curtveld

That's a good option, especially the Deluxe version with padded straps. At $100, cheaper than the Freerider ($130) and better for hauling no doubt. The Metolius looks like a nicer carry and has the flap pocket that provides weather protection the AS doesn't have. Tough choice...

Great stuff - thanks guys!

Any other suggestions for an durable pack for multi-pitch? Looking for something medium sized (30-40 L) that carries decently but is tough enough to haul occasionally. Most packs are either 1. lightweight and covered with straps and junk, or 2. mini-haulbags not designed to be carried more than 10 minutes.

Thanks Dan. Yeah, there are a number of "haul packs", basically small haul bags with unpadded shoulder and waist straps. Sounds like the Freerider has the heavy fabric but is a step closer to a real backpack in terms of suspension. It's a fairly new product so there aren't any reviews out on the web yet.

Anybody tried this Pack? Looking for something for hike-in crags, but can be dragged up the occasional chimney or slab. Looks like a great option but wondering about comfort and haul-ability.

Amazing photos, as always Jason. But what sets this apart are your reflections on the risks, that so many of us grapple with.

Yup those last couple soggy moves to the bolt slowed me waaay down. Eased up...clipped...exhaled...looked the the next 5.8 moves, completely wet. Inhaled... grabbed the next chicken-head, which broke off...rappelled. I'll be back.

Definitely quiet up at the crag! Was a truck at the trailhead - from the trail register, somebody headed toward one of the peaks up by Squire Pass. Pretty nice up there too I'd guess

Even with the low snow, the major mountains here are serious mountaineering affairs in the winter. In addition to the Gorge options above, maybe consider low elevation options around Seattle. The beaches and rainforests (Olympics) might be quite different from your home region and more enjoyable than fighting the snow. And as always, the weather should be a major consideration and isn't very predictable until 4-5 days from your outing.

Trip: Three O Clock Rock - Magic Bus and others Date: 1/24/2014 Trip Report: In some regions, you can gage your best recreational option (skiing, cragging, kayaking, etc) with little more than a calendar. As most of us have learned, the Cascades are not nearly so predictable. But the frustration of rainy weekends in August is often paid back by mild windows in November or January. You have to be ready to take advantage of these gifts and after the recent drought, all indications were that Darrington could be a go. Exfo looking good but considerably snowier than 3OC Rock My coworker Anna is a recent grad of the Skagit Alpine Club basic climbing course. Though new to climbing, she and her husband have been bitten hard by the climbing bug. Doesn’t hurt that she’s great company, level-headed and has Fridays off like me. After finding the road and trail in remarkably good shape, we reached the slabs around 11 with full sunshine from the Great Arch around to the left. We jumped on Magic Bus (5.8+), which was impeccably clean and dry above the snow-buried start. Get on the Bus where the skinny dike crosses the overlap The Bus was a great call for Anna’s first multi-pitch climb - two pitches of knobby slabs with a short traverse after the belay. Bolts are in all the right places ( to uberator/FA CrazyJZ) though overdue for updated hardware. Around 2 the sun disappeared behind the ridge, but it was still reasonably comfy so we checked out the Rash (5.8). Pitch one is steep laybacking on a flexing flake system. A little tricky finding good stances and the less flexy spots for gear, so glad to have a range of small cams. The Rash heads up the zig-zag flakes Anna finishing pitch 1 The money pitch looked amazing but the upper part of the Rash was quite wet. "Love me some dry granite!" We closed out the afternoon Under the Boredwalk, to be Anna’s fifth career lead. She cruised it, wondering if it really deserves its 5.7 rating, a fair point given the abundance of knobs and grippy, low angle rock. "Yup, it's a SAC-approved set-up alright" Admiring the Boredwalk on the way down Probably won’t be long before 3OC gets snowed under again, so great to get in a visit now and hope the road is in as good of shape when spring arrives for real. Gear Notes: Usual stuff: double ropes, slings, cams, Whitelaw's Weekend Rock Approach Notes: All good for now!

