plexus

Its not nearly as long as you think. Two long days is possible. I've done it in March on a heavy snow year and you can actually drive higher up that road than you think (I had a 2WD Toyota pickup and almost got to the washout). One of my favorite overnight trips because you are going to be by yourself and the views are one of the top 5 in my opinon. You can see so much there, and Mulcher is darn pretty from there also. I tried doing the Illabot Creek way once years ago and even in April the road was too filled with snow to get close to the trailhead.

Simple do more than the two pitches of technical I did this past year. =( The break was good but it's time to get back to scaring the bloody stuffing out of me again. I guess my one objective is Lone Eagle Peak up in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. When one doesn't live in the Cascades any longer, one must find alternatives that suffice.

The cool new shit I learned was that web site. Thanks. I'm gathering up the courage to try dovetails for a small entertainment center I'm gonna build; I got some chiesls for Xmas. First I have to finish my bouldering wall (holds were another Xmas gift) =)

Down to only #1 available. Doh!

The next time I want to see crap resurface, I'll plug up my toilet.

How about: Great sunny weather + chest cold + working the assignment desk + Christmas = done right wrong on so many levels. Ironically my wife got me 65 new climbing holds as well. Grrr!

Lived in Oaxaca for five months Toast, you'll love it down there. There is limestone climbing with huge tuftas in Rio Blanco (SE of Orizaba in the state of Veracruz). There is some interesting lakeside climbing just outside of the city of Puebla. For something unlike any other part of Mexico, I would head to the highland forests. The natives speak Spanish as a secondary language and many of them are turning to exo-tourism as a form of living as opposed to logging. Anything along the central spine south of Mexico City.

A landlord that understands the 40 X 16' bouldering wall that we put in the spare bedroom. God bless vaulted ceilings!!!

To Lowell and the rest of Carl's family, My deepest regrets on your loss of one who lived life to the fullest. He passed on doing wile doing what he did the best and filled him with the most joy. Not many can say that.

For what it's worth I use a single twin (9mm dry) for glacier travel and easier alpine. And if it seems sketchy in cutting it on rock or more of a chance of a fall, I double it up. Maybe I'm stoopid, OK I know I'm stoopid, but nobody I've talked with thinks this is risky.

Ruth is always a good time, the crevases (not there are many of them) are open currently. I've also done Black Peak (NE ridge this time of year). You could also try Mixup, although I remember reading finding the right moat crossing has been tricky this year (OTHER PLABBERS CAN YOU VERIFY). I can't say for Eldorado since I've done it in spring. I would think you're talking about more icy conditions this time of year though. Another overlooked but technically easy climb is doing Mt Watson and Bacon Peak. Plenty of blue and huckleberries waiting to slow you down.

Opps! Sorry. Hey Alex, tis pretty up there and the ridge kicks ass!! Seriously it is a nice climb and a good place to camp as well. I just remember when we got to the summit and looked out at the sea of peaks, how reasonably close all the big boys are (Logan, Forbidden, etc). That might sound stupid, but if you think about how far and how long all of the trailheads are, and then when you get up there, "Oh it's only two valleys away." Alas, to own a pair of wings!

Glad to see the Devil's Club hasn't subdued your sense of humor!

Do you stuff it in a pillow case or just let it all hang out?

Don't forget, 'Thank you Jesus!!" I cannot even fathom that thing. I am always impressed on how far we can push the human body and psyche. And I can honestly say I will be quite happy with my view of Mox from other more attainable summits in the N Cascades. I'll raise a pint to the two of you tonight!!

I nearly spit out my Apricot Ale when I saw that photo. And then I DID spit it out when I read Sobo's post!!

Actually I have one of those NF Chinese knock-off windstoppers. Other than having to replace the velcro at the cuffs, the thing is pretty damn durable and keeps me warm. They must use Ancient Chinese Secret!!

It doesn't matter how funky they look, if they're La Sportiva, they'll still eat your heels and smash your toes.

Mad Rock Flash. Good all-around slipper that is the first pair of shoes that don't kill my feet (I have Morton's toe) since my first pair of Scarpas. Wouldn't do any serious jamming in them, but was surprised at how well they edged. Plus they cost as much as two tanks of gas.

The flies ARE horrible at Blue Lake. I don't remember Dock Butte as an area that I thought of exploring for climbing possibilities. If I remember correctly there were no good looking lines and the rock wasn't that hot.

Crap!!! I can't remember!!! It's right at the pass, also which name I can't remember. I remember seeing it on an overnight winter trip up there. That spring my friend and I climbed a route there....OK, I went through my old clippings from when I wrote for the SVHerald...and the answer is Palace Rock by Cumberland Pass. There are some routes on the SW side. I remember doing a dihedral with a thin crack, some shrub pro and it being in the 5.9 range. I knew a guy that did a few routes there. Super hard rock with some 10 stuff there. God I'm getting senile!!

The staircase is pretty freakin cool scrambling. One of my favorite let's get up somethng that doesn't scare the bejeezus out of us.

For what it's worth, my wife and I were in Seattle for 15 days, never got about 6800 feet. Came back to Denver, spent two days here and then climbed up to 13,900. We felt the altitude just walking up the approach road, which was an incline any fit person could run up. Point is, while feeling tired and definitely feeling the lack of oxygen, I think it's very doable to get up Rainier in that time. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. If you were just coming out from Wyoming and climbing it, that might help you. Remember your body acclimatizes in 48 hours, so any benefit from being at a higher elevation would be lost after that.

Chiwawa: Sucked. Used the ice ax for a total of 100 feet. This was on Tuesday. Dropped tot he saddle, felt cheated so wife and I went and investigated Fortress from the SE. The gully/depression was in nice condition. Got to the ridge line and felt like we would have wanted a rope for that 40 feet getting onto the ridge. The meadows were gorgeous. Surprised on how little snow there was. I would highly suggest Fortress over Chiwawa.

It's a little too narrow. Like Matt said, I would make it a performance wall or a giant campus. Also if this is your first wall, put more holes and T-nuts on it than you plan on ever using at one time. Adds variety and believe it or not, the same hold four inches away can drastically change a problem.