tshimko

trying to keep this alive...leaving within 10 days I realize the cc.com may not be the best place to look, but I'm looking for a very adventurous sort of person, not a run-of-the-mill hiker I did much of this trip in Spring 2009. I left much of a two person food cache near Blacktail Canyon, planning on coming back with my partner this fall (I did the Spring trip solo). She won't be going, another friend decided to go, but he tells me his knee is in bad shape. I'd really like to do this again, except start and end at Muav Saddle, Swamp Pt, Powell Plateau trailhead. As mentioned I've done all but the part from Muav saddle to the Tapeats Creek/Thunder River confluence. Food cache has almost enough food for two people, plus a box of Black Box cabernet. This trip was the best hiking trip I have ever done in the GC. See trip report from 5/20/09, Shinumo...... http://www.arizonahikers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8377&highlight=powell+plateau Description below, except starts and ends at Muav saddle. Mid to late October after the heat lessens. With rest days, 12-14 days. Following is description of Spring Trip. Fall allows access to Muav saddle directly: A trip along some of the best parts of the Grand Canyon, a circumambulation of the Powell Plateau, via Thunder River, Tapeats Creek, Colorado River, North Bass Trail. See George Steck's Hiking Grand Canyon Loops, pages 79-97. Steck starts and ends the trip at Swamp Point to Muav Saddle, but because I want to do this in the Spring, I'm thinking of going in via the Thunder River Trail. Still access to this trailhead in late March or early April might also have snow problems so might need to do some road walking to trailhead. Bill Hall Trail to Thunder River, down Tapeats Creek to Colorado, up-river past Stone, Galloway, Bedrock canyons (I've been to here in 2008, see trip report coming soon), 128, 127 and 122 mile creeks, Blacktail, Walthenberg, Hakatai canyons to North Bass Trail, up to Muav Saddle, down via Saddle/Stina canyons to upper Tapeats Creek, and back to Thunder River. Possible side trip to Deer Creek area on way out. Probably a two week trip. Might get a food cache dropped along River at midpoint (North Bass perhaps). This is the trip I would have done this past Spring if I had done better research beforehand. Instead some gazing at the map while in Deer Creek area near end of trip, followed by some proper research afterwards hatched this. Looking for 1 or 2 experienced GC backcountry traveler(s) only. Seem also my 2007 Trip report, "Hiking to Unkar and other Adventures"

I realize the cc.com may not be the best place to look, but I'm looking for a very adventurous sort of person, not a run-of-the-mill hiker I did much of this trip in Spring 2009. I left much of a two person food cache near Blacktail Canyon, planning on coming back with my partner this fall (I did the Spring trip solo). She won't be going, another friend decided to go, but he tells me his knee is in bad shape. I'd really like to do this again, except start and end at Muav Saddle, Swamp Pt, Powell Plateau trailhead. As mentioned I've done all but the part from Muav saddle to the Tapeats Creek/Thunder River confluence. Food cache has almost enough food for two people, plus a box of Black Box cabernet. This trip was the best hiking trip I have ever done in the GC. See trip report from 5/20/09, Shinumo...... http://www.arizonahikers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8377&highlight=powell+plateau Description below, except starts and ends at Muav saddle. Mid to late October after the heat lessens. With rest days, 12-14 days. A trip along some of the best parts of the Grand Canyon, a circumambulation of the Powell Plateau, via Thunder River, Tapeats Creek, Colorado River, North Bass Trail. See George Steck's Hiking Grand Canyon Loops, pages 79-97. Steck starts and ends the trip at Swamp Point to Muav Saddle, but because I want to do this in the Spring, I'm thinking of going in via the Thunder River Trail. Still access to this trailhead in late March or early April might also have snow problems so might need to do some road walking to trailhead. Bill Hall Trail to Thunder River, down Tapeats Creek to Colorado, up-river past Stone, Galloway, Bedrock canyons (I've been to here in 2008, see trip report coming soon), 128, 127 and 122 mile creeks, Blacktail, Walthenberg, Hakatai canyons to North Bass Trail, up to Muav Saddle, down via Saddle/Stina canyons to upper Tapeats Creek, and back to Thunder River. Possible side trip to Deer Creek area on way out. Probably a two week trip. Might get a food cache dropped along River at midpoint (North Bass perhaps). This is the trip I would have done this past Spring if I had done better research beforehand. Instead some gazing at the map while in Deer Creek area near end of trip, followed by some proper research afterwards hatched this. Looking for 1 or 2 experienced GC backcountry traveler(s) only. Seem also my 2007 Trip report, "Hiking to Unkar and other Adventures"

