pindude

Mighty long barrel on that one, Paul. Wazzat, a 44 mag?

Sobo, your dreams I think too are normal and are not more than what would be expected from good, caring, protective parents. That big puppy, on the other hand, obviously has a sleep disorder. Sobo, no self-fulfilling prophecies and definitely no waking up and acting out your dreams. And stay away from Dane's toy collection!

All good advice so far. June of 2004 I had to get my butt from Banff to Lake Louise, on a Saturday. I could've taken a Greyhound, but didn't want to wait the 3 hours before its scheduled Banff pick-up, figuring that hitching a ride in a national park on a busy weekend day would be no problem. Lots of friendly Canadians and visitors. I made a decent sign, and stood in an appropriate spot. After an hour, it began to rain steady. After two hours, mild-mannered me saluted a certain passing driver who was a little more outgoing than necessary. After contemplating saluting more, and immediately after the Greyhound bus roared on by, I called for a taxi. On that note, as an option, you could check the bus schedules and have the driver pull off for you at Peyto Lk.

Banks Lake. Certain spots, mainly on and near Highway Rock that I know of. Do a search on this site, and check Rick LaBelle's "Rock Climbs of Central WA."

Nice website, Cosmo, thanks for the link. Spotly, the Spo Mounties used to do successful mid-winter ski trips to Trapper back in 60s and 70s. I've never done, but heard lots of good about. Yes, longish weekend trips from Spokane. You'll likely have to hear back from another local to know more exactly (vs. "probably") how close to the TH you can get. Perhaps McCall Boater would know. This is one I wouldn't do without boards to ride back down on.

Anyone remember the old SMC rope washer? Not as harsh on your rope as a washer + detergent, and good for getting dirt out. I don't know if SMC makes it any more, as I don't see it on their website, but I can find it at various retailers like Mountain Tools .

Agreed. Anybody who is a climber shouldn't have any problems holding onto grips inbounds as well. I use my straps only for hanging my poles up between outings. Hard-to-find is as they should be. The old Scott pole grips you describe were well-known for causing unecessary thumb injuries, maybe something you young 'uns should be informed about without having to experience a bad thumb sprain.

Kevin, Kevin, Kevin. You gotta be kidding me. You ID yourself with guitar, and make this statement? Ahem. Sorry to jump on the wagon, but at times, yes, you do just that: "don't think." OK, don't think, but at least LISTEN. :kisss:

Shit, had I known, I would have put in a bid too! Finally, I started before you, Sobo! Single malt sure helps me get over a case of sinusitis, as well as knowing we keep missing out on bids for other projects... Good luck on yours!

Rainier won't be the same with Gator "gone," but then it wasn't the same after you arrived and changed it for the better, Mike. Your name has become synonymous with the mountain, and I hope that never changes. I'm sure you'll be creating success no matter what you do with and after the fellowship. Cheers to you! Steve Reynolds Spokane Mountaineers

Thanks for replying, John. It's good to know I'll be safe in my Stephenson Warmlite! Obvious hyperbole. Stephenson's catalogs have truly been conversation pieces; I always thought he was selling culture more than function. Hey Toast, do you think the naked chicks are no longer included because those same "models"--Jack's family--aren't the young 'uns they used to be?

Okay. If you're going to diss something like that, you need to provide concrete examples, not make blanket statements. That is, if you want your opinion to have credibility. Your statements achingly beg for clarification. *Exactly how is their advertising dishonest? *Exactly how were you "treated like a fool," and what are the lesser factors that would preclude you from "consider(ing) purchasing their products"? *Have you ever personally used a Stephenson, and if not, how is your opinion "informed"? Thanks, McCallBoater, and Mark, for the detailed, first-hand input. A Schweitzer-Kootenay Pass traverse sounds like a great time.

Good catch, Dane. All I have to say is Holy Shit. I know others here have experienced similar or better. Bring on the TR's, men.

