Josh Lewis

Ok, so rope up for the glacier... is roping up needed in other spots as well. And I was reffering to the Cork Screw Route. And when people said recommended in Eary Season, how early? As for the river, I guess I don't mind getting soaked. Thanks for all those who helped with info.

I know it's probably a bit out of my league, but I am curious. A climber calls Sloan a scramble, and a scrambler calls Sloan Peak a climb... what is it acually? On the easiest of routes is it technical? Or as long as your roped in and set protection its good? Is it a 5.0? Just wondering because I want to climb this peak some day.

I want to come here some time. Nice Trip Report.

Some time this month I was thinking about climbing Sahale Mountain, unfortunatly the road is closed at mile marker 12 which means about 11 miles from the trailhead. Which I came up with a plan, if you hike from where the road is closed it would help, perhaps this would be a two day trip. I was thinking to have it around mid to late September. This is my favorite mountain of all times and I want to summit! Oh and I forgot to mention, perhaps biking involved depending on desires. SAHALE!! Here's a Topo Map: http://www.hikrs.cascadehikers.com/original/josh_17/sahale_mountain_2/sahale_mountain_map_20090703_1862042719.jpg Let me know if anyone is interested!

Thanks! This one was fun even though we did not summit. More photos were added since your reply. I hope to have more climbs in the future/ hikes.

Lol! This was during the month of July. Note I cannot edit the date, accedently posted it for September.

Trip: A Fun time at Camp Muir (Mt. Rainier Attempt 2) - Dissapointment Cleaver Trip Time: A little over a Day (August 28-29) Elevation Gain: 4,500 Feet After Summiting Mount Baker I had hope for climbing Mount Rainier, right after Baker I went to Lakeside Bible Camp which I served there and during that time I studied the book "Freedom of the Hills 7th Edition" which is a Mountaineers book. Also I would wake up very early to go on runs to get in shape for climb Rainier. When I got home I went for a 5 mile run to test my strength, and then went for a 50 mile bike ride to make sure I was strong. My buddy Mark showed me some more stuff about using ropes and such which after that I spend hours studying crevasse rescue and figured out how self rescue works and the pullys and such. This time I felt very confident about climbing Mount Rainier without having doubts although I knew my chances were not perfect due to either weather or how the route was. Finding a partner was some what difficult. I had one guy in late July tell me they wanted to go, but after not responding for a while I dicided to look for more partners. I would get one, and then hear they had to bail, which kept happending, and others were discouraged from my past experiences. I finally found a few which seemed pretty good, although Bill is a bit hard of hearing. Before I left someone attempted to majorly discourage me, which could have worked but I realized he was wrong. I prayed for him and for our party and hoped all would go well. My brother snuck out the camera from my brother and let me borrrow it, unfrtunatly there was no case and it was very limited on space (memory). After waking up Saturday August 28 at 4:49 A.M. I bring all our gear in the car and later meet up with my partner Jon. I payed Jon 20$ for gas which is around the amout he asked for which was for gas, he said he would drive me (I could have had Michael take me, but car pooling seems to be the best way). The weather was slightly rainy and cloudy which had me worried a bit. The forcast was said to be better the next day which is what encouraged me into going. Getting to the trailhead I worry because we were supposed to meet at 8:00 A.M. around paridise but we were late, fortunatly my prayers were heard again and he walked right up to Jon's car knowing who I was without ever meeting him. We got ready and headed up, Bill went his own way until we got to Camp Muir. Jon had a really good pace going up, we started out going through meadows which above us was just more fog. Going up this time with overnight gear was a lot easier because I packed better plus I was stronger. I talked with some kids a little bit on the way up and later we were a little uncertain of were to go. Fortunatly we saw Bill as well as some other climbers head the right way which I thought too was the right way. When we started to get to the lower part of the Muir Snowfield we saw a clearing which I knew was going to be good. Soon we were out of the clouds and a bright sunny day greeted us as we kept heading up. Mount Rainier looked good, the Nisqually Glacier still had more snow than I expected at this time of the year. As we head up I start to get a little bit tired, but was still feeling strong and knew once we were at Camp Muir I would be strong again. The snow field was quite diffrent from when I went a little over a month ago. There was water dripping down making mini crevasses and such, which later we saw real crevasses which some were glacier sized. Eventually we had to jump some of them which by now was a casaul thing because on Mount Baker there were some I had to jump. Although because we were not roped up I was a bit worried at times and it became icy. I had been holding my ice axe out the whole time since Paridise (I like carrying my ice axe even when it's not snowy for a some what hiking stick on rocks). After a while I started to become tired because I was getting cold, hungry, thirsty but we were so close to Camp Muir or atleast thats what it seemed. After enduring a while longer we were there which I felt dizzy. After eating, resting, drinking I felt much better and soon felt normal, the altitude here did not have much effect, infact it felt almost as though I was at sea level, my runs and hikes paid off my asma. After Jon spoke with a lot of people about the Dissapointment Cleaver Route he was convinced that he did not feel comfortable with the idea. It was said to be broken up and had some worrysome spots which finally he said were not going. I was not disappointed. Normally I would be, but I felt like he was making a very responsible dicission and that Camp Muir was good enough. He offered "If you can find another climbing party, feel free and I can meet you at the bottom tommorow at 