telemarker

Oh! The fish! Dammit, I forgot. Okay, my next trip up there, which will be soon of course, I will get the "fish jumping in Colchuck Lake" photo.

Thanks! The descent is 95% snow-free, with some plunge-stepping back to the packs.

Cool TR. Like Kyle said, it is in a cool locale, with the climbing being okay for the most part. It would make a great alpine solo scramble!

Trip: Colchuck Balanced Rock - West Face Date: 7/3/2009 Trip Report: I know, over TR'd, but oh well... I caddied for Pat Sullivan (Spiderman) last Friday on Colchuck Balanced Rock. Pat birdied the first two 5.11 cruxes, and bogied the 5.12 pitch, just missing the on-sight of the route. He rested a bit, scoped and sent the crux easily. Following are some photos: For Bug, Lake Colchuck from CBR: Fierce Crack: Starting then through the roof crux: 5.12 Pitch: Busted Cam: Near Summit, Vertical Pan: Gear Notes: Doubles up to #3 Camalot. 1x #4. Approach Notes: Yeah, you get to avoid Aasgard.

Nice write-up and photos Tazz! Way to get after it. I'll have to make my way up there one of these days.

Thanks. Busted. I originally stitched a grizz in there, but thought that was a little much.

Deer - far left, where the first boulder meets the lake. Nice pictures John! Way to enjoy a great day in the Enchantments. Thanks! Keen eye Toko!

Good work Ade!

I find myself reading TR's on routes that have been posted dozens of times too. I don't mind, so I'll keep spewing them out too. Bug: No fish in the lake, but you didn't notice the deer in the first pic?

If Wenatchee had a gym, I'd give up outdoor climbing altogether. Just sack up and lead it without the #5! So, which route are you doing this Friday again??!! Zonk, just wait for my Colchuck/Dragontail traverse TR.

Thanks. Good job on your climbs up there! Not trying to be smug, but the off-width carries more hype than it deserves. For example the o/w pitch on Prusik's Burgner/Stanley, also rated 5.9 feels much more desperate than Backbone's o/w. On backbone, it's low-angled, has great features for the right foot, you can fit your entire left thigh in the crack and use it as a cam, so much so that I've quit bringing the #6 Camalot because it's useless after this one pitch. The rest of the climbing on Backbone is fun and well-protected!

Found on lower part of Backbone Ridge.

oh, and also found this near the bottom of the route: One Merrell Siren Sport, US sz 10,left with a superfeet bed. I'd be happy to send it back to its owner...

Trip: Colchuck Cirque - Backbone Ridge Date: 6/27/2009 Trip Report: Wow. Busy weekend out in the alpine. Matt and I had our own fun. Besides Liberty Crack last yer, this was his first ever long venture into the alpine environs. Climb went off really well. Flawless day. A tidy 8 hours on route and 9pm, headlamp-less return to the car had me smiling. Some photos: Gear Notes: Med. rack to 3.5"

Forgive me for being an armchair mountaineer, but if you're not going to rope up, shouldn't you have at least worn some kneepads?

Kyle and I have been up there a number of times, and climbed a number of the fine routes that face south and southeast. Linked up with Mr. Tremendous to Hello Kitty, it's a superb alpinesque outing! I think Viktor is including the new routes up there in the next edition.

Long, loose and mind-numbing. But check out Dirtyleaf's TR from two weeks ago...

Replace that cam with a perfect fist, and that's one less alpine draw you lug up the route!

I was just kidding (our retreat). But it is indeed gone. I'm getting the 3.5 from the Gendarme next...

Awesome TR! Givler's Crack next?

Sol and Jens, you guys do all the cool stuff around here! Thanks for the TR!

Nice going Geoff! I mean, on getting 5 to 6 smokes in on the route.

Nice going guys! Geoff, you're tearing it up in the alpine this spring. Way to get at it!

Nice going hairball! Tazz: MP is old. Very old.

Just keep it. Jeeze!