dinomyte

I told the other guys that I was gonna post a single picture TR, but I gotta say a bit more. Stephen, Jonathan, & Brad - Glad Kevin and I ran into you guys. It was fun. Here's to ya! I'll leave you guys to post all those sweet pics! 'Nuff Said!

Translation? Fat Chance? Or, I pity you for even venturing out on that choss heap?

Hah! When we finish this one, there's always the headwall route!

Heh! I only count 3. THe first was merely scouting. I brought nothing and fully intended NOT to try it! The second was 40 mph winds - I think you were there! The third, I was a bit unnerved by the guy falling, and my partner wasn't feeling it. Hopefully, we'll have a window Saturday morn. If all cooperates, and we summit, don't count on me ever going back!!

I actually meant SATURDAY at 3am - weather permitting.

If he had more than one post, I'd say:

Planning on heading out Friday 3am from Pole Creek. Let us know if anyone will be around, or if you've been up recently. Love some beta.

Gotta be careful, Doc. In Oregon, when many of us say "climbing" we mean mountaineering, as in "Hood, Sisters, Adams," etc. In Washington, they mean "whatever I can approach within 2 minutes of a freeway exit." Just kidding, WA folks! But seriously, shoot me a note. Might be game for a hill or two as training.

Wheeew! For a second I thought you lost a crappy Greek beer!

I like your style. I like your arms!

My Ipod has to have the most eclectic collection anyone has ever heard. A small sample - Air Supply, Mudvayne, Stevie Wonder, Death from Above 1979, Bread, Static-X, ABBA, Staind, Erasure, Seether, Dan Fogelberg, Cold, and the hits just keep on coming.....

Sorry to bail, but it looks like you might have a partner anyway. Friend in the area is outta town, so we won't be heading up. Have fun.

If you guys wanna party, do the major road trip to Husum, just north of Hood River but on the Washington side. Joel at Wind River Cellars is the shit! He'll show you a great time! No climbing, but jumping into a kayak or raft on the White Salmon is sweet. Views overlooking Hood.

Please give us some beta fellas! This bitch is still on the list. I will say that some ice patches have lasted pretty late into the seasons on the traverse in the past. I'd be pleasantly surprised if it was bare. Course, most say you should do it snow-covered anyway. Good luck guys.

Peter: A buddy of mine and I may join the hordes at the TH on Friday the 10th eve, for a Saturday hike up. We'd be coming from P-town and would normally offer a ride, though additional plans may require us to drive separately. If you're interested in hooking up with us, let me know. We usually have a couple pints and a brat or puck at the TH and prolly take off at 5:30 am or so for the walk up. We'd just do the one-day thing instead of the camp. More drinking to be done Saturday night!

Lizard, I totally understand. Although my post was directly after yours, I wasn't intending to reply to you. I was replying to the person who said "Just do it." My only point was that not knowing another person's experience, I would prefer not to say "Just do it" and I would not tell them what they should or should not take on the trip. I would personally feel better stating mountain conditions, telling someone what they are likely to encounter, and maybe even mention what I took with me on that or a similar climb. Although everyone should realize that they must all make good decisions based on their own knowledge and experience, I can't imagine how bad I would feel if I told someone to "just do something" that they were not prepared for, and something bad happened. I think the overwhelming majority of the posts do exactly that - they point out the hazards that Suomi is likely to encounter. He can make his own decisions, knowing whether he is prepared for the known challenges and whether he is willing to risk the uncontrollable. I simply wanted to caution the person who said "just do it." Certainly, that's a valid opinion and given Suomi's experience level it MAY be doable, I just personally wouldn't feel comfortable throwing out a comment like that. Not trying to be an ass or anything, I just tend to be cautious with the advice.

I hate to digress from the subject, but I think the "just go do it" advice is horrible, no matter if we're talking about soloing Rainier or Adams or anything. The same would go for saying "you don't need an axe or crampons." We know little about other's experience on here. I think it's always safer to say what the conditions are, and let the person make their own decisions. But probably better to dissuade than encourage. My $0.02.

EM: I was there in August 2005. TR HERE w/ photos: http://www.lebre.net/bt-thielsenlog.html Thielsen pics start at the 43 pic, which is actually numbered 20044. Hope that helps. Have a great time.

Well, since we are in Spray, I'll submit that I like a chest that I can feel while listening to my music!

Plan A or B will be great. I've done both loops (though not in a day for gods sake) and they were both great. I think I enjoyed the Sisters Loop more, as there is something wrong with jogging 8 miles to T-line, with a full pack, in a rain so hard that it turned the trail into a flooding stream within minutes. Have a good 'un tho!

I don't think we can limit this to the NW. Stone's Runiation is the best. Moylan's Hopsickle is up there. Walking Man Homo Erectus is good. TG is solid. And, though not really an IPA, Bear Republic's Hop Rod Rye is good. I also regularly do Inversion, Stone's regular IPA, Hop Ottin. I like the 60 and 90 minute, but $8 for a 12oz bottle of 120-minute is steep. If you guys are in P-town and have not been to Johns Market on Multnomah, GO!!!! They have absolutely everything.

My personal opinion is that high would be the way to go. Kevin and I took a low trail down into the gully (below the slide) and it looked like you would have to drop down a LOOOOOONG way to get underneath it. Kevin took this one from above, which I'm sure you saw: I could probably dig out a couple more that we took from below. I'll see if I have one down from below.

Good on ya for doing that Couloir. My bud Kevin and I were up that way Saturday as well checking out the slide damage. Just took a stroll from Cloud Cap over toward Lambertson, stopped to have a bite of lunch and a beer and to watch you folks up on the Glacier. Picked up a few film canisters and wrappers ourselves - nothing near what you found. Were you heading up the Dome to get in some turns?

Dude, I don't hope you die, but I hope you learn. I've read many of your trip reports and have seen people blast you for poor decision-making. And, I see above that you pretty well admit to killing a snake for no other reason than that it was near you. We've all made stupid decisions in our lives, but some of us try to learn from those mistakes. Know that you either shouldn't kill animals indiscriminately, or you shouldn't talk about it (and you certainly shouldn't post video!). If you post a trip report stating that you learned an important lesson, and that you want to share that lesson with others, then great. But repeatedly saying things like "It was ridiculously dangerous, so I continued" is just asking for it. Either don't make that decision, or don't talk about it. I won't harp on you too much, because I don't know you. But I will say, I was once a bit more like you....like when I was 17.

Alpinfox, If you don't mind, please post the results. I have USAA as well, and while I pray I never have to file a claim, I'd love to know how you're treated. Sorry for the shitty deal of having your stuff swiped in the first place.