mkporwit

Very cool, and great pictures as usual.

There's a TR from yesterday in the North Cascades section of the forum... Hit it soon, and hit it early in the day. It was quite soft in the afternoon, and the loose rocks are thawing out.

Trip: South Early Winter Spire - SW Couloir Date: 5/11/2014 Trip Report: I've been wanting to climb this couloir for years. Unfortunately, the last three years have seen me greatly curtail my climbing -- partially due to a motorcycle habit, and partially due to me tearing my ACL and MCL three years ago and never getting back into the swing of things. There were four of us on this climb -- myself, RH, SG, and JG. We left the trailhead at about 8am, having decided to leave the slowshoes in the car. There was a bunch of postholing through the snow in the trees, but once we got out into the open, the snow firmed up. It was a leisurely approach, and we got to the base of the climb maybe around 10:30, having stopped a few times to enjoy the views: The lower portion of the route, and the (difficult) left couloir: Lots of skiers in the basin: We put on harnesses at the base, but forewent roping up 'cause the climb looked to be in very good shape: This, despite the fact that JG had crampon issues, and as a result was climbing with just one. Fortunately, JG has impeccable single crampon technique. When we got to the narrow, iced over section, I decided I was going to climb that and put in a fixed line for the others to prusik on. Another party was rapping down as we were at the crux, so we hammed it up for a group photo: Above the crux was again easy cruising. We topped out around 1pm, and enjoyed the summit for a while: We rapped down part-way, past the crux of the ascent, and then downclimbed. I was the last one coming down, and decided that I didn't like downclimbing this one bit, so JG climbed back up with a rope and we rapped down over that. Two double-rope rappels will get you down the entire steep portion of the couloir. The route will likely be out of shape in a week or two. On the way down, many of the rocks that were frozen in place in the morning had melted out, and some were firing down the couloir. We had some nice glissades on the way out, and headed home. A great day in the mountains. Gear Notes: Picket Second tool Brought rock gear but did not place it Approach Notes: Snowshoes were not necessary, but would have been nice for the hike in the trees, and for the hike out.

Czesc ich pamieci.

Stout

Holy shit, $150 on amazon

Nice job, KK and JP. I love the views of Rainier from that climb, and you had a stellar weather window for it

I'll raise a pint or two to you this evening, Sobo Stay safe out there

Don't forget a tauntaun

Fixt Nice one, KK

Hmmm, 5 years, a little over 800 posts. Say 200 posts a year. At this rate, I will make Spray Master in, oh, another 46 years? Damn, better get crackin'

I thought we need at least 10 pages before we can start discussing climate change?

Trust me... I understand this feeling too

I'm very sorry to hear that, Paul. You know I understand your frustration. Raising a glass of Oregon Pinot to you and yours

Oh, also, Happy Birthday, sobo!