6:00 P.M.". Which I took up his offer, I asked around camp and there was a few teams that seemed willing but we spoke to the rangers and they said that Jon was the leader hence forth responsible for me, even though my brother and I signed a form saying he was not. So I had to stay in the group which seemed good, the mountain is not going anywhere and this means I have something forward to look forward to, plus next time I can be even stronger (although I am confiedent I could have made it, but there's next time). We went to bed early and I took some photos. We got to sleep in the climbers cabin which was nice although a bit crowded. My backpack wasn't very good for a pillow but was good enough. We woke up in the morning and talked a little and got ready for the decent. I decided at first not to wear crampons, which was kinda a bad idea, someone once told me to wear them when only nessisary which I thought "oh.... I'll be fine". Eventually it got very slippery on the ice so I put them on, I did not tighten them enough, plus they were not fully compadible with my boots. Eventually one of them fell off, which I decided to take them off. At one part as I was going down it was kinda steep, icy and there were crevasses which as I did a mini ice axe arrest I said "Oh Crap!" which I almost never say, but it felt like a bit of a situation, putting back the crampons would take up more time and I would have to tye them good. I used some of the mini crevasses as footing holds to get down as well as the cracks from the creeks. I fell a little bit behind which one of the nice rangers (or nice climber) was with him and heads up to me and we temporarly swap crampons which these fit better and stay on solid. Going down with crampons on ice was sooo much easier which I was practically speed walking down. When we get to the bottom of the icy part of the snow field we wait for the lady to return and swap back crampons. As we were swapping I put my camera on a flat rock. I forgot it! After the swap there were some mini glassades which once I get to the bottom of the last snow field I see a climber in front of Mount Adams which I think "that would make a really good photo". I search my pack for my camera which I immediatly realize I forgot it way up the mountain! So I run up to my partner, tell him quickly what happend which he was ok with, and I run up the mountain. This was the most tiring part of the trip. I was passing people constantly which they probably thought it strange to see me again. I would ask people if they saw my camera which they said "no". It was exausting running up, when I finally saw the bottom of the icy part of the snow field I find my camera which I shouted "YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!" I was so worried, but as soon as a I grab it, I run back down the mountain so that way my buddies don't have to wait. It seemed like atleast 1,000 feet of elevation gain from getting the camera, a guy on the way down offered me some water which was very nice but he could see I was very tired from running up. After this I meet back up with Jon which he did not seem impatient. Going down from here was much nicer and Rainier looked huge down near Panorama Point. The rest of the way down wasn't too bad, although lots of people heading up. Getting to the bottom we waited for Bill which fortunatly Jon sees which means we could head home. Even though we did not summit, it was indeed a good trip! My attitude had changed about turning around, perhaps some of the nwhikers prayers for me were heard. I really believe now that I see a bright future for hiking, scambling, and climbing!

Trip: Mount Rainier Attempt - Dissapointment Cleaver The idea started up when Chris sent me an email saying "Wanna summit rainier Saturday?" My first thought was YESSSSSS! I did not know the guy, but that was irrelevant in my mind. I went to work for Mark's dad and as I was working I could not stop thinking about Rainier, after working we went to REI and I bought a harness from someone for 30$ which came with a case and a locking carribeaner, we also got more tubular webbing a daisy chain (personal anchor). At this point I pretty much had all that I need. I had conversations back and forth trying to find information about this guy. He seemed friendly and some what experienced and was in good shape. Mark took me to Mount Erie and showed me how to rock climb a few days before going. I dreamed about climbing before going to Mount Rainier, hardly do I dream at night. Sean, a friend of mine wanted me to go camping, I told him yes I want to go, and later changed my mind on Tuesday Night, he was a bit upset, but I told him I been wanting to climb Rainier for so long, this very well might be my last chance for the year. At first odds of the trip did not look good, but once Chris mentioned his friend Matt, it was a major turning point. Mark's dad could not come, and we could not get a ride to Tacoma so I had the idea of taking the bus, Mark almost couldn't make it, but we got really lucky, his mom finally agreed to take us both! On Thursday Morning we met Chris and Matt and stayed at there house while Chris had to take a test for a few hours, a nice view of Rainier he had. Once he was back, we put our stuff in the back and headed out. We went to a restrant and had a good sandwich, and after this they asked some questions about me so I started to think well I guess there sorta trying to make friends with me perhaps. As we were talking Matt later told me I talk a lot, which I thought well mabe talk a little less, but Mark later at Camp Muir told me that means "Shut Up" which I had no idea it meant that... I guess too much communication is a bad thing. As we were getting closer and closer I felt the excitment rush up to me, it almost felt like too much as I was looking at Rainier's South West Face. When we got to Paridise the place was crowded, so we had to park a little ways down the road. We had to buy our climbing permits which were 30$ per person. After that we were set and started heading up, at first we had a nice slow pace. As we were heading up, I forgot an important part of hiking, always have in your pockets food so that you can eat while you hike, even though my food was easily accessible, time was precious. If I stopped to get a drink, I would have to run to catch up to my