Glad you're okay, Pup. Thanks for your story and openness. I've always been more the cautious type, and even though I've climbed most of my life, I don't have nearly the climbing experience as Dane or many of you. I've taken 25-30 footers on rope, and some medium-ball bouldering dives, all luckily with minimal injuries if any at all. Always got back on the horse, but not necessarily immediately. I'm slowing down more with age (strength + flexibility), so find myself even more cautious, and climbing lesser grades. Here's to you getting back on your horse and re-discovering all you love about climbing.

Not quite 50 yet, but man, you really are getting old! Keep moving, old man, and you'll still stay ahead of 'em all for a long, long time. Happy Birthday, Paul!

Never been there, but would love to do it.

Lookout Pass has been part of my backyard for more than 30 years. Intermountain climate and snow conditions. I'll comment first on the little bit of accurate--and erroneous--info presented thus far. No, sorry, not much good skiing on the east side of the pass. While I-90 runs north-south where it crosses Lookout Pass, by far the best skiing is on the west side of the pass, not the east. If you were headed into the St. Regis Basin and toward Stevens Peak, then you definitely were headed to the west. In the 80s the St. Regis Basin had less traffic and only a few motorized sledders; now it's overrun with them. * By far, most years around Christmas there's plenty of skiable snow at Lookout. Of the half-dozen or so Inland NW ski resorts including Schweitzer, Silver, and 49 Deg North, Lookout is almost always the first to open. Thanksgiving is a typical opening weekend. * If you're skiing from Lookout Pass, then don't park on the east side (illegal per DOT): park instead on the west side, in the downhill concession parking lot toward the south end entrance. Be respectful of the DH concessionaire and park appropriately. They must plow around vehicles parked early or late, as BC skiers and riders often do. Many sledders with their trailers park here too, and the concessionaire has had many issues in the past with both motorized and non-motorizied BC users who use their lot. As BC skiers and riders, we've been in communication to mitigate this. Obey any signs and use common sense when parking. * St. Regis Basin is now snowmobile heaven with large groups of riders. It also has many slopes near or at 38 degrees feeding into the basin from both sides, and it's only a matter of time before we have an avy fatality, or worse, a large group of motorized riders die in there. I stay out of St. Regis Basin unless I'm headed to Copper Basin or doing the Stevens Peak Traverse (see below), and then I'm headed through there very early before most sledders are awake. A guy I don't know named Greg Rouse has had a great little website since about 2000 called Wilderness Trip where he's highlighted the best Lookout Pass area BC outings. Contrary to his descriptions, all are single-day trips that can be enjoyed easily on a short, winter day if you get an early start. My favorites, in order: 1. Boulder Basin: Generally the best area for Lookout Pass single-day outings. Park west of Lookout Pass in the town of Mullan. Some tight trees and a couple gullies usually keep the sleds out. On your way into Boulder Basin, don't linger under the obvious avy-prone slopes. Most ski the east slope (west-facing aspect) of West Willow Peak back over the uptrack; some others the ridge between Point 5959 and Stevens Peak, skiing the north-facing aspect back down into Boulder Basin through what several of us call Strawberry Fields. Some skiable terrain is on the west side of the basin (easterly aspects), but there's much more avy terrain there to avoid compared to the east and south sides of the basin. 2. Copper Basin: Park at Lookout Pass. Avy-prone slopes in Copper, so ride/ski only when conditions warrant. Look out for snow-mo'ers on your way though St. Regis Basin. Yup, look out for snow machines whenever you're in the Lookout Pass BC. 3. Tiger Peak: Park to the northwest of Lookout Pass in the old mining town of Burke, which is a bit of history and a cool trip all it's own. Again, show courtesy to the locals when parking. Here the locals are homeowners. You'll have to go around private property and deal with dogs at the very beginning to access the Tiger Peak area. Beware the north and east slopes off the summit of Tiger Peak, which avalanche regularly through the season. 4. Stevens Peak Traverse, from Lookout Pass to Mullan: Requires parking a vehicle at Mullan at the Boulder Basin TH, then shuttling to Lookout Pass to start. Start early to avoid the sledders. In St. Regis Basin, stay on the main trail--which generally follows St. Regis Creek--to Upper and Lower St. Regis Lakes. You'll mostly be on the north side of the creek until the lakes. Good in early spring before everything melts out. Looking at Wilderness Trip, one must combine the Boulder and St. Regis trips. The St. Regis map doesn't show the head of the basin including the upper and lower lakes, nor the headwall leading to Stevens Peak's southeast ridge. Around 2000, in discussion with the FS among recreation user groups, there was an informal agreement for the motorized to use the north side of the creek, while the non-motorized users of St. Regis Basin would use the south side. However, it's not safe or practical to travel staying on the south side of the creek, so all users continue to use the main trail on the north side of the creek. Once you're to the Lakes, continue to head generally west to ascend the headwall above. Trend to the left through big trees rather than go up open, avy-prone slopes to access the southeastern ridge of Stevens Peak. Beware of cornices on this ridge and up on Stevens Peak. Good, south-side turns can be had from the Stevens summit but you'll have to re-skin to get back up to the ridge between Stevens Peak and Point 5959. From here you can follow West Willow Peak's south ridge and ski the west slope of West Willow, or head down through Strawberry Fields to get to the head of Boulder Creek. ----------- Unless you're with a knowledgeable local, avoid Lone Lake Basin and its couloirs from Stevens and West Willow Peaks. We've had 3 avy fatalities in the past 5 years in this basin: two skiers, and one boarder. Of all these trips, Boulder Creek to West Willow Peak is the least avy-prone, and the one I most recommend. Some of us have lobbied the USFS for a winter non-motorized recreation area to be established for the Boulder Creek, Lone Lake, and Stevens Lakes Basins on up to Stevens Peak, and including the south face of Stevens. It's a beautiful area to visit, and you may see sign of cougar and lynx. Point 5959, with the north-facing Strawberry Fields and Boulder Basin below. View looking generally south from West Willow Peak, 3-22-08:

Thanks for the invitation, Lowell. I'll pass it on to my friend. I'm interested in knowing OMR's current stance on reporting winter ascents, and providing an accurate record. I don't know anyone in their org, but I'll contact them through their website. If anyone knows who the actual editor is, please pass it on. I don't have the Olympic Mountain Guide, but see their 4th ed. was printed in 2006, with the first one originally out in the late 50s. Not expecting, then, a new edition for at least several years. But perhaps the next edition can be made more complete and accurate.

Lowell, Hopefully your info will make it into the guidebook. While Hawkins likely made the first winter ascent of Olympus in 1958, the record of winter ascents in the overall Olympic range--as maintained by Olympic Mountain Rescue--is incomplete and questionable. A good, honorable friend who now lives here on the east side reported in the 1970s to OMR of several winter ascents he made, including solo, and was told they would not be recorded because, as I understand it, Olympic Mountain Rescue didn't want to promote irresponsible behavior in the mountains. If you want more info, you're welcome to PM me. --Steve Reynolds

Here's the man who has your info, and could add to your 150 pages.

Great news, indeed. I was torn that we were called out here in Spokane and I couldn't leave due to job responsibilities. Thanks and congratulations to all the searchers: It's so good to hear of a positive outcome.

Yup, I enjoyed it too. I was glad to see that the first half was actually much more than some of the shorts from Dosage V, and from many more creative folks than just those at Big Up and Sender. The tour is living up to it's name.

I'm more bummed I won't be reading any more new issues than I am losing two and half years' of paid subscription. From the beginning I wondered if Beckwith, et al would be able to make a good go of it, and I thought they were. Too bad for what has been one of the best climbing publications produced.

Just go! You won't regret it. Two movies, one from each of the two best rock climbing movie makers out there: Peter Mortimer of Sender Films' "Sharp End," and Josh Lowell of Big Up Productions' "Dosage V."

Yikes! At least Brian enjoyed it... Excellent TR Tim. I like the hair too! Good luck, Brian, with your toes. --Steve