Jonathan

My, this topic certainly has ballooned! Well, I have to admit, I'm very fond of my current SUV. It boasts great fuel economy and is easy to park. I can perform most maintenance tasks myself. Admittedly, I use it primarily in town, but Seattle streets aren't in the best of shape. And, being nearsighted and somewhat night-blind, after a night at the pub, I appreciate the wider tires and lower stance. It still does get out into the hills now and then. I like to save my fancier vehicles for summer days and smoother roads. My SUV: an old Bridgestone MB-3, my Sport Utility Velocipede. (OK, OK, I also own and drive a car, an venerable '81 Corolla with 275k+ on it. 300k here I come!) Jonathan Pryce

Thanks for the photos! We initially ascended the peak you label "south," then the peak marked "middle." That's where we signed in and immortalized ourselves in the annals of alpine derring-do. Well, at least in the annals of the Buck's middle peak! Jonathan Pryce

Just yesterday completed a wonderful backpack over Little Giant Pass, into the fabled Napeequa Valley, ascended slippery ferns to the unique Louis Creek pumice fields, enjoyed a scramble of Buck Mountain, traipsed up and over into the ice age landscape of Triad Lake and then out and down Buck Creek Pass. Last evening was spent at one of my little getaways, Pass No Pass. The genesis of this trip was rediscovering my sadly neglected copy of Tabor and Crowder's "Routes and Rocks" (Mountaineers, 1965), a sweetly bibliophile volume. So, to the point, which Buck Peak is actually the loftiest? Have they been actually been measured? Although armed with Becky's and Goldman's route descriptions, we were nonetheless uncertain as to what constituted the "middle peak." We first climbed what we now realize to be the south peak, a enjoyable scramble offering some invigorating exposure at points and an odd block of light greenish rock on top. It appeared to be the most massive and, from our vantage in the upper Louis Creek basin, certainly the most impressive. Finding no register, we then returned to ascend the peak featuring a prominent vertical quartz intrusion running down from a shallow notch near the tippy-top. This middle summit kindly afforded us the opportunity to memorialize our visit. The register, by the way, was placed in 1980, surprising, as the peak presents no technical difficulties (I climbed it, afterall!) and is not all that far from a TH close to town. In any case, the Buck's south peak still appears to my eye to a bit higher. Not that it matters, but does anyone know for sure? Jonathan Pryce

Boys! Boys! Let's lighten up a bit! BTW, "Fucking wanker," necessarily a contradiction in terms? Or a description of one who enjoys the best of both worlds? Jonathan Pryce

While perhaps not "important to NW climbing," and hence not germane to this forum, does it appear these are on the increase? Seems on just about every trip nowadays one encounters the rubbery, entrail-like remnants of party balloons, presumably the tattered remains of urban soirées. More proof, I suppose, that the generation of petroleum-based waste characterizes most human interaction in industrial societies. Certainly some of my more, ah, er, pleasurable moments have been so marked. Below locations of more or less recent finds and inconsistent shorthand attempts to further pinpoint. The tally is not at all inclusive. * West ridge of Kaleetan Peak, between Kaleetan Peak and Lower Tuscohatchie Lake--Kaleetan Lake Trail. * Just S of Genesis Peak, Prophet Range * Outlet of Triad Lake, near High Pass, Suiattle Drainage * Louis Creek pumice fields, Upper Louis Creek in the Napeequa Drainage * Upper Dot Lake, just S. of Ptarmigan Peak in the Pasayten * White Rock Lakes, Ptarmigan Traverse * Near Cub Lake, Ptarmigan Traverse (Actually observed balloon descend to terra firma) * En route to the NE Ridge of Black Peak, near Wing Lake Jonathan Pryce

Thanks, folks, for the info. We are off for the fabled Napeequa Valley tomorrow! And it is fun to say "Napeequa," is it not? Go ahead, try it! Jonathan

Thanks, there, Mr. Klenke. Sounds nice and rambly scrambly, but no big gear schlep. Cheers, Jonathan

Planning on wandering the Napeequa Valley over Little Giant Pass, up the valley proper, ascend Louis Ck. drainage and then over High pass to Buck Pass. I understand the route over High Pass to be a scramble. Scramble being no more than 3rd class and not sustained 3rd class at that. Would like this trip to be more of a backpack than anything else! Thanks in advance, Jonathan

. . . just above 19 Mile CG to access Little Giant Pass. Anyone forded lately? Thanks in advance! Jonathan Pryce

Rats! Oh, well. Perhaps it was well hidden. Yeah, that's it! BTW, I was a colleague of yours at WRQ, long ago and far away. TomO, whom you know, was also on the Magic/Hurry Up hike.

