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I'm still trying to wrap my brain around her deproach last year with a heavy pack and a bum ankle... I hiked that thing recently and it's fairly brutal.

Greg, thanks for posting, and thanks to the Access Fund for all their work addressing these issues head on with NPS et al. All this work also costs money too. I'll see what I can do to help, and soon. Expanding NCNP is about protecting as much land out there as we can for future generations. That, is way bigger than any user group or issue that I have heard of to date. It will be interesting to watch, in any event. d

A very timely TR. I'm heading in to Terror Basin this week to have a look around. I enjoyed the pics especially the one where "the look says it all". Thanks for posting Nastia! d

I have observed behavior that thwarts climbers. Answer me this, how can Mt. Rainier manage climbers on Muir, Schurman, etc by # of climbers but NCNP does it by # of permits? If the issue is impact wouldn't that mean # of people at a time and not # parties (a party could be 1 or 12). In boston Basin, 6 parties are allowed and that could be anywhere from 6 to 72. And why can't climbers make reservations? Why do you have to roll the dice and show up at 7 am (or the evening before) only to find the park has issued all the permits, including those to guides who pay franchise fees? Makes it hard to plan anything too. Have you been up the Boston Basin trail recently? It's overgrown. Why is WTA not allowed to go in there and do volunteer trail maintenance? Sorry, but I am not happy with the NCNP and how they administer the land. I'm much happier with the Olympic NP and MRNP. Are we saying because we are not pleased with NPS administration, we are going to oppose protecting NCNP as is, and an additional 237,000 acres? Is that all this user group has to offer in opposition? Or am I misreading the theme of this thread...

Poetry? A request for Poetry? Reserved, for the most auspicious occasions... Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds and shall find me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul. Congrats to you and ben. Well done men!

My friend Cecil, doin it up right... Luke, sorry about your knee, but look at the bright side! Now you get a taste of how some of us old guys feel... Great write up, VIDEO, and fantastic pics. As per usual. d

This thread is right in my wheelhouse. I could post a bunch of stuff but it's nap time... Maybe later d

As a former weekend warrior, I really enjoyed this TR. Lots of good information and pics. I'm more of a glorified hiker/scrambler now, but you've reminded me that I need to head up Goodell Cr and check out that view myself one of these days... Thanks for taking the time. d

Agreed Jason. We use our names here and so are easier to find I suppose. I'm not as concerned as I should be perhaps.. The NCNP expansion discussion should be open to every citizen, wherever it occurs. Maybe the Ranger believed you to be influential, and so, sought you out... As far as the NPS goes, my interactions with them over the many years I have been frequenting National Parks have been very good overall. I've ran afoul a few times, paid the price, and moved on with my life somehow. There was the "illegal camp" in Glacier Park in the '70's... In Yosemite a couple years ago when my biker friends and I commandeered a camp host site near Tuolumne because it was open and the Ranger came by to make sure we weren't just some ne'er do wells or whatever... He was great. We ended up with some Japanese and Bosnians sharing our fire. It was fun. It all worked out. Constructive criticism of the NPS administration will always be beneficial and I would think they would welcome it. I find my self leaning toward supporting the AALP proposal. 237,000 plus acres added, without changing the existing NCNP is very attractive. The devil will be in the details though, and that means legislation. I wonder where things are at legislatively and just how closely said pending legislation will resemble the AALP proposal. I see no new events planned on the AALP web site but I'll keep checking and hope to attend in our area if one comes up. I definitely need more information, and I'll continue to monitor sites for info including this one. Good to see thoughtful discussion picking up here lately... d

Uh Oh, what to do now Eric, this one has TR's! The "name" thing's still an issue maybe tho... d

Sweet, thanks.

Thinking about taking the grandkids up there next week, and looks like the mounds are still mostly covered in snow. Did you get a look at the camping sites up there? d

Have you checked with these guys? http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/custergallatin/specialplaces/?cid=stelprd3825895 Mid August worked for us back in 2011 but this year... You're in for a treat IMO. Still pretty wild out there. d

Congrats on your successful climb, and thanks for sharing the story here. Beautiful pics. d

Thanks for taking the time to write this up. Enjoyed it. d

Pretty damned cool. Timely too, I'm reading Robert's book "On the ridge between life and death" right now. Your pics bring it together nicely. Thanks d

Starting this day with a smile thanks to your story. d

Persecution complex. Gene, you really need to work that in next time... d

what does that even mean? Classic, Fairweather, hyperbole... Good on ya for pitching in with your Union Ivan. d

"Misinformation" is becoming a huge negative issue in contemporary America... Right up there with "extremism" IMO. Too many w/o requisite filtering skills... d

Nice to finally see what the view's like from up there... And, good to see you're getting your climbs in Marlon. d

I thought the crack binge thing was a decent guess...

Well said. Luke, sometimes it doesn't take much around here. I hope you keep posting, whatever it is. d

Any links to related info and/or discussion on this issue would be appreciated. I've read through the American Alps Legacy Proposal and done some other reading on news offerings and the AALP Facebook page. Although my initial take was that NCNP expansion was closer to becoming a reality than it is, the AALP does seem to have that inexorable momentum to it... d