curtveld

The report is that they will look at reopening the road through the first washout if looks safe enough. That would save about a half hour walking each way. The second washout is a tougher nut, since they need to find more $ to fix it and their maintenance budget is already meager. Cross your fingers and tune up your mountain bike in case it doesn't happen.

Looked identical to what Hanman found a couple weeks ago: As shown, the road was patched over the first washout, but access is blocked off by boulders. It will be OK for 2WD once the boulders are removed. The road is basically fine for the next ~2 miles to the second major blowout, which is still a mess. I emailed the FS road guy for an update but haven't heard back yet.

That's pretty much what it took - about the same as Snow Creek Wall

Trip: Three O Clock Rock – season opener Date: 5/21/2011 Trip Report: Mountainman Doug and I made the pilgrimage today. With the rapture fast approaching, we wanted our last earthly hours to be memorable. As reported previously, the road is still blocked ~MP 2, leaving a lengthy but fairly painless road walk. No snow was encountered on the road or trail until the final uphill climbers tread to the rock. There is snow piled up around the entire base, making boots useful. Exfo clearly has even more. We jumped on the Til Broad Daylight+Kone combo, to take advantage of the light climbing traffic. The initial slab to the first bolt was grubby with winter debris, but after that all was nice and clean! Despite steady sprinkles, the rock was dry enough and we squeaked up all five pitches. Around three, the curtain dropped and things got soggy for the walk out. Sorry, no pics - you gotta take my word for it. Gear Notes: Ice axes carried but not needed Approach Notes: The road walk took about 1:15 to the trailhead. You could probably cut that in half with a mtn bike.

Another way to do it, though not a true 'traverse', is to go in 3-4 days from Cascade Pass and return the same way. No shuttles, no road walking and almost the whole trip is above timberline. Some friends did it that in 2009 with good results.

Yeah, I miss having driving access up that road too. But I'd rather see this thread stay focused on info and updates, rather than opinions. My bad for biting, I guess.

Maybe you should sue them...like, for complicating your recreational plans

Nice work for a 'first real aid climb'. Managing hanging belays, hook moves, and all, while hauling overnight gear - damn! Great ambiance with the snowy peaks under his butt!

As I understand it, motorized vehicles are verboten, but bikes are fine. Might want to call the Darrington Ranger Station to confirm this - and any details below. Regarding repairs, the plan for 2011 is to fix it out to Downey Creek and do the rest next year. Pretty hard to guess exactly when - they'll give the contractor as much leeway as possible as long as it's done by fall The wild card is that an environmental group has just filed an appeal (not enough studies/review) and that could slow things down.

Found some real evidence of the DKMWP yesterday! Stumbled upon the uber-obscure Black Wall and all the prickly shrubs along the base were neatly trimmmed. No doubt, Dallas was smiling.

Clearly an excellent outing guys! And a much better TR with the recovery of the camera - great shots.

From the looks of it, the sales associate didn't bother to ask the locals where they were planning to use that case of chisels he sold them!

This (and Lodestone) is how to get started. If you're trying to save $, no point paying shipping to find out the shoes are shot.

Abso-fricken-lutely! I'd say the route fully lived up to expectations, which is pretty high praise for that one.

Holy mole - that's quite a story. Geologists dream about seeing one of these in action - preferably from a safer distance with a better view!

Well...at the risk of stating the obvious, it depends on what specifically you want to do. If, by chance, you're interested in alpine rock routes, here's a summary clipped from MountainProject.org: "May-June: Approach to climbs may require taking crampons and ice-axe. Snow can provide a good highway there and back. May and June provide long daylight hours. Weather can be unstable with late arriving winter storms. Cold to cool." That being said, I had great conditions there a couple of June's ago. But this year's snowpack is much larger than average year. If you could clarify your potential routes and months, I suspect someone will chime in with some more helpful details.

Very cool trip and TR! This is where I started smelling an epic: "....the winds started to pick up. Our guide assured us that this was atypical, and that they would go away soon...." Glad it didn't turn out that way for you and dad.

Geez Tyson, how could you get so confused?! Three Sisters, Three Finger Jack = Oregon Twin Sisters, Three Fingers, or Seven Finger Jack = Washington Pretty straightforward, really

Actually that looks pretty cool, though a bit on the chossy side. Bonus points for beta on a place I've never seen written up here before!

Nice Trip! Whereza Report?

Very nice! Best pics of the actual climbing I've yet seen for this route.

His amazing B&W photos definitely opened my eyes. When about 10, I was poking around the Eugene Public Library and came across his classic 'The North Cascades'. I told myself: "Man...when I grow up, I'm going to go explore THIS place!"

Hey Chris - milepost #s start at Hwy 530. The closure is a couple miles past Boundary Bridge (where the #25 road takes off toward Rat Trap Pass). It is roughly across the river from where Straight Creek joins.

Very nice! When I lived in OR, Anthony was sort of a skiers Shangri-la that everyone raved about but seldom went to. A perfect shot for "fill in the caption"....

Still game...