curtveld

Much as I'd love to see you succeed, you'd start with problems attracting critical customer groups. Hard-core sport climbers: Most of them either have their own bouldering wall or a friend with one. School kids (classes, birthday parties etc.): You've got to convince the parent you've got a better or cheaper venue than the Y. This will take time. WWU students: See previous posts.

All this in a day, Darin? Doing foolish things with enthusiasm indeed! Woodchips: Good question! I haven't done it but have contact info for the FA team. PM me if interested.

Hmmm...anybody else see a resemblance of the "background skyline" to the shadowed left-hand skyline in Paul's pic: Works nicely with the Lowells topo...especially if the crag is lower on the eastern flank of Lundin.

Pretty spectacular what we have in our back yards! Thanks for the reminder.

Amazing trip and TR - the kind of full-blown adventure that keeps us dreaming in the dark of winter! Intended, a few years back, to travel the same route north past Triumph and Despair, then west around Mystery Ridge to Blum and out. Figured that gully descent to get around the east ridge of Despair would be the crux but got turned around before we got that far. Looks like it wasn't all that bad with the snow cover you had?

There will be snow all the way from MLR unless it's been plowed. Call up the Mt Baker Ranger District (360 856-5700) and ask them what they know about the 38 road.

Agree that ski areas will give you the most turns per day. And if you're really just beginning, go somewhere you can ride a rope-tow for free, like Baker.

Yeah, though technical and forged friends are as good as ever, Wild Country doesn't seem to have much of a distribution network in the PNW. In Bham, our three gear stores all carry BD and Metolius cams, but none carry friends.

...or maybe a lot less? Heavy on the analysis for my taste, but definitely worth reading.

Did that west face about 20 years ago and agree it is a neglected gem. The hand traverse is classic and longer than it looks in the photos. Sounds like your your TR may inspire more traffic!

Not surprising. Maybe next time, someone can ask him where that thinking fits into the agency mission statement that hanman dug up!

I raised the drinking water issue, Matt, in response to ongoing posts suggesting that without endangered fish there is no legitimate reason to keep dirt out of creeks. As Rat and Dru have pointed out, any logging road with stream crossings puts some amount of dirt into the stream, and much more when they fail. Despite the skepticism here, my years of dealings with DNR suggests their primary reason for abandoning roads is not to obstruct walkers, but to avoid annual maintenance costs. And they do have cost numbers to weigh those alternatives.

Perhaps. And I wonder if the fact that Spada Lake is the primary drinking water source for most of the humans in Snohomish County was also a consideration.

Comb access update: Matt is right, the trail over from 3 OCR is pretty much gone. The direct trail is pretty sketchy but a better option. Hard to follow the thread due to downed branches, but as long as you stay under the timber, 'when in doubt - go uphill' works out OK. Watch carefully for the turnoff from the road - it's none too obvious. But either way, it's worth it. Great climbing up there.

...and if you live elsewhere in Washington, here are some other venues and dates.

Sencha a PM

Wow, awfully purty country! Nothing like golden trees (and a little photo-shop?) to make the sky look even bluer. Very nice.

Well heinrich IS a ringer after all...check out his signature...

Sounds good Michael. I'm sure you'd enjoy the climbing and scenery up here in the North Cascades, but you'd be paying for it with a bunch of time sitting on the interstate. Doubt you can go wrong down at Trout Creek. Dan, I sent you an email.

We climbed the southwest buttress, which was established since the latest Beckey. I posted a bit of beta on this older thread. Nice solo effort btw

If you don't connect with Juan, I'd be up for something on Sunday. I have similar experience (lots) and capabilities as you. Darrington would be great if dry. Shoot me a PM if interested.

The SuperTopo guidebooks are Exhibit A in the trend toward ‘beta overkill’. Do we really need to know exactly where we can place our yellow camalot, when it is within the range of pro sizes recommended in previous guidebooks? Do we need a pitch-by-pitch topo diagram of a mid-fifth class alpine climb? Though I avoid reading the things prior to a climb, it is almost impossible for me not to check the details afterward, once I get a chance.

Kinda like Friday the 13th, but twice as good? Hoping to get on some dry rock - Squamish, Mazama, Vesper or something within day trip range from Bham. Happy and solid in the 5.8 to 5.10- range. Email me: curtveld at fidalgo dot net.

Fantastic photos, as usual, Jason. And a hell of an effort in 48 hours. Hope it was spread over three days, at least.

It's about bloody time we had a Munro-bagging TR around here!