party. I eventually started feeling dizzy due to hunger and a bit tired, which wasn't good. I later said something because I didn't want to become to weak, but had to wait even longer to have a little time to eat. After that I said "I feel much better now" which later I would get thirsty and they wondered why I was a few mintutes behind which the same thing happend with water. This was among my biggest mistake of the trip. It doesn't seem like much, but to these climbers it was more than what I expected it to be. Going up felt like a slogg, it would be just step after step though the Muir snow field, and it felt like it would almost never end. After it started getting cooler, we later finally got to Camp Muir, and immediatly it started getting much colder, due to sun behind the ridge and us stopping. After putting on warm cloths Mark and me went to go set up Camp which was on the Cowlitz glacier which it felt odd that we didn't need to be roped up. After digging a big we set up our tent which I accedently brought my crummier tent, but fortunatly it wasn't very windy. My shoulders we tired from carrying 52 pounds up Camp Muir, but the rest of me felt great. I noticed how everyone seemed a bit tired, exept me. There's a great benifit to pacing yourself, but the climber leaders somehow don't understand that. They made dinner and boiled us some water and I offered them to borrow my radio and they declined my offer. The view up here was nice, and the evening cool started to kick in. Mark spilled some food in my tent, but that's ok, he offered some after that which made up for that. As I was getting more water Matt (the lead climber) said "I'm not comfortable with taking you up to the Summit" which this instantly had me very worried. He told me part of it was because of my age, another part of it because I was a little bit "slow" to Camp Muir although I was only a few mintutes away going up. He told me though that he would give me a chance and that perhaps the'll figure it out. He also told me that I am over my head and that I'm over positivly thinking... which I assume he thinks that because I said I felt fine when I got to Camp Muir. He said not to worry and the decission would be made in the morning. I went into the tent and I didn't sleep much that night, not because I was up on a Mountain, but because of what he said. It really worried me, I some how felt hurt from what he said. I felt a very unusual sadness as I went to bed, and eventually the only way I was able to go to bed was by thinking "everythings going to be alright" ... or atleast that's what I hoped. I woke up at about 1 a.m. and looked out side to see a bunch of climbers heading up with there head lamps, but Matt and Chris were not yet awake. I went back to sleep and woke up a 2 a.m. and saw that most the climbers were gone. I decided I have to wake them up if we want to succeed. I went over to our leaders tent and woke him and after a few mintutes he was awake. The first thing I remember him telling me was that "Josh, I don't think you should go..." which I was upset by this point, I did not show it, but was on the inside. Then he told Mark he could which frusterated me... the age thing back there was an excuse for me not to go! Mark is slightly younger than me, but he declined the offer because his mom told him if Josh had to turn around, so did he, but I almost wonder if he would have anyways or not. I asked "not even to Ingraham Flats?" and he said no, and they got there gear together. I stood and watched until the left. I was even tempted to beg them or even ask some other climbers if I could go with. I decided against it and later found out Mark was tempted to do the same. As I walk back to my tent I was crying intensly, it was so horribly frusterating to me. I was sooo close, so bloody close! And I layed on the cold icy ground and didn't care what happend to me, it was an undescribable emotion. There were some quotes that night that hurt me. "I've read your reports and this latest load of crap about you disappearing will make me never want to hike with you. I was glad to hear that OSAT kicked you out of the GCC. I've wanted to do the course for years now but due to either a bad work schedule or knee operations I've never been able to participate. You had an excellent opportunity and you threw it away. It looked as though your bravado about being on a glacier without proper gear led to ruining that chance for you. Your antics remind me of a former poster here who bragged about his mis-adventures and appeared to relish in the negative attention, just like you appear to do." This was a message from someone about one of my previous trips. The part especially Hurt me when it pretty much was saying how I threw my chance of Rainier up, and also another person told me: "Josh, or whomever you are, youre ID is so poorly thought of on this site at this point Id suggest leaving and not returning! You seem to be clueless and not able to take direction or unable to understand it. You are NOT well thought of here and frankly you scare people!" -Someone from Nwhikers And the fear kept rushing to me that I don't seem to belong anywhere, not the mountains, not home, not school.... no where. The fear of it some times keeps me up at night, especially this night. I also was sad because my friend did not summit because of me, and his dad would think poorly of me, and be judging of me for a long time. I stared up at the partcial moon with a great sense of fear. I was also worried for our climber friends because not only did they not take the radio, but were only roped up two people and the guy in the back doesn't even have crevasse rescue, if the leader fell in, they could die, because the other guy doesn't know what to do, and usually you would have 3-4 per team. If that happend we would be stuck up there worrying and without a ride home, we had no cell phone or contact, although perhaps the ranger we could ask. Also I felt bad because I betrayed my friend Sean, plus my family from home would be a little upset because they did not have anything exciting. I started to feel very cold and dehydrated from lying on the group crying. I felt so alone up there with just the moon and the mountain. As I looked up there were so many stars, it was as if I could look at them forever and not be able to count them all. I felt