Mike_Collins

I am going out today to do two peaks up the Middle Fork of Snoqualmie. What is your phone number?

If you are thinking about climbing Sloan via the Cougar Creek Trail approach (Corkscrew Route) then the trickiest part of the whole climb may be fording the North Fork of the Sauk. With the heavy snowpack this winter the river might be too high to ford in mid-July. An alternate approach might be considered and have in hand on the day of the climb.

I will buy it from you. Let me know how to contact you. You can reach me at collinstribe@yahoo.com

What frosted me further about the 'bilers is that climbers have to pay the $15 climbing fee to be past 4,800' but not the snowmobilers. That info came right from the ranger himself. I wrote my letter yesterday to the headquarters.

Hey Scott, Do you still count it as an ascent even if you didn't make it to the top? I went to the top of St. Helens on Saturday and didn't see any other bootprints up there. Everyone else hung out at the party on the rim.

I have climbed Russian Butte from the Middle Fork but chose to descend by way of Pratt River. The ascent was made by taking the road on the right which is 150 ft before the Middle Fork Bridge (the road will say "Private. Keep Out". Maybe 3/4 mile further up this road is some shack where I thought I heard banjo music.But for sure I saw shotgun shells nailed into a tree trunk spelling the words, "KEEP OUT." This was close to the old meth lab. But the route from this side should only be done when dry in late summer or early fall as it involves going right up the creek bed. Not just the bed but up the waterfall areas also. Stay with this stream until about 2,200' when you will see another small stream (possibly dry) entering on the left. This has a small cairn and drains the avalanche slope which you will need to ascend. At the top of this talus field there is slabby rock for 800+ which is Class 3-4. We wished we had brought rope for much of this section and I am not nervous about exposure. This risk is the reason we chose to go five miles out of our way to exit via the Pratt River and then ford the Middle Fork. You can avoid this exposure by traversing over from Revolution. The upper slopes above 4,000' are easy heather with no risk that I can remember.

General Hazard Stevens and P.B. VanTrump made the first recorded ascent of Mt. Rainier in 1870. They were guided up to the snowline by a Klickitat chief named Sluiskin.

[ 03-18-2002: Message edited by: Mike Collins ]

I have taken 500mg/day for the past two years as prophylaxis. I have never experienced joint pain but consider the glucosamine as preventive medicine. Evidence is anecdotal but strong for its benefit. I have hiked with two rheumatologists who believe it is beneficial for osteoarthritic changes.

What you are saying about creosote bushes has to be considered with further information. As a creasote bush ages the inside portion will die and the life continues from growth via the roots toward the outside. NO PART of the creosote bush is 10,000+ years old. The genetic material is the exact same as the original plant however. The oldest bristlecone pine was not cut down by dendrologists but by a geologist who wanted to determine the age of a moraine which he was studying. He used crude dendrological methods for his work (i.e. cut down the tree).

I climbed Monte Cristo last May. Both Cadet and Monte Cristo have somewhat similar approaches in that the sun hits those southern slopes early in the morning. If you go as a day trip think about going in on a cloudy day as the snowslides from warming snow won't be as much an issue.

I find balloons all over the place. One was a 5 foot tall purple one of Barney the dinosaur. I walked over to it thinking it was some long dead hiker in Gortex. Found the carcasses of twelve ballons tied together last summer near Gunn Peak. Almost always they are on the west side of the crest.

Hey Scott, What was the date of the climb? It helps for us to know as you offer a report of snow conditions.

Coyotes in the woods behind my house in Bellevue answer to the sirens. When a fire truck goes by they respond with a chorus of howls. Saw one wolf while descending WhiteChuck Mt. in April, 1999. It was sitting on its haunches looking into a snowfilled basin. Earlier in the day on the upclimb I noticed goat tracks in the snow, a kid and a nanny. The wolf was slategray in color.

I called the North Cascade NP today and they told me the road up the Cascade River was gated at the 21 mile mark. If you are going up Buckner you better bring a mountain bike also.

I have summited Whitehorse from both the LonePine approach and the direct glacier route up the north side which you saw from SR530. It is too late in the year for a day trip for two reasons. The footing on this peak is so low that the elevation gain is around 5,400'. The day is too short. But more importantly there is serious bergsrund trouble near the top. You will be five feet from the summit block and then sixty feet beneath the top. In June you can just walk on steep snow to almost the top. You really would be better off trying this one in May/June.

If I am hiking a long day, say more than 16 miles, I will bring along running/trail shoes in my pack. It helps relieve my feet from the pressure of the boot. I also use a thin inner wicking sock and a think outer sock. For my friends who develop hot spots I use a product called DuoDerm. It is used in hospitals for pressure sores. You will have to ask a nurse or doctor friend to supply you with this as it isn't sold at stores. My pack always has an extra pair of socks in case the ones worn get wet.

I think you mean Columbia Glacier. Coleman is on Mt. Baker.

Croquet Around Mt. Rainier in One Day!! Now that takes endurance. For that you should probably start dosing yourself with EPOGEN right away and take a few doses of Decadron along with you on the day of the event.

When doing STP in one day or RAMROD bike ride I like to use Cytomax (sold at REI). I also use Ginseng, Vit E (800u), and Vit C (1000mg) before any long hike/climb.

How about sticking to the original question guys? On Saturday, June 16 I did a single push summit on Rainier. The strategy was to pick a day when conditions would be near perfect. Low freezing levels with clear skies. We left Paradise at 9:30PM Fri and arrived Camp Muir at 1:30AM. We stopped at the climbers hut to melt water, eat a little, and rest a bit. Jumping off at 3:00AM the we continued the climb via Ingraham Glacier and Disappointment Cleaver summiting at 8:00AM. Fatigue is the biggest factor and if you can get some rest on the jumpoff day it will serve you well. This early in the season Disappointment Cleaver is covered with snow so you can leave the helmet at home. The biggest risk really is the drive home and leave some type of caffeinated beverage in the car or rest once back at the car.

www.wta.org has a writeup for Snoqualmie for a trip done on May 20.

Are the gaiters still for sale? Contact me at collinstribe@yahoo.com or call me at my home 425) 957-4762. Thanks, Mike Collins