tytyler

Spent a month there myself right b4 the tsunami. How did everything look, we were pretty shocked after it hit. We stayed at Ton Sai (Ralay) and did as much climbing as the muscles allowed. What a great place to go. We also spent a week or so in Chaing Mai in the north, a beautiful city filled with Buddhist temples and incredible food. Nice pics though, brings me back to our trip.

Where are you, Seattle?? I have Tues/Wed off every week and am looking for a partner for the same rock, ice, alpine, glacier...whatever. Its been difficult to find people that work on weekends and not during the week, so I've been doing some solo stuff. I'm in Seattle and a member at Stone Gardens. Let me know.

Climb: Alpental Valley-Alpental I Date of Climb: 12/21/2005 Trip Report: Wife and I headed out late this morning for a little climbing at Alpental. Nice how the rain would come and go every 20 minutes or so. A little ice, snow and rain mix...talk about good fun. The ice on Alpental I was still in pretty decent shape but was starting to soften up on the surface with all the rain. We only did one 3/4 pitch with about 3 screws (13cm), set up an anchor and did a few top rope climbs. Decided to leave once the gloves were soaked through and the toes started to get cold. All in all not bad climbing. Hopefully the rain will stop soon and maybe turn into snow?! The approach wasn't too bad. Just a 1/4in rain crust that we kept breaking through.

spent the morning (sat) tooling around the steps at Alpental...forgot my "soloist" belay tool. Probably better off..talk about crowded. There was about 8 at Alpental I and a few groups at alpental II & III. A bunch of other people were just playing on the steps as well. The ice was coming in pretty nice (some fat areas and others thin). No one looked to be having problems with pro. A few nice pillars forming (hopefully they'll last). We'll see what happens with this next weather system. Anyone been to Rainier recently? Any word on Narada, Mikes Gully area? Or even Skookum?? Looking to take a little overnight tues/wed.