tvashtarkatena

My Scion IQ rocks the logging roads better than the battleship heavy Pubaru Outback ever did - nimble avoids the potholes. Excellent on packed snow. Lower clearance, of course, so it depends on how big a berm you're planning on humping. For the city - AWESOME. I can park that thing where they store shopping carts if need be. Tightest turning radius of any car on the road - not a feature people think about until you've got it. 36/37 mpg sticker - but not really. 4 seater, but not really. It's a two person spacecraft. A rocket box makes it a road trip machine. Regular gas, unlike Smart, Fiat, and other modern urban toy cars which require premium. Sticker price, reliability, and maintenance - AWESOME. If you want sofa seats for the loooooong drives - it does OK, but there are plusher choices out there. Most backcountry folks woudln't consider making such an urban leap, but so far, it's been an improvement for me.

Blowdowns like matchsticks. Yer gonna die.

I quietly leave cams just to watch my partner later sweat without em. It's the little things, ya know?

The DC route is in as good a shape as I've ever seen it, and it's direct. 2.4 mi from Muir to the top. Plus, there's a fun, spicy ladder on the Ingraham for the photo op.

Plenty of time for a trip into the Wind River Range.

You drop it you buy it seems like a no-brainer. It's all you in that scenario. Stuck cams often have damaged wires from previous removal attempts. Check and replace as needed. If the sling looks funky - it's only 6 bucks to replace it at Yates and other places.

Splitting the cost of a stuck cam can help keep a good partnership positive. After all, even well placed pieces can walk. There are plenty of folks out there who will sell a perfectly good climbing partnership for 30 bucks, though. They tend to self identify pretty quickly.

Paging Mr. Kaplan. Mr. Kaplan, please pick up a white courtesy crowbar...

Ah, don' worry 'bout it, either oneuh youz. We all know from things on the innernutz, eh? We all must own our own shitty assed opinions. Affiliations or lack thereof beyond that are meaningless, imagined, assumed, or otherwise.

Well, my already low opinion of the US Army actually just fell even further. Leave a comrade to rot with the enemy? Say what you want about the Navy, but, in my experience, it would be awfully hard to find a Marine (included) who would agree with that sentiment. But hey, in the end, this is just another bullshit innernut meme. Yet another opportunity for a bunch of tools to line up and prove what morons they are concerning something they know nothing about in public. Ride the wave.

I've only been there this time of year so I don't have a sense for what the snowpack will do later on. The last trip onto the Whitechuck (over the July 4th weekend) was too long ago to count - given that the glacier disappeared between then and now.

The death of the Suiattle road was a godsend in disguise. The S side is so much more wonderful.

Actually, both Andreas' and Josh's packs are Josh's packs LOL. We weren't in any appreciable danger, but i have to pump up the volume for the story. Oh sure, their were huge avis destroying everything all the time, but one's choice of terrain, the means of traveling it, and timing makes all the difference. Note the postholing - that wasn't for exercise or because we ran out of ski terrain.

On the toilet tank along with "What's your poop telling you?"

