dinomyte

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.

Scooter Ward's mom and dad. Cold rules!

Good for you! I'm into beer and 80s music trivia! We all have our things!

Question for everyone, who actually HAS read the Constitution? My guess would be that a good 99% of Americans haven't. And, the parts they have read were probably perused in 5th grade. Slightly off-subject, but...

Every administration bends or ignores the rules when it's convenient for them. Just look at all those appointments that happen when Congress is not in session (thus not there to deny confirmation). Some administrations simply do it more than others. And I think it is safe to say that it draws a lot more attention in an election year.

I think it's all a matter of "process." People do things that wrong all the time, and they know that the process that is required to "punish" them will take forever. Bush can push the envelope as far as he wants in regards to presidential discretion, and it won't matter because any attempt to do anything about it will take too long to make a difference. Hell, murderers are on death row for 50 years. I personally give Bush some credit, in that he and his folks will come up with some method of justifying any action they take. There is always an argument for why it's necessary, even if it's inaccurate and that comes out months later.

I'm sure that you'll get a ton of feedback on this. I wear Scarpa Invernos, and my feet do pretty well. The longest trips I've been on in them are probably about 14 miles r/t. That said, they are heavier than shit, and I'd much prefer my hiking boots. But, if I need the stiffness to hold my pons on some steep stuff, I have to go with the plastics as they are all I've got. I know that there are several models of boot out there that are intended to be plastic replacements and have plenty of stiffness to them. I may eventually go that way myself.

You're falling apart.....and at such a young age!

From the order you wrote it (glissade then crampons) it was a broken leg short of an epic!

I was thinking more like Cell Service: Yes/No. But a map would be fine. LOL.

I don't know how anyone else feels about this, but I've been thinking that in some cases TR content is a bit lacking. Obviously, you can't force folks to put in route maps, photos, etc. in every TR, but I always try to put in stuff that would help someone follow my exact route, even if it is in Beckey, Smoot, or some other resource. But, the one thing I would like to see, that I am always wondering, is cell service info. For example, I was up on Stuart's Cascadian the other day, and it would have been great to know that you can get service at about 8500 feet, but not from the summit, etc. Could a field be added, like for approach notes, gear, etc.? Or am I the only one who finds such info interesting? It might be a good safety thing even. Perhaps the wrong forum, but you guys are talking TR's.

I actually didn't say hi, though I saw you guys. My rig was parked right behind that black subie in the background of your photo. And, that was a cool tent. I was wondering where you guys were headed. I wasn't gonna say anything about loud and obnoxious! Ha! ;-) But I didn't ask you to be quiet!

Trip: Mt Stuart - Cascadian Date: 6/23/2007 Trip Report: Since my climbing buddy Kevin decided that vacation in Greece was more important than sticking around here, I needed to find something to climb by myself. Stuart fit the bill. I drove up to Esmeralda Friday night, and got there about 7pm. There were about 8 cars at the TH, and that numer doubled over the next couple of hours. It was sprinkling lightly. I had a beer and bite to eat and settled in for the evening, with the alarm set for 3am. When it went off, I did my usual "lay there for 15 minutes wondering why I'm doing this" routine. But I got on my clothes and got ready. Other groups started stirring at 3:30am. I left about 10 minutes later. The first stretch of trail up to Long's Pass went quickly, and I found myself looking at Stuart just before sunrise. Pretty. It took me a few minutes to figure out that the trail dropped straight off the other side. I finally saw tracks down the snowfield. I hopped on it, but at that time of morning it was pretty firm and it was kinda steep. A slip would have been unpleasant, so I strapped on the pons and headed down. I couldn't find the trail on the other side, but I knew where to go. I actually hit the trail right at the Ingalls Creek crossing, and then I headed down the trail to the meadow marking the bottom of the Col. I started up the trail (what trail there was) following the cairns. At about 8500 feet, I turned around and had a great view of Rainier. I had heard my Blackberry buzz, letting me know I had email, so I gave a quick call to my wife to check in. I saw a couple of guys heading up below me. They had come up a slightly different way. I believe Beckey calls it Var. 1, though when I chatted with them later they disagreed. I was going to wait for them, but they seemed to be moving pretty slowly, so I headed up alone. I got to the snowfield at the top of the Col, and strapped on the pons again. This little stretch was pretty steep. It went straight up then traversed over to the ridge below the false summit. Once I got there, I stopped to take off the pons and take a shot of the summit. Consulting Beckey and Smoot, I dropped down, crawled under the rock bridge and scrambled up to the summit. I spent a good 45 minutes there, taking photos in every direction (since I had never been), signing the register (it needs a new pen), relaxing, and waiting for MountaingirlBC to make her way up the west ridge (you never showed!). And I took my standard summit pic. I finally bailed off at about 11:15am. I chatted with the two guys on the ridge below the false summit. Then, hoping to avoid the pons, I downclimbed as much rock as possible. It took about twice as long, and I almost got myself in trouble a couple times, but I limited the snow to a single 20-foot traverse. It would have been much quicker and easier to put on the pons! The highlight of the trip for me occurred at about 7500 feet. I had just passed some huge boulders, and I turned around, and there was "Rocky." Us Oregonians don't get to see them that often, so it was cool. He came right up to check me out and bum some Pringles off me. Anyway, after chatting with him a bit, I headed on down to the creek. After the knee-busting descent, it felt good to be on level ground. Not so good to climb back up to Long's. However, this time I was able to follow the trail. I climbed back up the snowfield, which had softened well since the morning. Then I practically jogged down the hill to the TH, where an ice cold Ruination IPA was awaiting me! Tasty! All in all, this was fun and educational. I learned a few things from my time in Washington, some of which I thought would share: - In Washington, one must exit the vehicle and pump one's own gas, which costs more than in Oregon. - People look funny wearing cowboy hats and bluetooth headsets. - Esmeralda is just slightly less popular than Cold Springs. The TH was packed when I got back. - Teanaway is pronounced "Tee - ANNA - way." - Toppenish smells funny. - In Washington, people pay more money than the product they are buying actually costs (evidently called a sales tax) apparently thinking that their children's education is actually important. Gear Notes: Crampons and Ice Axe (needed) Helmet (Didn't use it. No one was above me.) Approach Notes: Long

Chuck: I came off Stuart yesterday, and though I went up the steep snowfield on CC, coming down I downclimbed as much rock as possible to avoid strapping on the pons. I crossed a total of about 20 feet of snow. Of course, I had to bury my ice axe to the hilt each time so I didn't end up sliding down into the boulders. And, yes, it would have been much easier just to put on the pons! But, much of the snow is avoidable in CC.

Did I say howdy to you folks Friday night at the TH? I said I was going to Stuart.

Good thing it was a drop box and not USPS. He woulda gotten 30 years!

Shoulda stayed in Oregon

I'll be heading up Stuart-fish from Esmaralda on Saturday, prolly starting around 3am. I'll carcamp at the TH Friday eve. Nobody in their right mind would wanna go with, but lemme know if you'll be on the hill, and I'll say hi. I'll be wearing a black Pumpkin Ridge ballcap.

I wasn't intending to comment on whether they are needed or not, simply that I saw them. No offense.

Just saw your next post. They were there as of 8/27/05. Have not been back since.