like mountaineering was a lost cause. "If I cannot have one, I must have non". The emotions lasted for a long time, I saw some climbers coming down which I waited for about an hour just to greet them. The sky started to have color and started to take on a blue look, but eventually I became tired sitting out in the cold and went in to go back to sleep. When I woke up it was around 7 in the morning with what looked like bees flying around in the tent, at first I freaked out, but Mark told me they were wanna bees which basically are flys that look like bees, Mark even picked one up, gave it a squeeze and as he said it was harmless. Mark then started getting angry at me asking why did I communicate too much with them and how I should not have treated them as if they were friends. He in a way told me I was a bad climber, which hurt my feeling even more. I started laughing because the situation was rediculous, they took off and we were low on water. I was so thirsty that if I cried. I wouldn't have enough water. Mark got even angrier with me and soon a left a great deal of apathy, I became dizzy because of all the mix of emotions and words. Eventually Mark told me that it wasn't my fault as much as he previously said which made me feel a little bit better. We could hear the constance of rocks falling, and distant seracs breaking from the Nisqually and the rocks on the Cowlitz, which worried me because of the climbers, once I saw a rock the size of what looked like as big as my room bounce into a crevasse and out and back in, one rock a few days ealier as described from a ranger jumped a huge crevasse and landed perfectly on the climbing trail which we could see the track it made from one side of the crevasse to the other. We thought it wasn't very nice for them to just leave us here while they go off and summit, also we paid 30$ for this? But a ranger came up to us and started asking us some qustions. He told us the pass lasts all year which brought some hope into me, the Mount Rainier are a lot nicer than past experience rangers. He also told us not to go to this one crevasse due to boulder fallings, and told me to put on my glasses. Another ranger wanted to see how we were doing and offered us water and lemonade! Very nice people, and I was thinking what a cool job to have. We dicided to take some photos and practice making snow anchors which he showed me three.... the snow anchor, the deadman, and some other one that looked like a shield. I kept wanting to put on sunscreen but he would say after this, and by the time I put some on, I forgot about my face, and wanted to put some on but by this time our leader guys came down. They didn't seem that tired, although a bit, because well.... it's Rainier's Summit they went to! We packed up our stuff, and started heading down. The sitting glassades were not so good due to the time of day, too slushy, but running glassades were great. The way down was very fast, later we got off snow which I was dissapointed about. We kept going on and off snow, and later got a view of a distant goat. We got down to the bottom alright although the group a little scattered. Matt bought me a drink which was mighty decent of him. We walked back to the car and drove home. On the way there was a restraunt right outside Mount Rainier National Park which the food was good but expensive. Matt offered Mark and me a soda which was nice, there were free refills, and he also brought us dinner as well, and even after we said no to pie, he got us one anyways because he knew we wanted some. It's kinda strange, up on the mountain we were thinking of him as greedy because it seemed as though he wanted the summit for himself and his buddy, but later he was very nice. Someone told me that it was just to make them look good, but perhaps they were nice guys, but a bit irresponsible, and well perhaps a bit of summit fever, but at the same time mabe there responsible in the sense of having me stay back because he doesn't know my potential. We came to Chris's house and Mark's dad picked us up . On the way home I asked Mark "When we were up there and you said us not summiting was my fault did you mean it?" before I asked this he said it was the climbers, but after asking the question told me partly which I concluded he did not want to hurt my feelings and perhaps was thinking yes. Coming home I did not feel well, not that I was physically bad, but mentally, usually I come home from the mountains feeling great, but this time I felt as though I wasn't the same. But this is just the beginning, next weekend, it will be another story. I'm trying to recover from this, but I just can't help but keep feeling bad. But atleast next time I will be even more prepaired! I felt bad after posting this trip report because in the original I had said: "We arrive at there house which Mark's dad picks us up and he did not expect me, and it's almost ironic that Dan charges gas money for going home, but the climbers who I did not know did not charge me, I even offered the climbers, but they kept saying our company was good enough" Which I should have been more appreciative, but now am. Thanks Mark and Dan for teaching me that, and that you gotta be careful what you say. Gear Notes: You know the basic glacier gear...

Two extra trip reports coming right up. I gotta warn you, the first one was not as much of a success, I almost lost my passion for climbing.

I learned some basics on Mount Baker about probing and watching out of where they are. The Pully device is very light wieght, perhaps a few ounces.

I believe that!! My brother gets it with certain foods. So there's foods I have to be careful with. Last attempt on Rainier I was very careful of that which is why I never had to go. I have no climbing rope... BUT have my friend Mark who has a climbing rope and he has broughten it over to practice. The problem is though is that he is focused on teaching me rock climbing. I only have one pully device so practicing the z pully is not quite as practicable as I would want it. Tazz, would you be willing to join if someone else or a few other people were willing to teach crevasse rescue? Now I believe I had someone else willing, plus Mark might if there are other people which would be awesome! I have a sample rope that is like 10 or so feet long and is good for practicing tye in's and such.

