see NWHiker thread on bus service to/near mtns, ie to Newhalem WA, Darrington, etc.]

Whitehorse Mtn information ... Also see www.summitpost.org http://www.summitpost.org/show/mountain_link.pl/mountain_id/3417

PS There is a similar thread on www.nwhikers.net "Close Calls from Rockfall" Some feel there are useful bits of information to be gleened from such accounts and from other similar sources such as "Accidents in North American Mountaineering", by AAC.

Note: Re: Lundin Peak- E Ridge -suggest 'gap' approach The gap between the two prominences can be accessed by scrambling from below the ridge in the foreground. This reduces the length of the climb. Nice views, an excellent outing for a 'tune-up' to begin the summer climbing season. This was my approach when soloing this route a while back. It might also be of interest to others that this area was accessible by the nearby former route of the PCT. And an ascent of nearby Red Mtn can be tacked-on without much added time.

Pitons - yes - if still available.... Are you in the Seattle area? PM me if you are. MPaul_Hansen

From the 'archaic' school point of view.... Breakdowns in skiis and bindings in backcountry & approaches can be very problematic....so [though the weight is greater] use a metal sandwich ski with older all-metal bindings with a metal adaptor to allow for heel-lift. Not 100% foolproof, but has been successful for me for many years on many, many vorays such as Mt. Rainier, St Helens pre-erruption, Baker, Glacier, Adams, Sahale, Goat Rocks, S. side of Mt. Stuart, Ruth, Ruby, etc.

At Crystal web site, one can sign-up to be emailed with conditions. Since I do not get up that way much, can not verify how good the emailed information is.

You might also check out: SOLO [especially the manteling sequence] SOLO: Behind The Scenes