kioti

Climb: Mount Hood-Wy'East Face Date of Climb: 11/22/2005 Trip Report: The four of us, Jeremy, Matt, Glen and I, departed from the Mt Hood Meadows parking lot at around 10am or so. We'll call it the slacker's alpine start. Glen, the holder of a season pass, got a few runs in as we started the skin up the hill. We reached the top of the Cascade Lift around 11, and met up with Glen. The skinning was good for most of the way up the Wy'east Face. I pulled my skins off at around 9,500 feet, as I was struggling to keep the pressure on my skinny skins. After a brief lunch stop, we finished up and turned around at 2:15 at the upper chutes at the top of Wy'east. The skiing down through Skylar Bowl was incredible. The hard pack, windblown snow had softened in the afternoon sun and made for some great turns. As we got lower, though, the snow got heavier and turns, at least on my end, got sloppier. We finished up through White River Canyon (it would have been a better idea to go back through Meadows). The lower part of the canyon was icy and tracked out from snowshoers and sledders. All in all, a good trip. There could stand to be more coverage in the lower canyon, which would make the creek crossings a bit more bareable. Gear Notes: Brought Ice Axe and Crampons, didn't need. Approach Notes: Road was plowed nicely, but that has changed since.

Glad you guys made it up there and back OK! Sorry I missed you for the first Hood Lap, but I'll get out there sooner or later. Any good nighttime shots? Sunrise? Later

Has anyone gotten a chance to play around with the granite gear Vapor Alpine Pack? It's based off of the Vapor Trail, but beefed up with more durable material and ice axe loops, crampon patch, etc. Just want to know how it carries everything (Shovel, pickets, skis?) Thanks!

I would just as soon have a pro do it. Since they have jigs that will ensure that everything goes on straight. I'm not saying a pro won't fuck it up too though. The type of binding might make a difference, also your experience and set up might make a difference.

Invest in a good quality probe, even if you don't use it. Carrying a probe in the shovel (the probe will be thin and flimsey) is like carrying a cathole shovel for avy rescues. It just isn't the right tool for the job. You will either have to remove spring pins to get to the probe, or remove the handle of the shovel. Either one of those prospects isn't something to look forward to on snow. It makes a crappy situation of a rescue worse. If you want to keep your shovel and probe together, duct tape the probe bag onto the shovel shaft. It will remain accessable, and you'll have a better quality probe. (I don't do this, but it is an option.)

Funny you say this. As of this year, the TLT Classics are the cheapest binding out there ($299). The Freerides are now $425 , for example. All binding prices went up, with the exception of Dynafits, which all went down. Go figure.

I'm looking for a pair of Dynafit Bindings for under $200. It would be great if someone was looking to offload a pair. PM me if you have something available. Thanks!

The Extreme EVO is still technically a non-insulated boot. The EVO does have an insulated insole, which is good on snow, but not when it is wicked cold. I believe the EVO series has more ankle articulation as well, which means you can pull off some sick figure 4's.

I heard that Sunday was a little wind blown, but Saturday was sick. I had to work unfortunately. Anyone up for skiing tomorrow?

I wasn't too stoked on the Mt. Baker. I think there are many other good fat skis this year. Give them a few years to redesign the Baker in the new Work Stinx mold.

I thought I should move this thread out of a discussion on skis. Anyone up for getting some skiing on Tuesday? It is my only day off during the week, and it's looking like it will be a good day to be on the planks. I don't have an insured car, so I probably shouldn't drive; but I'm hoping someone out there can! Don't really know the area all that well, but somewhere on Hood is what I have in mind. Timberline would probably be the best bet. Skin up to 10k and turn it around, maybe. Let's get out there! Others in PDX can feel free to post here for ski partners. Spread the Love! Alan

Baker! Lucky! I think I might try to hit some light BC touring on Tuesday down on Hood. Anyone in??? Alan

For coastal snow pack, it seems like the MSR shoes are great, even without the tails. I personally prefer the Atlas shoes (12 series with ratcheting binding) because they are WAY more comfortable to walk with. Sorry, NOLSe, I just had to defend another brand other than MSR MSR is doing a life time warranty on their shoes now, which is huge. They are also still made in Seattle; Huger. I've seen fewer warranty problems with MSR than Atlas; Hugest. As long as you stay away from Crescent moon, Tubbs, Redfeather, you'll be fine. Alan

You'll be riding higher on the snow, so you'll be less affected by crud and inconsistant snow conditions. To say it is the BEST option for the area is going a little far. I think with many skis out there (Atomic Janak(teledaddy), K2 Mt Baker, G3 Rev.), they are designed to work well in pow and on hard pack. But it's kind of like getting a skinny ski to ski powder. Fat skis will generally be softer, and run the possibility of chattering around more. I would also say that a wider ski will not hold an edge as well when you get on hardpack/icy conditions. My suggestion is to stay on your shuksans (great ski) but get out to some of the demos, or rent some skis this year, to see how you like it!

It has gotten a lot easier to do it yourself. There's really no reason not to do it yourself. Get the glue off by using brown paper bag strips, then running an iron over it. The heat will loosen the glue, then it will stick to the paper. You'll be able to tell when there is no glue left on the skin. Go to any nordic shop (marmot, second ascent, etc) and buy either the G3 or BD Glue sheets, put them on your skins, run an iron over the back, and you're done. You can still get the old BD Asc. Glue, although it is a little bit tougher to put on evenly. Send them down to Portland, and I'll do them, if the price is right!

The tool feels awesome, Though I haven't had the chance to sink the picks, yet.

The movie didn't really help me get my stoke on. It was all relatively uninspired. Did have much good humor in it. The lines weren't all that impressive. They speak of a higher ground, but that feeling isn't really conveyed. The music was OK, with a few good choices. Also, you can't get a Meadows ticket until April, as the voucher is only good for April 2006. Weak. You only have about a week to use the US Outdoor Coupon, not that I would want to go in there anyways. Plake was good as usual. It was cool seeing him reinact the decades, I could have done without the poker game though.

I'm in!

Well done Tony, something different and cool. Sky: Take off your damn pack next time!

Let's say people start grid bolting in the north cascades. Obviously that would be a very small minority, that could things up for all climbers. Just because it is a choss pile doesn't mean that regulations should be ignored...

[quoteI think he meant that fact that picture of a skier in an illegal area could affect legal skier access to areas. Exactly, it's just like kayakers who are granted access to a put in by a private land owner, who then revokes access due to people trashing the area. (I'm not saying that skiing "trashes an area," but the principals are basically the same.) I would hate to have the mountain closed off to skis completely (when it reopens) due to a very small minority skiing the crater rim.

There's snow up at Timberline too! Looks like it is continuing to fall as of 1:15pm!

Good Call. Lowbrow Lounge would be sweet. The name of the place describes us to the T.

Another one comes to mind now as well. Another one that I've never been to, but a short walk. Wilf's located in the train station. I think the restraunt is pretty la-ti-da , but the bar sounds reasonable. Jimmy Maks is a good call, although I have been burned by the cover for music before. They have a down stairs area that they wounldn't charge cover for, but it nasty.

What about the On Deck Sports Bar (Across the street from REI)? It seems a little high class as sports bars go, but seems nice. Just about three or four blocks to Patagonia.