Rad

I think that's why Canada is going to build a wall on the US border...

Wow. Y'all are talented!

Unfortunately, people were jamming popular trailheads and then getting in over their head in spring snow conditions. From King County SAR on March 22nd: "Tonight ESAR and RSVU responded up the Mailbox peak trail for an injured hiker that had called 911. Upon locating the subject, some of the details from the 911 calls weren't adding up and it was determined that we actually had two calls for separate subjects with the same name! The first was about one mile from the trailhead, and the other was about one mile from the summit. And we're just getting started. Almost immediately after teams located the second subject they were notified of a third possible issue; there were two overdue hikers, likely stranded without lights above the snow line. Luckily, those two were found by other hikers who lent them some extra jackets and lights, and the group was making their way down the trail. It wasnt long before they ran into the team that found our second subject, from earlier, which had been standing-by while we tried to obtain more information about where these overdue hikers might be. While all of that was happening, other teams heading up both the old and new trail encountered a total of three additional, separate parties that did not have lights and required assistance getting back to the trailhead. That's a total of three 911 calls and six separate individuals, or groups requiring assistance that the teams helped in a span of five hours, on the same trail. Two of our subjects were transported down the trail by RSVU quads and the rest were able to hike out, escorted by the field teams. Many thanks to all of the responders! You guys rock! Regional Special Vehicles Unit - RSVU.org King County 4x4 Search and Rescue King County Incident Support Team To the communities that we serve, we ask that you make good choices. With the current dangers posed by Covid-19 every mission puts volunteer rescuers at risk and consumes PPE, like N95 masks, that are much needed elsewhere in our EMS and hospital facilities. What does social distancing look like in the outdoors? Here's a good article from the Washington Trails Association: https://www.wta.org/…/social-distancing-hiking-in-the-time-… Want to know how you can get involved? Check out kcesar.org for more details on our training program and donation options. You can also head over to kingcountysar.org for more information about our partner units in King County Search and Rescue."

The ads on ESPN radio would suggest your wife wants you to do something about it.

But wait, where's the venom and vitriol? This site used to be the place where armchair quarterbacks cast judgment and aspersion from their many anonymous avatars. I guess that sort of thing moved to Twitter. So thankful I'm not over there...

We will take you at your word unless your last name is Cesen or Cesare.

Spectacular!

Lovely. I've spent a lot of time looking at that face for reasons you might guess. It looked too ledgy and brushy and low angle to be of much interest for rock climbing, plus the fact that if you trundled things off the face they could easily hit people on the trail. Your ice line concept seems like a good idea. The window would be small each year given the seasonal road closure. I look forward to seeing more of your adventures up there!

Sounds like an amazing adventure. I'm not one to tell you what to do or not to do. As Jimi Hendrix said, "I'm the one that's going to have to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my own life the way I want to" (If 6 was 9). Risk is an essential part of climbing for many of us, and we all have to find the level that suits us best. However, with maturity most of us come to realize that the pain our death or disability would inflict on our families, friends, partners, and communities is greater than we would experience ourselves. Read this thoughtful piece from Colin Haley, a local legend who did a lot of soloing in his younger years.... https://www.colinhaley.com/a-brief-visit-to-patagonia-and-reflections-on-hard-solo-climbing/

Beautiful. Thanks for posting. Heads up: messaging in the climbing community and more broadly has strongly suggested not climbing and dialling back risk taking so as not to occupy the health care system, SAR people and equipment, and the rest of the SAR chain in the event of an accident/injury. If you do get out, act as if you're on Baffin Island, with no possibility of a rescue, and understand that there will be a lot of armchair second guessing of your decisions. The mountains will still be there.

Some scary ass shit for realz.

You sure are a smart ass.

Laps in knee deep pow sounds like a pretty good consolation prize.

A few weeks ago we went to Canada to ski and sadly hit a skunk shortly before arriving at the Canadian border. The whole car reeked. We didn't say anything and Canadian border guard didn't ask about it or say anything. Then coming back into the US a few days later the car still smelled slightly of skunk, which some think smells like weed. For the first time I can remember, the US border guard opened the back of our van. He didn't go digging through bags or anything, and he didn't comment on the smell. He shut the back and sent us on or way. As a family of 5 in a minivan we probably don't fit their profile of drug smugglers.

Well, you can do this but you need notarized forms.

Wow! Scary and inspiring all at once. I'm really glad you're going to be OK. Doing a self-rescue from a serious injury that high on a face is something you should be proud of, and perhaps will be in time. It seems you guys did a lot of things right. Many years ago, in early fall Alex and I ascended a rock line right around where your red line is. The rock climbing was super fun and solid and moderate, but the line meandered back and forth, ascending from ledge to ledge, so the aesthetics weren't quite so great. The upper half of Sloan is like a multi-tiered wedding cake. I can only imagine how beautiful it would be with winter frosting. I'm glad to see someone get up there. Great job and thanks for posting!

Thanks for the heads up. The "check for more than the amount" is a classic scam. They've prob stolen or forged the checks and want to pocket some cash before the check bounces. Glad you didn't fall for it.

Brilliant. Thanks for sharing that.

Wow! Nice work! As you prepare for bigger objectives, consider watching the Alpine Mentors videos from Steve House to up your mental game. Really good stuff. They are on the page here: https://www.alpinementors.org/ Happy New Year y'all!

Ivan on lap 187 of Das Baconlard in a Class 3 atmospheric river, then getting a speedy 188 in a sun break: Video

What's the difference between a sewer and a sewer? . . . One sews shit and the other sows shit (I have to pay $$$ to fix the latter recently so that shit is on my mind).

Brad Gobright died in a fall in Potrero Chico. Kyra Condie and Nathanial Coleman qualified for the Olympics and local star Sean Bailey came super close (videos on IFSC Youtube). Emily Harrington had a big fall on El Cap but walked away with only minor injuries. I think I have emotional whiplash.

Ditto. I often get sweaty hiking to the start of technical climbing and will change into a clean dry base layer before roping up and launching. Best to avoid getting sweaty in the first place, if possible, but carrying a pack swiftly uphill is going to lead to sweat for me in most conditions. Don't be silly, start chilly!

The heli pilots should have a good indication of where these goodies were tossed. Or maybe we can look for nibbling goats and snaffles acting strangely.

A complicated selection process is turning into a hot mess as the japanese climbing federation sues IFSC over Olympic selection issues. I know some of you old curmudgeons don't care about climbing in the Olympics, but it's a big deal, and Team Japan has been dominating comps for a few years now. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. Hopefully IFSC can fix this mess sooner rather than later. Japanese article on JMSCA suing IFSC Discussion of same