BirdDog

woooooo! 1/2 your photo limks are broken, but the half that work are awesome. Those are some of the best winter shots in the north cascades ever. You should send this TR to Backcountry Magazine, or other publications. Nice work! Gorgeous!

Pretty easy descent. I think there are two ways to go. If you decend right off the summit (skiers right) it's an easy scramble down, class 3 at most as I remember. A bit loose but no big deal, no big exposure. You'll have a rope so you could always belay a freaked novice down.

Nice! That's an awesome area. Beautiful photos.

Excellent. Beautiful pics!

Fun night! Huge thanks to mattp, 2ndAscent, and all the other generous sponsors. A shitter is in sight for "VANTAGE".

Bump! This is tonight. Good cause. See you there.

My kid out grew these before he could much wear on them. Used in the gym and outside about 3 times. Excellent like new condition. No smell! Nice little shoes. UK size 7.5, US 8, Euro 41. Fit probably a bit on the small side. If you wear 7 -8 US these would work. I'm in Shoreline or at VW Seattle a couple times a week. $40

I had my ACL rebuilt in 1995. Took me 6 months to get to 80%, and about 2 years to get back to 95%. Mine was done using the patella tendon method, today's are done with a hamstring graft. I know two people who have had the hamstring method, they've been back on their feet in a couple of weeks and skiing in a few months. Initially my MRI showed a partial tear. When the doc went in, it totally shredded. I delayed surgery about a year, the knee popped out several times, tearing the meniscus each time. My advise would be to have it surgically repaired now! Best of Luck!

Beckey- cause he wrote the book(s) on beta. Ome Daiber- cause if you couldn't follow Fred's beta (take obvious jam crack to summit - time 1/2 hour.), you could be rescued. Warren Harding- showed us anything was possible; ethics be damned.

Holy crap! Not only did you redefine ski mountaineering, you redefined mountaineering literature with that piece of writing.

wow!! beautiful! thanks for posting.

Nice! Love the then and now shots of you and Sue.

There some beacons that are better than the BCA Tracker; however they are considerably more expensive. I have a Tracker, and as long as you know how to use in a multiple burial situation, it is, IMO fine. I've tested it at the beacon park and it works well, as long as you know it's limitations. Bottom line, the Tracker is a great value.

Beautiful pics!

Success in navigating during poor weather (or any time) has to do with ones general knowledge and familiarity with an area. In this particular case it is fairly common knowledge that when heading down from the hogsback if you follow due South on a magnetic compass you will get back down to Timberline. I have personally done this solo in a total whiteout (I could barely see my feet). When I climb in foul weather, I prepare for it. Relying on a single navigational aid is never smart either. Personally I carry a GPS with detailed mapping software and plotted route, spare battery for GPS, magnetic compass, and altimeter with digital compass. I never want to get lost and therefore I prepare accordingly. I go out in poor weather all the time. We don't really have a choice in the Pacific Northwest. That just makes being prepared all the more important. My initial comment was made out of frustration. I get tired of people getting lost when a little more preparation would have likely made the outcome much different. It's not rocket science, just common sense. The same day I went up to the hogsback for the first time (total whiteout on decent) on Hood there was a guy that became lost and had to be rescued. The culprit was ill preparedness. It gives climbing a bad rep. The general public often incorrectly thinks it costs a small fortune for the rescue and resent climbers as a result. As sad as it is, it is very common for experienced outdoors people to not know how to really use a compass. But in this case who knows. It really doesn't matter as long as you have some type of navigation aid that you do know how to use. I personally rely on a GPS and only use a compass as a fallback. A big lesson here, is always have a backup. This is Oregon in winter. Chances are the weather will be shitty. If you go out, have a plan to get back. Plenty of climbers do this. I have done it solo. I prefer a GPS. There are also plenty of much better climbers than me that are familiar enough with an area they are able to navigate whiteout conditions without the aid of a compass or GPS, but I am sure they carry one, or the other, or both. Well holy shit Loomis - aren't you just the cat's meow!

Blewett Pass area?

Just in time for Cyber Monday, kids ski gear. Ski Helmet: Salomon helmet, with goggle strap, ear flaps, vents, and really cool stickers. Used but in excellent condition. Size 55-58cm. $25 http://static.flickr.com/8479/8221874752_e130645734_m.jpg http://static.flickr.com/8063/8221874996_9a5e648441_m.jpg Ski Jacket: 2 piece kids jacket. Waterproof outer, windresistant zip in liner. Detachable hood, velcro cuffs, really nice jacket. Size S. Arm length 20"$25 http://static.flickr.com/8340/8220797007_248333120a_m.jpg Ski Bibs: Standard kids bibs. Inseam 22" $20 http://static.flickr.com/8057/8221875432_1df192eb82_m.jpg REI: Nice little mid-weight fleece top. Size Med. 8-10. Arm length 18" $15 http://static.flickr.com/8350/8220797689_8cfd168687_m.jpg Light-weight fleece top. Arm lenght 16" $9 http://static.flickr.com/8339/8221875652_f1db8e8039_m.jpg Everything is in excellenty shape. I'm in Shoreline.

I agree with everything else you said, but disagree with the above. I was hit by rockfall once, and knocked down (literally). When I first realized what was going on, I was sliding feet first with my axe above me by attached by the wrist strap. If I had not had the strap, I would have been toast. I was able to arrest and slow myself to almost a stop before cartwheeling over some some rocks. Greatful ever since for that wrist strap. However it could have been any sort of tether, not a specific type. Bill r_i: get some webbing and make a wrist strap.

I always use a leash on an axe. A 4' to 5' piece of 1/2" webbing, tied into about a 3' leash. The longer (longer than just a wrist strap) allows be to switch hands with the axe, without removing and re-attaching the leash if I'm switchbacking. Yes, agree with above, rule #1 is don't drop it; but with a leash you get a little extra margin of safety and don't have to worry so much if you're using your hand for a hand hold, placing picket, etc... I seldom use a leash for more than just safety line, to prevent dropping it. Only very occasionaly will I clip it to my harness; like maybe if taking a quick break on steeper stuff. Good Luck

I had a pair of old shoes resoled with XS - they sucked! Really, could stand on anything friction wise. Had C4 put back on, awesome!

Pull up your orginal post, hit the "edit" buttom, and remove phone #.

Tom - what a journey! The pics of the broken glacier - is that Kindy on the north side? Is the Goat Creek Glacier still there, or has it melted off? It was pretty broken up on the lower flanks years back. Great area back in there.

TR of month winner here. Very well written. Congrats on a fine effort!

Bush-whack: no. Step over numerous deadfall: yes. Steep: yes. Trail: no, but just go up.

Nice, but why did you bring your own whisky? Last time I was there the cocktail waitress came 'round quite regularly.