Pencil_Pusher

Damn dude, that's some of the best beta I've gotten and more than I'd ever expected! Thanks to you both for the insight, I'll post again when we get back monday.

I personally would respect the 400 pound male or female that throws on their swimsuit or spandex. Not that I'm attracted to that, but they're folks too and y'all should show more respect for people different than what you like. And I definitely agree with who-ever made the comment about stick women. Who the hell thinks they're attractive?? Holy hell, they look scrawnier than a broom handle and it amazes me the magazines push them as beauties. Ya' want beauties, pull out the girlie mag or go to a strip club where (hopefully) there are no stick women. THAT'S what guys like, obviously.

Anybody have any info on this route? If so, how feasible would it be to consider doing this as a day trip? Anybody been up on the Adams Glacier lately?

Umm, Johnny, spandex coated cellulite is a good thing. All hail female sport-climbers!

I think Rod's right. Little climbs for little climbers like me.

Anybody ever done this route? How are the conditions up there, on the north side? Thanks for any info.

Nobody could guess what my job entails.

Heck yeah it was worth the approach. We were no way near as fast as Cascade Climber, but the whole route was enjoyable and the weather was great. It was hilarious this time because the same buddy and I tried Mt Thomson last year as our first trad multi-pitch climb. We thought we had gotten 200 feet up before bailing (we were sloooowww, and by CascadeClimber standards, we still are), but in actuality, we weren't but one pitch up. It's funny how perceptions change. If we had more sunshiny weekends in the year than we do, I'd love to go back and climb it again. Maybe another year. Have fun.

A buddy and I did it as a day trip this past Saturday. Leave the crampons and ice axe at home. There's some snow to descend from Bumblebee, but nothing that made it hard for me to self-arrest with hands and feet... oops. The scree on the approach is probably the hardest part of the climb. Basically you'll scramble up to the notch and start off to the left going left/up until in a chimney of sorts. Top out over the rocks and then head up left towards the bushes. Big ol' root is one fine anchor. Of which, notice the 40+pound rock sitting against it and the gash it left in the root. About 20 feet up my partner pulled it free and sent me to pucker-land as I dove for cover, missing me by a foot. Beware loose rock... So the second pitch just goes straight up from that root and I can't remember. Just stick to the ridge as much as possible. If you get in to a bunch of lichen or hard climbing, you're off route. Once you break up onto the slab (a way easy slab you easily walk on), just follow the corner on up, it's a helluva lot easier than taking the face just past the corner and that damn tree. I can't remember, but I think it's some six pitches. You'll hit the false summit then go down to base and keep climbing up the last bit of the west ridge before you top out. Friggin' huge ass piton somebody bashed in on top. Descend by following ridge east, I think you'll keep heading east until you come down on two trees where you can do a single rope rap down to another set of trees with obvious webbing. Another single brings you down to some easy down scrambling. Keep along the foot path that sticks close to the ridge. You'll reach an obvious saddle with snow on the ridge and descend a light footpath down. There's water to be had at the lakes and also at the base of Thomson (streams). And there's booty to be had!! We got two singles and two biners on our trip! As for pro, we had basically a full set of stoppers and 1, 2, 3 camalots. I'd leave the 3 at home next time. Rope drag was a huge problem for me as I tried to go the full length on the slab once I climbed up on it, to maximize the pitch. It was extremely difficult if not impossible to communicate with my partner and took a big effort to make sure the rope was tight on him versus friction on rock. Quite a few rocks to sling.

I'd be kinda interested too. Take a chill pill, Wopper.

Along the aesthetic lines (I was almost feeling guilty on the sunflower seed bit), is it more proper to chew my Levi Garrett or sunflower seeds? Yeah... I don't swallow. I'd think folks would rather see my shells than globs of spit chew on the ground or on route. Biodegradeable (chew) versus aesthetic (shells).

How wired and how much of a nut are you?

Beck, Have the beers there, all the rest of us can whine and bitch and come up with another one later. Good job getting it from gab to reality.

Now that I have Percoset for the kidney stone (pushing pencils is hard labor), I'll be headed up Mt Thompson's West Ridge.

There were rumors that the earthquake did it in, but this isn't true. Funny thing is, while climbing Prusik I saw it, but when I went up Little Annapurna (supposedly the best view of the pole) the following week, I couldn't tell it from any of the other needles. But it's still standing... I think.

It's more of a shin-dig to find out who's all bark and no bite.

Hey all, how about Jon and Tim schedule a little party for all us CC.com folks. We can put nametags on that indicate our screen names and then mingle and tell stories. A great way to put a screen name to a face and get to know our fellow climbers better.

Oh please, Dan, you know how this internet lashing really hurts my soft feelings. No more abuse... I just can't take it. Have fun climbing!

Somebody mentioned something about not rapping off slings. Short of this different rope diameter stuff, you mean you'd rather rap off one rap ring than put the rope through all the slings? I've rapped quite a bit this way, always because the rope stays constant on the slings when loaded. None of the folks I've climbed with have made any mention of it and I certainly think it's wiser than threading that rope through the single ring. What do you all think?

Check out the post for partner(s) in the Mt Rainier section.

Saturday's weather is supposed to be great. Wondering if anyone would be up for doing a one day ascent, leaving Paradise at either 9pm Friday or 9pm Saturday? Obviously any queries will have to result in a real one-on-one meeting as there's no way to know who's got the skills/experience over the internet.

I've had enough of Dan. Anybody up for climbing Rainier in a day, this Saturday the 30th? DC or ID, weather is supposed to be great.

Please don't hurt me. I'm just a pencil pusher.

Good Food has the biggest and greasiest burgers this side of the Mississippi. On Hwy 20.

Mike Buker: Ha! That was my exact experience as well going from Tooth to Saber. So Dan, go find Castle Rock near Leavenworth and lead Saber, then lead Canary, then come back and tell us all about it.