date change for this outing... Looking for partner(s). Imagine the Ptarmigan Traverse without the glaciers, but 5 times as long and at an average elevation of around 10,000'+. Granite peaks at 12,000' to over 14000'. In 1982, Steve Roper wrote about his version of the ultimate Sierra alpine traverse, called the Sierra High Route, covering about 200 miles of prime Sierra travel, from Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon Sequoia NP to north of Tuolumne Meadows, some on trail, when the trails stay high, and the rest off trail, when the trails go below 10,000'. I headed down to CA this two years ago to do about 60% of it, ended up doing more trail than off trail as my partner was just not up to the more strenuous off trail travel, but the parts of the High Route that I did were incredibly beautiful country. An area that a guy I met along an off trail "short-cut" of the John Muir Trail from Palisades lakes to Dusy Basin, mentioned a place called "Bear Basin", so-called because all the lakes are "Bears"...Brown, Black, White, Teddy, Big...he said "you gotta go there!". And so as the trip progressed, I figured out where "Bear Basin" was and we went there. Spent a lot of time along and around lakes at 12,000'+, many with golden trout up to 18" (I actually saw one this size!). I'm not a fisherman, but these lakes would convert me. Absolutely incredible territory, saw no one there, eye-popping views everywhere. And the opportunity to scramble granite peaks by the boatload. I'd go back in a heartbeat. I'm looking for some like minded people to travel with. I'd choose non-technical climbing just to keep from having to carry the gear. I know the area well, having traveled the Crest Trail through most of this in relatively early season (mid-late may), and of course the outing two years ago. Would do the southern 60% of this, with 1-2 caches/food-drops. I know all the logistics. I tried to put this together for last year, but it did not work out. I'm going this year... Could start as early as late July, more likely early Aug. I need to be back by Aug 28. I'm a now 56 yo alpine climber who still does some technical climbing, but I'd do this one as primarily a scramble trip. This outing looks easy, but is not for "hikers" as it involves lots of off-trail travel, generally class 2 but sometimes class 3. It requires people with climbing skills, comfortable moving with a pack over sometimes difficult terrain. Looking for 1-3 like-minded alpine enthusiasts to do this with me. I'd look for people who find the Bailey/Ptarmigan/Isolation Traverses to be fun alpine travel, who'd like to combine that with scrambling of big granite peaks, and fishing for trout at the end of the day. People who enjoy spending time in the alpine. Roper did a second edition in 1997, published by the Mountaineers (first edition was a Sierra Club Totebook in 1982), if you want to read more. PM me if interested

date change for this outing... Imagine the Ptarmigan Traverse without the glaciers, but 5 times as long and at an average elevation of around 10,000'+. Granite peaks at 12,000' to over 14000'. In 1982, Steve Roper wrote about his version of the ultimate Sierra alpine traverse, called the Sierra High Route, covering about 200 miles of prime Sierra travel, from Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon Sequoia NP to north of Tuolumne Meadows, some on trail, when the trails stay high, and the rest off trail, when the trails go below 10,000'. I headed down to CA this two years ago to do about 60% of it, ended up doing more trail than off trail as my partner was just not up to the more strenuous off trail travel, but the parts of the High Route that I did were incredibly beautiful country. An area that a guy I met along an off trail "short-cut" of the John Muir Trail from Palisades lakes to Dusy Basin, mentioned a place called "Bear Basin", so-called because all the lakes are "Bears"...Brown, Black, White, Teddy, Big...he said "you gotta go there!". And so as the trip progressed, I figured out where "Bear Basin" was and we went there. Spent a lot of time along and around lakes at 12,000'+, many with golden trout up to 18" (I actually saw one this size!). I'm not a fisherman, but these lakes would convert me. Absolutely incredible territory, saw no one there, eye-popping views everywhere. And the opportunity to scramble granite peaks by the boatload. I'd go back in a heartbeat. I'm looking for some like minded people to travel with. I'd choose non-technical climbing just to keep from having to carry the gear. I know the area well, having traveled the Crest Trail through most of this in relatively early season (mid-late may), and of course the outing two years ago. Would do the southern 60% of this, with 1-2 caches/food-drops. I know all the logistics. I tried to put this together for last year, but it did not work out. I'm going this year... Could start as early as late July, more likely early Aug. I need to be back by Aug 28. I'm a now 56 yo alpine climber who still does some technical climbing, but I'd do this one as primarily a scramble trip. This outing looks easy, but is not for "hikers" as it involves lots of off-trail travel, generally class 2 but sometimes class 3. It requires people with climbing skills, comfortable moving with a pack over sometimes difficult terrain. Looking for 1-3 like-minded alpine enthusiasts to do this with me. I'd look for people who find the Bailey/Ptarmigan/Isolation Traverses to be fun alpine travel, who'd like to combine that with scrambling of big granite peaks, and fishing for trout at the end of the day. People who enjoy spending time in the alpine. Roper did a second edition in 1997, published by the Mountaineers (first edition was a Sierra Club Totebook in 1982), if you want to read more. PM me if interested

