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I'd say it's climbing if you need to use your hands. Although, if I use an ice axe, I'll still call it climbing even if I'm not actually grabbing onto the mountain with my hands.

Joe, You gotta take the good along with the bad. Sometimes you get beta, sometimes you get yelled at. I know it's probably faux pas to link to SP, but SummitPost has some route info on Cooper Spur. Check out this page for route beta. Probably won't find much in the way of current conditions though.

My climbing partner & I were last off summit from South side slog and damn near last off the upper mountain via South. Ran into a guy with yellow snow shoes & a snow board at the top of the Palmer @ about noon. About the right age. We spoke briefly, but he didn't indicate he was headed for Hogsback. His quote was "damn, the higher I go, the higher the clouds seem to go". No prob. getting down the ski run from 8500', even in very low vis, as you can follow out of bounds wands for the ski area. Wouldn't want to board in those conditions though. Can't image the guy we met going up as we indicated very high winds and strong potential for intense suffering. But who knows.... hope they find the lost guy & he is safe.

As long as we're all whining...... I'd like to see a bit more structure to the beta contained in CC.com. The fact that people are constantly tuned into this site posting their knowledge is GREAT. Users get good, reliable, and most importantly RECENT information about routes and climbing issues. However, you have to wade through tons of random shit just to get the info you're seeking. If I want to know how the 'shrund on Hood is looking, I have to scroll through pages of quotes and pictures in dozens of threads. Don't get me wrong, I think the forum is great. It just makes it hard to find the info I'm looking for. ...but then again, what do I know. I've only got 15 posts.

Well I am fond of slacking, but for climbing I try to do it right. We're going to try to leave T-line between 3 and 4 in the morning. That's why I'm particularly interested to know if this system is going to break up late tonight, or tomorrow afternoon. Who knows, maybe we'll get above it and get nice clear skies for sunrise! Thanx for the good weather beta! - ON

What's the difference between NOAA and NWAC? NWAC's website is www.nwac.noaa.gov. I'm inclined to think that they are related forecasting bodies, but they have COMPLETELY different forecasts for tonight's weather on Hood. I'm trying to decide whether to climb Hood (South Slog) tonight or tomorrow night.

Not a bust, just no summit this time. They gave it one helluva try though. They got up to 7750 meters before they were blown off by a freakin blizzard/hurricane. As the rest of the group was packing up basecamp to leave, the expedition leader called anyone who wasn't having toes amputated to get ready to go for the summit. They planned to go from base camp to camp 4 in the blizzard. Then take advantage of a 1 day weather window to go for the summit w/o any fixed ropes in place. Ballsy

NETIA K2 Polish Winter Expedition Looks like the Polish Expedition on K2 had to give up. Denis Urubko and Marcin Kaczkan made it up to Camp 4 Tuesday on their summit attempt, but had to bail Wednesday morning. As I understand it, another major storm is coming in and I think they'll pack up and head home. I guess the first winter ascent of K2 is still up for grabs. Any takers?

I like the Tatoosh range in Rainier NP, but that's quite a haul from Bend.

I haven't gotten mine in the mail either, but I did find out how much I got on REI's website. As far as I can tell, there's no place to just check your dividend, but if you start to purchase something online, you can apply your dividend toward it. That way you can see how much you get, then quit the order before you submit it.

Mountaineering = Walking + Mountains OK, I can go with that. I guess I go mountaineering in the Gorge all the time! Arguing semantics is such fun!

Mountaineering begins when I kick off my snowshoes and put on my crampons. Before that its just walking.

I still haven't gotten my divident yet I tend to shop at whichever store I feel like going to at the time. If REI has a better price on something or is closer to me, then I'll go there. If I don't feel like dealing with crowds of shoppers or want to talk to someone who actually knows something about climbing, the I go to the smaller shops. I don't base my decision on whether I feel like supporting big bad corporate America or the poor little shop keeper trying to make an honest living. I just go whereever is more convenient for ME.

Hey Dulton, how was it??? Did you need your shoes higher up on the mountain, or were you able to stash them along the way? I'm hoping the weather will hold out for this weekend. If so, I'm heading up South Slog on Saturday morning.

The avi report for this weekend sucks. I'm bummed. Oh well, maybe I can finally get some turns in at Meadows.

Mountaineering axe is way cheaper. Also a more versatile mountaineering tool (tent stake, belay anchor, etc). Not so good on waterfall ice though.........

Here's some info from a guy that did it last August: http://www.cascadesmountaineers.org/OutingReports/0208ThreeSistersMarathon/report.htm Good Luck!

Without trying to get involved in an argument on how the news media should report climbing stories, I'd just like to say I hope the missing climbers are safe and look forward to more information on their situation.

This should be a great presentation. I'm there! Anyone know how big the Benson Auditorium is? Is this going to be standing room only like Mark Twight's show last year????