WageSlave

I'm with you on that one. Goddamn school. good thing highschool finals are easy! Yeah, high school doesn't really count. Just go to Montana.

I'm with you on that one. Goddamn school.

Sat (11/1) around 10 am I'll be out at RB. Come one, come all. Rain or shine.

I'm no Hood expert, but I've been up on it in winter before. Check conditions before you're out here cause right now its pretty barren. 5 weeks of snow and freeze-thaw cycles might give you something to work with up there. 1. If its during the week, you'll be alone once you get above the resort. Plus, you probably won't see anyone on the slog up to the Hogsback. 2. The South Side is pretty devoid of crevasses, but there's a berg at the end of the Hogsback that might be covered with loose powdery snow in early Dec. 3. Like danielpatricksmith said, get some GPS or compass bearings for Timberline so if there's a storm you can get down fine. Don't just go downhill cause it'll cliff out after a long while.

As of this morning there's not one bit of decent ice left up there. Its all gone for a while. Stupid warm temps.

Trip: Mt. Hood - Leutholds Attempt Date: 10/12/2008 Trip Report: This cold snap after some warmness made it seem like alpine ice might actually exist in Oregon. Got up at 2 am to drive up to Hood with Aili (sisu) and scout out the West Side of Hood and maybe go up Leutholds or the Reid Headwall. Got up to the Illum. saddle around dawn, roped up and headed down across the Reid Glacier. Everything is nice and open, but blown around powder has filled up some of the smaller crevasses and Aili got a leg into one of them. Everything is covered in nice fat blue plastic ice. At the bottom of Leutholds, we watched some unexpected watermelon-sized rockfall come down and the clouds closed in. Decided to wait it out for 15 to see if the winds and clouds went away at all and it only picked up. We turned around cause we're wusses that don't like rockfall or whiteouts. No photos from the adventure cause the camera batteries don't like the cold one bit. But holy crap, so much alpine ice everywhere! The Reid Headwall and the Leutholds are in and are looking plenty thick. If anyone from PDX wants to go back up next weekend, shoot me a PM. Gear Notes: Brought a bit, only used a tool each and the rope. Approach Notes: Dodge snowboarders in plaid unitards. Seriously.

They have the Wild Things guide jacket (the one thats lighter than the Belay Jacket) at 2nd Ascents for 150 last time I was there. I got one and its toasty and small.

I'm also interested in those boots. I'm in Portland too. I can second dibs on the boots, or something.

Sweet. Count me in on this potentially entertaining chaos. Good move on keeping the climbers away from the beer before giving them ice tools; don't want too many drunks dueling while swinging from ropes.

that's my point - it's beautiful out but i'm back at school... Sucker. I got 3 weeks before that load of crap drops on my head... Hey geoff, I'd also be game to go out some point this week. Give me a ring at (360) 823-7344

I'd be game to get out as I just moved down here. Today or Thursday sound good by me. Give me a ring at (360) 823-7344.

Quit your whining! It's beautiful out.

Alrighty kids. I've just migrated south from Seattle and know somewhere around zero people to go climbing with in Portland. By climbing, I mean, I like ice and cold and want to delicately swing tools into some rime-covered choss on Hood this winter. I also like big long hand-to-fist cracks and long walks on the beach. I know my way around the out-of-doors and know how to not get myself killed. Can lead trad to 5.9 and follow in the 10s. I like snow and ice more than rock and like the mountains way more than the crags. Downsides: I'm a carless college student and fairly young. I haven't scared myself shitless in the mountains yet so I haven't tempered my ambition with wisdom. So give me a call or PM or what have you. (360) 823-7344 colin.bohannan@gmail.com

I'm game too. I've been up the DC before and have my act together. I'm in Ballard (aka Seattle). Gimme a ring at (360) 823-7344. -Colin

Hans, I was in the group of two (one guy, one girl) in bright orange puffy jackets. I ran into two IMG parties and a handful of other climbers coming down. They all complained of high winds, but we decided to keep climbing until we got sketched out. Ended up standing on top. The wind wasn't that bad, but there were still gusts around 30 mph and a lot of spindrift. No real fear of getting blown off, just a lot of misery. The cramponing was perfect. The snow was in amazing condition going up and a big sloppy coming down, especially on the Cleaver proper. We were on top at 9:10 am and headed down quick like. Sorry to hear you didn't get up on top of there.

I'd love to get out of town on Sunday to go climbing anywhere around Seattle. I'd prefer to follow someone up some stiffer trad routes as I'm sans trad rack and just learning to lead trad. PM me or comment or give me a ring at (360) 823-7344. Colin

What methods or equipment do you folks use to srubadubdub a dirty rope? I've heard put it in a bath with mild soap and hand wash it. What does the collective hive mind of CC.com use for rope washing?

Assuming you actually are new to the game, some places actually have bolts placed at the belay spots for the belayer to anchor into. I'm thinking of a bunch of the climbs on Sunshine Wall at Vantage as one example. You really shouldn't worry unless its a big fall and proportionally small belayer. Slinging a rock behind you and clipping into it should usually be more than enough.

But just how anarchist is the pack? Like, will it throw rocks at riot cops for you?

Damn. I guess if I stole a -35 degree bag I'd go to Alaska too.

Sat. had a great bootpack up the entire route. The snow got sloppy as soon as the sun hit it, but it was nice for most of the morning. Left at 4 am back at car around noon. The walk down was a bake-your-brains-out affair though.

Yeah they might be, but its harder to protect buildering and it gets extra fun when you're up there enough. Any recommended buildings in town?

I just moved back up to Seattle and am looking for someone to go do some cragging for the weekend coming up. Anyone game for exploring some or at least going up to Exit 38? Send me a PM because if I don't find someone to go with I'll be forced to keep climbing buildings that I find in town here and thats bound to get me in trouble eventually.

Especially if you call in a chopper to carry you out afterwards.

pm sent