It's a little more than that... more like 7328 words. (Used a word count) My mom was half way across the country and had the camera. I met him through this thread. http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/897359/Anyone_interested_in_Mt_Baker_#Post897359

I was thinking about making a shortened version... would you like me to?

Trip: Mount Baker - Easton Glacier Date: 8/1/2009 Trip Report: Trip Time: 43 Hours (July 31-August 2) Elevation Gain: 7,600 Feet (Note most of this was written before my Mount Rainier Attempt 2 and was written around Mid august which I've had some changes since in my attitude. I posted this on nwhikers as well.) Click here to Download a Google Earth KML File of my Route Perhaps this climb was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, not just because of the distance but also the troubles that came into play during this trip. After attempting Mount Rainier I started to loose passion for climbing and thought perhaps it's not worth it. I felt badly hurt and some what broken in spirit, I felt as though anything I would try to do would end up getting me into more trouble. In a sense it felt like I was loosing, I felt betrayed by my friends and I felt an ever growing void. One of the reasons my friend Mark was upset at me was because I did not show enough appreciation for his dad giving me a car ride home. I showed this when I said on a trip report "Mark's dad picks us up and he did not expect me, and it's almost ironic that Dan charges gas money for going home, but the climbers who I did not know did not charge me" which at first when he told me it was bad I did not think much of it, but it kept coming back to me over and over again and I wanted to realize what was so wrong about what I said. At Lakeside Bible Camp when serving the tables it took a long time to get food for a table (I was a person serving the tables) and after I finally got food someone said "took you long enough" which they said in a jokingly way, but I felt very bad and immediately realized perhaps how Dan must have felt. I did thank him after the ride, but he took the time to go all the way from his home to pick Mark and me up plus the gas money which I should have appreciated more. I apologize for that, and thank you for letting me know what I did, I certainly changed from that. I tried to organize a Mount Rainier trip which as I look back on it wasn't exactly a good idea considering I did not know at the time everything about crevasse rescue but now know a whole lot more. Good thing too, in a sense some good came out of the Mount Rainier attempt, the lessons made it all worth while to me, although people may look down on me for that. On Friday someone wanted to climb Mount Baker, which I been wanting to get out and have my first climb on glaciers. I wanted to get past what people tell me that I'm not ready and can't do it, it gets frustrating. People tell me do more hikes, mabe scrambles which would help a little but I have already been doing that for many years which still would not get me acually ready for glaciers. If they are right, it's even more frustrating because I feel limited in my ability, but a guy like me doesn't always believe that. The sky is the limit! But I will admit, I have gained a more responsible sense after this trip and after attempting Rainier a second time. So in a sense I took a leap of faith on this trip, believing I could do it, and get back safely, fortunately I was right. I called Dan (The guy I climbed Mount Baker with) and got everything arranged which at first I was worried I would have to take a bus to Mount Vernon, but my brother stopped in and said he would drive me, Dan said he would take me home which was a mighty generous offer. At first we were thinking about taking the Coleman Glacier route which is on the Northwest side of Mount Baker and was said to be the easiest (from what I've heard) but it was washed out which we would have to ride a bike up the road, but Dan did not have a very good bike for this kind of road. The Easton Glacier was another idea (Special Thanks to Gimpilator's SP page to provide info about the route and it's map) which seemed to be our best choice, the road gets pretty close to Mount Baker and the climb seemed do able for me. Ealier the trip almost got canceled or we almost decided perhaps on Eldorado Peak which I was unsure about which is why I liked the Easton Glacier idea. Although it ended up getting my self a little over my head. On Friday night at about 7:15ish I make haste and pack up all my nessisary gear , unfortunatly my friend Sean had one of my good gloves for some goofy act so I ended up having to settle for my ripped pair! After I had all my gear packed I hurried my brother and told him "we have to go, lets hurry! We did not want to miss the climber guy we were meeting". We left around 8:15ish P.M. and as we were going to Sedral Wolly the excitement just kept getting to me although it did occur to me that mabe this was a bad idea. It would be just Dan and me on a rope team and any other teams that would be on the mountain. I knew a bit about roping up and knots but did not officially know "crevasse rescue". It was sorta suttle that I ended up more and more in a situation. I believe I told Dan I have no crevasse rescue skills but know a bit about knots and he said we could practice near base camp. I thought we would have left Saturday for Mount Baker which would have let me have more time to study crevasse rescue which I borrowed from the Libary "Freedom of the Hills 7th Edition" which was a mountaineers book, which I ended up not having much time to study. By 9:10ish P.M. We turn onto highway 20 and meet Dan at about 9:15 P.M. At first meeting him he seemed pretty nice (I still think he's a nice guy) and he helped me pack my stuff into his truck. I was going to bring my knot book but he insisted that he had his so I left mine with Michael (my brother). We went to the store and Dan was nice enough to buy me a gaterade, a donut, and some more oat meal which too was mighty generous of him. We headed up the road to the trailhead which it was dark but fortunately we found the right road and ended at a camp ground which was the trailhead. The