Mountainstyle

Nice Ancient Arts pics.... and the cobra. Ancient Arts is nothing but a scary choss pile, but worth a climb at least once! It makes me miss the desert.

When are you going up there Nate? I was looking at going this weekend... how crazy would it be to run into each other up there. I called the ranger station, they said to check the NWhikers net too. It sounds like conditions are good.

Nice Pics, looks like a fun crew.

I did Lib Ridge July 5-7, 2006. There was decent ice above thumb rock, but there was plenty of rock/ice fall too. Saw a good sized ice fall/avy off of ptarmigan ridge. Willis Wall was alive with rock fall. Also, crossing the Carbon glacier was a bit of a chore, a lot of crevasses had opened up. I would say July is pushing it, and June would probably be better. When we did it there weren't any tracks or signs of other teams having gone up it recently. I think we might have been one of the last parties of the season to go up it. The weather was nice though, got a summit.

Great pics; lucky to hit the Enchantments and only see one other group of people! On a side note...so excited it is snowing in the mountains! I hope we have a good winter!

Aw, don't clean your water bottles... all the stuff that grows in there just makes you stronger.

I don't think we are the same group, but I'll be at E9 tonight enjoying a brew or two. It's good to meet other people on FF shifts... climbing/skiing partners for the weekdays!

Billy Benton- try the canadian avalanche center.... http://www.avalanche.ca This site might be helpful. Swing by T-town sometime why don't ya? Got the new hotub all hooked up.

Wow, I guess times have changed. The last trouble I had with skull hollow was about 4 years ago. Some bored/drunk/local/redneck-style kids in a big lifted pick-up truck flying the confederate flag cruised into camp around 3 am, throwing rocks and bottles in the direction of the tents. Calling us "dirty hippies" as they drove donuts around camp. They left shortly after, we all went back to bed.... Ah, the joys of growing up in the country.

I have to say, this is a great house! I am the firefighter roomie of the crew. Before I was a roomie, I was an alpine climbing partner of Evan's. I'd love to have a new roommate who is a climber, anyone active is very welcome. Aside from our climbing habit, we also enjoy good wine and brew, lots o' black coffee, good literature, cooking, cycling, boating on the sound, runs at Point Defiance, skiing/boarding, playing with our dogs, rafting, you get the picture. Looking forward to a new climbing roomate! Peace, Sarah

Call the park and get a report from the rangers. The white river campground ranger station should have an update from Schurman. The approach from White River is "fun." The trail didn't fair well after the storms this winter. I was up there July 6-8, it isn't too bad... but you need to save some for the hike out. Personally, I like the Emmons route better than D.C.

Pole creek, to the N side is a pretty straight forward approach, then follow the moraines around to gain the SE ridge. Just be extra-cautious of the choss up there on the SE ridge this time of the year. I pulled a large rock down on myself on descent at the end of June--broken ribs. If you ascend via the SE ridge and stick to the east side of the ridgeline, you tree out on some gendarmes about 2/3s of the way up. Good luck, I hope the wind isn't too bad for you guys!

I went up at the end of june and things were pretty bare. Started out on early morning couloir, had a feeling I couldn't kick (it wasn't the usual climbing nerves) bailed on it. Did the more boring SE ridge, took a large-ish rock (boulder?) to the chest on descent, cracked some ribs (still was able to get on Rainier 3 weeks later. The traverse below the summit(prouty)pinnacle had snow but it was thinning and this was June. We were mostly on rocks, did chop some ice steps. I would definitely take a long ice axe. Good luck, enjoy the climb.

Looks like a great climb. I did Lib Ridge last year, late in the season (right after 4th of July). There was a huge avalanche off Ptarmigan Ridge one of the biggest I've ever seen, glad you made it safely with the ice fall. Congrats. Excellent pics too!

The Nepal Extremes are versatile, great for winter and early spring in the Cascades. I have never had cold feet with them, they do get a bit warm in the summer. They are not the most comfortable for hiking (If an approach is long I would reccommend bringing something to approach in). I've gotten heel blisters once in these guys, because I was "saving weight" and did a long approach in them. I have used them for waterfall ice as well as general cascade climbs. I prefer leathers to plastics, so maybe I am jaded in my answer.

Out of curiosity, where did you approach from? I did Lib Ridge last July, put in at White River. I haven't been up to Rainier NP since all of the storms, looking to do a couple of routes near the end of June and trying to suss out some options. We are either looking to spend a week on Hood doing some North side routes, maybe Eliot Glacier Headwall or spend a week on Rainier, undecided on route(s) at this point. Depends on what is in. Any beta?

I would advise checking out some of OR's combinations. They have a lot to offer and I have never been dissapointed with their products. Plus, a lifetime guarntee. I have the Metorites right now, I used them on a Dec Mt Washington climb (unsuccessful due to weather) and I had dry, warm hands.

How nice to live in a town where cow-chasing is the most (news) worthy thing the po-po have to do.

I hate to tell you this, but tendonitus doesn't really ever go away--It is aggravated or less aggravated. I wrecked pretty hard on a mtn bike about 4 years ago, chipped some bone and did some damage to my patellar tendon in my right knee. I ignored the pain and kept up with my usual trail running mileage, until both my knees hurt due to compensation. I ended up going to a bunch of PT (at a clinic that specalized in sports PT) to strengthen my diminished muscle strength in my quads and hip flexors, and to loosen up my tight hamstrings. The PT helped, but the pain has never really gone away in my patellar tendon. Surprisingly a chiropractor can do wonders for you. If you get your spine re-aligned, and possibly also your pelvis, this can provide a lot of relief. But the tendon still hurts, especially after runs. I don't run on pavement anymore. I usually massage the tendon and sometime apply heat after a run for relief. I have gotten to the point that climbing doesn't hurt it much, (over the years that is). I say keep strengthing the muscles. Move through some of your pain, but also listen to your body. It will probably never heal 100%, but the good news is.... you can tell the weather with your knee know; whenever a damp cold storm front is moving in your knee should hurt worse.

"It was just me and the mountain and my focus on climbing. Nothing else penetrated to mess with my head. " Loved that line, you expressed one of the best feelings there is in climbing! Keep at it.

Check out Outdoor Research, I am a 6 ft woman and I can find pants long enough for me. I need at least a 36 inch inseam... maybe the men's items would work for you.

Nice work Billy, I want to hear all about your trip. I don't doubt your leopard man-thong either, I've seen your matching leopard home decor.

I did Lib Ridge on July 5th last year, it was definitely chossy with long sections of steep ice above Thumb Rock. There was constant rockfall all around and a nice ice/snow avvy off of Ptarmigan ridge. We simul-climbed above thumb rock, and only protected one move near the top with two screws about 10 feet apart. When we did the route I don't think anyone had been on it for over a week or two. Also, we put in at White River... saves lots of time from the Isput approach. Good Luck.

Looks fantastic. I was supposed to get on Yocum the 29th-31st, but got a bad chect cold instead. The weather window was great too... it looks like perfect winter conditions. I am definitely a bit jealous. Congrats!

Nice job guys! I was floating the river (we did the fun stretch 3 times yesterday) and everytime we rafted by I was jealous I wasn't out climbing. We could just make out a white shirt from the river and someone in red. We watched you guys at the hanging belay in the photo above. It's nice to see up close what I was jealous of from afar.