Lost and Found in the Land that Time Remembered: The Transformation of Glacier Peak May 10 – 13, 2014 Cloud and Snowscape by Josh K The Cascadian volcanoes rise sunward in a drunkard's longitude like carbuncles on Vulcan’s great arse as it chafes against the Pacific Plates grinding carpet. Of its score of great summits, the naming of only one escaped man’s self congratulation – the most pristine and remote of them all: Glacier Peak. Providence has seen fit to cloister this ice age Princess. Once a pilgrim’s trade route, her crown now lay 16 miles from the nearest carriage, thanks to the milky Suiattle, which saw fit to send the northern access road to the sea during one torrential October day just over a decade ago. Cloistered does not mean immune the change, however, as we shall soon see. Our tiny expedition would court the Princess from the south. Once again, the aerobically idiosyncratic Josh K would pack his panoply of technological wizardry for another venture into the heart of it. This time, however, Mr. K’s friend Andreas would rendezvous with us on our final night – to attempt the peak solo the following morning, and return home with us afterwards. Mr. K came armed with his own Galaxy, which, true to its name, seemed to contain all that there is. From topographical charts to Telephone Tel Aviv, we would have it all, and two extra batteries, a Kinivo, and an ample supply of Washington’s Finest ensured that we would have it all the time, all around, and Allahu akbar. It seemed that our week might, indeed, beat your year. It was all so fresh. We piloted our Pleiadian ship through the treacherous heart of Methopotamia, a mossy land rife with carriage pyrates and Jo Jo potatoes of questionable vintage. From road’s end – festooned as it is with the King’s Warnings – for thievery, for improper berthing one’s transport, for the proper disposition of stock - we thanked Mother Nature for suddenly sparing us her near constant tears and forayed into the dusk, bound for the Mackinaw Shelter, a league and a half distant. Soon the damp gray faded into black like an old fishmonger’s solitary death, and with it, the longings of a love sick grouse. I fell into a walking trance until the haunting howl of a barred owl burst, mistaken at first for my partner’s rebel whoop, shattered it. Eventually, the day’s energy flagged, and with it, the salubrious effects of our Indican salve. Night had set its drag. Finally, the Shelter, a term generously applied: mud floored, mice infested, and in a near state of collapse. We thought to set it alight and rid the forest of this visual blight, but the damp and slumber conspired to preserve it. During our ascent to White Pass the following day we encountered two fellows retreating in the face of frequent bombardment from avalanches. Gaining White Pass did prove a delicate affair – commencing with a mile long traverse across continuous avalanche swaths that extended from ridge top to valley floor. At the far end of this Valley of Death one lone ridge remained un-ravaged - this would provide a narrow corridor over this threatening barrier to the gentler land beyond. After a couple of hours of being serenaded by the muffled roar of distant avalanches, we gained the sublime, undulating snow-sea of the Whitechuck. What had once been a living glacier of over a mile in extant during my last foray a score years prior was now a masquerade – only winter’s thin veil of snow enshrouded the bare skeleton of dusty rock beneath. Fourteen years of our modern clime was all it took to render this once mighty lobe from ancient ice to a pea green lake. Only the highest of its three original lobes remains, and it, too, will be gone by mid century. Gaining the Whitechuck by Josh K Tvash approaches Glacier Peak by Josh K I recalled, one early July a quarter century ago, bivouacking on a wonderful granite pedestal, big enough for 3, that found its resting place in the middle of the Whitechuck Glacier (when it still was one). This island in the snow appeared nowhere, however, so so we continued on to Glacier Gap on the Princess’s southern, windy shoulder. Sunset from Glacier Gap by Josh K After a chilly night, made chillier by a traitorous sleeping bag zipper, I awoke early and rousted my comatose companion. By 6:30 our longshoes were gliding over diamond dust sastrugi, ski crampons cowbelling, towards the Cool Glacier. The Princess rose before us, her silken gown spreading towards the horizon in a frozen whirl, her peak adorned with feathers of rime, beckoning. After a leisurely ascent interrupted only by morning tea, we found ourselves at 10:30 drinking in a phantasmagoria of jagged chaos beneath us under brilliant sun. Near the Summit by Josh K JoshK on the Summit by Tvash The still-firm neve made for a rapid descent. The wind picked up and we opted to retreat to a friendlier rendezvous below to wait for our third. Josh took a detour into the basin below to retrieve a wayward pad, I cutting a gentle downward glide path. Soon after regaining our original track we passed a tongue of granite with a suspiciously flat pate. Could this be the fabled pedestal? Two idle shovels and an untouched pinch of Chronic Inspiration stood in the way of knowing. We began to excavate. And excavate. Eureka! It was the oasis, or Broasis, if you will, of my youth. The sun quickly dried our newly exposed sanctuary, and I took a knee to thank Vulcan and the God of Gravity for such a rare gift – and to properly cup my lighter. The Sweater by Josh K Andreas appeared on the horizon like a grey ship with Kermit green sails. His chiseled, swarthy countenance could just as well have been at home under conquistador’s helmet as his baseball cap. He threw his burden down, removed his boots, and laid claim to his portion of the Broasis. Tuggy Toy at the Broasis by Tvash Sunset from the Broasis by Josh K A spectral sundog chaperoned the setting sun, its rays now mirroring off basin’s concavity to warm our perch. Magic. The heartaches and headaches of the world below, faded as a forgotten dream, and all was right with the world. The following morning Andreas set off for the peak, just as a nascent lenticular alighted upon it. We watched as he, reduced to a tiny but perceptively moving speck, made his upward progress. With serendipity’s impeccable timing, the lenticular attained its maximum extant as he disappeared into its underbelly, bound for a very brief moment of featureless white glory. Andreas Returns by Tvash Shit Eater by Josh K By noon, the three of us were on our return voyage. The avalanche conditions had only worsened in the heat. We cut slope after slope on the descent – sloughing destruction on the world below, then bounced across an enormous, final avalanche fan to gain the safety of the forest, not five minutes before a slushy Niagara suddenly thundered over the cliff above it. PostHolio by Tvash JoshK doin the Blowdown by Tvash

Try yelling "THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!" immediately after every pitch, regardless of performance. Crush the post-finish. Eventually, this mindlessness over doesn't-matter method may reverse osmoze into your actual climbing if someone doesn't whack you with a 2 x 4 first.

