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Steph_Abegg

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Everything posted by Steph_Abegg

  1. Nope, we both had brought 3L on the climb (even after tanking up in Mountaineer Creek on the approach), so we had enough water even in the cave. I was brainstorming ways we could start melting though if we needed it, though, and I'm sure Tom thought of it too. We could have stayed in that cave for awhile with fire and water, but unless a marmot showed up we would quickly get pretty hungry.... -steph
  2. First, thanks to Tom for being a great partner for a great route! Second, I posted a trip report with some of the "epic" details and photos: http://sites.google.com/site/stephabegg/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/stuartglaciercouloir Here are a few photos: Photo route overlay (aerial photo by John Scurlock) Looking up the couloir. Tom ready to begin the spicy mixed climbing of difficult-to-protect and difficult-to-climb rimed rock on the summit pyramid. We ended up making an unplanned bivy, but fortunately found a cave and were able to build a fire to keep warm and dry! Good excuse to spend the night in the mountains. Tom traversing the upper east-side slopes of Stuart, with Mt. Rainier in the background (we had good weather the second day). Again, the link to my full TR: http://sites.google.com/site/stephabegg/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/stuartglaciercouloir
  3. Yep - the weather turned out a bit worse on Sat then we had anticipated, with high winds and poor visibility. Defintely made a challenging route even more challenging, and was what caused us to mistake the SE rib as the E ridge. But, it made for a memorable trip that ended well with a story to tell. -Steph
  4. Trip: Mt. Stuart - Stuart Glacier Couloir + cozy cave bivy Date: 5/1-2/2010 Trip Report: This last weekend, despite a downturn in the weather forecast, Tom Sjolseth and I made a successful ascent of Mount Stuart via the Stuart Glacier Couloir. Climbing the couloir was the easiest part of this 33-hour adventure, which involved rime ice on Class 5 rock, high winds and white-out conditions, a great bivy spot in a cave with a fire, and a few thousand feet of extra climbing. Mt. Stuart at its best. As usual, I've posted a full trip report with lots of photos on my website: http://sites.google.com/site/stephabegg/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/stuartglaciercouloir Here are a few photos: Photo route overlay (aerial photo by John Scurlock) Looking up the couloir. Tom ready to begin the spicy mixed climbing of difficult-to-protect and difficult-to-climb rimed rock on the summit pyramid. We ended up making an unplanned bivy, but fortunately found a cave and were able to build a fire to keep warm and dry! Good excuse to spend the night in the mountains. Tom traversing the upper east-side slopes of Stuart, with Mt. Rainier in the background (we had good weather the second day). Again, the link to my full TR: http://sites.google.com/site/stephabegg/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/stuartglaciercouloir
  5. Looking for a pair of used or new ice tools at a grad student price.... Email me if you've got some to sell: sabegg@gmail.com Thanks. (Also looking for a lightweight 2-man tent, ideally BD Firstlight.)
  6. New skis are on the list right after 1. buy a lottery ticket. 2. set of ice tools (hope to find them used). 3. new tent 4. new camera lens. 5. buy another lottery ticket. 6. skis....
