telemarker

Looking to ski the Wilson and Kautz Headwalls, hopefully enough energy to do both on consecutive days, 5/30 to 5/31. Play it by ear. I'm coming from Wenatchee, so can meet up at Paradise or thereabouts if you're coming over from west of the crest. Send a PM or call: 509-699-9810 Tschuss! John

The snow approach was great in the morning, made all the more efficient since we could still walk over the west margin of Colchuck Lake, but just barely. By the late afternoon, we were postholing. Postholing over Colchuck Lake is a bit eerie, and we bailed to shore towards the end.

We spied that line walking underneath it. It pretty much runs directly up to the top of the W. Ridge slab??

Was it you and your friend I chatted with on the hike up to the lake? We topped out and the day was too nice to be in a hurry to get back down to do another lap! So we just hung out and soaked up the ambience.

Trip: Enchantments - Prusik S. Face, Burgner/Stanley Route Date: 5/24/2009 Trip Report: Geoff Cecil and I took yesterday to climb the B/S route. Incredible route. Forgot how fun it was. The route's totally dry. We did it in 4 pitches, in four hours. Lots of people out there, in fact, tons seiging Colchuck, Dragontail and Annapurna. Around Prusik? Two!

Cool! Sounds like a halfdome day, but much harder considering the approaches...

The fixed hex at the crux of Catapult, lower Castle Rock has been removed! My climbing partners Geoff and Gordon both declined to finish the lead without that hex. I carefully downlimbed back to the belay and we all rapped off and hiked up to Logger's Ledge. Just an FYI!

Ahh, the Spearhead! Did you complete it?

Thanks all! Kyle, the Hot Route was the worst thing for you! Now anything less than a fully catered hut is out of the question.

Trip: Lyman Basin Solo Ski-in: 5/15 to 5/19 - Potpourri Date: 5/15/2009 Trip Report: Okay, Mark is going to kill me, but it was just too gorgeous up there to not post a little something from my extended tour at Lyman Basin. I've been inspired to spend an extended tour up there ever since drooling over Scurlock's photos of Chiwawa and Bonanza. I took two weeks off from work just to ensure good weather. Finally got that break for the weekend of 5/15, launching off on the LOL on Thursday up to Holden. Bootied a couple books from the library then headed up to higher ground on Friday when the skies cleared. Day three, I skied this headwall that I don't know if it is part of Red Mountain or Chiwawa?? I skinned up and over Spider Gap, then around the backside towards the top of the peak just above the gap. Anyways, it was a great ski, the snow held and was a bit of powder in an otherwise three days of mush. Lots of hangfire above in the form of sagging cornices. In fact, there were significant wet slides all three days I spent in the upper basins, some in the form of natural release slabs with 8 inch crowns, since that was the snow total from the last storm. Day four, I got an earlier start and skinned straight up Lyman Glacier, reaching the summit of Chiwawa in three hours. I then skied down the North Face and then down 3,000 feet to the basin, just in time to watch the fireworks (from a safe distance on a rock) as avalanche after avalanche proceeded to bury my descent route, both on Red Mtn. and Chiwawa. In fact, if you look closely you can see the crown of the huge natural release slab on the slope I had just skied 10 minutes earlier. Day five, I needed a more relaxed day and skied Cloudy Peak. Day six, with the weather moving in, blisters on my heels, food in short supply and pleased with my efforts, I headed back down to God and black bears. Of note, the Isella Glacier went HUGE this winter, most likely with the Chinook. Paradise: Descent down headwall. Is the peak on the left part of Chiwawa or Red Mtn.? Another look of the route on my way up to Chiwawa the following day: This ought to get your attention. Buck Mountain from Chiwawa's summit: Phelps ridge: My descent down Chiwawa to Lyman Glacier. You can see the large slab that cut loose on the same slope I skied, then another point release avy that occurred about 5 minutes after that, and the loose slides that I cut on my way down. Bonanza! Cloudy Peak and Northstar. A mighty Fortress is our God. Celebrating life and solitude!

Got it figured out. Totally pilot error. I should always start with the premise: I'm a total moron and go from there, and these questions would be a lot more straightforward. Thanks for the response!

This is hilarious!

John, here's a recent, kick ass photo of Stuart from just last week. Stuart N. Side

Well, really a software question...I bought the Garmin Topo CD West, 24K, and am having troubles trying to download the contours onto the GPS. Any idears? Help please....

Is it considered aid climbing with 5 points of contact with the rock?

Anyone out there who hasn't put away his/her skis yet? How 'bout a ski up Adams. I have my descent route picked out. You don't have to follow me, but it would be cool if someone could tag along, get a good run in in the sunshine. I'll be approaching through 97, through Toppenish. If you have a machine, all the better!!! And, does anyone know how far the hike in would be to Coldsprings around this time of year? I can be PM'd or reached at: 509-699-9810 Thanks! John

Anyone out there who hasn't put away his/her skis yet? How 'bout a ski up Adams. I have my descent route picked out. You don't have to follow me, but it would be cool if someone could tag along, get a good run in in the sunshine. I'll be approaching through 97, through Toppenish. If you have a machine, all the better!!! And, does anyone know how far the hike in would be to Coldsprings around this time of year? I can be PM'd or reached at: 509-699-9810 Thanks! John

Anyone wanna get in some pitches on Castle Rock or somewhere right after work tomorrow, Wednesday, 4/8? PM or call: 509-699-9810. Stays light until around 8pm, so should be able to get in around 3 hours, and then there's the post climb Enchantment Ale. That's good stuff!

In talking to Gordon a couple years ago about this route, he likened it to kitty litter...hmmm...

Damn. That is too bad. Condolances to his family. He's leaving quite the legacy and I loved the fact he never took himself too seriously despite his huge success in the industry.

With the exception of about 200 yards 1/2 mile from the gate, 8 Mile Rd. is completely snow covered still.

Thanks for the feedback!

Anyone have any experience with this liteweight tent? I used it for a weekend this winter, and found the ventilation lacking, even with the tent door most of the way open. My sleeping bag was pretty much damp each morning, and the inside walls pretty damp as well. Aside from lack of air, I love the fact it's only 2+ lbs and super easy to set up. Anyone else have an opinion about this one? Thanks!

Rat Creek?

Mmmmm! You mean Homefires Cherry pie, right?