air felt very fresh and I could faintly make out something that looked like it could be Baker which I think it was, but it's hard to say. Dan made us some pretty sweet Samoln which he caught and veggy dogs which I worried would taste bad, but acually tasted good. After this we set up and go to sleep, I say prayers silently hoping that tommorow we be safe, that perhaps I could have success. I wanted to head up the trail that night but Dan was right, we had tje whole weekend and when going up Mount Baker better take it easy. I would wake up in the night from misquitoes but fortunatly they were not that bad. At morning I can see the False Summit of Mount Baker (Sherman Peak) glowing as if Beckoning me to climb it! The Excitment once again got to me and I could not rest any more and soon Dan wakes up as well. We have some nice strawberry oatmeal and I unpack all the unnessesary gear like extra carribeaners and such and we hit te trail. Dan did not bring his Mountaineers book which I hoped we would bring. It started out nice, we were making awesome time and the woods were nice and shady, exept Dan kept catching all the spider webs as we were going up. The mountain in front of us would have been enough to satisfy me, but Baker I knew if i succeed, I would be happy for a long time. We had to cross a river which at the time was small. Later we break out of the woods and end up on a trail called "the railroad" which the views even from here are wonderful. On the railroad trail your on a ridge which on one side you have a nice meadow which also has a view of the Twin Sisters beyond and on the other you have a rocky valley with Mount Baker with the Easton Glacier, and the Black Buttes. As we go up the ridge more mountains in the distance could be seen although it was very smoggy. By this time of the day it was getting hot, but it was still before 9 a.m. which we made very good time, we almost decided to summit that very day but at the lower part of the base camp a guide said "we could... but it would probably be best to go at night which at first I was thinking "C'mon, we can do it today" but Dan was wise and agreed with him which ended up being the right choice. The guide of the other group also recommended we go camp almost to the glacier, which not only would we not crowd his camp, but it would also save us time and energy on our summit assault. It was hot going through the boulder field are when heading uyp to high camp which was in front of a snow field which was near the Easton Glacier. At Base Camp there were people being tought ice axe arrest training and such with the guides, which I was thinking "WHAT! People are climbing Mount Baker under experienced, but can afford a guide and perhaps are considered more responsible for climbing than me?!" The guide which we spoke to ealier caught up and camped near us which was cool because it kept Dan good company, I'm not saying I wasn't but he had a lot to say about his experience of being a guide and such. After resting we ate a little bit, drank some water and then got ready for a practice climb for the next night which also we would explorer some of the route so that it goes better. The view from Base Camp was so amazing, the West part of Mount Baker (The Black Buttes) which was jaggedy sharp which from the angle I was at looked about as tall as the acual summit. From Camp we could also see a few clouds coming in which worried me slightly but later left, the ice shelf near by looked terribly formidable. As for my crampons, they were not compadible with my boots, even if I adjust tem which I tested before leaving, so I used a one of my classic tactics... DUCK TAPE! Which at first I myself was a bit worried that the idea might fail, I was some what limited due to the last time I used a bit of it on my 140 mile bike ride into the mountains which I used to keep my feet warm. After I was done wrapping my boots with the crampons I was pretty much out, and my electric tape I brought was somehow messed up and fused together which worried me a bit, but fortunatly it was enough, acually a little more than enough! "THATS GETTO!" Dan first said when he saw how I put my crampons together and asked "Is there no other way?! which I told him there was not, I believe I warned him before, but the piece of perlon (cord) I had at the car just in case, he recommended I not bring it which was a good call, but if the duct tape failed, it would have been used. He did not seem too happy which was a turning point in his attitude towards me. As for when we would be done with the test climb I would have to leave the crapons on the boots and walk in my socks (I had this planned out) which because they were small had to stay on me the entire trip which when attempting once to take off started to rip. We headed up the small snowfield whih soon got steep and after this we ended at the bottom of the Easton Glacier. We roped up at this point which I had never known how to tye a figure eight on a bite (which later I found out is acually not the right way to tie in to an end which was the only main mistake I figured out of Dan's, but wasn't much of one) which Dan was not pleased (he was probably used to this method of tying in, which I was acually right with the tye in method I wanted to do). "If you don't even know the basics, how do you expect to goup Mount Baker?!" he said in a disappointed voice. Befofe this I had practiced the figure eight knot to the point were I could do it fast but was told by Dan to do it a diffrent method which was kinda a misuderstanding. But Dan was still nice, even though at the time he seemed a little bit steamed, most other climbers perhaps would have been furious with me which thanks Dan for not getting angryat me, or atleast on the outside. I did though not know how to tie the perlon piecesto the rope in the right fasion which he too helped me with this, and then coiled the rope to shorten it and put it around our heads and shoulders. I will say though at the same time I told him I do not have crevasse rescue skills, perhaps some basic knot knowledge, but he mentioned we would practice up on the mountain. He desired me to take the lead, although he gave me a choice which I never had