curtveld

Nice! Been thinking that would make a fun weekend. Would those climbs be fun for a less experienced climber? Not so much worried about the technical climbing but those gully approaches...

Nice! And closer to home, there is this little project

What a great area. Love the flat rock camp spot in the first photo!

Gorgeous, as always...

No....but I do know that you will get more responses if you start a new thread for your question

The FS has lots of good info on-line, start here: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/giffordpinchot/recreation/recarea/?recid=80023. If you can't find a specific answer, call the Mt Adams Ranger Station. Having done most of those mountains over the years, I'd say Olympus was one of my favorites. It is more of a nice climb to top off an amazing wilderness backpack. Very different from the drive-up volcanoes.

Wow that's a very successful first trip to the Green Giant, I'd say! The respectful alpine start clearly pleased the karma gods mightily. My first visit departed Seattle at 8 am with predictable results... The hot tip is to rappel Safe Sex, which is climbers right of Dreamer. Not only will you keep your rope, but discover another great line for your next visit.

Nice update and photos. Was also up there over the weekend and was very cool to see all the early season enthusiasm for the Dtown crags! Indeed, and there are also some down alders blocking the 4WD road toward Green Giant. About a half mile past the 3OC trailhead.

Ah yes, the true locals seem to know when each crag will be dry....or not. Andy and I went up for a look yesterday - fresh slushy show on the ground and the entire main wall dripping like my kitchen faucet! We schwacked way around right and finally found some dry rock over in the Dodge Dart area. Winter snow at the base is all gone. Approach trail is in fine shape, thanks to Mark and his saw!

Thanks, though sorry to hear it. Their web-site looks like biz as usual...

Anybody get resoles from these guys more recently? Like the idea of supporting a semi-local business, provided they're a going concern.

Another good area is around Washington Pass on the North Cascades Highway. Generally good skiing and alpine climbing to be had that season and similar rain-shadow weather to the Enchantments. Silver Star Glacier is a classic. Though not as steep as other routes you've mentioned, you could find spicier terrain with minimal effort. Highway 20 is 'usually' open from the west by then. History of road opening is here to gage your odds: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/Passes/NorthCascades/closurehistory.htm Even if it's not, you can get there from the east with a few more hours of driving. BTW, the volcanoes tend to be 'magnets' for clouds and precip if conditions are marginal, so good to have other options

Great TR - love the honesty! 'Great accomplishment' is not always the same as 'enjoyable experience'.

Excellent advice if you're just trying out the sport! Actually everything above is helpful. Once you decide you love it, then plunk down money on new boots. Plus you will benefit from getting clearer on the specifics of what type of climbing you will be doing most - volcanoes, winter/summer, high elevation, rock scrambling..?

Your list of exercises describe above sounds great! If you can do all that several times a week, you are plenty fit to enjoy Hood. The fitter the better of course, but it isn't Denali or an Ironman. Yes, McLoughlin is similar to the south side of Hood, basically lots of uphill hiking. It is farther from the blacktop, so you will need floatation (skis or showshoes) and avi awareness (whole other topic). Perhaps more practical would be Mt Ashland? Is there a cat track or lift you could hike laps on? Much safer and more time efficient for a solo trip. You would get some feeling for working at altitude and a chance to dial in your mountain layering system.

Bumpity bump! Good time to look back on another (hopefully) fine year of enjoying our most awesome backyard! And then see if you can pitch in a few bucks toward future access for yourself, your kids and everyone else that will follow. Cheers!

Also, signals from the USFS indicate that the long term fate of the 2060 is looking secure, at least the main route to the 3OC trailhead!

Mark and Tyson, you guys are inspiring! Keep me posted for any work parties. Now that my kids are getting bigger and scarcer, weekend time is not quite so tight.

...not to mention they have to deal with a lot of selfish and ignorant people every day

Guys, before you bash the rangers, you really should spend some time in their boots! First, they tend to have nice ones and second, they will have a harder time ticketing you when they're hobbling around barefoot

The North face is left of the NW route the entire way, Steve. Red Fred has a good photo that shows both.

Just the ford on the Clear Creek side (FS 2060) that Mark replaced. He was hoping get going the weekend it dumped.

Well the TR deserves 5 stars even if the route doesn't! Isn't there another couloir route on the NW side? Heard good things about that one.

Good stuff! That second photo is awesome and really shows how exposed the upper part of that route feels.