  7. Yes, we fortunately were roped up, as even though Jason did not fall in it helped give the tension needed to roll out of the stem position. A good reminder that it's a good idea to rope up in the early season when the bridges are unconsolidated and not readily apparent! There was very little indication that the crevasse was there, although Jason mentioned just as he punched through he noticed a tiny shadow of weakness just below on the slope. Some of the bridges can be thin this time of year if they form during wind loading episodes...... -Steph
  8. Trip: North Face, Mt. Buckner (ski descent) - Date: 3/23-4/2010 Trip Report: On March 23-24, I joined Jason Hummel and Kyle Miller on a climb of the North Face of Mount Buckner. They skied/snowboarded (first snowboard descent?) the 40-50° North Face, while I backed down the route vowing that someday I would buy some skis. (Jason will be posting a TR soon as well, with lots of great photos, probably with some good ones of their descent down the North Face.) The trip took us 2 days. Day 1 involved skinning/snowshoeing into Boston Basin, and getting to Boston Glacier via the Sharkfin Col (which involved a single-rope rappel to get below the bergschrund on the other side). Jason almost fell in a crevasse on the Boston Glacier before we set up basecamp with a great view of the North Face of Mt. Buckner. Day 2 involved climbing/descending the North Face of Mt. Buckner and then packing up camp and skiing/snowshoeing back to the car. On the way out, we chose to use the col just south of Boston Peak to get back into Boston Basin. As usual, I've posted a full trip report with lots of photos on my website: http://sites.google.com/site/stephabegg/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/buckner Here are some photos: Again, my full TR is on my website: http://sites.google.com/site/stephabegg/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/buckner
  9. Snow started about when it started to clear out at the lower Goat Flats area, about 4 miles from the trailhead (Goat Flats is 5 miles in). It was weird how there would be snow on the trail, and then there'd be a long section above this without, so defintely no skis until at least 4 miles in.... Have fun. Watch those slopes. -Steph
  10. Trip: 5**** snowcave - Three Fingers Lookout - Date: 3/6/2010 Trip Report: This last weekend my friend Dave and I headed up to spend a night at the 5-star snowcave on the summit of Three Fingers. The fire lookout is mostly buried, but like the party who was up there in early Feb, we were able to dig our way inside. It was an amazing experience staying up there in the winter. I've posted a full TR and photos on my website at: http://sites.google.com/site/stephabegg/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/threefingerswinter'>http://sites.google.com/site/stephabegg/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/threefingerswinter On my TR, I've provided several fascinating photo comparisons to the differences in route conditions between this trip and my last hike up there in summer of 2008. Here are some photos: Link to larger version. Again, you can find a full TR and more photos on my website at: http://sites.google.com/site/stephabegg/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/threefingerswinter
  11. I use Photoshop CS2, and "layer styles" option helps make the borders and shadows that add a more professional feel. It just takes playing around with, but its easy to do. Only problem is the price tag on Photoshop. -Steph
  12. This last weekend (Feb 27-28), my friend Dave and I slogged up into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness to Tank Lakes. On the snowshoe in, an rather sizable avalanche occurred at the head of Necklace Valley. I got a photo of the fresh scar: Link to larger image. We continued on to camp at Tank Lakes, where we had a spectacular sunrise the next day. I've posted my full trip report and many photos on my website: http://sites.google.com/site/stephabegg/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/tanklakeswinter
  13. Trip: Eldorado climb and overnight - Eldorado glacier Date: 2/20-21/2010 Trip Report: It was a stellar weekend that yet again seemed more like May weather than February, so I headed up to spend a night on Eldorado with my friend Dave Chase. We encountered snow at 4000ft, and found snowshoes the best footwear the rest of the way to the top. We enjoyed a spectacular sunset, moon and stars, and sunrise, and the photos were well worth the cold fingers. As usual, I've posted a full trip report with lots of photos on my website: http://sites.google.com/site/stephabegg/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/eldoradowinter Here are a few photos: 6700ft Eldorado Creek Approach Route Twilight over Eldorado Glacier Dawn over Eldorado Glacier Dave nearing the summit. The summit ridge was in great condition. Labeled panorama of view from Eldorado Link to higher resolution version Labeled panorama of Tepeh Towers on Eldorado Link to higher resolution version Again, here's the link to the full TR on my website: http://sites.google.com/site/stephabegg/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/eldoradowinter
  14. It's Larrabee. When I was up at the Lookout, a group of 3 skiers came down just after skiing it. Said it was lots of fun, and they made it 2 feet from the true summit (cornice). Yep, skiiable! -Steph
  15. Trip: Night Photography at Winchester Mountain Lookout - snowshoe Date: 2/6/2010 Trip Report: On Feb 6-7, I snowshoed and spent the night at the Winchester Mtn Lookout. It was a great way to (not) study for my statistics midterm this week. The views of the white-capped Cascades were amazing. As usual, on my website, I've posted a full trip report with lots of photos of the wintertime Winchester Mountain Lookout and views of the snow-encrusted North Cascades. Here's the link: http://sites.google.com/site/stephabegg/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/winchester'>http://sites.google.com/site/stephabegg/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/winchester Here are a few photos: Labeled summit pano: Link to larger version. The route Night photography at the lookout: Black and white view: Alpineglow on Border Peaks, Larrabee, The Pleiades: Perfect snowflakes: Again, here's a link to the full trip report on my website: http://sites.google.com/site/stephabegg/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/winchester
  16. Pro Mtn Sports in Seattle might have a few left, or Edgeworks Climbing Gym in Tacoma. Eventually, I think the Visitor centers will carry some, but this will not be part of the fundraiser for Index. -Steph
  17. Thanks for reading and enjoying my stuff. Just think of it as climbing up and down through each pEaK nAmE as you read it....
