lisa

oops, my mistake Rob, I guess I'm getting mixed up with all the stories of recent climbs in AK. I say one of these days you guys should round up a brief slide show, maybe all together? Just a thought. For those who can't make it tonight, we'll swing another one next week so others down south may be able to make it. Iain, textplorer and others?

How about East Bank Saloon at 7:00. 727 SE Grand.

Mount McKinley Claims First Death Since 1998 July 01, 2002 Anchorage Daily News Nicole Tsong, Anchorage Daily News A solo climber descending Mount McKinley in Denali National Park tumbled 1,000 feet to his death early Sunday, the National Park Service said. It is the first death on 20,320-foot Mount McKinley since 1998, the National Park Service said. The Park Service is not identifying the climber until his relatives are notified. Spokesman Doug Stockdale said the climber was not an American. The man was descending near 18,000 feet on treacherous Denali Pass on the West Buttress route when he fell. Before that, he was seen by other climbers just below the summit at 20,100 feet. Denali Pass is steep and icy with a slope of up to 45 degrees, Stockdale said. "It's a challenging part because of the steep angle, and it's a traverse going across," he said. "And . . . there's ice, which complicates things." According to Park Service records, this is the sixth death on the pass since 1980. Mount McKinley is North America's tallest mountain. Climbers and a Park Service ranger at the 17,200-foot camp saw the man plummet from the slope just after midnight. A ranger was able to reach the body and confirm the climber was dead around 2:30 a.m., Stockdale said. Weather, which was clear at the time, likely wasn't a factor in the accident, he said. But variable weather since has hampered the recovery. The body had not been brought down from the mountain as of Sunday afternoon. The climber flew into the Mount McKinley base camp on June 19 from Talkeetna, but not much else is known about his climb, Stockdale said. He is reported to have climbed other mountains, possibly in Latin America. The climb to the summit can be difficult to pace, said Bruce Andrews, a guide for Alaska Mountaineering School and Alaska Denali Guiding in Talkeetna. Climbers get exhausted during the 12 to 14 hours it takes to summit from the high camp and return. That can lead to mistakes like catching a crampon on clothing or stumbling on the terrain, he said. "Generally we see people putting maximum output to get to the summit and are not leaving enough in the reserve tank for the descent," he said. "They're very tired, and these sort of things happen." And the man was climbing alone, which meant he didn't have a backup rope system with other climbers, Andrews said. "There aren't any handrails up there for a soloist," he said. The last known fatalities on Mount McKinley occurred in 1998. A climbing guide fell to his death in June that year while descending the West Buttress Ridge. A Canadian also slid to his death down the same stretch of mountain earlier that year. And hours later, a volunteer park mountaineer ranger who was trying to rescue the Canadian disappeared down the same slope. In 1997, one climber died on the mountain. In 1996, two died, in 1995 six. A record 11 climbers died on McKinley in 1992. Sunday's death is not the first fatality for Denali National Park this year, however. On June 17, three Anchorage-area brothers attempting to summit Mount Foraker fell 2,000 feet to their deaths. Mount Foraker is the second-tallest peak in the Alaska range and the third-tallest in Alaska, but it is considered a more technically challenging climb than McKinley. More than 1,200 climbers registered to climb McKinley this year. According to the Park Service, 183 climbers are still on the mountain. Reporter Nicole Tsong can be reached at mailto:ntsong@adn.comor907 257-4450. This material Copyright 2002 Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage AK

How about a place in SE that has both good beer and cocktails? Mtnhigh, do you know of such a place? Lets say 7:00 and rob if you're coming, bring some pics from Denali, Mtnhigh has some cool ones to share. Fun guy, are you attending? Do you have pics from your trip as well? See you guys tonight!

We missed you lurkers at the pub club last week, although we had a special appearance by sk and jKrueger who spent the time and money to drive up from Eugene! It was great to see you guys! Shredmaximus and Mtnhigh were there as well. Mtnhigh just returned from Denali last week, he will be bringing photos to show at the next brew pub. Right Pete? I think it would be great if Funguy, and rbw and any others that climbed Denali this season bring some pics to one of our meetings. You guys should all meet anyway! Requests were placed for the attendance of Terminal Gravity and Iian. Where will the next one be? What day works best for everyone? Let the bidding begin...