Imagine the Ptarmigan Traverse without the glaciers, but 5 times as long and at an average elevation of around 10,000'+. Granite peaks at 12,000' to over 14000'. In 1982, Steve Roper wrote about his version of the ultimate Sierra alpine traverse, called the Sierra High Route, covering about 200 miles of prime Sierra travel, from Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon Sequoia NP to north of Tuolumne Meadows, some on trail, when the trails stay high, and the rest off trail, when the trails go below 10,000'. I headed down to CA this two years ago to do about 60% of it, ended up doing more trail than off trail as my partner was just not up to the more strenuous off trail travel, but the parts of the High Route that I did were incredibly beautiful country. An area that a guy I met along an off trail "short-cut" of the John Muir Trail from Palisades lakes to Dusy Basin, mentioned a place called "Bear Basin", so-called because all the lakes are "Bears"...Brown, Black, White, Teddy, Big...he said "you gotta go there!". And so as the trip progressed, I figured out where "Bear Basin" was and we went there. Spent a lot of time along and around lakes at 12,000'+, many with golden trout up to 18" (I actually saw one this size!). I'm not a fisherman, but these lakes would convert me. Absolutely incredible territory, saw no one there, eye-popping views everywhere. And the opportunity to scramble granite peaks by the boatload. I'd go back in a heartbeat. I'm looking for some like minded people to travel with. I'd choose non-technical climbing just to keep from having to carry the gear. Ice-axes/crampons might be advisable, but possible not necessary. I know the area well, having traveled the Crest Trail through most of this in relatively early season (mid-late may), and of course the outing two years ago. Could be done in 4-5 legs, with 3-4 caches/food-drops. I know all the logistics. I tried to put this together for last year, but it did not work out. I'm going this year... Could start as early as July 1, as late as July 9. I need to be back by Aug 3 I'm a now 56 yo alpine climber who still does some technical climbing, but I'd do this one as primarily a scramble trip. This outing looks easy, but is not for "hikers" as it involves lots of off-trail travel, generally class 2 but sometimes class 3. It requires people with climbing skills, comfortable moving with a pack over sometimes difficult terrain. Looking for 1-3 like-minded alpine enthusiasts to do this with me. I'd look for people who find the Bailey/Ptarmigan/Isolation Traverses to be fun alpine travel, who'd like to combine that with scrambling of big granite peaks, and fishing for trout at the end of the day. People who enjoy spending time in the alpine. Roper did a second edition in 1997, published by the Mountaineers (first edition was a Sierra Club Totebook in 1982), if you want to read more. PM me if interested

Oh yeah, ditto Hanging Gardens, via canyon lake and Totem pass, Blue lakes....It's the "backdoor" to the Ptarmigan!!. Bath Lakes high route...

Isolation Traverse Start at Cascade River Rd, via Eldorado, Backbone ridge, Isolation Pk, Snowfield, out to Hwy 20 via Pyramid lake trail. Lots of stuff to scramble/climb, and no people once past Eldorado. Ditto Ptarmigan, Bailey

see also; http://www.alpenglow.org/climbing/ptarmigan-1953/index.html

see: Manning, Harvey, "Ptarmigans and Their Ptrips," The Mountaineer, 1958, p. 48.

Hosted by the Tacoma Mountaineers and University of Puget Sound Tuesday December 6 at 7:30 p.m. At the University of Puget Sound, Schneebeck Concert Hall Tickets: $5 UPS students/$8 general Tickets available at UPS Wheelock Student Center or call 253 879 3419

It'll be interesting to see the "huge revision" of the Bailey range....too much of what is in the guide on the Bailey is outdated and/or inaccurate. I'd never recommend the current guide (1st-3rd ed.) to anyone doing the Bailey.