Anyone know? Went in and scrambled Magic and--maybe--Hurry Up this weekend. Maybe because the clouds rolled in and we couldn't be sure. No register either, but the altimeter checked out, as did the look and feel of the alleged summit area--a little used and abused. Nothing to distinguish it, unfortunately, from so many other little summits, no unusual rocks or other signature geological formations in crude, but amusing shapes. Off in the mists I imagined something of approximately equal height, this observation was confirmed by the 7.5 min. map as well. The most northerly of the two summits, the rock our vibram perhaps stood on, is purportedly the higher of two and thus boasts the august title of tippy-top. What was I squinting at? Another Cascade magical mystical misty mountain? As the rock was becoming quite wet, we scurried down to tea at Kool Aid Lake and the trip out Sooooo--if Hurry Up does indeed boast a register, well, then I will tuck into humble pie. In terms of my alpine prowess, it’s a familiar dish. If Hurry Up is bereft of a register, it will remain a mystery until I haul my lard up there again. Jonathan

Maps: Ross Lake 15 min., Mt. Prophet, Pumpkin Mt., 7 1/2 min. Last weekend I scrambled Genesis Peak and then Mt. Prophet with buddies Tom and Dave, paying homage to an area spectacularly ensconced between Ross Lake and the Picket Range. The trip is merely a rambly affair, nothing technical, although an axe was handy at points. The crampons enjoyed the trip immensely, riding high on the pack and off-duty the whole time. So, aye, aye, maties, we boarded the boat Thursday evening to the Big Beaver Camp where we luxuriated in picnic tables, beer and huge bear safes. Next day we tromped for some 1/2 hour upstream on the Big Beaver and then hung a right, aiming for the 3000' saddle just N of Pumpkin Mountain. We attained the saddle in some 2 hours, following clever game trails. The abundance of Oregon Grape, Pipsissewa, Kinnickinnick (real names--you can't make stuff like that up!) and other arid flora testified to the sunny openness of N side of the Big Beaver, the banana belt of the Cascades, the sun-kissed rain shadow of the Pickets. Not much brush at all, although there were two very short, albeit spectacular exceptions to that rule. We traipsed along the ridge top for some 4 1/2 more hours, gaining elevation and gradually exiting the deep forest. The sylvan realms bore ample evidence of ursine peristaltic activity, unless, perhaps, bears are Catholic and the Vatican lacks sanitary facilities. On the open ridge we encountered some 14 toads, doughty looking little fellows, and two bright-eyed, zippy snakes. From about 5,000 to 6,000' we donated much blood to the gruesome quantities of mosquitoes that descended upon us. We mused on more environmentally friendly alternatives to DEET such as the portable Bag o' Blood, trained swallows, and plump, shaved pug dogs worn as hats. We then went ahead and applied DEET. Pitched camp at the 6500' level and enjoyed the grand scenery and a lazy, bug-free afternoon. Next day dawned a bit rainy, but it was a dry perpissitation and gradually cleared as the day wore on. We summited Genesis in about 3 hours from camp, and Prophet some 4 hours later. Navigation is absurdly straightforward: simply remain on top of the ridge. At the 6100' saddle NW of Genesis, however, drop a bit to remain S of some cliff bands whose E ramparts are not so obvious from the map or the terrain. There may indeed lurk handy gullies that would obviate the need to descend, a la the lucky little passage through the cliffs on the Eldorado Ck./Roush Ck. route to the Inspiration Glacier. However, we did not investigate, save for the unreccomendable bushy gully we chanced upon to drop to the necessary elevation. Bear W up the snow bowl to the top of a short 7,000' ridge from the peak just SE of Prophet. Crest the ridge, then bear N and then NW to the summit, bypassing an obstacle or two. At this point the heavens were clearing in earnest, with a few lingering clouds remaining for dramatic contrast. Views NW included Spickard, Redoubt and the Mox Peaks, the NE offered Hozomeen and further E, various Pasayten Peaks and then the massive Nahokomeen Glacier on Jack Mountain. We gazed S back along Doughty Toad Ridge to Ross Lake and delighted in a great peak-a-boo view of the Boston Glacier just W of Ruby, courtesy of the Thunder Arm. Finally we looked W for viewage up MacMillian and Access Creeks and high into the Pickets. Prophet and Genesis are not frequented peaks. The plastic film canister register on Genesis still contained the first recorded ascent in 1975; we were something like the 6th party to visit since then and the first since the two visits of the 90s, 1994 and 1997. The register was quite wet and we were unable to dry it out adequately, so we just carefully returned it to its original canister. We added a nice aluminum film canister with a gasket to the register on Genesis and placed both canisters in a plastic bag. Judging from the entries on Prophet, I don't imagine that summit has seen many more callers. We descended into the snow bowl on the S side of the narrow SW ridge off the summit. When the snow yielded to nasty talus at 6200', we optimistically sought access on several occasions to said ridge and were thwarted by steep, rubble-strewn slabbiness. Thus we stoically endured the tedium of loose and greebily talus for some 1,400'. At around 4800' we succeeded in gaining Hope Springs Eternal Ridge and its kindly stands of open timber and proceeded to Luna Camp on the Big Beaver. The descent from 7600' to 2200' lasted some 5 hours as the Tour de Talus and our forays onto the slabs proved time-consuming endeavors. Walked the 10 miles out the next day to the stashed beer, the boat and a bacon cheese burger. We could not resist a brief detour to the pullout just E of the Ross Lake parking area to admire a view from the highway of much of our trip. PS: GO LANCE!!!!!!!!