I'll be attending, I'm not into cooking in this heat. Way to go Sketchfest, we'll have to see you next week. Come on up North SK and JK, there will be others there. I ran into some folks on Jefferson Sun. told them about the site and they will be showing up. We can discuss next pub clubs destination tonight, somewhere with good beer, food and liqour...is there a place?

oops, I just read the whole thread, maybe I'll stop in after 9:00 and see if you guys are still there. Happy swigging!

I'm game, when/where? My folks are visiting for a few days, but I think I can sneak away for a cold one.

Is that 3 or, 4 miles? Or, 3/4 of a mile?

It was great to meet and drink! Congratulations on Funguy's recent summit of Denali!!

Thanks Dox! Hope to get out with you bushwackers soon! As for gappertimmy, you need to get out of the garage!

We left the car at 5:00pm Friday, approx. 4400ft. 2 miles from Morrison Creek trailhead. The road is patchy at the start, we carried our skis maybe a half mile, then we began skinning. We reached Cold Springs around 7:00 and set up camp just beyond the trailhead, to avoid the early morning droves of climbers. As dusk neared, a brilliant exhibit of red, orange and blue entwined, filled the western sky. We enjoyed a small fire while sipping Makers Mark; and watched a symphony of beauty, as dusk faded into darkness while stars filled the sky, dancing together as if the silence a melody. Finally after beers and bourbon we hit the hay at 11:30, early risers...not. Saturday morning after much coffee, we proceeded through timberline and decided to take compass bearings for fun and avoid following others tracks. We tried to get away from these red wands all over the place, but wherever we ventured, they would re-appear. We took a lunch break and soon found we were being followed by others who must have found our tracks appealing. At 6500ft we began noticed folks camping, although the majority were headed East toward Smith Butte, the standard Winter route, out of the way for this time of year. As we ascended the valley, we debated on wheather to camp on the ridge to our West, or the end of the valley just ahead. We quickly made our decision at 7400ft where we found a small, but worthy spring of water. We set up camp, then ventured over to gather water. Within minuets, two female rangers skied down to us. My wonderful over zelous dog, Shasta, who loves to chase skiers, somehow caught one of the rangers off guard and she fell. Of course, it was sloppy, heavy snow at this point. I quickly approached the rangers as they took their gear off and before she spoke, I called her by name, as I recognized her to be a fellow ski buddy I met skiing the bc during winter. She told me she was going to yell at me for the dog at first, I told her there is no leash law on Adams, and the other ranger laughed, for she loved dogs and felt the bc was where dogs are meant to be. These gals are great folk who love the mtns and have commited themselves to employing thier passions to care for and treasure what the rest of us want to use on occasion. They foresake the money and benefits that more prestigous jobs hold. I know her boyfriend has worked for the F.S. for 10 years and still can't get benefits, what a joke. They are good people with good hearts like most of us, be nice to them! Although we don't like the system, paying to climb when others(mobilers)don't; we should take into consideration people are employed because of it, and the mtn. will be a cleaner place than it would be if we were to leave it up to ourselves to keep it clean. How many climbers/backpackers would volunteer their weekends to clean feces and trash off a mtn? Back to the climb: Pat decided to get a run in, and headed up 1000ft for some late afternoon turns. I set up the tent and drank a brewski that Pat so graciously carried. Sunday morning we left camp at 9:30, hoping the sun would soften the snow enough that we may skin all the way. We stopped once for a food break around 9500ft, then reached the false summit around 2:00. We had skinned all the way. Pat proceeded to skin to the summit, though he said it was very icy and wind blown, not worth taking the pooch any further. I had summited a few times before and felt I didn't need to go this time, so I hung at Pikers Peak w/Shasta who was not appearing to keen on going further. The ski down was fabulous, we had hoped to ski the SW chutes, but time had become an issue. The snow was great, no frozen sustrugi to break through. Just before camp the snow became sloppy and I took another whipper, not my day that day. We broke down camp in less than an hour and began our ski to the car. With all the various wands strewn about, its quite clear which way leads to the road. (btw, the rangers don't wand the mtn, it's gapers who do, and leave w/out picking up thier wands, and the rangers are told not to pick them up.) We were at the car in two hours, after I flailed some more through the twigs and moss under the trees...they make great breaks. We loaded up the car and sipped a cold one; as we drove past the many folks loading thier cars, they would see Shasta hanging her head out the window and they would cheer: "There goes Shasta".

