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Kyle was our mixed climbing rope gun! He will lead sketchy, runout mixed pitches, but finds steep skiing insane. Weird.

Thanks! Yes, walking was definitely faster and saner yesterday. We were extra cautious and in no hurry to set a speed descent of TC's. Sure, email them to me: touring29@gmail.com

Trip: Dragontail Peak TC Ski - Triple Couloirs: Option #3 Date: 3/21/2010 Trip Report: I've had my eye on the N. Face of Dragontail all season as it relates to Triple Couloirs. Not wanting to commit to the three 60m raps down the un-ice runnels between the 2nd and Hidden couloirs, I discovered the following option for the ascent and descent. The north face of Dragontail, a decent looking, steep snowfield capped with a short rock headwall. Unfortunately, on Saturday Kyle Flick, Will Terrano and I weren't the only ones with TC on our agenda. By 8:00am, we joined the conga line up the Hidden Couloir, having been bested by no fewer than 8 other climbers. But whatever, it's not like waiting in line on Outer Space. We passed when we needed to, and everyone was cordial and having a great time. Besides, it was nice to draft for once this season. We climbed to the top of the Hidden Couloir, and broke out onto the North Face. At the headwall, Kyle had to sack up and earn his keep by leading the small rock headwall, a 20 meter pitch protected by one in-situ piton in the first 10'. After that, it was insecure mixed of snow over slab. Kyle was able to get solid sticks in the duff (great lead Kyle!), and the party below us (Geoff Georges and Jeessica Todd) told us later they were able to get a solid ice-screw in the turf. With this out of the way, we sprinted to the top, surprised to find ourselves on the summit after 4 hours, 20 minutes of work. This variation was fast. Kyle turned and beat it down the backside, as Will and I discussed our strategy for the descent. At this time, Dan Helmstadtler popped up on the summit with intentions to ski TC's as well. He was approaching it Teleross style, by hiking up the backside, and planned to do the raps. Will and I convinced him to join us for the Option #3 variation, replacing the three raps with one short one. He was in. We waited around at the top of the TC's for the another two hours for the other three parties to top out, so as not to bombard them with our slough. Incredibly enough, there were yet another two climber/skiers intending to ski the TC's too, but later bailed down the backside. The 3rd couloir was incredible skiing, with the powder compact but soft, and the pitch steep but not extremely so. It inspired confidence all the way down to our North Face topout. From here, we set up our 40m rap onto the north face with a couple pins and a couple cams (booty!). They were my "bail cams" anyway, so no big deal. If you're a dirtbag and need the gear, it's there for ya! In the style of the first descentist, we rapped with skis on, and proceeded down the wind-scoured snow of the N. Face to the top of the Hidden Couloir. The Hidden starts off steep and remains so, all the way to the exit. We all made tentative turns as it was quite icy from the get-go. There is one section that constricts to the length of my skis, and a self-beloay with axe was handy to sideslip this short, steep section of snow over rock. From there, it was more steepness over hardpacked crud. However, we were able to find small pockets of softer stuff. A few hop turns and we were below the entrance cliff to TC's. I finally got this ski off my chest, having thought about it all season. It was strange to see others with the same intent on the same day, conincidentally. Kyle Flick at the entrance. Will at the top of the hidden couloir. Will working his way up the North Face. Kyle leading the short mixed section, looking for that turf! Will at the top of the N. Face. Summit scramble. Climbers 1 & 2 descending. Dan descending the 3rd Couloir. Dan rapping onto the N. Face. Will's turn. Dan tearing up the N. Face. Dan getting ready to drop into the Hidden. Will descending the variable snow of the Hidden. Exiting the stress...

Mito, you bet! On its way!

Cool!

Faded Levis denim jacket with a Copenhagen ring burned into the left 'breastal' pocket, I would have claimed it immediately.

Anyone wanna jump on some polished granite at Castle Rock tomorrow? And for that matter, every Monday and Wednesday? I coild get there by 5:30pm. Anyone? Sol? Jens? Care to slum it with a gumbie?

Close...

I called the Leavenworth Ranger Station and asked. They said no decision has been made yet. All bets are off though if they return I'm sure.

If it's yours, describe it and I'll send it back to ya!

If you get to Leavenworth on Wednesday, I can meet you at CR after work. Still plenty of daylight to get in some quality pitches.

Don't know where you got your mis-information about closure of SCW in April, since there has not been any decision made as yet.

There are only a few bare patches within the first mile of the still-gated roadhead (no pun intended). After that, there's consistent snow all the way to the TH. Even more than last year I'd say. It's a ways from melting off.STFUAHikeYourFourMiles.

