blizzardscout2

Anyone think Mt Pugh is an okay climb for avy conditions? Or just steer clear of the cascades altogether this weekend?

I'm glad you came out of it okay. That looked like a decent slide.

Trip: Vesper Peak - NE slope via Headlee Pass Date: 9/5/2008 Trip Report: I decided to give it a go after work yesterday even though I would be in the dark. Unfortunately the weather was not as nice as it was in Snohomish. I got to the TH @ 7:30 PM and started up. I found the trail conditions to be in pretty good shape except for a few new fallen trees. I ended up camping just below headlee pass instead of just below Sperry and Vesper peaks at the small lake because it started raining pretty hard. I then had a terrible night sleeping since I forgot my sleeping pad (funny how much of a difference that makes!). I then decided to call it quites in the morning due to lack of sleep and the fact that I needed to be at the UW game. :-) So then I ran out the rest of the way in 30 minutes. All in all, it was nice to stretch my legs and spend some time in the cascades. My Black Diamond Betalight Panoramic Shot of MorningStar from my last trip up To those that are thinking of heading up, there is snow still up there from last winter. Some people that passed by me in the morning were ill equipped for what laid ahead and wished they had brought at least their ice axe and crampons. Just thought I would let others know... Have fun! Gear Notes: Basic stuff for alpine climbing. Approach Notes: DARK!!!

Hey Pope, I would love to go climb with you. I have a brand new rope just waiting to be used. :-)

I ended up buying it for $50 brand new from someone. I cant wait to use it, hopefully in the next few weeks or so. I just need to seam seal it for now. Thanks for all the input and I will be sure to post my reviews about it after a few uses. Plus I am probably going to purchase the floor for it as well. Thanks guys. Reese

Im jealous... Nice trip!

I am planning on climbing Mount Forgotten tomorrow and was wondering how the condition of the road is and if anyone has done this during the winter? Plus if anyone thinks that avalanche is a good probability or not for this week. NWAC is stating a Moderate level for Thursday morning. Is this climb pretty exposed? Any info would be great! Thanks! Reese

I am looking at purchasing the BD Beta Light for mountaineering in the Cascades and was wondering if this might be a good choice. I do plan on using it during the winder climbs as well. Let me know what you think. I have also been looking at the OR Nighthaven and MSR Twin Sisters. I currently have the REI Mountain 2, a very freakin heavy tent. Great usability, but HEAVY! Thanks!

I am fairly new to this sport, but have been watching from afar for several years. My stand on this is: yeah, maybe we shouldnt be bolting every route we come across so everyone may be able to "safely" climb everything. On the other hand, I think that sport routes are essential in the climbing sport because it makes everyone better without taking on a tremendous amount of risk to ones own life. In my opinion, it is no different than forming a trail that leads up to the top of a peak. Obviously the trail would eventually return to its "natural" state with time where the holes created by the bolts would not as easily (but they would with much time). Now I know from being immersed in the environmental craze in Seattle that everyone has a lot of opinions on things and quite often to the extreme. So Joseph I can see where you come from with in your opinion, but I believe you are a little to the extreme. Nobody is out there trying to bolt everything they come across and as billcoe has pointed out, there is no atrocity in rebolting: you cant even see the bolts and I looked pretty hard. Dont get me wrong though, I dont want everyone bolting every single route either. I do, however, believe that they are essential to this sport and in no way endanger the environment. On a side note: I have packed out my fair share of "other people's trash" while climbing peaks here in the Cascades. It is just the same inconsiderate morons that throw their trash out the window on the side of the road. No matter where you go there will always be those kind of people. All well.

I want to start climbing and live in the Snohomish area, but I dont know where the best starting climbs are; despite all the climbing books I have browsed through. Any help would be great. Thanks. Reese