Josh Lewis

Yup, thats right. I did not have to zoom in that much, but I did a bit. I believe it was more along the lines of Noorado Needle.

Eldorado Peak. A beautiful peak indeed! I want to go there this year!

Bummer! As for the bike idea, already one step ahead of you.

Thanks for the page on the bus to Goldbar but I already know about it, and plan on taking it to do Mountains like Mount Stickney and Zekes, it's going further that is the problem, but if that train system acually works for cheaper, then I might just have to do that.

Thanks Everyone! Glad you guys liked this, at first I was worried someone might not of liked this posted because it is "non climbing".

Even if it were some how each way it still would be almost half the price, but it is possible for it to be both ways, I could always contact the site people about the price. If it is both ways, oh man I should get out more often than just 1 adventure a week.

Now my Hidden Lakes Peak trip was off trail but did not require much use of hands, but was very beautiful and snowy, I put in a lot of photos from the place, and it was diffrent from the average hike for me. So my thoughts are so long as my story is entertaining and has plenty of photos of a hike which if it's a hike I could limit the amount of hike posts that way I don't turn into a hike poster but at the same time I share some of my adventures when I am not climbing. Sound good?

Here's an example of a trip I did last month: http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/934714

Trip: In Awesome Wonders - Hidden Lake Peaks Date: 12/5/2009 Trip Report: This hike took place on December 5, 2009 on Hidden Lake Peaks. This truly was a beautiful hike and one could say it was like being in awesome wonders. It started when BadDog invited me, and as always I had to accept the offer. Another guy named Don came which I hear has some climbing experience, the weather was finally good so it looked like I was in for a good hike. Fortunately it was better than I expected... I woke up at 6:00 a.m. to get my last second stuff together and eat breakfast, and from there BadDog picked me up and we headed for Hidden Lake Peaks. On the way I took a few photos of the mountains as I always do which I call my "Drive by Shootings" of photos that is. At Darrington Don was generous and bought me some chocolate milk which was 800 calories in just a few mintues, don't worry I would be using the energy on the hike. We took a different route to the Cascade Valley by taking a side road before getting to Rockport. Once we were in the Cascade Valley I had to get a few shots of Eldorado Peak. After this Don took over for driving up the road to the trailhead because the road up is quite steep. To our suprise there was hardly any snow on the road and it was acually more icy on I-5 than it was way up at 2,800 feet. We started out on the ridge rather than at the main trailhead because we wanted to try a new route on the mountain. I had my ice axe out right away because not only do I very much like it, but it helps on steep slopes of dirt. We paced very well going up, not saying we were going slow, but at a good pace. Eventually we hit snow which to me is a good sign, the mountains without snow is not as exciting. Holly (the dog) very much liked the snow and would sometimes play in it. We were in the trees a lot longer than I had expected, but when ever we got a view through the trees it was breath taking. There was apart of the hike that had a rather interesting look to it, there were snow swirls all around and snow bumps that covered the rocks, and it started to feel more and more like I was on a glacier, there were even mini crevasses (perhaps only a few feet deep). After this we were for the most part above the trees and the views really started to come in. As I looked over at Norado Needle, the Traid, and many others I said to myself "What a beautiful world" because it felt like I was in a mountainous paradise, it was this place that reminded me why I loved the Cascade Valley so much. The thin clouds coming in created snow shadows over the mountains and added much to the beauty of the place. As I looked North the clear weather looked just wonderful, but as I looked to the South I could see that there was bad weather coming in. The sun was bright so I had to get out my sun glasses and the atmosphere of the place became more and more mountainous with every step. When walking at times it would sound like styrofoam, and at others it would be a crunch. Fortunately we decided against carrying up the snowshoes and the crampons we had were not nessisary although a few spots had a little ice under the snow. I could see the weather taking a spin, from thin clouds coming over to making the sun look like the moon. I gradually became more and more tired as we were going up. I saw above what looked like a human figure on the summit, but I did not think much until a little later they moved and they were acually a skier. The first sign of trouble came in when Holly was whining a little from the cold, which had the group worried, her paws were cold which BadDog was wondering about turning around. At this point the summit was not far, and we knew if we just carried on just a little longer we would have a few minute summit, and then hurry down. Getting to the summit for me was a bit difficult. As we were heading up the last 400 or so feet my feet became more and more cold as well as my hands. I was a bit hungry, I had a quick snack but I would have to wait for the summit for real food. The wind kicked up and the temperatures steadily declined which also weakened me a bit. Don was nice enough to break in the trail for the last 400 feet, and soon we were on the summit. I put on all my layers as fast I could, ate, drank what I could (my water was literally beginning to freeze) and took as many photos as I could until my hands were too cold, and from there most of photography interest for the rest of the trip was lost exept for a few times. As I was eating I noticed blood on my burrito which worried me, and then more as I took another bite, Fortunately it was just a bloody lip. The view had a nice winter look to it, but I was too cold to put a whole lot of thought into it. After just a few minutes we immediately start our descent. Any time I ever tried to glissade Holly would try to bite me (as she usually does) which made glissading a little harder, but I find it entertaining and perhaps was a sign that Holly was feeling good. Mean while BadDog gets a bad cramp which she says was from the cold. We had to slow our pace and not long after her I start to get a bit of a cramp in my legs which for me was probably caused by dehydration. Then it began to snow a little, but by this point I was more concerned with getting down. After getting down a ways I got more feeling back into my hands and feet which was nice. BadDog and me had some nice talk and the temperatures felt "warmer" and as always it feels like less time going down than up, although a few places felt longer. BadDog also bought me a muffin and a drink on the way home which was very nice of her as well as taking me. Special Thanks for that! It ended up being another fun adventure. Great work team! For a Gallery Version of the photos from the trip report, click here.

