Rad

Thx. Completed the survey. I oppose user fee-based revenue approaches because these are regressive taxes that block lower income folks, including but not limited to climbers, from accessing our shared natural resources. This makes these folks less likely to want to protect them. What is the fruit of this activity? People being OK w drilling in the Arctic, auctioning off large swaths of the Gulf for oil n gas exploration, selling public lands to mining companies, and so forth. Insert Lorax image of trashed landscape.

Had to wipe coffee off my monitor from laughing at this. There are artery trails in some high use places that see annual tree clearing and even building projects, but once you get off these you look at people like me and many on this board who go out to cut logs, remove brush, and mark the trail through the Western jungle. Apparently the grass really is greener on the other side of the fence. Want to trade governments for a few years? I'm down with that. Actually, it's both comic and tragic that our political pendulums seeem to be 180 degrees out of phase.

This is what happens when their budget gets slashed. We've seen this on many levels. Look at the Discovery Passes. BC has it right: tax everyone and make Provincial Park access free, unless, of course, you want to park http://www.canadatrails.ca/bc/parkfees.html Also, the NP interagency pass is $80/yr, so you may as well get it and get into MRNP and all the others for a year instead of the one-offs. Locally, Olympic NP is truly spectacular and easily accessible. I can't fault the Park., Look higher...

This time of year conditions change almost hourly. I'd suggest posting something on one of the boards of hikers who visit those areas, or look at hiking reports. In Washington it would be the WTA. Not sure about Orygun.

I'm sure he's a very well read dude. How about quoting another great author? "He was a man, take him for all and all, I shall not look upon his like again" Hamlet

Avenge suicide? Your empathy muscle has atrophied.

Thank you. Very poignant. This echoes words from many others and shows us that the key to a life well lived is radical kindness. The good news is that we don't have to climb 5.14 to be kind to our friends, family, and strangers.

Yes, when bad things happen to really great people it shakes the foundation. What is it all for anyway? What constitutes a meaningful life? As a parent, I can't imagine much worse than having your only son take his life. Their hearts will forever be broken.

Probably not very often. The original route (in Nelson) involves crossing ice/glacier/moat that can be pretty sketchy in late summer, the lower section has loose rock and is the place where Steph nearly lost her leg, and the upper section is slab that is easy but quite run-out. The newer lines involve less risk, lower commitment as they are shorter, more interesting climbing, and a better position.

Nice. Thanks for posting. Definitely a good route for simul-climbing.

Updates: - Bolts at anchors were tightened. - Managed to leave the socket wrench out there, perhaps on the summit. Send PM if you find it or leave it in the summit register. Thx - The pitch linking beta above was spot on. 20 quickdraws (10 extendable slings, 10 bones) plus a single 70m rope was sufficient. You can easily skip a few or back clean if needed.

Very nice. I haven't seen reports of folks going this late. For the uninitiated, would you generally recommend earlier in the season?

UKC article Nice work gents!!

Great shots, as always. Boy, those glaciers are looking thin.

Thx. We may look into adding another anchor at the top of p5 to ease the traffic jam of descending vs ascending parties. I'm still healing from hamstring surgery, so it'll be late fall at the earliest. If you have other suggestions please let me know via pm.

Wow! Great trip. Great weather. Great visibility. Great photos! Thanks!

Indeed. For me, the physical and mental challenges of the Pickets have induced a zen-like mind-set where we embrace uncertainty, focus on the present, not the past or future, and grind through epic suffering to reach the highest heights. More than any area in the US I've visited, the Pickets embodies the spirit of Wilderness that was defined in the 1964 Wilderness Act as "an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain."

Nice work!

Nice work. Thx for posting.

The park is monetizing. There are a few 10' x 10' bivy spaces left on AirBnB for $299.

Falling in a crevasse is only one hazard in the mtns. Loose rock is another big one. Moats is another. And vicious attack goats!

Lovely. This one has been on the list for longer than I'd care to admit. It seems that timing is key. Too early and the river crossing(s) are dangerous. Too late and the moat(s) are a problem. Congrats on finding the sweet spot.

Nice work. Maybe it's a motion-activated camera to look for rare wildlife. Or to spy on climbers. Did you test it to see if it clicked when something passed in front of it.

Fantastic! Great trip and TR. Thanks for posting. It wouldn't be a Pickets outing without some suffering. Glad yours was minor.

Wow. Impressive. Thanks for posting! Next time add pics? cheers