Thanks! Headed out to attend to some unfinished peak baggin' business left over from a rainy Ptarmy in '01.

any moat action on the rte to Cache Col. Thanks in advance! Jonathan

to repel bugs and melt plastic watch bands after extended storage, say a few years? Just found an old bottle I'd forgotten and being the cheap bastard I am, want to use. Thanks, Jonathan

BTW, isn't that "gubmint"? Jonathan

And as a bleeding heart, tax and spend, tree huggin' Pacific Northwest liberal, I'd like to add to Allison's priaseworthy list: subsidies for just about any form of transportation that gets our fat arses out of our single occupant gas guzzlers and onto busses, bikes, our feet, trains, trollies, those silly segways, monorails, carpools, yak trains, marmot sleds, whatever. Cars are great, don't get me wrong, but we've way abused the privilege. Oh, and let's not forget our pitiful social net--aid for the unemployed, the old, the sick, the physically and mentally challenged. We offer the piss-poorest social net of any of our peer nations. Jonathan

Yup, welfare. Welfare. Welfare. Welfare. That felt good to say. There's not enough to go around esp. after Clinton gutted the system. Of course, yes, you and the histrionic media can point to egregious abuses and hoot and holler about that, but most of the folks who need it deserve it and many fall through the cracks. Most of my family works in education and social services--they're out there in the classrooms and streets so they know of what they speak. Jonathan

Wow. Makes you wonder how many other little nests are out there. For you history geeks out there, these ramps to nowhere were constructed in the late 60s for the R.H. Thomson Expressway. The proposed right-of-way was to run south through the Arboretum and then into the Rainier Valley and onto Renton, and north into Lake City. Killed by voters in '72, I believe, along with several other freeway projects, including a cross-north end expressway, running from Ballard to Laurelhurst roughly at 50th St. As a transportation side note, it was also in 1972 that Seattlites also rejected--for the second time in four years--90% federal funding for an extensive urban light rail system. Perhaps timely in the light of tomorrow's vote. And, BTW, that's the same Thomson as in Mt. Thompson in the Snoqualmie Pass area. Reginald Heber Thomson (1856-1949) was a Seattle civil engineer. As Becky notes, he is not memorialized by a correct spelling of his name. Jonathan [ 11-04-2002, 12:34 PM: Message edited by: Jonathan ]

I'm intrigued . . . do you have a source for the pics and perhaps the story? I don't recall reading about this last year. Jonathan

A little lower niveau, but tasty nonetheless: Sheaf's Stout and a Foster's Bitter in that appealing oil can.

The Lumberjack Song and much more . . . www.mwscomp.com/sound.html

IPA fans you gotta try the LaConner IPA. Very hoppy, even beats Bridgeport IPA. Anderson Valley also brews a very passible IPA. All these beers available at the Ballard Market.

And, IMHO, there's some value in dragging out a heavy old bike, putting gallon jugs of water in the panniers and heading out to run errands or commute. Burn a few more calories and get a little more exercise so that when you hop on your light steed, you feel all the more zippy.

Thinker--I have not thought of that strange little day in many a moon. I chuckle now when I think of it--what humorless, self-absorbed people! You excepted, of course . . .