Answer: 3OC is in great shape - Road is fine, trail is clear, rock is (mostly) dry. Only snow is around the base, so maybe wear something sturdier than your flip flops and you should be good. What a treat to be climbing up there in January!

Yup! As much fun as you fellas have rehashing the various interpretations of Wilderness Act, this is the main threat to this particular structure. And I really doubt the NPS is going to be very inclined toward river engineering. Can the building be moved? Looks like a cement foundation...

Anyone been up the 2060 lately? 3 Oclock could be pretty nice this weekend....if the road and trail are in reasonable shape. Or tried getting to Spring Mtn?

Couple years ago I heard they give away (or sell super cheap?) scrap down from their workshops. Might have a few scraps of thread, fabric etc., but the price is right.

Blue Mountain road is a reasonable alternative, though less used. Though both gates are normally locked, you may find one open when being used for logging or the olivine mine. Though fiercely tempting, would NOT recommend driving through - you are likely to get nailed for illegal entry or locked in (been there, it sucks). Still, it's well worth the hike, ride or ski. The roads go so close to the alpine it would feel like cheating!

You can't go wrong with any of the old lookout peaks: Sauk Mtn., Pilchuck, Winchester, Park Butte, Hidden Lakes Peak, etc. Not all are physically easy, but all are non-technical.

Yes it's up the #38 road, but Elbow Lake trail is waaaay too far, if you're headed to the West Ridge anyway. Several miles back, take a fork angling right to a log bridge over the MF Nooksack and a gate, usually locked. Proceed uphill on the logging road by foot or bike. There's a decent map in the Beckey guide and plenty of beta on the web (for example).

There is good hiking almost anywhere, especially with a kid because the hiking/scrambling around the crags is mostly easy. For something more ambitious, there is Queen Mtn., which also has crags but much more relief and views. Key's View if fine but kind of a drive up, hop out, take a few pics and drive back kind of an attraction. I'd really recommend the tour of Keys Ranch, an abandoned homestead out by the Wonderland of Rocks. You have to go with a Park Service group (make a reservation), but it's pretty cool how those folks made a go of it.

No, I don't make trails to climbs, but I am certainly happy to use one that's already there. Sounded like Dave and Bill put in enough round trips to have a reasonable path figured out. As far as the offending saw work...you're barking up the wrong tree, Mr. maniac (or Zippy or Chris or whatever you prefer to be called). As far as whether bushwhacking is part of the reason we go into the mountains, that is true for some but not all. Trust me, I've done my share of schwacking, paying my way through college by crawling through 10-year old clearcuts counting seedlings every summer. So thirty years later, it's not something I crave, nor do I fear it... or reach for a power tool. I can understand it must be difficult sharing the awesome Squire Creek valley you love with all the newcomers that have different attitudes and perceptions than you. But jumping to conclusions is not a great way to get your point across.

Darrington's obscurity is half of it's charm... but on the flip side, you don't have to worry about the road to Smith getting obliterated to save $

Any tips on how to connect to this not-so-painful approach route? Was looking across the valley from the old road last weekend and there was no obvious weakness....

Why should anyone climb up there?! No sick splitters, no killer boulders, no hotties and no brew pub....WTF?

Great call - Dtown is awesome! The approach to Dreamer has become fairly epic, so for starters, I'd point you toward the Kone or Silent Running, both on Three O Clock Rock. You'll spend more time climbing and less beating up your car and shins. Good luck finding a partner.

If you really want to practice placing gear, Erie has darn few good options. The best easy gear pitch is P1 of Zig Zag. But that's a trade route where you'd be justifiably cursed if you set up a top rope. Squamish is a much better place to learn gear - or Index even. If you can live without that, Sunset Slab is a great TR cliff, as mentioned above. Several bolted lines on the south part, but not spaced close enough for a beginner lead.

I'm taking a couple teenagers down. We'll be on the SW side of the mtn. - SAC slabs maybe. Come find us if you want.