Terrible. We witnessed many large point releases on multiple aspects (mainly S and W) this weekend - often several in one zone. It will take some time yet to sort out this snow pack.

to beg, borrow, steal or rent. For Yosemite fun. Trip dates June 17 to July early something. Thanks.

My 5000 average annual salary is from a blog - Alan Arnette's. You've confused that figure with life insurance payouts.

At an average of $5000 per season, a high altitude Sherpa makes 7 times the national average salary in Nepal. In the US, that would be the equivalent of making over $300,000 per year. In this sense, they are far more highly compensated in their country than foreign guides are in there's. Unsurprisingly, the Sherpas demands are not focused on a bigger paycheck. According to Alan Arnette, those demands focus on compensation for victims and improved working conditions. They include: • Increment of immediate relief announced for avalanche victims • Provide Rs 10 million (US$103,590) each to families of deceased • Set up a memorial park in the name of the deceased in Kathmandu • Cover all expenses for treatment of the injured • Provide Rs 10 million (US$103,590) to critically hurt who cannot rejoin mountaineering activities • Set up mountaineering relief fund with 30 per cent of royalty collected from issuing permits to different mountains (est $1M for 2014) • Double the insurance amount to the mountaineering workers • Provide additional chopper rescue to mountaineering support staff if insurance fails to cover the cost • Provide perks and salaries, except summit bonus, through concerned agencies to Sherpas if they want to call off climbing this season • Manage chopper to bring logistics and equipment from different camps if mountaineers decide to abandon climbing this season • Don’t take action against SPCC icefall doctors if they refuse to fix ropes and ladders on the route this season • Let the expedition members to call off this season’s climbing if they wish so

7 rope burns, Day 14

It's the little, common habits that will keep you alive or kill you. I continually ask myself - what are the best practices for any given situation? Make exceptions when necessary, but at least know the risk you're incurring. In fact, several sites recommend NOT doing that. Here's a link on how to use 6mm pull cords more safely than was done on this climb from the canyoneering crowd - who first started using lighter rap lines. You'll not not one setup puts the 6mm pull cord through the anchor. Rapping with a 6mm pull cord Be safe. Stay alive. Have fun.

Except the 8kN isn't the breaking strength, particularly for a static rap line. Knot factor reduces rope strength by 50%. Esprit 6mm breaking strength is rated at 2300 lbs. Knotting it reduces that to 1150 lbs. Degradation - crampons, UV, previous shock loading, grit, abrasion, and bending, can further reduce breaking strength by as much as 50%, and this damage isn't always all that visible or detectable. Breaking strength is now down to 575 lbs. But hey, I don't weigh that much, right? One such a tiny static line, even a minor shock can double your effective weight - I can weigh 230 fully loaded, particularly with ski gear, some of me pals add 40+ lbs to that. 575/270 is less than 2x. Even a very shot static fall in the form of a minor loss of balance or the rope slipping off an edge can shock load such a line enough to snap it. Feelin' lucky? If you climb a lot, such practices can eventually bite you in the end when all of these factors line up. After all, that's exactly how accidents happen - several unlikely conditions line up. It's one thing to hang your body weight on small stuff - you've got a rope and pro to back you up. You've got no back up on rappel. Feelin' lucky? 7mm is the smallest line I would ever rap on. That adds 21% to your margin of safety - Yes, I'll rap on a 6mm V thread - they get used once, so degradation isn't a factor. To quote Tyrion Lannaster "I like living"

The Hoh is cool. Go on an adventure and hike the Bogachiel, if you like big trees you'll get amble opportunity to hug - and hump - hundreds of them. Guaranteed you'll be the only ones there. No shelters, though. It pops you up to the High Divide and then down the Solduc - very nice finish after so much wood gymnastics. Research divorce lawyers beforehand or better yet - convince your wife it was her idea. Don't get me wrong, I love the forest. It's just that Little/Big offers so damn much of it. If you're not looking for mountain scenery, though...

One thing we can probably all agree on is the Little/Big Beaver would be the least interesting trip, unless you absolutely love forest and lots of it.