JoshK

AWESOME!! Looks like a great time. It's pretty neat you got a large group like that assembled. Must have been fun!

Wow, check this out. Looks like we are above normal in snowpack now. Look how sad and pathetic last year's numbers look. CLIMATOLOGICAL SNOWDEPTH INFORMATION NORTHWEST WEATHER AND AVALANCHE CENTER SEATTLE WASHINGTON DAY 15 MONTH 1 YEAR 2006 WAZ012-017-018-019-025-042-ORZ011- DATA IN INCHES, -99 DENOTES MISSING DATA CURRENT CLIMATE PER CENT LAST THRU 2005 THRU 2005 DEPTH AVERAGE OF NORMAL YEAR MAX/YEAR MIN/YEAR HURRICANE 74 65 114 25 111/2000 10/1981 MT BAKER 134 107 125 58 180/1971 15/1981 STEVENS 81 72 112 41 146/1969 6/1981 SNOQUALMIE 83 64 130 22 123/1969 0/1981 STAMPEDE -99 71 -99 13 179/1972 0/1981 MISSION 48 36 133 20 63/1995 12/1981 CRYSTAL 70 47 149 26 91/1971 3/1981 PARADISE 135 111 122 55 216/1969 31/1981 WHITE PASS 50 44 114 13 80/2000 0/1981 TIMBERLINE 120 101 119 52 170/1975 10/1981 MEADOWS 110 86 128 34 144/1989 0/1981

I can't imagine the snow higher up right now. As Ivan said, it starts to get really deep relaly quick, esp. as you pass 4k. Combine with what I saw driving over the passes it seems as if we have a normal snowpack winter again...finally!

First off - Wayne, you suck - I'm jealous. As for me, Ivan and I are going to attempt to wallow up Snowking as far as we safely can. Gonna have to be careful to avoid questionable terrain up there. Everybody enjoy that new snow and play it safe this weekend!

Blake knows his mountains around Stehikin. I've got his back.

I would imagine a glacier tool would be more than sufficient for that scramble. Granted, I haven't actually climbed that mountain, so take that with a large grain of salt. It actually looks like good whippet territory. Pulling the bottom of the pole off and using the whippet as a ghetto-axe is rather effective in my experience. I hardly ever take an axe while ski touring any more since I have those things.

That's a beautiful looking ski-off summit, that's for sure. Great pic!

Yeah, you can tell from the very topography that is a more unusual area of the cascades. The large high elevation "flat" spots between the ridges and main peaks seem more common when I am looking at topos of Colorado, for example.

The MK1XL has guy points. I've guyed mine out several times and found it to be a tank in the wind.

I banged that shit like two months ago. Bond is working my sloppy seconds.

Definitely looks like a great area. I'll have to get in there soon. thanks Rat, -josh

The MK1 is a better tent than the Eldo. It is almost an indentical floorplan but it has a much better pole attachment system (simple velcro instead of crappy breakable plastic things) and then venting is better, IMHO. It was also less epensive last time I checked. It is the same exact fabric as well. Integral calls it IntegralTex where as Bibler calls it ToddTex.

Hey Phil, I posted a map of the area. Is there no way to get from those large flats and ridgeland onto the gentle south slops of Big Jim without significant avalanche slope exposure? The topography makes it look like an interesting area.

So is there noticable burnage visible along 93 between Boulder and Golden?

Aren't you the whiny whiner who's constantly complaining about the poor shrinking glaciers? You can't have it both ways pal. Didn't I say it was GOOD?

And did you climb any?

This is ridiculous. Good, but ridiculous.

Yes, they do affect the taste more but I wouldn't characterize it as a strong or unpleasent taste. I have used those bottles before and never had a problem with that. The question is how long it will take before a study shows those are just as cancerous for you.

I did it as a hike once late in the year when there was no snow pack other than the glacier. I really liked the area, hence the desire to see it in the winter. I dont' see a point 67?? that you refer to. Could you point it out on the map? All the bumps I see listed with elevations are much lower than that. thanks, -josh

I would imagine snow cover in the trees is good now. I was over in Teanaway country yesterday and shit is well covered starting at like 2500 feet on that side.

http://www.esuvee.com/game/ Ironic that something like thie would come out under a Bush attorney general.

How is one supposed to forecast avalanche conditions for a specific area and for a specific time of year? It could be anywhere from completely safe to loaded and dangerous. Check out the forecasts (which are currently for either considerable or high most places) and if it looks like it you are willing to give it a shot, go up there and dig a pit and evaluate it for yourself. There is really no other way to know.

Jan 2 is pretty good too.

Now that you mention it, it does seem like the hummer drivers always tint their windows. Maybe a little shame factor??

Rock crawling is pretty stupid, yes, but I want this thing as an approach vehicle.