crazy_t

Thanks for the comprehensive report! I will pass it on.

Has anyone been up on Hood the last few days? A friend is heading out tommorrow (1-13) and I told her I'd check here for any recent first-hand reports of snow and avy hazard. She's going up the standard route. I appreciate it!

the snow gods reward those who pay their dues..

Wow, he was a great guy. Good job with your life, Brad, inspirational!

I've been thinking troll too. Have we been had?

Earth n Sky, what's your plan for the Colorado trip with regard to schedule and sleeping elevations?

Guides are chiefly concerned with ensuring a client's safety on a climb; "success" whether that be making a summit or whatever else should be secondary. Most guides are invested in the developement of their clients' skill and experience base too, and as teachers can help their clients become aware of and avoid dangerous or time-costly situations that they might not otherwise recognize. Often a summit climb is the ideal venue for teaching specific lessons, ones which could not be practiced or intellectualized in another, less complete situation or venue. For some, losing the enhanced experience of excitement, stress and risk that comes with making your own "big" decisions in the mountains is no loss. They have a full experience as a second on a rope with a safe leader. For others, it takes the fun out of it. But many of those who climb with a guide eventually lead on their own, with a good skill-set and smart decision making experience to refer to. Rather than an inspired but lucky, learn-as-you go approach that may be exciting but also risky (that was my original experience; I have since gone back and received training and instruction and built my skills up from a base focused on safety and technique) many prefer to gain their skills from a professional teacher who can help them get more efficiency out of their time and help them develop respect and experience in the mountains, which deserve and sometimes demand your best. It's just that there is judgement and arrogance in your words, Jamin. And you clearly have a lot to learn (for example "Terrain is class 3.", and this will be on a winter outing where you may not even see the "class 3" through the 3' of snow sitting on it; the cruxes of this climb will likely have very little to do with "class 3"). The challenge of the mountains is gaining a relationship with those elements: snow, rock, ice; weather, avalanche hazard; and as well with partnerships in the mountains. Then coming into your ventures aware, respectful, and kicking ass when conditions are right. There's a satisfaction to the art of the practice, and the venue of the mountains is like no other. Humble yourself, lad! And why judge others? Just do what makes sense for you, and hold off on the potentially uninformed diss.

"Just my .02. Don't be offended or anything. "

How many wildcards like this Jamin have you met in the hills? And how many times have you had to bail them out. What's dangerous is that with his ego, and lack of respect for the mountains as well as his partners (and other people, in general), he will be able to corral beginners into getting out with him. Hopefully no one gets hurt. Jamin, I don't know you, so maybe I'm wrong about you, but your posts speak fairly clearly. You're at the stage of climbing where you have some basic skills, but more energy and ego than is balanced by experience and skill. It's a dangerous period, most all of us have made it by it, I hope you do too. It seems like you have a lot to learn. And you have a big mouth! Epic.

I remember skiing Winter Park/MJ one day in the late 80's. We drank some tea on the drive up from the front range in a growing snowstorm, by the time we got there the passes had closed behind us and we were ripped. 3' fresh from the night before and the storming that day; patrol opened a few lines in front of us (hole in the wall, etc.) for the first time that year. Epic, epic day. Culminated in a pub club style session at the bar at the "Vintage". The four of us eased down for a few hours with multiple + beers and food. When the waitress (the girlfriend of one of the group) brought the check for the damage, it was $11.32 total. It was a happy day all around. Even if it's just you, raise a glass to the good life! Colorado living is awesome. Cheers!