I went in solo some years ago, around late Feb or early March. Hadn't intended to do Olympus, was interested in seeing what the route looked like from the end of the Bailey range over across the upper Queets basin to the Humes glacier. It was a stretch of cold clear weather, camped on the Hoh glacier the second night, went up to the saddle between the Hoh and the Humes the next day. What an incredible feeling to be in the middle of the Olympics on a clear winter day!! A profound sense of being out there. Went back and packed up camp, and on the way back, traversed past the East Pk, over the Middle Pk and to the base of the summit tower of the main Pk, which I did not climb. Descended to the Blue glacier, actually set up camp there, and then decided to move down to Glacier meadows shelter, as it seemed the weather was going to turn. Sure enough, got up in the night to pee, and there was about 8" of new snow. The glaciers were like sidewalks, hard and no cracks. Tom

Whilst out on the Isolation Traverse in the summer of 2004, saw one on what I think is the east ridge of Dorado Needle, as seen from the glacier just below and between Dorado Needle and Tepeh Towers, just southwest of the col between the two, on the Marble Creek side. Wouldn't have seen it, but camped at the base of the glacier, and needed to go back up to get my girlfriend's pack. Saw it as I climbed back up and looked northeast toward the col.

Years ago on my first attempt of the traverse of the N. and S. twin, one climber came up lame part way up the W ridge of the N Twin. We left him and just went up the ridge and came back. By the end of the day, I could see blood vessel (capillaries?) just below the surface of all finger tips. I really wanted to do the traverse (up the W Ridge of N twin, across to S. Twin, down W Ridge of S Twin, so recruited another partner and did it the next week. If I had not take gloves for that outing, I'm sure that I would have been bleeding on all ten fingertips. The rock of the range is exposed on the surface of the planet in only a few places, as it originates in the mantle layer. It is the most abrasive rock I have ever climbed. Take a look at it...tiny crystals embedded in a matrix, many hundreds per square inch, and very pointy. I have climbed this with water or light snow on it, good friction is never a problem. My first time there I discovered a place where I needed only to walk about two miles to get to the spur road leading up to the ridge. I also discovered that others had driven into the area. My second trip and third trips included driving into Dailey Prairie to that spur road. Gating issues later made getting in there a problem. I have friends that got locked in, had to wait until morning to get out. It's been a long time, but I'll bet that the little road end where I camped the first time, with a fire pit, is still accessible, and it's only 2 miles to the base of the spur road at base of W ridge from there. My notes from that time say "go past Acme, cross river, right on Mosquito Lake Rd. Go 9.4 miles to gravel pit, go through the pit and turn right immediately past the pit. Go 7.7 miles, then right at small turn-off. Camp spot after about 100 yds, dead end after another 200 ft. This puts you at the NE corner of Dailey Prairie. Walk from here about 2 miles to the spur road on up the the W ridge of the N Twin.

That's Dobie Gillis...

Maynard G. Krebs The G. stands for Walter http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/lawrence/153/krebs.html

Song of the Dodo by David Quammen In the land of White Death by Albanov White Spider by Heinrich Harrer

It's been some time, but I also recall that if you picked a decent line, it was class 3. I remember going up and down with some climbers of modest ability and not needing a rope for either.

I've done it on foot in the summer, twice. It's true, done it a fog is less fun, and takes a long time, even if you mostly know the way. It's also true that the traverse of the Chickamin glacier could be interesting, It was quite broken-up both times I did it, and after a low snow year like this, could be even more interesting. I've always found a way, but it took a bit of wandereing about. One needs to get across the ridgeline that runs from Sinister to Gunsight. Found the second time through that the easiest way is all the way to the left, just to the right of Gunsight. Easy gully up, easy slabs down. Other ways are shorter but might require raps on the way down. Once across, aim for a notch in the ridge on the east and south side of the main ridge, and then traverse south from there to Totem Pass. You do NOT pass through this notch, but rather turn left (south). It's generally easy travel if you can see where you are going. Below Totem pass, pick up a climbers path to Canyon Lake. It's a nice trip out this way...hope you enjoy it.

If you want to stay on the ridgeline of Washington, then definite climbing, at least class 4. I've looked at the start going up Washington from Ellinor, but have not done it. If you just want to cross over from one to the other, no problem...it's been a while, but I don't recall anything even close to class 3.

