JoshK

Oh absolutely, I could have told you that... ;-) He says 'no' because he thinks he is boss and I doubt he knows the actual legality of it. I'd be very surprised if the USFS would bring charges against somebody for dirt biking on a forest road in public lands. Last I checked that was, in fact, legal. If the sign says "road closed", it means to motor vehicles. The difference between using an offroad dirtbike or a normal pedal bicycle on the other side of the clousure seems legally ambiguous to me. FWIW, if I am able to find one to borrow, I certainly plan on using a dirt bike on a long section of a certain washed out road later this summer.

Since the original post was in homage to ol' Jesse, I'd like to see Fairweather elobrate on exactly why we should respect this man as a "great american." Can you tell us, oh wise one, what exactly this "bigspending, racebaiting, gaybashing, misogynistic, ignorant, hypocritical piece of shit" (thanks Hugh, couldn't have said it better myself) should be praised for? My mind can't warp enough to tolerate a blatent racist, let alone cheerlead for one. We've heard the reasons why Jesse sucks, now lets hear from his supporters. Quit attacking us and praise Jesse, I know you can do it.

Soooooo...shut the fuck up, already? Why don't you try it. It is not I that dances on the graves of the dead. I love how offering a negative opinion about a jackass who we are discussing merely because he happened to die and get press means we are "dancing on the graves of the dead"... So just a question...when Castro dies can we offer negative opinions, or would that be dancing on Castro's grave and thus qualify us as horrible human beings? What about those who cheered the death of Saadam Hussein, including some of those decrying the rest of us for insulting the great Jesse Helms? I suppose we should have hung our heads in a moment of silence to mourn the passing of him as well, since, after all, he did really love his cat.

Dude, WTF, it's a discussion board on the god damn interent. Of COURSE people are going to share their opinions. Pretty much every discussion in life, in fact, involves exchanging opinions in one way or another. Do you really think espousing negative opinions of a jackass who died is unique to cascadeclimbers.com, or us?? Have you ever read an editorial page? Perhaps attended a dinner party? Or what about shared lunch with some other people? Any time an opinion is offered do you immediately ask your companions why they think their opinions matter so much? What does this have to do with our government having class or us feeling we "are so high above the members of our government?" It's an animalistic activity? So is eating. Get a grip.

I've said the same thing to people in real life following his passing the other day. He was a son of a bitch asshole who based his political career around maintaining segregation and racism best he could, shoving religion down our throats and a whole host of other backwards beliefs. Most shared my opinion. Can you honestly attribute any good to him that can overcome the negatives of his serious character flaws? As I said before, I honestly believe the world is a better place without people such as jesse helms. Sure, I certainly understand his family suffered a loss, but I'm guessing most of them shared his views anyway. If you like Jesse Helms, it says something about you personally, and it's not a good comment.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008037215_webclimber07.html My good friend guides for AAI and is on Denali right now, so I'm assuming this event was close to him. :-( R.I.P and condolences to the family of the climber, James Nasti of Naperville, Illinois. -josh

Jason, how was the snow pack?

Greatest Americans!? Jesse Helms!?!? It's a sad comment that you would think highly of a backwards, racist son of a bitch like Jesse Helms. Good Riddance, Jesse, the earth will truly be better off without you.

Good TR and nice climb

Yeah, I figure a hike will be in order anywhere - I just don't want to bushwhack w/ skis to any great extent. I was also thinking Eldorado, Snowking or Snowfield, but i've done them all before.

I'm looking to get out tomorrow for some July turns on something other than a Volcano. I tried the east side of the Glacier Peak wilderness a few days ago and the snowpack had been decimated by last week's heat. Any recommendations on where I may still find some good long runs without a ton of extra hiking? I was thinking Ruth mountain but am hoping to try somewhere new. -j

I'm still convinced it was the evil border patrol elite mountain unit. The vehicle was blue and only said "official u.s. government" on the plates. Tinfoil hats are NOT optional on this trail. :[]

Ivan is an epic-magnet! Ouch, that just stings...

Sorry I can't offer any info myself, but I'd also like to hear from anybody who has exited that way. Given the pain of the two-car shuttle and the destruction of that road near downey creek it seems like a good idea...

Wow, Rob, I'd hate to bushwhack with that long of an ice-axe.

Lincoln doesn't get climbed a lot because it's, well, a chossy volcanic sub-summit. You're absolutely right that if it was self standing elsewhere in the Cscades it would get climbed a lot more often. So would Little Tahoma if it was a random 11k+ summit. I would say the fact that the other peaks we are mentioning are more common (relatively) objectives have added to their "easiness" factor. Also, different people are going to have a different idea of what dictates difficulty.

Hozomeen Peaks and any of the central/middle summits in the N. Pickets are harder due to approach alone.

I am planning on going up to Clark Mountain (~'8600) over the next two days via the White River trail. Anybody have an idea what type of snowpack this area generally keeps? I will be going up the south side, which is a big open basin, and can't decide if I want to haul up skis or not. Buehler?

Any idea if they ever plan on fixing the S side cascade river road? Snowking is a great mountain and as noted, requires no technical gear as you can ascend a ridge right next to the glacier to avoid it altogether.

OK, that makes more sense. :-) Post some pics if you end up making the traverse, I would be very interested. I am planning on doing the traverse in August on foot, since I want to see it with all the terrain exposed. Also, my last time we had fog for 2 or 3 days straight, and snow/rain at yang yang lakes, so we only got to hit a couple of peaks. :-(

Sweet, thanks for the info! I've been to the top of Ruth a few times, and I agree, I've never seen any use for a rope.

That's a great looking traverse that I was considering going on. In your opinion, how did the glaciers look for solo travel? I was thinking of going alone and bringing a light rope and harness in case I found something I didn't want to downclimb alone. Also, is there enough terrain between the two peaks to still warrant skis or will I be whining about carrying them for nothing? great climb, and thanks for any beta you can give.

Skiable yet? It's been skiable, the question is how fast the snow is melting with this uber-heat. Your major pains will be access on either end. Add in 4 miles of Cascade river road on the north, and however many of the suiattle river road on the south. I did the p-trav a couple of weeks earlier than this on skis several years ago, and we were on our skis from mp22 on the cRR until the avy-BS in bachelor creek. My *guess* would be the ski/walk ratio is roughly the same right now. We walked the red ledges, but that was all of a few hundred feet. If you want to do the traverse on skis, I'd say go asap and just expect to deal with several "bonus" miles on the road. As much as I remember hating life near the end walking all that trail, tha traverse is still well worth any extra effort.

The BD flicklock system is better than the standard oldskool barrel-cam system. Anybody who tells you otherwise is either uninformed or biased. With that said, either type can work but I find all and all the BD system is a lot more reliable in cold weather and is more agreeable when poles get slightly out of line. I break/lose poles enough that i'll break whatever I have, but the BD ones sure are nicer while they they still work...

How exactly is a ranger going to aprehend you? The same constitutional rights and laws against unjust search and seizure still apply. Either they are cool and just looking to chat, which seems most likely, or they are trying to harass you. If it's the latter, I would answer the basic question or two then tell them I'm going on my way if they continue. You do not have to submit to ID or questioning just because they are law enforcement.