Was wondering if hiking or scrambling trip reports were ok on Cascadeclimbers? I figured it was climbing only posts but have seen a scramble post, and would like to share some of my winter hike trips here if thats ok.

I looked into it myself and it said $15.00! Is that one way or round trip!? I hit the round trip button, before I knew of a bus that goes from Sultan to Stevens Pass for 10$ round trip, but if it is 15 round trip from Everett to Leavenworth, that would be amazing, but perhaps it means one way?

I'd be in for this one. Now how do you suppose performing the z-pulley it self? We would be able to make it, but when it comes to acually using it I'm a little stumped.

Agreed! My thoughts were perhaps April or May might be a better month. There were some lower crevasses but I did not like the look of the powder around them, at the very least you would get covered in powder as you go in.

I am interested! I could provide one glacier rope, also I have a snow picket, and have some spare perlon if anyone needs to use some for this trip. I have never acually been inside a crevasse and have wanted to, I very much would love to get the experience in, one question remains for me, are there crevasses at that time of year? If so I am completely game for this idea!

Here I am, I've been fine. I've been hiking and waiting for climbing season to come back.

I called it powder stuff because it sounds cooler. I have not lead on rocks before.

As I say better safe than sorry, but better sorry than hurt. ;-) You definatly have me questioning this. Perhaps I could just go back with the Dark Peak idea.

I've summited Mount Baker. I've got some scrambling experience. I've done a small amount of rock climbing at Index with Mark. I have rock climbing shoes and the powder stuff if that helps. I also have a glacier rope so at the very least I would think that should be brought. My worry is loose footing when going up, if it is both exposed and unstable steps I don't like that, but if its steep scramble with exposure I would have to give it some thought. I already knew to bring a helmet and ice axe.

I heard that as well. Can you not use protection on the 3-4th class stuff? To me it's the danger part that gives me the most worry. Also is the 3-4th class part choss (loose rock)?

I have a friend Gimpilator (Adam) who may be joining. I choose this place because I like this range, I also like Bananza Peak but was worried how technical it was, the views of Bananza I'm sure are good. I chose May to avoid some of the bushy like setting. Thanks Tazz for the suggestion, I'll have to get back with him sometime. Mark, I chose it also because it seemed like a good one for that month, also the approach does not scare me, I mean why would I have spend 3 days on Sahale biking and hiking up the mountain? If I added another peak I'm sure it would be an awesome adventure! I'm not a big fan of short stuff any ways. ;-) Thanks guys for your support. Although if I just had one partner more this might work just perfect.

It looks fun to me, but perhaps I could do it and then do another mountain to get more out of going all those ways.

Mark! You know when you post photos on summit post there is a large button that you can get a photo that takes up most but not all of the screen, I suggest using that next time. An example is here of one of yours: It is the same amount of work to use rather than the original big size. If you look here you can see there are buttons for diffrent sizes. http://www.summitpost.org/image/585660//first-day-on-the-ice.html No editing of photos required... ever! I just let websites do the resizing for me and them get the mediam or large generated photo. Always keep in mind if you scource your photos off of the original especially when its high resolution its going to be very big. SP is not the only site that has medium sized images. ;-) Besides that, nice trip report, good to see you posting one. I will admit, you helped inspire me a bit more into ice climbing. Cheers Buddy.

Later this year around May I want to climb Dark Peak which is near Lake Chelan. I wanted to do it from this route: http://www.summitpost.org/route/165326/swamp-creek-route.html Glacier gear and such is a must. Also its a long ways to get there. If anyone is interested in joining me let me know. I may be able to have my brother join me if we can't get a third person.

I've climbed with two people here on cascadeclimbers, once on Rainier which for me did not go so great, then the second up Mount Baker which went wonderful.

I am totally interested for going to Camp Muir! Is paridise open at this time of year? I've got the gear I need for the trip, I've been to Camp Muir 5 times, which I would love to go again! Let me know, I do not have a car so I would have to car pool but I could help pay gas, ect. I could ride the bus to where ever to meet which I live in Lynnwood. I am avalible from now until this coming up Sunday which leaves November 25,26,27,28,29 open for this trip although I would have to be back at the latest on the later part of the day of the 29th. My email is admin@hikrs.com I would also be avalible for other snoeshoeing places.