leaded before so this would be good experience. Even the first couple steps were worrysome to me, there were mini crevases and soon a big icy one which was wet with water constantly running down it. As we were heading up I felt more and more nervous although I was not showing it, nor was I slowing down much because of it, but could tell there was real danger near. Soon I ended up having to probe a little for a crevasse when crossing suspicious territory, it's strange, I almost already knew the feeling of being on a glacier, although I did get a feel for it. It worried me when my ice axe did poke through which meant crevasse which I would let Dan know and make a small leap over it. When being in the lead I indeed felt sorta reponsible for where I went so I tried to look around, feet area as well and sorta have a constant thinking and alertness of crevasses, in a pinch I was worried for my life about falling in a crevasse. At one point it got steep and icy and we had to cross between two crevasses which the snow bridge was a bit thin, perhaps a few feet wide which at this point I felt very nervous, each bottoms of the crevasses could not be seenand it had a chilling feeling I got, but just kept kicking in my steps and headed upwards. After passing the snow bridges there were a few others as well but not as formidible. I start to get thirsty and a bit tired, but I don't say anything because of past experiences of saying something when tired, hungry, or thirsty. Eventually there ends up being a crevasse off the main route which we have to jump a crevasse, which acually wasn't as bad as I expected it to be, although when ever Dan would cross I would be in position to ice axe arrest at any given second incase he did not make the leap. After no luck of finding any good crevasse for practicing we head back to the fork in the route and take a left which is the acual route, the one on the right led around an ice fall or another direction on the Easton glacier off the main route. Later we got a flat zone which we were 1/3 of the way up Mount Baker. I was hoping Dan would say we might as well summit, but we turned around and headed for base camp. We took a little bit of a diffrent way down, going down the snow bridges were not as bad as I expected which as said before on the way up I was a bit terrified. There was literally more crevasses or atleast the parts were there not on the way up ended up having my ice axe sinking though which was caused by the heat of the mid afternoon sun. The Deming glacier (which is Northwest of the Easton Glacier) was insane! Not only was it huge, had way more crevasses but had huge ice falls and crazy steep mountains which it had mini glaciers sticking up almost verticle which I thought of something Joe Simpson would climb, very crazy part of Mount Baker which thank goodness it was way off route. We then headed towards the cool looking cliff which we hoped to get a good view of the Deming glacier which we did. There was a group of people which to my suprise were unroped but seemed pretty experienced with glaciers, one of them mentioned that they were a glacierologist which is someone who studies glaciers, he looked awefully familiar, and mentioned that he studied the North Cascade glaciers for decades. I had heavy suspisions on him that he was the glacierologist I written to on the internet with conversations. I tell him you remind me of a guy with a last name Pelto which he said thats me. At that moment I was very amazed and told him that I was Josh and he said "Oh your Josh Lewis, it's a small world after all" which I hoped to meet him for years to ask questions about glaciers and such. He comes all the way from the Eastern United States to study these glaciers which is part of his job, I expected to see him some day, Dan too spoke to him. It was that guy who which put an interesting spin to my life, or atleast unintentionally was part of the reason I was on Mount Baker! Through him I joined a mountaineering website which through there met Gimpilator which showed me another site called nwhikers and found cascadclimbers after that which Gimpilator gave me some gear, tought me ice axe arrest use, and got inspired from hiking to climbing mountains. Though cascadeclimbers I met Dan and is how I got to Baker. It is amazing what ones small actions can do to the lives of others. I too have been apart of these chains of influencing others. It almost seemed like it was fate, a reason I could not fully explain the whole part of me climbing Mount Baker, but I was pretty sure I would succeed! I hated to have to leave but he had work to do, and we had a climb to do the next early morning. We got down to base camp alright and this I think sorta raised Dan's faith of us summiting (the fact that I was doing good on the glacier).I take off my boots at base camp and crawl a little to the tent, drink a little bit of water and took a nap. I would sorta wake up to hearing a conversation between Dan and the guide we met earlier and I would faintly hear stuff like "he wasn't doing good... is he alright?..." and some other things as well which I was worried they were about me, but I asked later and he said it wasn't about me which relieved me which I believe him. Also when I kept waking up there would be buzzing flys un our tent which fortunatly they were wanna bees (Hover Flys). I stayed in the tent to stay out of the sun., I could not find my sun screen which I was a little bit upset at myself about but later found it when it was too late, I was already burnt although I put it on anyways to help prevent it from getting worse. Dan gave me a little bit earlier but he did not have much so he had to conserve it. Dan later had me purify some water which Dan let me borrow his sandals which it was a little tiring for me just to get water, partly because I was tired, sun burnt, and dehydrated. When I came back Dan made dinner which was some indian food and this super wheat which he said was filled with protien, one of the most protien foods in the world. It was tasty, but later ended up regretung exepting the food. Word of advise, never eat some strange food you have never eaten or have ever heard about on a climb up a big mountain, no