OlympicMtnBoy

Nice, looks like fun, I'll have to get up there some day!

Yeah, some of my favorite routes are up there (mostly for ambiance and such). I wonder what is going on.

Thanks guys! It was a great trip and a really fun line. I felt many of the pitches up there could be classic with a little more traffic and it was amazing how such nice steep cracks were broken up by great belay ledges. For more pictures and Matt's topo check out my picasa web albums. Trip One, cleaning and aiding: http://picasaweb.google.com/matthiesen/ColchuckBalancedRockTheScoop# Trip Two, Cleaning and freeing: http://picasaweb.google.com/matthiesen/ColchuckBalancedRockTheScoop02#

Nice job. Hoe does camping under the peak affect SKT records? I thought that way was especially slow (yet enjoyable). Also does it count if you lose time due to missing bumble bee pass (and trying to approach/climb without any sort of prior knowledge other than rumor of a route)? I look forward to more of this time trend!

Nice Lisa (and Doug)! I've been wanting to do a traverse like that for a while. You guys sure lucked out on the weather too! - S

Nice Andy, I love Olympics ridges! Great weekend for it! Did you stop in the hot springs on the way down from Boulder Lake? Lisa, did you let Doug talk you into something again? ;-)

There are probably others who know more, but sometimes you can find industrial machines on Craigslist, just make sure you can find parts and probably pay someone to clean and tune it. Those really old Singers can also do the job and can still sometimes be found at Goodwill and the like. Most industrial machines do one very fast straight stitch and not much else, look for one made for strength instead of speed. If you find something heavy duty but portable let me know, I need something that fits in my apartment without room for a whole table setup. For cam slings you'll need a bartacker, but really I'd just pay the $3-4 each to get them reslung by someone with a computer controlled machine for consistency and reliable stitches. Some home machines and a few others will do a zig-zag stitch which is very handy for repairs and can also be used to make a sort-of bartack which works well for repairing gear, chalk bag belts, etc, but i wouldn't use it for life support.

Provided it's not raining, I have to be back in town around 5 or 6 at the latest and my usual partners are heading out for two days elsewhere. Anyone wanna take off reasonably early in the AM and come back in the late afternoon? I'd like to check out the stuff over by Rattletale since I haven't climbed there for some reason, but am flexible if you've got a goal in mind. I'd like to get on some good 5.10 cracks. I am happy to lead but would prefer that you lead some as well, had a lot of trips as ropegun lately. More than happy to follow harder also. I have rope and rack and can drive, drop e a PM if you're interested.

Nice job, sounds like a lot of fun (minus the lightning). Sounds like you're having a great trip there!

Looks like fun guys, great time of year to get up there. And nice tent, I got one of those off ebay a while ago and it's great. Maybe I should do a spring climb this long weekend out there?

Probably too late for ya, but the Dungeness is nice this time of year, hike up to Camp Handy for a mellow trip, or farther to Boulder Shelter. I went up to Goat Lake with my girl a couple weeks ago, got up there without putting the snowshoes on at all (but the lake was still totally frozen). Have fun, should be a great weekend to be out here!

Those Mountainsmith Dyno packs are awesome BTW, I've had mine since 2002 when I got it for like $30 on a closeout pro deal. It's still my main cragging pack and has been through tons and tons of travel, abuse, and climbing wear. If it wasn't still in fairly good shape I'd buy this one!

Nice, great winter project, thanks!

Hehe, yeah, my pile is bigger than that. My go-to boot for snowy things in the Cascades has been my old Nepal Extremes (pictured above). Anything I might want a step in crampon for, or anything in winter (including Rainier in winter with stellar weather). I've had no problems with drying (or wetting) with trips up to 5 days or so. I have a pair of Vasque Ice 9000s that I used for higher stuff in Peru that I liked, and can dry, but I've never been out here in anything cold enough for em. Then I've got my backpacking boots, a new pair of Garmont Vetta Pluses for longer alpine trips, some approach shoes for shorter trips, several pairs of rock shoes, ski boots, sandals . . .

PM sent for newer orange TCU.

If anybody has a broken cam or other broken hardware you don't need please bring it, I'm looking for something for an art project. I'll trade you a beer (or a broken #4 camalot which is too big for my needs). :-) I'll have the cc.com shirt on with my name on it (or look for the red beard and glasses).

Allright, you guys are leaving the Olympics out (and you can stay out, I don't like crowds). Mt. Cruiser - 5.0 route [img:center]http://gallery.photo.net/photo/1275548-lg.jpg[/img] Mt. Olympus - Standard Route [img:center]http://www.cs.cmu.edu/%7Emcmahan/brendan_mt_olympus.jpg[/img] Mt. Constance - West Arete - 5.4 (sorry I can't find a pic, my buddy's pic site is down right now)

Nice job, wish I were there!

Nice, I scoped that descent last time I was up there thinking it has got to be easier, but didn't risk forging on unknown ground with my tired/less experienced partner. Thanks for checking it out!

Welcome to the fun! Why don't you tell us what you climbed in your course and what type of climbing you want to do (rock, ice, glaciers, day trip, week trip, etc). What routes are you thinking of that might be over your head?

Looks like more fun with Fred, wish I could have made it!

I'm pretty sure your eyes will melt, but you will look funky doin it. I'd love to see those up on a big mountain!

We hiked past the mob at Alphabet rock (which in the morning was all over the 30 ft 5.2 routes leaving the good stuff open), and up to Giveler's. We were surprised to see no one lined up for the classic 5.7+ namesake. We climbed it (2 teams of 2), and walked down, still no one else in sight. So I led Bo Derek and everyone TR'd it and finally as we were packing up four more folks arrived (1:00 PM?). That was it. Super classic moderate climb, 45 min approach. Have at it!

I'm pretty sure there are worse shit piles. I climbed "The Center of the Earth" at zigzag earlier this year.

Maybe it's cause everyone and their brother was in Nevada last month and the cheap casinos/whorehouses don't offer free internet? I mean I love you guys, but I ain't paying $13/day just to spray here and check my work email. ;-)