You can get to withing 2 miles of Morrison Creek. 5 miles to Cold Springs, just got back Sunday eve. There is about 6 or more ft at Cold Springs, its going to be awhile.

Sandy Weil is no chic, he is a hard climbing stud!

Just got back from Adams, hope it's not too late to make this thing a go. Dublin Pub sounds great! See you there at 6:30 Tim and Sketchfest? Any others are encouraged to attend!!

Dublin Pub sounds great! 6:30 Dublin Pub it is! I just got back from Adams, hope it's not too late to make this thing a go. I'll see you there Tim and Sketchfest? Any others attending??? Either way, I won't let you down Timmay! See you there tonight!!

This past weekend, myself and my pooch and 20 or, more others climbed the So. Sister. I headed in Sat. early afternoon, slow getting it together after the late night festivities with Anna, Sk, jkrueger, mtnrgr and bellemontage. I found a dry spot to camp off the snow and enjoyed a roaring fire under a full moon that night. The following morning, clouds rolled about, masking the summit on occasion. You can skin the majority of the route up, although there is a section on the ridge where you have to carry your skies through rock and rubble. Many of the folks I encountered were on their first mountain climb, none the less, they were snowboarding the descent. It was refreshing to catch a wind of their enthusiasm and excitement for the unknown. At the summit, there were no views to be had, in fact you could not see 20ft, others asked where the true summit was, I simply pointed off into the whiteness beyond. The snow was heavy even from the summit, I don't thing time of day was an issue according to others who had descended earlier and experienced the same slow going slop. I cut the steeper slopes before descending and all of them sluffed off the surface layer. With two snowboarders following behind, we ripped through the trees and then slowly traversed into camp. Smiles were seen on every face that day. Congrats to the newbies who summited their first peak!!

Hey Timmay! There are some Pdx folks who make rare appearances, indeed we will make it happen. Who wants to start the bidding for a watering hole?? 6:00 Monday?

The weather is looking fabulous this weekend, planning to ski one of these peaks. Maybe as early as Thursday. Gapers welcome!

How ever did Cascade climbers find its way into Nordstrom...very creative if that's you coley.

I'll be attending the b-bque. Meeting others Friday eve at Skullhollow? Campground, Anna and others will be holding many spots for last minute arrivals. Are you going to make it mtnrgr? I believe this is a first for Timmay to host, lets not let him down!

The trip was indeed a hoot! Anna had never skied with a pack on, nor experienced a free heel binding, but that did not stop her enthusiasm and she picked it up like a natural athlete would. It was really great to see the mountain free of summit fever flatlanders, except ourselves of course. Unfortunately, there were snowmobile tracks all over the lower flanks of the mountain. According to the kind woman at the Forest Service,(who bent the rules to let us use their restroom and made us copies of the enlarged map they had for referance); last weekend there had been quite the conflict on the mountain when the FS discovered snowmobilers. Apparently, locals feel Adams is their mountain as if it is to be understood and negating the law, they took their toys beyond the wilderness boundery. Whats new? Shasta is my pooch, she has climbed Glacier Peak, Baker, Hood and St. Helens. She loves the snow and takes great joy in chasing anyone on skis. If you want to enjoy some fab skiing before the crowds arrive, this is the time and it's well worth the effort!!

I would love to join you guys for the drinking, will folks still be there around 9:30? I have to go to a job fair at 6:00 in hopes of employment I suppose, although it's fun not working!! See ya there Anna!

Resume Razors pain youRivers are damp- Acids stain youDrugs cause cramp- Guns aren't lawfulNooses give, Gas smells awfulMight as well live. Dorthy Parker

Wow, what a debate....I don't recall it ever being such a dilema. I just wonder where little bunny foo foo went? I would be joining you guys in a heart beat if I were'nt in Portland....ugh. It sure sounds like the crowd has grown, I still remember the first meeting, it was classic!! I miss you guys! Cheers!