Macson

Named by Becky for his brother Helmy who was off to war at the time. Now that is a BFG based on your BFH, cause I really have no idea. I bet that old AAJ is an interesting read though.

David was away from town for the holiday. My crime was marrying a girl with parents in Methow. I've served 12 years now and I occaisionally get time off for good behavior!

When I run I am pretty much wiped after 45 minutes. To me running is a really hard workout. I have no problem keeping my heart rate up, and my legs always feel like I just did a weight workout. When I cycle I feel like I can keep my heart rate higher for longer (I wear a HRM for both when training). I can bike for well over 2 hours at high intensity and not feel nearly as beaten up. That said, I usually run for my workouts. I don't have the 2 hours plus needed to feel like I got a workout. Probably, I'm an idiot since the numbers say I can get the same amount of "work" done as measured by the calories counted on the HRM by riding the bike for the same amount of time I would run, and I'd feel better to boot. Do I really need to feel like I've worked hard to get the benefits? Or should I trust the numbers?

Oh, in case anyone tries to find this on a real map the point just to the east of the summmit of Mt. Crag is 5290000m N 501000m E

Ok, I think I get it now. What I did was go on what's marked on this map as the 2650 road (the northern red marked road) instead of staying on Buck Mt. Road a little longer to reach 050 (the sothern marked road). So it sounds like my marked route on the south side going more or less directly west is the way to go. From the end of the road it looks like one might be able to head southwest to skirt the ridge for maybe 3/4 mile to get to the crags. If I get out there I'll try to post some pictures. I think I'm going to go to Erie this weekend instead, but I really want to explore this place soon, since it's so close to home. Might make a decent alternative to Chimacum Rock!

Has anyone been up to this area? I tried to go up there last year but I never found the crags. When you come to the Y mentioned which I presumed was the 50/56 intersection there isn't a sign posted anymore. I had to make a choice with up to the left or straight to the right. I went up, and walked about a mile on the road. Now I think I should have went straight. Can anyone confirm that? I'm thinking about doing a little exploring this Sunday if the weather cooperates. Would be interested in a partner if anyone would like to check this place out. I have rope/rack and 4wd.

Will you be in Portland for the entire month? How flexible is the timing of your trip?

Need a partner Klenke?

Looks sweet, but the properties imply it was taken in 2001. I guess I'll just spend my time at the Twisp brewery

After reading Scott's post, I'm a little confused. When you say you "put up" a route I assume you bolted it on lead. Is that true, or are these rap bolted routes? Assuming you bolted these routes on lead, I think it would be a shame for someone to go back an add bolts to make it easier or less risky for them.

Actually when I really need a snow report I just call my inlaws and have them look out their window. They have a pretty good view of the mountains from there.

Thanks, ya I didn't figure there'd be much snow up there. At least the pass won't be closed. I hate having to drive down to Stevens.

I'll be in Methow for the 4 day weekend. Anyone interested in doing something? Cold hands on rock in Mazama? Hiking? Maybe Silver Star Glacier (is that doable this time of year)?

I'd have to disagree TUIB... independent = sexy. Why else would they be gawking!

So anyway, my dyneema slings have a little tag on them. I'd mark there if I wanted to mark. Otherwise a little tape.

sorry, just wondering if my 25th post would promote me from "stranger" to "newbie". It worked!! Carry on.

Having trouble finding the middle of your slings?

I wish I could say something about those particular models, but sorry, I can only speak to the brands. This fall, I replaced my REI Valhalla with a Mountainsmith Auspex, both about 65 liters. There really is no comparison in terms of comfort between the two. Even with as little as 25 lbs the REI pack was uncomfortable, then the stays ripped out after only 1 1/2 years of use. If it was my money, I'd go for the Mountainsmith.

Reading the links on this post brings back really weird memories. I climbed Fuji in 1994 over labor day weekend. I was over there for 2 weeks with my navy reserve unit and climbed it Saturday and Sunday. I took a tour bus from the base in Yokosuka to the 5th station, climbed to a hut around 10k and spent the night, then to the top before sunrise. Every so many feet there would be a hut with a vendor selling things, including the use of his branding iron for your walking stick, which all the lamest tourists (like me) did. At the top, they had a regular little city. A little downtown on the mountain top. Please post pictures of your trip. I can only imagine what kind of a ghost town the summit must look like in November.

Look up reentrant gully on google. Also look up "reentrant angle". In my mind, I picture a steep gully leading to a ridge with inward facing walls of less than 90 degrees.

In the same neighborhood I took my son's cub scout den up Ellinor Saturday. We took the Summer route and turned back at the top of the boulder field. I went up a little higher myself to the base of the bare slope just beneath the summit. The protected areas had 2' or so of fluff and the exposed meadow had a pretty hard layer of crust covering the snow. While it was sunny, the wind was howling and I decided it wasn't any place for kids. I saw only a single boot track going higher than I did. As for Pershing, I would expect more of the same. Postholing & brush with deep snow starting around 4,800' or 4,900'.

I have a golite Hex 3. Great 4 season shelter. I use the floor, but not the nest. Not counting the trecking poles its less than 3 1/2 lbs and fits 2 with gear and room to spare. Just picked up a Mountainsmith Auspex. Not ultralight, but over a pound lighter than my last pack and more comfortable to carry. MSR Simmerlite BD Zenix replaced my PT Yukon HL and I'm happy with it so far. Lithium batteries come in both AA and AAA sizes now. They're very nice.

I think I'm pretty much in the same situation as Snowbyrd here. Been leading sport for a little and want to start a trad rack. What do you guys think of the "Ultralight Starter Rack" at Pro Mountain Sports? Some ABC Huevos, some rockcentrics on dyneema and a few DMM 4CUs. Sure, it wouldn't be as complete a rack as I've seen described here, but wouldn't it be a decent place to start that would get me, or Snowbyrd, up a lot of routes around 5.7 or below? And all for just over $200.

My brother is into geocaching. There was some controversy about a place in Oregon last year called "Oregon Hell Hole". A place where the lower ground is literely sliding down the mountain like a crevasse creating a huge 1 1/2 mile long gouge in the earth. This place was removed from all maps sometime in the 1930s because it was deemed too "dangerous" to visit. So the folks he knows from a geocaching website went to a university library in Portland and found a map from the 1920's which clearly identified it. My brother then took me out looking for it armed with a (poor) copy of the map and his gps. We found it, and it was pretty impressive. The section we saw had pretty dirty walls, maybe 200 or 250' down. It was maybe suitable for exploring, but definitely not in that spot for climbing. See here for a pbs video he also found on this place. http://pbs-afg.virage.com/vss-bin/vss_SR/pbs_afg/search?template=search.tmpl&query=hell+hole&query2=&query3=or

I'd be interested in that. We're going to close the office at noon and I'm in Port Townsend, so I could take the 12:45 ferry and be at Erie at about 1:45 or 2:00. I've only climbed there once. Have rope and draws for bolted routes. I'm relatively new, so I've only lead up to 5.6/7. I can follow a little harder stuff, but not much! Let me know if you're interested.