mike1

if you met a couple dudes taking a break at the bottom of middle cascade that ws us.

"scared up a group of baby grouse and a momma from the heather." Probably a Ptarmigan family dude! You did the Ptarmigan Traverse proper having seen them! Nice report, I was up there about the same time, just missed you guys.

It's the question that I thought was meant to be a joke. But now that you mention it, I don’t think the term self-governing is what I think of when I think about freedom of choice and freedom speech. We’re talking about trip reports here, not current affairs.

"Who should be in control?" "Good question." Do I have this straight? You want to talk about controlling what climbing information the forum members should be allowed to share? That's just so bizarre that I have to assume you were joking...

I put this TOP SECRET description together from a few published books and a Park Ranger's report that did it*** for the portion from White Rocks - out. It looks like a good second option, but like anything else we'll figure it out along the way. Ascend southerly from camp towards Spire Point and easterly to Spire Col, descend Itswoot Ridge to camps at 6,800'; traverse Easterly along Spire Basin, beneath Spire Point Ridge to Dome Glacier; begin slightly downward traverse on footpath through heather; continue traversing basin below successive rock ridge toes, then make obvious ascending traverse to Dome Glacier (heather, talus, snow patches); ascend glacier easily to High Col at 8,560' just North of the summit; descend adjacent to and West of exposed rock ridge to about 7,800' then make a descending traverse on the Chickamin Glacier, Easterly to about 7,000' just below Sinister Peak; ***ascend Easterly to notch near South Peak of Gunsight; descend Northeasterly along snow and talus to small col above 6,364' lake for possible camp; then traverse Northeasterly along ridge past small 7,070' peak continuing along ridge to saddle at 6,650'; descend Easterly for about 5,000' to about 6,000' in elevation; then descend to Spruce Creek; cross Spruce Creek at around 3,000' then contour Southeast to South Fork Agnes Creek for better crossing opportunities; cross South Fork Agnes Creek to the Pacific Crest Trail; hike PCT North to Highbridge Guard Station for camp (16.5 miles). Ranger said to avoid little lake at 6,364' because we'll just want to climb back out of it to gain the small ridge and continue the descending traverse Easterly. We'll probably break it up a bit by a bivy near Dome so we can bag all those peaks. Now that I've told you all this... uh, ya... I'm gonna have to kill ya.

We'll most likely be going over Lizard and heading towards Dome by the 27th, so I doubt we'll bump into you unless something is wrong

That's what that second link talks about. We're planning that very trip in a couple weeks!

I think you got it right Greta, according to the Forest road reports: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/conditions/road_conditions_report.shtml Also see: http://www.cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Board=2&Number=669846&Searchpage=1&Main=50102&Words=+Mikester&topic=0&Search=true&PHPSESSID=55bfd482995d1ae9ec6e026e6dfaf8d5#Post669846

I enjoy reading his books. Should make for a great documentary. Thanks for the heads up!

I need feedback on your thoughts on the lightest, most compact synthetic mummy bag for your money. I currently have a Sierra Designs 15 degree which I'm happy with, but my climbing partner is shopping for something new. Anything out there stand above the rest that wont break his bank?

I do have Verizon, but I didn't bring my phone into the Cascades. I don't know what coverage the phone that got out on Formidable was. Before I picked out my recent upgrade phone I did a little research and found the consensus was that the Motorola 325I was the phone to get for coverage. I found a few cellular forums that spoke positively about it. It’s one of the last phones made that still uses analog (trinet I think) which can reach further than digital. They will stop making phones next year with this capability. I picked this phone up and will give it a go on the Ptarmigan in July. So far I really like it. It’s funny to me that the cellular phones are cutting back on things like coverage to make room for stuff like internet surfing and all the other bells and whistles you can get now. You’d think with technology now they could and would want to improve coverage. All new phones are required to have the GPS system according to the FCC >http://www.fcc.gov/911/enhanced/. I don't know if there are better GPS units in other phones. I've heard the accuracy range is up to 100 meters.

