Stephen_Ramsey

Josh, If you are in the Queenstown area, check out Ben Lomond (1746m). It is a good summit scramble. We climbed it in December and it was still snow-covered (!) Cheers, Steve Ramsey

Thanks Rollo. Hope your ankle recovers well from the surgery.

Thanks everyone! -Steve

Is anyone out there taking glucosamine on a daily basis, to manage pain from damaged cartilege, and curtail further damage? Seems like the jury is still out on the effectiveness of this supplement for arthritis and related ailments... maybe some climbers out there are taking it to deal with climbing-related injuries? (I'm going to ask my doctor too, but wanna hear from climbers who are taking this stuff). Thanks, Steve

Sketchfest, Check your PMs. Cheers, Steve Ramsey

Thanks Alex. Nice pictures!

Jason, OK, thanks. Appreciate the info. Looks like a great resource is being developed, for mixed climbing enthusiasts. No worries, Jason. It's not like I could climb an M7, in this or any alternate Universe. :-) But I hear what you are saying about the red tape. Good to know. Cheers, Steve

Alex, Do you know, is it a standard practice for ropes to be left on that wall? If so, why? (I'm not trolling for a fight or anything... just curious). Cheers, Steve

Just to clarify, "Northwest Mountain Guides" is a completely different guiding company (see www.gotrek.com). I think the NWOG site now has the title "Northwest Outdoor Guides".

Sorry to dredge up an old thread, but for the sake of the USFS people who have apparently been reading (and misunderstood) this post, I would like to clarify: the guide possessed a valid permit (or concession, whatever you call it) from the USFS to guide on the north side of Baker. I can provide more information (names, dates, etc.) if contacted by private message. Thanks, Steve

Mattp, I totally agree with your post. Several times I've posted on CC.com asking for beta on a moderate/easy route, and received a snide or belligerent response. I've observed a clear tendancy on this web site for some people to back-handedly put down (or worse still, directly belittle) TRs of easy routes. I'm not whining or complaining. CC.com is what it is. I'm just agreeing with your post, and making the point that that beginners *do* notice the subtle (and not-so-subtle) put-downs that inevitably follow a trip report posting for a moderate route. Count me as one person who chooses to post his gumby/beginner trip reports elsewhere (in what is frankly, a less judgemental/negative forum). I'm sure there are others. Inevitably someone is going to reply to this saying "who cares" or "fewer gumby TRs -- no big loss", or whatever. In a small way, it will just validate my point. I do enjoy and appreciate CC.com for what it does well, especially getting the latest information on ice conditions. But let's not kind ourselves-- it isn't particularly newbie-friendly.

Hi John, We camped in the snowy basin just below Spider Gap. Yeah, the step was short, but we were really tired. Seems like the route was in fine shape, but I don't really have a basis for comparison. Certainly was a fun day of climbing. Cheers, Steve

Hi John, We summited at 11:00 AM on Sunday morning 10/26. Our ascent route skirted the first large bergschrund (the one at the very base of the route) on the climber's left, then traversed climber's right. Went into a moderate-angle mixed gully, then straight up a 2-pitch, 45-degree ice tongue leading up to the snout of the icefall. Then directly up through the icefall. We passed the final schrund (the one just a few hundred feet below the wide snowy saddle) on the climber's right, very near the moat, then traversed climber's left once above it. On the descent, we followed some tracks along the climber's right-hand side of the Lyman Glacier. We rapped on a V-thread into a wide (but largely snow-filled) crevasse, but downclimbing or scrambling through the moat would certainly have been an option. This may have been the same ice step you mentioned in your TR. Then followed the tracks down more easy snow slopes, then down about 800' of 3rd-class terrain that alternated between snow and rock slabs. Then down a steepish snow gully, to reach the first crevasse at the bottom of the route. Followed tracks (climber's right) into the moat to bypass the crevasse. I second this. My partner punched through on the lower Lyman. Her first time punching through into a crevasse, something of a right of passage I guess. Didn't see a black ditty bag, but it was dark when we got to the trailhead. Sorry. Cheers, Steve

Juan, Thanks for the tracks! My partner saw your name in the summit register. We used your tracks for the descent, and it saved us some time. Cheers, Steve

Maude, perhaps? Phelps Creek trailhead is open. Entiat Icefall might still be in shape.

I second the endorsement of North Cascades Mountain Guides. I did a three-day ice climbing trip with one of their guides, and the trip was awesome. The guide was super knowledgeable and professional.

My wife found a black fleece glove on the Nisqually moraine on Saturday Oct. 4th. It looks to be in brand-new condition. If this belongs to you, please PM me a description and it's yours. -Steve

Hello Catbird, As a long-time runner, I would recommend it (seeing a doctor). Especially if you can find a doctor who knows something about sports-related injuries, and who will not hesitate to refer you to a specialist if necessary. Hope your knee is feeling better soon. Cheers, Steve

Thanks Catbird! -Steve

Oops, I meant "one pair is straight-shaft, the other pair is bent-shaft".

Catbird, Is there enough space to bivy at the Yellow Shoulder? We are hoping to bivy somewhere near there. Thanks in advance, Steve

FWIW, this is what works for me (I only climb moderate ice routes, so I'm not sure how applicable this will be to your situation): For ice climbs, my partner and I carry two pairs of Shrikes. One pair is bent-shaft, and one pair is curved-shaft. The straight-shafted tools are better for all-around use (chopping bollards, clearing rotten ice for a screw placement, pounding in pickets, etc.), so most of the time the leader uses the straight-shafted tools. However, when we have to deal with a steep section of ice, we will switch so the leader can use the curved-shaft tools. For early-season snow/ice climbs that have some alpine ice, my preference is to carry one straight-shafted tool and one ultralight ice axe (e.g., BD Raven Pro, 60 cm). Being able to shaft both the tool and the axe in the snow is nice for those types of climbs. For waterfalls, I use the curved-shaft Shrikes, or (preferably) borrow a more waterfall-oriented tool like a Cobra.

I use the "Boreal Ballet Gold shoes". They are very nice. I've only used them on moderate alpine rock climbs (e.g., Ingalls East Ridge and Liberty Bell Southwest Face), so I can't comment on how they perform on steep technical rock. The sole is pretty stiff, which I find helpful when I'm climbing rock while wearing a pack (which is almost always).

She's one of a kind.