Park service trying to learn more about fatal falls on Sharkfin Tower BY RANDY TRICK, STAFF WRITER, Skagit Valley Herald, The National Park Service is trying to learn more about what caused three people to die in a fall during a climb of Sharkfin Tower in the North Cascades National Park on Sunday. Kelly Bush, the park's search and rescue coordinator and the ranger who managed the rescue and recovery operation, said it appears that the fall occurred as two climbers were rappelling while tied to a third, injured climber. "Sharkfin is no more or no less dangerous than it was before," Bush said. A six-person climbing group from The Mountaineers, an outdoor education organization based in Seattle, was ascending Sharkfin Tower when a rock came loose, striking Jo Backus in her face and hands. Backus, 61, of Tacoma, was one of two instructors on the climb. The group decided to abort their ascent and take Backus to safety. But as four members of the group were attempting a rappel, the refrigerator-sized rock to which they were anchored let loose, sending the four 300 feet to the rocks below. Three people were rappeling and the fourth was at the anchor rock. Backus and 34-year-old Mark Harrison, of Bellevue, the other instructor, died in the initial fall. John Augenstein, 41, of Seattle, lived through the fall, but succumbed to his injuries as dusk fell. A fourth climber, Wayne McCourt, of Tacoma, was in satisfactory condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle this morning. He suffered a head injury but survived a night on the mountain. Two climbers, Michael Hannam, an Olympia man in his late 20s, and Janel Fox of Seattle, were not injured. Hannam and Fox had safely made the rappel, going one at a time. Bush said the weight of three people may have been too much for the boulder. Jim Backus, Jo's husband, said that after 41 years of marriage, the pair had a special way of facing the dangers of mountain climbing, Jo's other love. ‘‘We'd say to each other, ‘Everybody dies sooner or later','' Jim Backus said Monday, ‘‘but if it's sooner, you'd better be doing something you really, really love.'' Backus and their three grown children, Dean, Sara and Emily, are now dealing with the reality of that philosophy following Jo's death Sunday in the North Cascades National Park. ‘‘I usually worried about broken legs and things like that, nothing like this,'' Jim Backus said. ‘‘But climbing was her love, her passion.'' Monday, when rangers and members of the park's search and rescue team returned to the Marblemount ranger station, the team held a quick debriefing. The meeting focused mainly on how the rescue and recovery were carried out. Tuesday, Bush and fellow rangers sorted through all the gear delivered from the mountain, setting aside the rangers' gear and looking for clues in the gear from the climbing group. Today and during the rest of the week, Bush and the other rangers that participated in the rescue will talk more about what may have caused the accident. The rangers will also have the chance to debrief about how responding to a fatal accident has affected them. Bush said her staff of rescue rangers includes employees who are peer counselors, and are trained to help other employees deal with the stress and emotion that can follow a fatal accident. Bush said she asked at the debriefing on Monday whether her rangers would like to have someone from the Skagit County Critical Incident Stress Debriefing program visit the park. The county program helps professional rescuers and members of law enforcement handle post-incident stress. National Park Service search and rescue rangers have not been involved with a fatality recovery in the park since 2000, according to the park's annual climbing reports. Material from The Associated Press is included in this report. Randy Trick can be reached at 360-416-2145 or by e-mail at rtrick@skagitvalleyherald.com <mailto:rtrick@skagitvalleyherald.com> .

I've seen all the party members names, not sure if they have been released officially, so I'll let that be for now. Most of the folks are from the Seattle area. My friend (from Tacoma) was mentoring the climb, and since all the other names who might be the leader are from the Seattle area, I think it was a Seattle Mountaineers outing. I don't know that for sure. The injured party member is also a Tacoma mountaineer...not sure if it was already mentioned, but he has serious head injuries. I'll miss my friend. She was a great person in the widest sense.

This is so sad. I don't know what to say. I know one of the persons who died...she was a longtime friend. I'm sure I'll know more names soon. I don't feel right just putting her name out here just yet, although I know her family has been notified. I'm sure that her name, and the rest of the names, will be public soon. I met her almost 20 years ago, have climbed with her many times. She is a great person. This is just so sad...she will be sorely missed.

I've done the Bailey range several times since the late 80's, last time 2 years ago. Favorite is Soleduc to Soleduc via Bailey to upper Queets basin, thence west to the Humes glacier, across the Hoh glacier, traverse all three peaks of Olympus, down Blue glacier, down to Hoh river, to Hoh lake, back to Soleduc. Just one piece of advice. Avoid Cream lake (buggy, marshy) and instead cross ridge to pass by (and camp by) Stephen lake, a beautiful alpine lake. Saw a herd of 75+ elk there once while camping. Traverse north then east of Stephen pk (short romp up that peak along the way) then drop into Ferry basin. PM me if you want to discuss more. It's my favorite place.

Spent a night at Cache Col just because I'd never done it, there are camps above the col, either side. I would not stay there again as there was a very persistent snaffle. Otherwise generally snaffle free.