Kiwi

I have an s400 and like it a lot. I really like the 3x zoom and how small it is. Some sample pictures from it are at: http://students.washington.edu/climb/GlacierPeak/ Haven't put it to test in really cold/wet conditions yet though. Wow, great shots. Excellent colour saturation!

Indeed. Awesome shot.

Good stuff, grazie!

Thanks.

I want to see this. It's only showing at the Egyptian on Jan 23rd?

Yeah, I want to go to the Enchantments in the fall when the larches turn yellow. That's when I'll take the scenic (Snow Lake) route in which it will probably be a 3 day thing. For now, I just want to scout the area. So a 1 day (free) excursion is why I'm considering the Aasgard route.

I know it's the more scenic route, and I plan to do that route some other time, but can I do it in a day?

I want to go to the lakes in the basin to take photos.

Summer. I'm too scared of avalanches and I don't have enough experience with them to be able to climb safely in winter. Class 2? That's not bad at all. I don't like scree/talus though. I want to do Enchantments in a day to avoid permits. And Aasgard seems the best way.

PnS are not that bad. I took some really nice ones last weekend. http://www.nationleprechaun.com/photos/2003-12-18_mt-rainier/

I was gonna make a thread about the Enchantments, but since this already exists, I'll ask my question here. How hard is the Aasgard Pass approach? NW Sources says it's a "difficult and steep scramble". Then in the same article, says it's a "climber's route that is often dangerous and, especially covered with snow. Rockfall, avalanches and steep terrain await the uninformed. When there is snow, ice axes are a necessity." When I think scramble, I think 3rd-4th class terrain.

Yeah, I was thinking a chest pack/harness for the camera would be ideal. But I wasn't sure if it existed. Thanks. I have no problem with my digital point-n-shoot. Fits in my chest pocket. It's the SLR behemoth that sucks. Thanks.

How do you carry your gear such that you can always stop, take pics, and resume your climb quickly? Putting in the pack takes too long to take out the camera and put it away. And carrying the camera outside is kind of flimsy and exposes your camera to the elements and damage. Plus, if it's dangling from your neck, it gets in the way. Btw, I'm talking about mountaineering/snowshoeing/hiking.

Update: I went to Rainier on Thursday to take some photos and the roads were essentially dry and sandy. It doesn't get tough until the Paradise/Longmire junction, which has compact snow, but not much to worry about.

I always thought snowshoeing was a pretty benign recreational activity.

It's not that I dread snow driving, but I'm just afraid of other drivers. I was in an accident last year cuz the all the drivers around me all couldn't drive in the snow. Plus, my car is shit. No worries, I have chains.

I know it's not a climbing question, but how are the roads? Are they covered with snow? I want to go to MRNP this weekend for some hiking and I fear driving in the snow.

Too rich for my poor ass.

Hmm... Option 3 sounds good. But what are option 1 and 2? You sound like a veteran!! The RMI response sounds like FUD.

faq dood... get some help... its just climbing.

So anyone else have a sudden urge to just whip it out and start wacking the monkey? God, that makes me want to do some climbing.

Indeed.

Juicey! Can't wait to try it! Yeah, fuckin a!

Wow, climbing now?! Must be all dried up with rocks and stuff. I hate rock/talus.

Damn! Too late, I reckon.