OlegV

I totally agree with you, Couloir, the last 10 miles were a total BITCH! And most of these miles are boooring. Remember, this long downhill? It was like a death sentence to my knees. I also thought, next time I would run in a CW direction. I kind of gave up on time - after getting lost in the Eden Park and spending too much time taking pictures. That lady, sounds like my gal - it happened between 2 and 3 pm, maybe. She made 3 attempts to cross the log always staring at the running water and getting of the balance in the middle of the log. I thought, if she falls, I am the one who'll have to dive in and drug her out. So, I had to play gentleman and command “don’t look down - look straight at me!!!” By the way, at least one more team of three ran the trail -they came in the white minivan of unknown make and departed around 3 am.

Man, all the way from Sandy River I was an ultimate suffer machine! Neverending uphill! Basicall, all I could think of is a sixpack of cold beer. Have you done a Wonderland trail?

Yes, I did this “speed hike” in 11.5 hours. I’ve never been on this trail, so I wasn’t sure that navigation will be easy. I was told that some sections of the trail are sketchy and require a guess game. That in mind, I was debating whether I should go without any gear or carry a minimal survival gear. My small pack weighed about 10 lb including 3 L water (I drank total 8 L - mostly unpurified water from the streams - didn’t care at this point if I get some small friend into my stomach). I carried a bladder, compass (I used it at the Muddy River crossing - the signs are terribly messed up there), map (used it intensively), knife, lighter, painkillers, sunscreen, extra socks, fleece (didn’t use it - it was hot), 1 lb bivy bag, electrolytes and food. I was ready to spend a night in woods. I slept in the car and left the Timberline PCT trailhead at 5 am on Saturday. Navigation was OK, although I got lost in few places including the hallucinogenic Eden Park). 80 % of the trail are well marked, 10% require some guessing, and another 10% are totally intuitive. I loved the variety of landscapes and terrains. The most interesting and remote trail sections lie between the Eliot Bridge just below Cupper Spur and the Cairn Basin. I was surprised not seeing a single hiker on the northern section of the trail. Wild flowers in meadows were incredible! River crossing was fun, but I never got my balls wet. At Sandy River crossing I spent 10 minutes helping a female hiker to get across the slippery log. I always walked uphills, run 70 % flats and 100% downhills. Never took more than 10 min breaks. Overall, I feel that by going light, this loop could be a great day hike for a fit person. Certainly, it can be done in a long 14-16 h day even without running. I felt extremely sorry for people on the trail carrying 50 lb gigantic packs and therefore traveling at the snail pace. You don’t need all this gear - lighten up. There is plenty of water and shelters every 10 miles or so. What else do you need? Motivation...

If someone is interested in current conditions on Hood, I took a bunch of pictures today from the around mountain trail.

Mazama Glacier - brings up some old memories. I climbed the MG in September. I don't remember much of the climb - as Brad described it, it is pretty untechnical - what I remember vividly is the approach, the return, to be exact. I decided to take a shortcut and bypass Mazama Glacier traverse (I didn't like those falling chunks of rock size of a refrigerator anyway). I went straight down from the Mazama Glacier naively following the waters of melting Mazama Glacier. From the moraine I was on, I saw the green valley, and... 100 ft steep drop going in both directions. Water falls, to be exact. Foolishly trying to descent one of the moraines, my elbows fully experienced the driving force of the scree. What was even more dangerous - crossing terminal melting crevasses filled with running water. Giving up an idea of descending, I took compass reading and went in a straight line up and down across the moraines in direction of Mt. Hood. Eventually, I crossed the around the mountain trail around the Indian reservation.

Blunt front points + Black ice = Death

Hey Kevin! How are you doing buddy?

Go with Adams Glacier - it is in a good shape!

I hope those 4 guys we've met on Sunday at the Liberty Ridge are OK.

Thank you all! You right, Chad, our partnership worked out pretty well. The main thing, we had different whining phases - we never whined at the same time

Nice TR, Chad! I would rename the LR route into "EROTIC SUICIDE". It just doesn't let go. I think we hit the gates just before they closed shut, meaning LR will be out of shape by the next weekend. Here is some more pictures of our trip. Amazing sunset from the Curtis Ridge: Upper LR viewed from the Carbon Glacier: Chad at the 1st bivy site: Chad staring at LR in anticipation: Shielded from the rockfall. We narrowly escaped deadly rockfall and settled for a short rest somewhere at the half-point between the Carbon and TR: Hardman TR bivy site: we dug a snow hole below the rock falling trajectory and slept our heads uphill. Chad leading ice pitch of Libery Glacier bergschrund. We fully enjoyed solid ice and shortness of crossing:

How'bout we'll talk this Monday the 4th?

PR was in a good shape 3 weeks ago. I bet LR has similar conditions.

Looks pretty good to me!

more cool pictures!

Just curiously probing an upper edge of misery one can expose himself to. Fortunately, there is always a safe and happy return to the Burger King land.

Shit, LR was our this weekend's big dream. Didn't come true. The weather was kinda weird,: rangers, helicopters, missing climbers (hope they are OK). Amazing, that the word "classic" can kill innocent people. On a positive note, rock climbing at PDX with Eric was super cool. Sweaty and hard. Anyway, I plan to do alpine on July 4th. Chad, great to hear you have time for this. Let's talk! Hey Clint, do you have more clear plan and partners for Jule 8-11?

...with a new partner - make sure you don't do it in a bad weather

Went extreme hiking along the White river trail yesterday, talked to a ranger. A climbing party is 2 days overdue on LR. Any fresh news on this?

I'm talking about a 4-season boot, which works on technical routes beyond Cascades, but not quite for Himalaya yet. Meaning: 1) Easy hiker. 2) Good ice and mixed climber. 4) Warm enough for multiday winter climbs. 5) Reasonably priced. Wouldn't be nice to have a single boot for all occasions? Plus two sets of liners - warm and extra-warm, and an overboot. Just want to save few bucks. Most of plastic boots are unreasonably overpriced.

Agree, La Sportiva Nupse is an ultimate boot! Designed for technical climbing at high altitudes. It looks just like LS K4. It probably performs just as beautifully. $0.5K bites!

Perfect training for Denali...

Climbing is a selfish sport. We risk our life - not for money and fame, but as a lifestyle. Sad. Any details on this tragedy?

I like climbing steep ice. Went to REI to try Koflach Arctic Expedition. Felt like wearing russian style military boots. Wobly. I guess, I'm spoiled by my La Sportiva K4. Turns your feet inti hamburger on an approach but climbs sweet! Here is what I need from my double boots. 1) Easy hiker. 2) Relatively light. 3) Good ice and mixed climber. 4) Warm enough for extreme altitudes. 5) Reasonably priced. I tried Arctic Exp. - didn't like them. Scarpa Inverno? Vasque Ice 9000? La Sportiva Lhotse GTX?

Anybody climbed the Sunset Amphipheater HW? Summitpost.com lists this climb as grade V. Who graded it?