OlympicMtnBoy

Are you volunteering Oly?

Yes, he's like super old, fairly cranky, and can't get too far off the road right now, but he's also a legend and is looking for someone to do something with this weekend! I'm heading out of town to Banff tomorrow but said I'd post up for him. If you are free and want to put up with Fred for what will be a memorable day or two let me know and I'll connect you. Alternatively he's been invited to a 4th of July party Sun-Mon in Leavenworth but would need a ride or someone to drive his car (he can't drive anymore). You'd probably get into the party too!

Hey thanks everyone for the suggestions! We are planning to drive up through Idaho but make it pretty quick to get up to visit our friends and then take longer on the drive back on the northerly route. Brewer's buttress and that hut sound pretty nice and like my wife would have fun. We'll look at some of the other Lake Louise options too. Or go caving? We thought it would be fun to hit Mt. Sir Donald on the way back but it may be a bit early for the ridge route still? Maybe the same for other Roger's Pass climbs or are there ones that melt out earlier and don't require too much snow gear for approaching?

Great TR, thanks Bellows! Oly, I need to hit up Mystery too! Also this Anderson thing.

Sweet! I'm glad you got up both of those. We actually were socked in almost all of Saturday up at Harrison Lake so you had much better weather. We had killer views from 5345 though across to Constance and the Brothers in the morning though!

So the lovely wife and I are taking the 4th of July week off and heading to Banff to visit some friends that moved there recently. We'll be cruising up in my camper. We'll probably jet up there and visit our friends for a few days and then take the next 6 or 7 days to work our way back. Neither of us has been to Banff before so I'm looking for suggestions on good day climbs up there or on the way back to Seattle. Overnight is a possibility too although it's nicer not to have to pack too much extra gear. Since my wife is along, probably keeping things at 5.7 ish or under is good, long alpine rock, moderate snow/ice, even good scrambles. Or cragging/multipitch along the way? Our camper is a 1984 Nissan Sunrader so it's fine on moderate dirt roads, but not 4wd and not a huge amount of clearance which I know is limiting for some spots. It sure is a nice place to get back to after a long day though. Thanks all!

Me of course! I haven't even been out there to climb this year! That being said, I might be booked pretty much through July except maybe the weekend of the 16th. I might be able to swing a weekday if I'm not traveling for work. There are still a ton of peaks I haven't done!

It really wasn't too bad, but it was a bit scary to have to get out of my aiders. The 5.8 mantle at the beginning of the pitch is chill, then it's just some easier but true slab (no obvious holds or well trodden path). Do it! It was a fun route.

And where are the pictures of HandyCorn??? Hehe, thanks for putting up the TR and belaying me dude!

C'mon old people, it's only 5.1. You can climb that with a cane and depends. Hehe, close enough though, nice TR.

Yep, kleenex!

Cool, it worked!

Sad, I want to hear it!

Because all you climber folks are real estate magnates and slum lords in your spare time, help my wife and I find a new place to live! We've had a great 3 and a half years in Georgetown but our landlord is selling our house. We made an offer but it's such a crazy market we weren't willing to overpay when we know exactly how much work it needs. So who's got a place to rent for us, our lovable well trained, hypoallergenic poodle, and all our climbing/skiing/biking/homebrewing crap? Unfortunately I work in Bothell and she works in Tukwila so our neighborhoods are sort of limited to Georgetown/Beacon Hill/Seward Park/Rainier, parts of West Seattle/Delridge, or maybe even the north end of Renton/Newcastle/Bellevue. Great credit, rental references, very easy tenants who fix minor things ourselves, etc but not unlimited budget since we have been paying $1500 a month in our current spot. I know that will not be an option anymore though for a place with room for all our gear and a spot to park the camper van and our 2 cars. Ideas? Well, serious ideas anyways? We've got until the end of July to get out.

Wow, sure seems like this route is getting climbed more and more each year! Looks good!

Looks like your average spring day out with two more trips up the wall! Wish I was there this time.

Cool trip, thanks for the report!

Sounds fun, that second pic looks scary though!

Cool, sounds like a good adventure. At least you didn't get your rope stuff on the rap off as there is a rope swallowing flake or two in there. I've turned around a couple pitches from the top on longer D-town routes too either due to partners or time. It's always good if you get back down safe so that's never the wrong answer for me. Sometimes though a 10 minute break with some food and water if you have it, and THEN a thoughtful discussion about your descent, daylight remaining, conditions, etc can do wonders to get someone to push that one or two more pitches. Especially something you are going to rap. Sometimes it's best just to head down to the beer though and go back again next time with a new or newly psyched partner!

Cool, way to get after it! Thanks for posting up and dealing with the site difficulties!

Nice pics, looks like a good time. At least a couple of you got to enjoy good beers at the end. ;-)

Nice job with the extra road skiing, looks like a great day out!

Cool, I need to get out and ski more this spring!

Cool, looks like fun!

I'm not sure how these are really an improvement over the Rossignol Free Trek Venture approach skis I bought in the early 2000's. Actually the binding is identical, but the Freetreks were just a normal 99cm fat snowblade with a standard skin with glue. They really work quite well although are difficult to ski in anything but corn with a pack on (with my leather ice boots anyways). I haven't really used them since I made the switch to real skis with dynafits. I'd probably sell em if someone is interested.