ewhack

Thanks for the feedback. Tom, your trips provided great inspiration. I agree on the N Despair views. I am contemplating various routes to Jasper Pass to climb it again. Jim Nelson said he came up Bald Eagle Creek, but it doesn't look trivial. I think I read in the Crowder register that Roger came up the N rib as well and wrote something like "no rope, no problem". I might be confusing that with another summit, but regardless, he did some incredible trips.

Thanks Jason! We saw one guy near Thornton Lakes on our last day. Other than that, we had it to ourselves. I know what you mean by mostly looking ahead. I tried to be mindful of taking in where I'd been. The view from Crowder is outstanding. Getting around Pioneer Ridge from the top was tricky. -Ethan

Thanks! We were fortunate to have fair weather. It was unseasonably cold, but to our benefit. -Ethan

Trip: Challenger, Crowder, N Despair - Eiley Wiley to Thornton Lakes Trip Date: 08/09/2020 Trip Report: This trip was an apex experience preceded by years of planning and dreaming. We took nine days. Thanks to Steph, Tom, and Jason for all the trip reports. Thanks to Eric and Jason for the beta. My climbing partner conceived the idea of our abbreviated traverse. The plan seemed favorable, but included two major unknowns. The first was our plan to climb over Crowder. Others had descended our climbing route (in general) and reported it as not recommended. The second was the descent from N Despair. Climbing Crowder was adventurous, loose, and included a couple pitches of 70 degree heather/moss climbing. Perhaps there is a deluxe solid line we did not find. We took the path of least resistance. I would not repeat it. The descent form N Despair was much less difficult than we imagined. Downclimb to the first notch south. One short rap, downclimb rock, then snow. Any less snow in gully would probably make it more tricky. South side of Challenger Southern Pickets and Crowder Crowder Spectre! Departing Jasper Pass for North Despair Triumph! Gear Notes: (2) 30m 8mil Approach Notes: Oof!

I believe Jason's assessment correct. This from a 2009 Fury trip via Access Creek.

I'm talking about the colorful summit register on Trapezoid, containing an entertaining playing card carrying the hand written title Choss Dog Millionaires, which I thought to be placed by your party.

Thanks for the register, millionaires.

Cool. How do the NBC and NEC look on Colchuck? Thanks

Anyone know if the access to Sonny Boy Rd/Kindy Ridge/Snowking is open? Mostly, is the bridge in across the Cascade River? Thanks

Going into N Cascades. Have some things in mind (Jack, Buck, Snowfield, Arriva) but open to ideas. Coming from Spokane. Ethan

Fri-Sun just opened up. Trying to get a last minute plan together. W Mac Spire? Chiwawa/Fortress? Other? Ski or climb. Ethan

6-16-13

Nothing like steep weeds right out the car to make us question our sanity. A very direct approach.

Trip: Johannesburg - W Peak - Date: 6/20/2013 Trip Report: Top quality rock

I have 2013 Quadrants (size 27) for my wide feet. The stock liner is still too small. I struggled with it for a while before replacing it with an Intuition liner. I tried the Dreamliner, Pro Tour, and Luxury and selected the Dreamliner (size 28). One of the foremost reasons being the thinner sole of the Dreamliner leaves more volume to better allow use of a Sole insole. I now have happy feet.