From the Beckey description I'm pretty sure it's Spineless Prow.

Coincidence? Not sure. I bet Croft takes dumps, and I too take dumps. I think I'm seeing a pattern emerge that goes beyond coincidence.

Thanks!

The eggs were scrambled. Yeah, it was sick.

Great talking with you guys! Thanks for the sunscreen. Let me know when you're headed out this way again and I'll certainly take you up on your beer offer! Enchantment Ale kicks ass, and so doea Brass Ass and chips/salsa at South.

Trip: Colchuck Peak - North Buttress Couloir Ski Date: 3/6/2010 Trip Report: Colchuck area offered up so much last week, why not go back in for a repeat? Scott McAllister and I did just that. To start off, I woke up at 3:30am and had some eggs, coffee, a pancake, toast, cereal (with lactose free Silk, very vanilla), a bagel and more coffee...Then I got on the road and drove 25 minutes to the trailhead. But I digress... I've wanted to ski this since reading the Hummel's TR from a few years ago. Scott and I booted up just to the top of the couloir only, leaving the rest of the NW face for a future trip. In the right conditions, it looks like it would make a great descent from summit back to the lake. The shot descends at a consistent grade. I'd say it's very similar to the cannon mtn. couloir, but steeper and easier to get to. There was no icy bulge that was present last year. Just good-edging powder the entire distance. We watched our friend Erik shred it earlier in the morning, and couldn't resist laying down our own tracks. The snow up there Saturday was fantastic, from couloir back to the lake! Moon and Colchuck in the morning. Scott with Mt. Cashmere behind. Colchuck's NE Couloir left and North Buttress Couloir right. Dragontail looking impressive. Erik's descent earlier of the NB Couloir. The tiny black dot 1/3 of the way down the couloir is him. A look down from the top of the couloir. Scott riding the couloir. Gear: Skis, poles, skins, #4 big bro (did not use), neutrino(did not use), TP (did use).

'Sucks for skiing'?! I beg your pardon, but unless you like you're skiing right off the road, the skiing remains quite excellent up high. Love Castle Rock! It's getting prime, except for the ticks.

I thought you grew up skiing in the French alps as a young lad?

Piston: we put in a nice trail up to the lake. There were a couple large, natural release slides that occured a day or two before we got up there. Other than those, the snow was very stable. You should be fine with snowshoes!

Thanks! I'm sure this line has been skied many times before we did.

Trip: Colchuck Peak - NE Couloir Ski Date: 2/28/2010 Trip Report: This was a surprising weekend for the east side. Mission Ridge got 8 inches of snow Thursday/Friday. Chump change for Steven's, but quite a pleasant surprise for the eastern half. So it was no surprise to fine a foot to 15 inches of new snow on the way up to Colchuck. Will and I had ideas, and we finally settled on the NE Couloir given the new snow amounts. Of course, that doesn't really make too much sense... Kyle Flick and Scott McCallister joined us for Saturday, where we had a nice run up and down the glacier. The place was deserted, and we weren't complaining about it. We tried to scope out our options but weather rolled in so we booked it back to camp. Sunday, Scott turned back due to a torn hip flexor, so it was left to Will and I to make something of the weekend. Under amazing skies, we reached the top of Colchuck. I don't think I've ever summitted this damn peak in the 12 years I've been running around these hills. Weird. We scoped the best way into the NE Couloir, eventually finding an easy but slippery downclimb. The first few turns into the upper NE Couloir was actully side slipping on iced up snow. We started out on a more eastern aspect, but the more we traversed over to the north facing slope, the better it got until it was perfect powder for edging. We reached the "mandatory air" over an ice bulge by steep side stepping down a snow fluting over ice. The air was only about a 6 foot drop, and I wouldn't think twice about it in any other situation. However, the landing was still steep, and the exposure below that landing was daunting should you blow it. I was able to ass smear and come to a stop, and Will did the same. From there, it was continued steep, powdery turns until the couloir pinched off like a lap-band, about the length of my skis. Below that, we were shooting out the exit and enjoying the billowy cruise back to the lake. On the way up after the clearing storm Kyle looking small I like the light in this image, showing Backbone and Serpentine, which usually blend into the face in the summer months. So clear out today... Will downclimbing off Colchuck's Summit Traversing over to the NE Couloir entrance Upper NE Couloir Things start to get tight

Before this traverse, I used to look over there and think, "what a pile of shit." Then a couple of visionaries come along and send it. Now when I look over there I shall think, "Wow, someone climbed that pile of shit."