ScaredSilly

Do not feel bad, last spring during a solo on the Reid I missed a left turn up high and did a lap before going up a rib that finished at the very top West Crater Rim. So you are not the first party nor will you be the last to do a few laps on the Reid. That said it sounds like your first lap brought up towards Castle Crags, vers Route 14b in Jeff's book. Your second lap sounds like Route 14a in Jeff's book which brings one to the top of Castle Crags and West Crater Rim.

Best PNW solo ... Cooper's Spur Oct 1994. Not another person on the hill. I had the whole mtn. to myself. Did not see another person til late in the day whilst back near the base.

Theoretically, the length of the rope ...

Nice little walk in the Park. That ridge has been the crux for many.

Climb hood enough and ice/rock falls are nothing. Its the damn body falls that are the inevitable. Figuratively and unfortunately in some case literally ...

Most reliable ice: your freezer Closest places: 7-11 Multiple options: Circle K More seriously think about flying to places like CO or UT.

Gotta say that is pretty fucking lame as well. Dogs are allowed on St Helens. But WTF dog could not follow on the route they wanted to go so they left it and hoped it would follow? Should have walked their asses over to him and gone down a route that it could follow. If the dog is found they should give up ownership like this person: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/man-give-custody-dog-abandoned-colorado-mountain-article-1.1161669 Leora good on ya for at least trying to do something.

FWIW the day ski trip in May on Rainier is the Fuhrer Finger. Much shorter approach and more skiing.

One really should have a copy of Jeff's book. Enough details to get you up the climb but not so detailed you will not have an adventure. I actually have two copies - at this point on is a working copy and the other for the house. FWIW Powell's will ship books for a couple of bucks.

Nice to see some winter adverturing. Looks pretty firm.

If you need a copy of Jeff's book, currently there is a copy down at Powel's book.

Nice photos - really liked the inside the hut photo.

Good on ya, I think it is fitting that the last thing one does with a parent is something illegal. My wife did the same with her father. Just do not tell friends you hucked yer mom off the north side of Mt. Hood they might not appreciate the (black) humor.

I guess I should clarify. When I pre-rig there is no chance that there will any load placed on the rope. But your point is well taken.

Boots sold.

Pre-rig it. Much better than screwing around with having to do it once yer in the hole. The same for prusiks or tribloc.

Nice, nothing like going up to go down, then up and down again.

I think 2008 around mid July I remember penitentes like that right above the cleaver on the DC. On that same trip we had planned to camp on the summit and for giggles explore the stream vents. Even though we left Camp Hazard late by most people's standard (6am), wandered over to Point Success then wandered over Columbia Crest it was noon. Way too much time so we headed down and hit up Gaitor for dinner and drinks. Personally I like having the cattle track down, it means one can do a hard route hit the summit perhaps a bit late and boogie down. That said multiple times I have it sat out near the summit while it pissed sideways.

Damn, I am impressed for a guess.

I am sitting here enjoying my day off writing comments for year around resorts on Forest Service managed lands: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2013/10/02/2013-23998/proposed-directive-for-additional-seasonal-or-year-round-recreation-activities-at-ski-areas#h-18 There is an interesting bit in 2343.11—Policy (Ski Areas) Proposed Paragraph 4 to allow for charging for improvements made by a resort. The implication is that if you are skinning up a groomed trail you could be charged for it. I thought about the implications for skinning up the South of Hood regardless of the time of day. Of course then there is the descent as well. Folks might want to think about this aspects. It is problematic for Hood as that is the only reasonable access point but it could lead to access issues.

Thanks for that ... I have not been to Smith for a very long time.

Remember ya gotta schlep all that crap around. IMHO if you want to climb forget about Norway and pick place in western Europe.

What do you want to climb? Norway in May is not the warmest, the Alps will be in snow as well the Dolomites. May I would be heading to southern France Bouix, Verdon, La Turbie, or southern Italy Finali, or into Spain.

Very nice ... always fun to go out with the old guard.

As said above the phrase refers to commercial structures. There have been some interesting law suits over what is a permanent structure. For instance, yurts can be set up during the winter season. However, not only must they be taken down in the spring but they must be removed from the wilderness area. In the past some land managers allowed the yurt flooring to left not in place but taken up but left in wilderness. Law suits followed and the FS lost.