sneaky_steve

While hiking the road (NF 7601) today with family, spoke with a forest service employee in a truck who was evaluating for a possible gate opening of today/tomorrow. He suggested the road may be open to Eightmile Lake trailhead initially, and then to Stuart Lake trailhead as road conditions allow.

Seems like this could be a great ski with a normal winter/spring snowpack?

I had bad thoughts of popping a crampon last year while soloing Leuthold's. Glad you were able to get by without it!

I've had the pleasure of befriending Mark Smith over the last year and a half. It is an amazing story he has to tell of this climb. I'm looking forward to hearing it presented. Also it should be noted that almost every time Mark and I have a conversation I am laughing at some point. The guy is a riot.

Great climb and TR. Great pictures.

What is the date for this event?

I always miss the good ones! Glad you guys had a good time!

I'm interested in Shasta. I'll be down at Shasta Lake with the in-laws for the weekend and was considering a Fri night/Sat trip.

Great trip! The bikes are worth every push on the way down.

Nice guys!

it was great up there today. my face is burned.

sweet shots and videos!

Was out there last summer guiding for a youth camp out of Sisters, OR when these guys were setting things up. There was a note on the message board at the campground saying something along the lines of "monkey swing will be set-up today, anyone who wants to come out and help haul gear can join in." I was bummed I had the campers...

Sick! Looking forward to the helmet cam footage!

One day, 4:00 am start from Timberline, on the summit by 1:00 pm.

This is really good. I've been wishing for something this concise for quite a while.

I couldn't agree more.

Note: This book has little instruction on the mechanics of ski technique. Plenty of tips and tricks for making ski touring more pleasurable, but it won't help you turn in powder. All Mountain Skier & Ultimate Skiing might be more what you are looking for. You are right Hugh. I jumped to recommend that book a little to fast before I realized what he was seeking... After or while you dial your technique it's a great read!

I really like Backcountry skiing: skills for ski touring and ski mountaineering, by Martin Volken. If you like the mountaineers books, this one is excellent.

sweet! those pics are inspiring!

Nice TR, I always enjoy the Sahale area.

I may be there as well. Probably be TR soloing when ya'll working folk arrive.

The group without skis was likely a group from big lake youth camp, where I work. Often times groups hike up to the saddle but lack the experience or gear required to go to the summit. Great TR, glad you had a good trip!

Trip: Three fingered Jack - Date: 6/26/2010 Trip Report: Had part of a day off at Big Lake Youth Camp where I am working for the summer, so decided to cross the highway and climb three fingered jack. Parked at the PCT trailhead at Santiam pass. I couldn't find my NW forest pass so decided to risk it and hurry back hoping not to be ticketed. Left the car at 9:40. The trail was snow free for the first few miles. Scattered patches of snow after that until coming over the ridge where the trail drops into the basin. From there the the trail was completely snow covered and I just picked a line and headed up the ridge. I always enjoy one of the main benefits of climbing solo: speed. I was able to keep a good pace and arrived at the summit in 3 hours. With the heavy snow, climbing up to the summit pyramid was straight-forward. However the scrambling on the summit pyramid and the few exposed moves on rotten rock were quite dicey! I got off route at one point and traversed over air on a thin ledge until realizing that the dinner plates above that were balancing on who knows what would not bear any weight. I turned around and got back on route. The last 30 feet leading to the summit involved a V0 boulder problem up a vertical face of knobs. Thankfully most of them felt solid, and my nerves calmed a bit. The descent was uneventful other than stopping and chatting with a few hikers. Gear Notes: Choss morale Approach Notes: Total time: 5 hours and 20 minutes

Great TR and nice photos!!