Fairweather

Yes. There is a creek/waterfall that crosses the PCT just as you enter the basin from the north. Beautiful - flowers will likely be out now. Climbed CG this way on August 21st, 2003. (See pic) I think this was a normal snow year, so you should be OK, but "Bypass Camp" is much nicer and there is plenty of water. Once across Cispus Pass the route finding is not totally obvious and involves some class 2 scrambling for over 1000 feet to Klickton Divide. Also, keep in mind that the valley head you descend/traverse between Cispus Pass and Klickton Divide lies w/in the Yakima Indian Nation. I've heard this climb is more scenic and shorter from Conrad Meadows/Warm Lake.

Climb: Sluiskin Peak - Vernal Pk - Elysian Fields.....-XC Date of Climb: 7/28/2006 Trip Report: Together with my friend Greg, we left Ipsut Creek TH at 8:00am with the intention of climbing Sluiskin Peaks and traversing XC across Vernal Park, Elysian Fields, and traversing Pacific Point or descending via Dick Creek. The lower crossing of The Carbon River is out. We forded it with sandals and not too much difficulty, and headed up, up, up through beautiful mist-filled forest breaking out above the clouds just below Windy Gap. From here we traversed cross-country up talus-filled ravines, creeks, and Alpine Fir groves to the col between The Chief and The Squaw. Beckey's route description telling us that the climb is a mere class 3 scramble we climbed upward to the base of The Chief and beyond - the terrain steadily progressing from 3rd to hard fourth class. About 50 feet from the top we came upon belay slings and it was clear that the route above was very exposed low-fifth. With no rope - and not wanting to downclimb this difficult terrain, we bagged out about 40 or 50 feet from the top. Upon our return to the col, we decided to continue with our plans to visit Vernal Park, and seldom-visited Elysian Fields. We headed down a steep scree-filled gully about 1000 feet to beautiful Vernal Park. Then, up about 500 feet to the col that separates Vernal Park from Elysian Fields. We excitedly dropped through alpine fir groves headed for the meadows, when we came upon a "Black" Bear. Actually, the brownest blackie I've ever seen! He appeared to be too busy humping a log/scratching his underside to care about us - we were about 100 feet away. The meadows here are probably amongst the most magnificent I've ever seen. Small ponds and flowing rivulets everywhere. We were careful to walk apart and avoid trampling. With clouds and fog threatening, we resisted the temptation to descend directly down Dick Creek. (This turned out to be a very good decision.) Instead, we climbed up several hundred feet to the top of Pacific Point. Great views! And we were able to see - partly - the folly that Dick Creek would have been. We instead headed back down yet another talus slope and thick forest - 2000 feet down - to pick up the Wonderland Trail just below Mystic Park. Flowers! Hiked out 7 miles from here to our start point. 11 hrs round trip. Gear Notes: Should have brought a rope for Sluiskin. Not 3rd class! Approach Notes: Ipsut to Windy Gap in.... Exit via Wonderland trail from Mystic Park.

They could use Zeiss Geckos to test astronomical mirrors for continuity and finish.

Oh, oh, oh! Look at me! I'm from Seattle! And as further proof of my urban sophistication I will refer to my musicanus lexicanus obscurus whenever I am in likewise higher caste company. Granted, I may not actually enjoy the clamor which penetrates my auditory canal but it is, nonetheless, important that I listen and opine each nuance - for I may be asked by my hyper-educated peers in the most offhand manner how I like the newest Blah Blah CD. Is this musical one-up how effete Seattle metrosexuals now measure their cocks? BTW, the only artist I recognized - aside from KK's Pink Floyd choice - was Jack Johnson. Seriously; how can anyone listen to that shit? It sounds like children's music.

I wonder how the judge would rule your claim after I demonstrated the "Ignore User" feature available to you (and me) on this site.

First you'd have to prove an elevated heart rate is unhealthy. Then you would have to demonstrate a lawyer's time is more valuable than anybody else's.

You seem a little tense, Matt. Maybe you'd feel better if you sued someone today....or wrote out a really big check to the "American Association for Justice" or their #1 benefactor, The Democratic National Committee.

Brilliantly stated!

My heart pumps piss for tobacco companies, but don't you find it a bit strange that the same state governments who have/continue to make billions in cigarette tax revenue have the audacity to complain about the associated health-care costs they have incurred?

A few years ago my son's baseball coach was hit squarely in the face by a foul ball and his nose was literally crushed. While my wife was trying to stop the blood gushing from his wound she tried her hand at a little humor by noting that his blood was rather greasy. "Damn! Have you been stuffing your face with Oreo's and cheeseburgers today?" she asked. He just nodded that he had consumed both of these foods during the last 12 hours. The trans-fat in cake frosting, Oreo's, some fries, and baked goods is, in fact, dangerous. I don't think the public has been adequately warned. But, again, most are at least vaguely aware that certain foods will paste your arteries from the inside, out.

I think Matt neglected to attach a disclaimer to his post.

