JoshK

I remember spending a cold winter's night on Hood many Decembers ago, so I was keeping these climbers in my thoughts. Just now I checked the news and learned of the devastating events that had taken place since I had first heard of the incident. My stomach just absolutely dropped and I cannot begin to imagine what the families are dealing with. Scott, I am so sorry to hear the news and wish you all the best in healing through this time. I pray the conditions abate a bit and the other two climers can be found in time. Rest in peace, Luke

Very sad to hear. I've been in the canyon a few times and there are definitely lots of spots you don't want to be. R.I.P Guy.

I haven't seen conditions personally, but this time of year be careful even if there has been a lot of snow, esp. since there hasn't been much the past week or so. Baker has some seriously massive slots...

That's just stupid. Badass TR Gaston, looks like an amazing line!

Has anybody tried to drive up the Sibley Creek road to get to the Hidden Lakes Peak TH? I called the ranger station and NPS but they didn't have any current information.

I did end up making it to the Stafford Creek trailhead this past weekend, which is about 4 miles of driving past 29 pines. Another solid snowfall at road elevation will probably make it impassable however.

Trip: Navaho Peak - South Slope Date: 11/29/2009 Trip Report: If anybody is interested, I posted a report for Navaho Peak on TAY. TAY: Navaho Peak, Nov 29, 2009

Thanks G2G!!! Unfortunately I don't have access to a sled, but the distance to ski on the road isn't *that* far all things considered. An extra mile or two up the road on wheels always helps though. Those pictures are awesome and I'm hoping I can talk the girl in to going up here this weekend!

Anybody been up the Teanaway river valley? I called the Cle Elum ranger station and they said the road is still open to wheeled traffic pasted 29-pines which means one might be able to make it to the esmerelda (S approach to stuart) or stafford creek trails to get up in to the navaho/earl peak area. The last two times I've driven by on 970 the area has been clouded over so i couldn't get a look. Any beta appreciated.

I dunno, Jetboil seemed to work just fine in cold temps a couple weekends ago. If you do get one (not sure why if you have a reactor), you can make a great hanging system for it with a bit of cord and a few zip ties. I don't know about the Reactor's efficiency but I am amazed that the fuel can I started using 2 trips ago still has fuel in it despite hours and hours of melting snow. You can get a kit that allows any standard pot to be used on it. I got mine as a present and if I ever need to replace it, I'll look at the Reactor, but on it's own, the Jetboil seems pretty cool to me.

cycle touring He's just trying to keep his favorite stashes a secret. Phinney Ridge and Queen Anne have epic powder. Shhh...

Yeah I've wondered what happens if the weather totally craps out. It still think it's funny they are holding the winter Olympics in a city with pretty much the same climate as Seattle. Might as well just call it the "Whistler Olympics, featuring some building events in Vancouver"

Anybody been over SR20 since they reopened it? The telemetry says 20+ inches, but I have no idea where they are reading it. Is any terrain skiable or are rocks and brush still sticking through? It might be moot if another storm closes the pass for good, though...

I think those nice profile shots of the overhanging ice would be more impressive if you took a technique from the rest of us and tilted the camera a bit. Horizontal horizons are for the weak!

When tackling a summit as commiting and serious as "Big Hill" I felt it was unsafe to continue in the excrutiating pain of early season ski-boot blister hell. We figured the prospect of being stranded hight on "the hill", out of shouting distance of the forest road, was an unacceptable risk. Not even the spirit travelers from the night before could provide us with the fortitude needed to carry on. Maybe someday Big Hill will fall to our assault. Until then... /shakesfist

SHUTUP KATHY!!! I TOLD YOU TO HANG ON TO THE ROPE!!!

Very sad to hear of Sean's passing. It is very cool to see familiar landscapes and pictures of climbing and skiing in paint, rather than the standard photo. A sad loss of an obviously very talented man. Best wishes to his family.

...lame... they should just let people drive to where the snow starts.

Pushing 2 feet around ~6000 at Shady Pass, just west of Lake Chelan and up the Entiat River valley. It looked like a bit further west would have a lot more. Roads start to become fairly deep snow around ~3500 feet. Assuming we don't get a massive Pineapple Express, winter is here.

Really gorgeous, thanks for sharing!

I'm hoping there may be skiable areas this weekend. Has anybody been up to Paradise and the Schmuir snowfield?

Not sure why anyone would travel all the way there to go skiing, unless it was work or family related. But hey if that floats your boat. I still think this winter is going to deliver the goods here. Today was just a taste of what is to come! It is absolutely precious that west coasters don't look to the east for valid skiing. Love it. Makes me smile Probably because there are any numbr of places much closer than the east coast that offer better skiing, no matter what the conditions.

Next time we get snow in the lowlands, they should ski off the Aurora Bridge and call it an extreme drop.

I'm often confused as to why having skis on at all matters for this sort of thing. Other than getting to the place where you are going to throw yourself off, it seems that dropping in a sled, or even wearing a business suit and holding a briefcase, would accomplish the same thing. Might as well leave the skis, which could come off and hit you, and just glissade off? Maybe a wheelchair would be cool? These are people I'm happy to call idiots while sitting in my armchair.