I don't claim to know much about keeping bees, but a few years ago I contacted a local bee keeper that specialized in relocating queens. He checked it out and told me he didn't think he could do it since it was in rock. Anyway long story short he declined. Honey bees are rare in the wild like that and I got the feeling he was of the idea that they deserved to be there more than anyone else...

So this dude told me once that you could dial 911 from anywhere as long as you could see sky because the new E911 system uses satellites. I kind of forgot about it until we had to have a member of our climbing party helo'd out of the North Cascades last summer. We tried the cell's but couldn't get out until one of us climbed up towards Formidable and hit a tower. (you'll have to wait for the next publication of the ANAM if you want the story). Anyway, I recently upgraded my cell to a Motorola 325I which seems to have the best range of anything out there and I thought I'd look into this E911 thing. The one thing I can't confirm is whether or not the cell calls out to 911 use satellites for communication. My guess is that you still need a cell tower BUT once you have signal, your cell phone will use GPS satellites to send a rough location to the 911 system. Like I said, that's my guess. Anyone out there KNOW how this system works?

Okay, I'll admit my post was abrupt and would have rephrased it had I known more about this. I apologize for heating things up here. I just hate to hear about more development of our wild lands.

The road was most likely abandoned after a careful investigation of the cost/benefit of rebuilding and maintaining such a unique road. If you hadn't reduced this to a personal attack I would have respected your stand on this discussion. too bad...

There is no good reason to build a new road there. Something smells fishy...

I'm going to start a rickshaw business! Drivers wanted!

I remember reading about the twisting method years ago. You did it very gently, working it side to side with the tip of the Q-tip until it worked out. It worked every time for me, but I agree that its not a great method. You don’t want to twist the head off. I used Permethrin while hunting turkeys one year and picked dead ones out of my socks at the end of the day. Never found a live one on me. Serious pesticide though... Got it at REI.

I just pulled one off my neck a few days ago! (yuk!) I was lucky because it came out very easy so it must have just started to dig in. That's number to for my life list... The first one was on my belly and it was dug in. I had heard this method and it worked fine. Use a Q-tip soaked in alcohol; using the Q-tip, hold the bugger flat against your skin and gently turn it like hands on the clock. You have to keep it flat in order for this to work. What happens is their two little mandible thingys begin to work their way out. I had that deep one out quickly and easily with this method, head and all. I subsequently pulled another half dozen from my dog over the years the same way without incedent.

Nuf said.

I was under the impression kevlar was brittle in nature and couldn't take much flexing. I wonder if that is why these are breaking down sooner than boots with Cordura. I would think spectra would be a better fiber.

Dude, I'll clarify: from where I intersect the PCT from Spruce it would be about 10 miles further to hike to the lake at Lucerne (27.6 miles) verses hiking to the lake at Stehekin (19.30 miles) assuming you don't get a ride on either road. Not exactly 10 miles... I rounded. It looks like we're adding up to the same mileage. We must be hitting the PCT in a different spot... no matter. ;^{>> PS: you need to work on your people skills.

Word from NFS is that there should be "something temporary" in place for foot traffic at the location of the High Bridge by late June. Otherwise tack on 10 miles to Lucerne.

I hardly think Tom was handing out step by step instructions. It looks like he has described a cool variation of one possible descent into Spruce Creek from the Chikamin. Thanks to everyone for adding to this thread. I am sure many groups looking at the PT this year will benifit.

John, Reading the Beckey description leads me to believe you could exit the Chickamin just South of Gunsight South peak (See Kearney description of alternate Dome route in Classic Climbs of the Northwest); then maybe follow the ridge system or nearby to the Spruce/Icy Pass; then on down for the Agnes/Spruce Creek out. Or there is the Agnes Creek out which would descend the Chickamin Northeasterly to the East of the Chickamin Snout and into the green for a possible bivy; then on down to the West fork and out. Either one of these sound pretty cool to me. What part of the Beckey description is in error? How should someone do it?