  18. Hmmm...I try to limit it to just the titles, and keep the TR text readable....
  19. I started that way long ago with the idea that it might catch peoples' eyes in google search lists (no idea if that's true). By now enough people have noticed so I've decided to keep it as my personal trademark. Sort of like you got to climb uP aNd dOwN tO rEaD eAcH wORd instead of just getting used to going downhill with your sentence....
  20. Trip: Night Photography at Hidden Lake Lookout in Winter - Snowshoe Date: 12/27-28/2009 Trip Report: On Dec 27-28, snowshoed and spent the night at the Hidden Lake Lookout. I got back yesterday and spent the night processing photos, fun stuff. A great way to cap off 2009. Looking through the old summit registers indicates that there are very few parties who ever come to the Lookout between October and April, but it is certainly a unique and beautiful time to do so. There is nothing like waking up surrounded by snow-encrusted North Cascades. Conditions were great for snowshoeing, and it took me less than 4 hours to snowshoe up to the Hut from the trailhead. When I drove in, Sibley Creek Road was surprisingly snow-free for late December, and I drove all the way to the parking lot. But this was to change overnight. The forcasted winter storms arrived a day earlier than expected, and it had started to snow when I woke up in the Lookout the next morning. My first thought was: "It's beautiful out there!". My second thought was: "My car is parked at the top of a steep and lonely dirt road, surely getting snowed on, and if I can't get my car out today, it will be until the June snowmelt before I can get it out. I better hurry down there....." As usual, on my website, I've posted a full trip report with lots of photos of the wintertime Hidden Lake Lookout and views of the snow-encrusted North Cascades. Here's the link: http://sites.google.com/site/stephabegg/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/hiddenlakelookoutdec2009 Here are a few photos: (Link to larger version of labeled panorama.) (Link to larger image.) Again, the link to the full TR on my website: http://sites.google.com/site/stephabegg/home/tripreports/washington/northcascades/hiddenlakelookoutdec2009
  21. I know Pro Mtn Sports in Seattle and Edgeworks CLimbing Gym in Tacoma still have some. Posters make great Christmas presents! -Steph
  22. Good idea, we'll need someone down there willing to look into it and get it done! -steph
  23. Hi poster fans! It's been only a few days since we printed the posters, and already we've sold nearly a third of the 200 that we printed (ALL PROFITS GOING TO INDEX FUNDRAISER). I just wanted to let everyone who responded to this post know that there are a limited number of posters out there so get them while you can. There will be a few distribution sites for the posters (Edgeworks climbing gym, Pro Mtn Sports), but if anyone has a suggestion of another distribution site, feel free to post on this thread. I think that Edgeworks climbing gym is willing to ship the posters to those who can't pick them up, for an additional fee of course. Again, this is a WCC fundraiser for the Index Town Wall, with ALL PROFITS going to WCC. This is a good way to show your support for a great climbing cause! -Steph See flyers below link to larger image link to larger image
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