JBo6

How was the temperature on Saturday night? Myself and some friends rode mountain bikes up to the pass and back to the TH Saturday evening and it seemed pretty chilly when we hopped into the car. It looked like a decent amount of people camping up there that night.

I'm in Winthrop, shoot me a PM with your email address and feel free to pester me for a conditions update in later Novemeber. I'm a skier, not a climber so all I'll really be able to tell you is snow amounts and temps. Usually WSDOT is looking for 2-3 feet of snow in the avalanche paths that threaten the road to close it. Good resources would be the NWAC weather station at WA Pass if it's working and also sign up for the WSDOT North Cascades emails. They usually do a good job of sending out status reports on what's happening up there. edit: Alternatively if there is enough snow you might be able to snag a snowmobile tow up with me or others.

Sent PM. Don't have the pack, but I could take a look for it.

Sounds like 20 is now unmaintained past Early Winters. Hope you got your ski in.

DOT has been plowing to Silver Star this winter so the standard approach would not require road skinning or a snow machine.

Questions/issues for me for mountaineering/snow camping would be: Windproof/resistance Capabilities of snow melting Able to deal with sitting onto of a shovel or hanging for snow melting Backpacking questions: Heat control(simmering?) Size/shape I'll be curious to see what you come up with.

Check out skimo.co they sometimes have spare Vertical parts.

Scarpa Maestrale series boots may be worth a look for you. They seem to have a lower calf height. They are decent for width but it's a relatively simple process to get the boot shells punched out for width. Or stop walking for a month or two before ski season to shrink your big ass calf muscles.

I'm much more on the hiking/scambling side of things but Ive been pretty happy with a midtop version Salewa Mountain Trainer. Mine are an older version and have the suede and GoreTex upper which is not that waterproof. That was from postholing around in slush vs morning hardpack.

Is the old trail from the border swath south to Bear creek no longer in existence? It wouldn't surprise me if it was a victim of Homeland Insecurity.

If you can make it to anywhere in the Methow I'll give you a ride the rest of the way.

No idea on current snowpack but Tumalo mountain can be fun. I think it's in the BC Skiing OR book. Park either at Dutchman Flat or at Bachelor and skin along the road to Tumalo. Dutchman Flat fills up quick in the mornings with snow machines so if you want to sleep in a bit then you'd likely be better off parking at Bachelor.

Austin thanks for the reminder. Out of idle curiosity do you remember the type of gloves and have a guess on what temperatures were like? I'm glad I opened this link up post breakfast, I'm shocked how shitty your fingers looked and how well they were visibly able to heal, even though you are dealing with some other long term issues. What did you have to do with your fingers while you were waiting for them to completely molt? Keep 'em bandaged or just be careful to not pop a blister? Sorry for all the questions, my frostbite treatment knowledge is based upon reading Himalayan mountaineering stories where they either lopped the finger off or waited for it to fall off. I'm glad you kept your fingers and can still use them. Thanks for sharing.

It's looking pretty snowy up there right now. I wish I'd made it while the larches were in full color. I've never seen larches as large as the ones around West Oval lake.

If you are unable to sell the down booties to the guy above me I'd be interested in them too. Thanks.

Just as a heads up guys John died in an avalanche this spring. So your smartass comments may not reach him, nor be appropriate.

I doubt there is one since WSDOT doesn't have one for opening the pass. Color me interested though once there is a date.

Last year I made it about a mile short of the trailhead on May 9th. By then much of the trail was melted out along Sentinel Ridge, but there was snow below and snow all over Jeff Park.

I've had success getting them from dynafit. Try giving them a call if you can't get a hold via email.

Could you swap on a different type of heel bail? From some type of crampon maybe, or even a snowblade?

Drove up to a mile short of Morrison Creek this weekend. There was probably a foot or more of snow on the road there and it got pretty rutted with people leaving on Sunday. Bring chains and a vehicle with some clearance.

Is this building used by NPS backcountry rangers for housing? What's its function these days?

I just bought a small handheld HAM with the theory of figuring out how it works and then bringing it along on bc ski trips in the North Cascades. It's cool to hear that people have had a fair amount of success with them.

Mildew? Sometime that eats coatings.

Kurt what do you do if you come across a section you'd like to belay? Does that happen often?