KaskadskyjKozak

It's really nice right now

Trip: The Brothers - South Couloir Date: 5/8/2016 Trip Report: I had some plans fall through at the last minute for Sherpa so I joined some friends on their trip. Forecast was hot on Saturday but cooling quickly Sunday with 10% chance of precip, and some clouds. Good enough to go for sure. We took a midmorning ferry into Kingston and got to the trailhead around 11:30. We took a leisurely hike in during the hottest part of the day - a bit miserable, but it was in the shade. No bugs. Perfect weather. We woke up at 4:15 am to mists and fog, and headed up with headlamps. The trail out of camp is flagged well. The worst part is through an old burnt out section near the bottom of the avy fan. Continuous snow began around 4000'. We had excellent snow conditions all the way up. We scrambled up one short rock section just to climber's right of the hourglass. Soon, the snow was steep and icy enough that we donned crampons. As a bonus we broke through the clouds here. The going was easy, using an old, wide (frozen) boot path from the day before. The top involved a short, icy traverse with some nasty runout before attaining the summit block. (On descent) Summit views were spectacular, with a sea of clouds below us and only peaks above 6000' poking through. N summit from S summit: Gear Notes: Ice axe, crampons, helmet. Approach Notes: Easy, maintained trail to Lena Lake. Unmaintained trail with obstacles to camp at around 3000' just after crossing the stream at the fork.

That may have been my group with pickets. We only had two, and left them at camp thanks to your (or whoever we met for beta). Crampons were required on Sunday - TR to follow.

Thanks, man! I also got this one a few minutes later on my iPhone:

Hey, cool. Yeah it could have been 4:45... who knows. Glad you had a good time up there as well!

Nope, not yet. Sandy has been in my sights for a long time. I'd like to get up Devil's Kitchen in winter, and the N face... maybe, someday

I did that last time I was down there

Trip: Mount Hood - Leuthold Couloir Date: 4/10/2016 Trip Report: I met up with three friends to climb Hood this weeekend. Originally we were hoping to get the Sandy Headwall route but were concerned about how this would go with the high freezing levels all week, and staying at about 10K over the weekend. We met up at T-Line at about 2pm, and headed up to Illumination Saddle. Hood looking damn fine from the parking lot: Approaching camp: This is why I climb. Well, one reason: We took our sweet time getting there and set up camp while the sun set. Based on the postholing we did on the final traverse we ruled out the Sandy and settled on Leuthold. With the shorter route, we slept in to a luxurious 5 am and did not even get moving until after 6:30, mostly thanks to the serialized blue-bagging chain reaction that occurred in the morning. The snow was surprisingly firm - it had been cold and very windy all night - definitely below freezing. Starting out in the morning: A party of 2 had passed our camp around 4:15 am, and another party of 3 passed us in the route. Other than that, no traffic. Rime ice/snow fall was minimal. No sloughs. Perfect conditions, really. View up from above the Hour Glass: View down from the Queen's Chair: Ridge traverse money shot: We descended the standard route around noon. It appears that the Pearly Gates is back in - the Hog's Back was shifted a few years ago. We only had one short traffic jam with 2 skiers and then 4 climbers to get back to the Hog's Back. I have no complaints - this was a great weekend to be on Hood! Descending the Pearly Gates: Life is good: Squeal like a pig! Gear Notes: In these conditions... can be easily solo'd. If you want, bring a glacier rope and 4 pickets. We all had a 2nd tool which made for comfort and fun. Approach Notes: We hoofed it - no floatation was required, but the snow got nasty soft/postholing between the Palmer and the Saddle.

I always have scratched my head how it takes 12 people to convict a man of a crime, but a simple majority is sufficient to set the law of the land, affecting everyone, rather than one person's fate.

that about sums it up for me.... LOL. Well, self-awareness is a point in your favor

Good for you! I never was able to get all the way through it. Probably because it is a genre I truly detest. (The idiot who never learns from their mistakes continues to bumble through life.) Never had the patience for it. He's mentally ill. I don't think it's possible for him to learn from his mistakes. Unless you mean SAncho - he's just a dumbass

Don Quixote (currently in the 2nd book). It's starting to get really repetitive at this point, but I'm committed to pushing through to the end The Revenant. I saw the movie and think this may actually be a case where, on balance, I like the movie better than the book.

if he does nominate and it's blocked on a vote until the election is over - what'll you think happens? Hillary nominates the same person or picks someone else?

yeah, and there is a low bar for president too (natural born, 35 or older). That's how a community organizer becomes president, among other unqualified turds. No need to replicate that pattern. Nominate a qualified judge from the lower courts.

Awesome! Post here - and maybe we can start seeing beer ads at the top of the page!

Community Organizer is indeed sufficient background to join SCOTUS

Are you suggesting he nominates himself?

Unlike the OP, right? I mean, no potty mouth on him.

Yep. Roadkill on the information superhighway. And these people vote... and accuse everyone of being in need of "education"

Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.

More NP fascism. Is anyone going to actually defend it this time here on cc.com?

Timeline, by M. Crichton. Now on to "Into the Wild".