Skip_M._Kliphiem

I have a couple of quality bags that are getting close to mankey. What's your advice on washing them yourself and /or having them professionally serviced. Is there a place in Seattle one would recommend? I don't want to send them off somewhere.

Two of my good Buddies had plans for the Grand Wall this weekend. Please keep me informed. Thank You.

Carved up the north slope below Castle Col today. There was at least 8 inches of new snow. They did not open the gate until 11, the slackers forgot to set their clocks ahead!

I am looking for a light weight pack in this range. Don't want to spend more than $200 and that's with tax. Not interested in bells and whistles. What's your choice and why?

Tons of powder, no ice.

Lisa and her dog Shasta met Jerry and me at the Glacier Ski Shop at 9:00. We continued on to the upper parking lot (4200') and were on our way by 10:00. The lot was filling up quickly with the promise $40's worth of "freshies". Our intent was to forego payment in search of the real thing. On the road to Austin Pass (4700) we encountered one other party tracking up. There was a small parade working there way towards Herman Saddle for some front country skiing. Saturday was cloudy with a few sun breaks and light snow @ about 30 degrees. After 3 hours travel, we made camp in the basin below Lake Ann Butte at 4000'. The plan was to camp at the lake but when going higher only promised poor visibility, we decided to spend the night lower. The entire basin was untracked! The Megamid went up quickly and after a snack we skinned to the ridge crest closer to Shuksan Arm for a run back to camp. Variable surface conditions high and more consistently delightful lower. Snow pack stable and improving. Brief views of Mt. Shuksan and Mt.Baker as the skies tried to clear. The cloud cover kept the temperatures mild through the evening and provided us with another inch of snow. Skies cleared overnight and the temperature dropped to 10 degrees very quickly. After waiting until the sunshine graced our camp at about 9:30, we started making tracks up to the saddle between Lake Ann Butte and Mt. Ann (5300'). Cresting the ridge @ noon and greeted by a cold breeze we were peeling skins quickly for the best run we have had all season. Jerry and I went back to the saddle for another run while Lisa and the powder hound found a sweet line skier right half ways up. Back to camp for lunch and a cup of hot tea before packing and tracking back to Austin Pass. A fast run down through the deserted lift area had us back to the car in an hour and a half. Dinner and beverages in Maple Falls at The Frosty Inn, home by 9:00 PM. If only the rest of the season could be this good !

Hey PP Pinhead, yo life aint worth the $300 even if you had it.

Winter Regarding Warbonnet: I would suggest approaching the NE Face, if that's your intended route, by way of the east face grassy ledges. The north slab and gully approach is dirty and way loose. The route goes III 5.7. The book is a bit thin on detail but then that's part of adventure. You'll know you're on route when you start seeing the rap slings, your best option for getting off the mountain. It's mostly good rock and fun climbing except for a crumbly bit in the middle. Descend the grassy ledges, 4th class. We turned around about three hundred feet from the summit. It was getting late and my partner was having a bad hair day.

July 1 – leave Seattle at noon 2 – a few warm up climbs at City of Rocks, ID 4 – bouldering at Flagstaff near Boulder, CO 5 – more bouldering at Flagstaff 6 – climb the North Arete of the Third Flatiron, II 5.4 7 – cragging Boulder Canyon 8 – cragging at Lumpy Ridge, RMNP 9 – cragging at Eldorado Canyon, CO 11 – climbing at Lumpy Ridge, RMNP 13 – more climbing at Lumpy Ridge, RMNP 16 - climb The Petit Grepon, RMNP, III, 5.9 option 17 – invent the “Johnny Park Cooler”, Bing cherry cider and vodka 18 – climb Spearhead, RMNP, II, 5.6 19 - cragging a, Butcherknife, Steamboat Springs, CO 21 – float trip down a stretch of the upper Colorado River, CO 24 – hike into the Cirque of the Towers, Wind River Range, WY 26 – climb Pingora, South Buttress, II, 5.8 27 – climb Wolf’s Head, East Ridge, III, 5.6 29 – attempt NE Face Warbonnet, II, 5.7 August 2 – hike into Indian Basin, Wind River Range, WY 3 – climb Elephants Head, North Buttress, II, 5.6 4 – climb Ellingwood Peak, North Arete, IV, 5.7 9 – climb Baxter’s Pinnicle, II, 5.8, Teton National Park, WY 12 – hike up Garnett Canyon to lower saddle 13 – climb the Direct Exum, III, 5.7 and upper Exum Ridge, II 5.4, Grand Teton 15 – climb Irene’s Arete, III, 5.9 option, Disapointment Peak, Teton NP 20 – cragging at Stone Hill, Lake Koocanusa Montana 21 – more cragging at Stone Hill, Lake Koocanusa Montana 24 – climb South Face Blackfoot Butte, III 5.6, Blodgett Canyon, Hamilton MT 25 – climb South Face Shoshone Spire, III 5.8+, Blodgett Canyon 27 – climb South Face Shoshone Spire again 30 – climb West Face Arrowhead, I 5.9, Sawtooth Wilderness, ID 31 – climb The Open Book, II 5.8+, Finger of Fate, Sawtooth Wilderness September 1 – cragging at City of Rocks, ID 2 – more cragging at the City 3 – still more cragging at the City, warm dry and sunny 4 – return to Seattle around noon