Layback

Nice job Marcin. Sounds like you thrashed around in the woods on the way down. We would have done the same thing had the party in front of us not given us a heads up. Oh well - at least you had a ton of daylight. Looks like you had an outstanding day!!! Shortest approach ever, no?

I'm glad you were able to make use of our steps. Truth be told, the party ahead of us kicked 'em. We just made them deeper. I finally got the TR up on my website. Since it's too late to edit the post, here's the link: http://alpinetarn.com/lanepeak.aspx

Wonderful pics. What a day to be up there. Congrats.

No pics sorry. I rode by there on Sunday in the passenger seat as my wife drove. I just happened to be looking up in the Canyon and saw a massive ice flow. I went home and research what it was and figured it was Drury. It's quite possible that the last pitch has fallen out since this was my first time looking at it without knowing what it was. Your source may be better and if I posted misinformation, my apologies.

I drove by Tumwater Canyon on Saturday. Drury Falls looks to be in if anyone cares to cross the river...

Nice work - that's impressive.

Nice work.

I just wanted to put the word out that Hilleberg's customer service is A-1. I dropped my Hilleberg Nallo 3 off at the US Headquarters in Redmond a few weeks ago (for repairs) and before I could even get back from my east coast trip, there was a message on my voicemail telling me that it was ready to be picked up/shipped. When I dropped off the tent there was damage to the guy lines (caused by me - which I couldn't see being covered by warranty) and some other damage to a strap (also caused by me) that may have been under warranty. Not only did they fix the issues but they refused to take any money. In fact, when my schedule got tight this week the owner (P. Hilleberg) personally offered to ship my tent back to me for free (which I refused because they didn't charge me a dime for the repairs). These guys are A-1, world class in terms of customer service and craftsmanship. I think few companies these days measure up. Consider them when you buy your next tent.

Trip: Lane Peak - Zipper Date: 1/24/2009 Trip Report: This weird weather we have had the last couple of weeks wreaked havoc on my climbing plans this weekend. Originally I had planned a climb of Chair Peak because the avy conditions were so extremely low. Unfortunately the inversion layer, while creating a nuclear winter at sea level, was creating beach-like temperatures higher in the mountains. This eliminated any chance for good ice on Chair. So I started looking for a climb that I'd want to do in low avy conditions but without a need for ice to make it fun. Lane Peak it would be! The approach to Lane Peak has to be both the shortest and most enjoyable I have ever done. One heads up the slope above the Narada Falls parking lot, walks down the road towards Reflection Lake and heads straight down the slope through the woods (at the sharp turn in the road) towards Lane Peak. After a quick descent through the woods we reached a stream crossing. It is best to stay skier's right of the stream crossing as you approach Lane. Eventually we came to a big open meadow where we cached our snowshoes, put on our harnesses, helmets, and crampons and started up. We reached the base of the Zipper 1.5 hrs after leaving the cars. On the route we encountered 5 pitches of 45-50 degree hard snow with a few bulges of a slightly greater angle. After topping out it took us about 45 min to get back to the snowshoe cache in the meadow and then 45 minutes back to the cars from there. As you descend the summit stay right and descend into the gentle bowl and then move left down the steeper slopes towards the meadow. When you reach the trees take the gully on the far left (skier's left). The other gully systems cliff out. The left-most gully provides a clear shot back to the meadow. Gear Notes: 4 pickets per rope team. We brought screws and nuts but did not use them. Some parties in light snow years report using nuts to get past moats. There were moats, but none that posed a problem this time.

Way to get it done. Rainier alludes me too. Maybe I need to try it in winter?

Nice work on the article and the video. I hope I have 1/2 his fire at 1/2 his age.

Sucks being misrepresented doesn't it?

The misrepresentation of the climbing program by posting pics from a Eugene Mountain Rescue FT and a Mountaineers Scrambling FT (both of which have nothing to do with the climbing program) is a really classy touch. Are you ignorant of where those photos come from or are you just looking to cause problems? I suspect you'll need more time than that. Just out of curiosity, are you the fat guy or the goofy dork with the big nips in this pic?

Cool pics - thanks for posting. That said, some of them depress the shit out of me. Look at the glacier retreat in some of those. Yikes!!!

Except for the Vasque Zephyr Tech they all look reasonable. I trekked to EBC last year via Gorak Shep and those would have done just fine. If at some point you want to get into mountaineering, you'll want to upgrade. The boots you selected would also serve you well in the Daks and the Greens, not too far from your casa. When you say the "standard way" are you going via Gokyo Ri or Gorak Shep?

NBC has just called the race for Gregoire. Do you think we'll hear Dino whine about a recount or does he only do that after encouraging the other candidate not to ask for a recount?

WTF was that speech that I just saw on KING 5 from Dick Face? Doesn't he realize that he's down 30,000 votes with just Pierce county left to report. It's over Dino. There will be no recount. Edit: Damn his wife is a fat ugly fuck.

CNN too!!!! [img:center]http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/11/04/election.president/_cnnpt1._cnnpt1.Obama.today.jpg[/img]

ROTFL Fuck yeah!

They just ran through a scenario on CNN that is unlikely, but still possible. If McCan't is perfect in the rest of the states it will come down to WA, OR, and CA. Don't be the jackass that didn't vote. There are far too many red neck republicans in eastern WA. Go make a difference.

Ladies and gentlemen the Democrats have gained control of the Senate!!!! [video:youtube]

Pennsylvania just fell to Obama!!! 21 more electoral votes closer to a W (and I don't mean the bad kind)!

www.johnmccant.com 77 - 33 Obama per CNN 104 - 33 Obama per NBC. Me likey.

Thanks for sharing. The night photography on your site is amazing.

Bummer. R&I and Climbing just don't compare.