from "weather.com" at 3:15 today: Special Weather Statement SAN JUAN COUNTY-WESTERN WHATCOM COUNTY- SOUTHWEST INTERIOR- EAST PUGET SOUND LOWLANDS-WESTERN SKAGIT COUNTY-EVERETT AND VICINITY- SEATTLE/BREMERTON AREA- TACOMA AREA-ADMIRALTY INLET AREA- HOOD CANAL AREA-LOWER CHEHALIS VALLEY AREA- OLYMPICS- EASTERN STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA-WESTERN STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA- NORTH COAST-CENTRAL COAST-WEST SLOPES NORTHERN CASCADES AND PASSES- WEST SLOPES CENTRAL CASCADES AND PASSES- 544 AM PST TUE JAN 9 2007 ...MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES AND POSSIBLE LOWLAND SNOW COMING TO WESTERN WASHINGTON... A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL BARREL ACROSS WESTERN WASHINGTON LATER TODAY. THIS FRONT WILL USHER IN A MUCH COLDER AIR MASS OVER WESTERN WASHINGTON. TEMPERATURES WILL FALL TO NEAR OR BELOW FREEZING LATER TONIGHT...WITH HIGHS ONLY IN THE MIDDLE 30S ON WEDNESDAY. A MODIFIED ARCTIC FRONT WILL DROP SOUTH THROUGH THE AREA WEDNESDAY EVENING...BRINGING A REINFORCING SHOT OF COLD AIR. WINDS WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA TODAY...ESPECIALLY OVER THE NORTHERN PUGET SOUND AND THE STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. WINDS MAY GUST AS HIGH AS 60 MPH IN THOSE AREAS...AND TO 45 MPH ELSEWHERE. WINDS WILL EASE LATER TUESDAY EVENING. THE OTHER BIG ISSUE IS HOW MUCH SNOW WILL FALL ACROSS THE LOWLANDS. IT NOW APPEARS A WEATHER DISTURBANCE WILL ROLL INTO THE AREA EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING...BRINGING SNOW SHOWERS TO MOST OF THE LOWLANDS. TEMPERATURES WILL BE NEAR FREEZING SO SNOW WILL LIKELY STICK TO SURFACES. SNOW AMOUNTS STILL REMAIN UNCERTAIN...BUT A TRACE TO 2 INCHES IS POSSIBLE. LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS COULD FALL...ESPECIALLY NORTH OF SEATTLE TO AROUND EVERETT AND WEST TO THE STRAIT WHERE A CONVERGENCE ZONE MAY FORM. AS THE ARCTIC AIR ARRIVES WEDNESDAY EVENING...SNOW SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE FRONT. IT IS TOO EARLY TO SAY HOW MUCH SNOW MIGHT FALL BUT SOME ADDITIONAL LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS ARE POSSIBLE. TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY FALL INTO THE 20S ACROSS THE AREA SO ANY SNOW THAT DOES FALL WILL STICK TO ROADWAYS. TRAVELS AND COMMUTERS SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR ICY ROADS AND POSSIBLE SNOW COVERED ROADWAYS ON WEDNESDAY. ARCTIC AIR KEEPS THE REGION IN THE CHILL THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK. HIGH TEMPERATURES ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY MAY STRUGGLE TO REACH THE MID 30S ACROSS THE INTERIOR LOWLANDS... AND POSSIBLY NOT REACH FREEZING IN SOME AREAS. OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL FALL INTO THE TEENS AND 20S...WITH THE COLDEST TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE NORTHWEST INTERIOR. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST UPDATES FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ON THIS CHANGE TO COLDER AND POSSIBLY SNOWY WEATHER. A little variety at least..

sounds like the opposite of "spray"

I think he'll save time and get solid a lot quicker by starting at the resort. That's not flapping, but just my 2 cents worth, and I'm someone who also is turned off by the resort scene. Regardless of how you do it, manimal, good luck and have a blast. And remember.."Keep those tips up"

Nice job! Must have been a fun 6 months.

good for the seahawks, fun last 1/2 too. good luck!

You should learn at the area. Get some lessons, then ride the lifts. You could get seriously hurt + as a blatant beginner in the backcountry if you can't ski in control. I ski mainly backcountry, for many reasons. But I've been on skis since before I was 2, and have a feel for skis, the snow and how it varies, not to mention avalanche awareness and rescue etc. But for you, I think regardless of all that, the shortest distance between where you are now and where you want to be begins with getting dialed in on skiing, at a resort. The effort is definitely worth it. Just suck it up, put your vision of stepping right into the right pair of AT skis and making powder turns on hold for now and pay your dues for a little bit. Buy a used AT setup that suits you generally, and once you are more solid on your skis skin up the groomed slopes sometimes as part of your routine. Take an avalanche course this winter. Ease into it, so you can enjoy it for years. That's just my advice, as Pigpen said "you heard what the man said, the warning is there, just do what you want!". Snowboarding is quicker to learn, btw. But that's another thing...

That's good shit...

Don't take NH for granite.. The 'Shire!!!

hunker down boys!!! We're pulling for you..

You should also consider firing down to the front range for rock climbing: S-facing Eldo, Flatirons and Boulder Canyon. Nice break from ski town vibe and could be done as a day trip. Ski a lap off of Loveland Pass or a pitch of ice in Clear Creek on your way up or down for the multi-sport day.

shrub's legacy is not one of a visionary. Rather, a backwards and opportunistic set of selfish blunders that has killed many, weakened our nation and diplomacy worldwide, and waylaid attention and energies from the pressing issues of our day. Unfortunately for him he was called on it, by a nation that is finally realizing that he and his crew are the ones we need to be afraid of. It's been a step backwards for the world. Unfortunately sometimes that is what is needed to build sufficient momentum to take the next step forward.

Research "the Commando Run" from Vail Pass. The huts over Vail are good (Eisman hut a favorite). Loveland Pass car-accessed bc is sweet.

Capt. Caveman

?

A la cj001f, "Keep those tips up" The other classic, saw an original in the same Aspen shop (he kept it out of customers' sight) a few years ago.