Are you sure this is true? Retiring bonds for 2-to-3x orig$cost over xx years couldn't be much cheaper. I honestly don't know. On a somewhat related topic: While I'm certainly no engineer, it seems odd that the Narrows is being built for under 1 billion - a full suspension bridge across deep/swift tidewater - while a floating bridge across a lake is proposed at 3 billion. (!?) The latter seems so much simpler.

...just like your viaduct should be...

I may be the only person west of the Cascade Mountains who has never set foot in a Starbucks! I just spent a few days in Mexico where the good people eat what they want, drive without seatbelts on cobblestone roads without lines. The motorcyclists don't wear helmets, everyone is welcome to ride in the back of a pickup truck, and peole are free to smoke to their heart's content - although I didn't see too many partaking - and in all of this non-mayhem I did not see one attorney's office or union hall. Did I mention everyone seemed happy too?

So why aren't YOU helping to pay for the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge?

So where does the Alaska Way viaduct fit into this formula? And why am I paying for an "emergency replacement" who's form hasn't even been decided upon over a year after the tax in part to pay for it was imposed by Queen Gregoire?

http://www.aapa-ports.org/pdf/2005_NORTH_AMERICAN_CONTAINER_TRAFFIC.pdf Ok, a virtual tie with Tacoma poised to surpass in one or two years. So again, how can Josh hold to his Seattle-centric statements against such statistics insomuch as highway/rail infrastructure is required to deliver goods to market?

Yes, we all saw how anxious Seattlites were to pay for their monorail project. When it became apparent the state wasn't going to contribute, the locals snapped those purses and wallets shut so fast they nearly broke the sound barrier. ...Of course it was yet another good excuse to sieze some private property and re-sell it for a tidy profit! A case can be made for a state-funded 520 bridge. It's a state highway, after all. But the viaduct begins and ends in Seattle. Via your logic, Josh, the other 70% of the state should relieve King County citizens of all their tax burdens? Have you noticed that the Port of Tacoma now handles more shipping than Seattle? Have you noticed that Boeing HQ now resides in Chicago? Other than being a necessary center for business - most of which actually transpires elsewhere - I don't see Seattle as much more than vacant stares, ivory towers, and goofy politics along the fringe.

Are you trying to attribute that second quote to me? Clever, but lacking originality with the southern banter and Nascar wit. A classic example of Seattle arrogance has once again been displayed by JoshK. You go, Tiger!

Damn straight! Why the fuck are the rest of us paying for Seattle's Viaduct repair/replacement?!?! (can you say 'Tacoma Narrows Bridge public/private partnership'?) Maybe they should tear down that fucking convention center they built over I-5 and widen the freeway there. Just get rid of that Alaska Way viaduct altogether.

As most Seattleites seem to forget, light rail/Sound Transit is being paid for by the good people in both Pierce and Snohomish Counties too. ...Despite Seattle/King County's control of the RTA board and constant "shortening" of the line. Explain to me again why I'm paying for these projects? As for the Sonics....Fuck 'em. I have yet to see where any taxpayer-funded pro-sports payoff resides.

A socialist? Snark? WTF? You're putting words into my mouth. Don't be such a crybaby. Actually, I agree with much of what you just wrote. However, your premise that only smart people (like you, I assume?) should vote is a classic and ongoing theme in your posts. Did I misread that one? An aside: Do we really "own" our homes and land in this 'free country' when failure to pay prompt tribute will result in government siezure?

Probably the most enlightened thing you've ever said.

Yes, but is "market value" really how property should be taxed? I believe that increased value - CPI and bond measures notwithstanding - should not be tax-relevant until that property actually changes hands ala California's prop 13. Ask yourself sincerely; does this state really provide increasing levels of service commensurate with property values? The state budget has gone from 21bn to 27bn in just 3 years. Has population increased the same? No. If, as some here believe, the real-estate bubble bursts, will the state then lower property values at pace with the market? I seriously doubt it. The government in Washington State - lacking proper judicial separation as it does - can raise or lower taxes virtually at will. Free market forces are not particularly tied to government tax policy vis a vis property rates. The free market is what it is - taxes are what we as a people decide they ought to be. And I believe there should be much more accountability and performance standard. I don't believe this state government is entitled to a windfall not initiated by any particular policy they passed into law.

Geeez, JayB! You sound like one of them in that last post. You can't reconcile your free market beliefs (which I sincerely admire) with the above. You just can't. Even though it breaks my heart to see the prices here in Pierce County going up at an even faster rate than Seattle, I will remain true to my beliefs. The real injustice is when a retired couple or widow(er) in their late 60's or early 70's has to sell their home because they can no longer afford the property taxes on that once-modest abode. My mother now shells out $10,000/yr in property taxes for the "privelege" of living in the home she worked so hard to pay off years ago. And for what? So state workers can get new fleet vehicles every 16 months? So the state can squander $10,000 per child on K-12 'education' (administration) and subsidize university-level students who are so filled with a sense of entitlement? C'mon, man. You know better.