offense , but it had some effects that made the summit bid one heck of a day. After drinking water and purifying water and doing what we need we went to bed which I could hear the rushing water of the glacier, snowfield and creeks near by as I went to sleep. Dan fell asleep fast, a bee flew into our tent, but fortunatly it went back out. Not to sound mean, but the more Hover flies there were, the more I realized that they can be kinda stupid, they buzz into our tent, cannot fly out or go the way they came in and instead fly upwards and get stuck between the tent and rain fly. There are a few "smart ones" that acually fly out by going out through the big opening. The reason the tent was open was to let out the heat. Eventually after settling my thoughts I am able to sleep. I woke up in the night to hearing a helicopter flying around which at first I thought "oh just a helcopter flying over" but I kept hearing it for a while which then I thought "oh no, is someone getting rescued? At Night?!" which I'm not certain because I was somewhat asleep but I think I said a quick prayer hoping it would be alright and later noises were gone. Unfortunatly Dan's cell phone was pretty much out of power which meant no alarm clock. Fortunatly climbers leaving helped wake us up, plus I happen to wake up and by this point it was about 2:00 a.m. After waking up I grabbed my stuff and headed over to the snow field to put on my boots. "Oh Boy" were my thoughts because I just could not get my boots on, I could not fully untie my boots because the duct tape covered much of the laces, and to take off the duct tape could possibly cost my crampons not fitting, and my crampons not not fitting could mean to summit, AND THAT IS UNEXEPTABLE! I said a prayer that I would be able to put on my boots, it was very very hard but eventually I got them on, I was practically if not literally crying in joy because it was soo hard to get them on, Thank the Lord! After I fully sinch my boots on. I hurried up part of the snowfield to catch up to Dan which he was making breakfast and I was filtering water from a creek which was harder in the dark. From here we could see lights in the hills near by, at first I wondered if they were city lights but Dan told me they were not which he was right. I could smell a little bit of smoke in the air which to my awe was from a forest fire which seemed pretty new, we could see this view the day before which we did not see one. It had the look of orange Christmas lights which in a sense had a beauty to it. Unfortunatly the moon set sometime around midnight so it was mostly black but there was faint light which the snow helped make the summit a dark grey color to it. As for the oat meal. kinda growse which Dan too stopped eating because of it's strange taste which my thought was "oh man, so much for breakfast" but I ate as much as I could until I felt a little sick feeling not because I was full, which I was not even close, but it gave me the desire of not eating, but it was nice of Dan to have boughten it and cooked it. Disaster struck! When we reached the bottom of the Easton Glacier, I felt a terrible diarea feeling, "these complications, they get better and better all the time" I thought to myself which basically means "oh boy, trouble". I didn't want Dan to know because he might cancel our summit chance if I went, plus either way he would not be happy summit or not. I kept quiet for a long time about the situation, perhaps I took Mark's advice on keeping quiet to literally when it comes to communication, although it could have been worse. Roping up this time wasn't much of a problem because we had our rope still coiled, but another problem came. Ealier as I was putting on my boots near there I clipped my perlon piece (friction knot) to my harness wrong and it came undone and didn't get it back until we came back. This worried me, fortunatly I had extra tubbular webbing which Dan was not pleased but said it would work, I got the idea from the mountaineers book. I believe after this Dan probably thinks I'm clumsy. After roping up Dan lets me take the lead again all the way. Leading on glacier at night at first was frightening and once again a new experience, even the small crevasses scared me out of fear of them being weak and falling through, but Dan said it was alright and to continue. Staying on the thick ice was acually a good move, but eventually we got onto snow which from here on I would have to be more catious about my steps. As we head up in the dark the route becomes hard to tell, there faded boot prints that mislead me, and at times of thick ice the climbing trail is hard to see, which I end up getting slightly off the trail (main boot prints) but fortunatly refind it. At times Dan is yelling at me (so that I can clearly hear him) if we were on trail which sometimes I would say "yes", and at others would tell him "no". We both threw in opinions on where to go, even though I was in the front. At one point I came up to a snow bridge which was freakishly thin, small, icy, steep, and had huge crevasses on either side. I thought perhaps it was the same one as yesterday but way more melted out. I get on my hands and knees trying to get over it, but at almost halfway across I think "Screw This!" and I crawl back down which Dan yells "we have to cross this", but I tell him it's way to thin. Ironically perhaps some 20 feet to the right was the snow bridge we took yesterday which is still worrysome but in comparison way better, the more I think about, the other one could have easily collapsed beneath my feet. After this we took the left route which was the right route this time. As we continue I could smell a sulferish smell which reminds me of EastKing's story of climbing Mount Hood and how there was that notious fumes from the volcanoe. Ahead we could see a wall of black which we both knew was no good... we were near an ice shelf (or ice fall) which is the part of a glacier were ice falls away down the mountain and often seracs are there as well. We headed left (Northwest) which again we got back on the main route which from here was easy to keep track of, from here we went past where we were yesterday onto unfamiliar territory. The diareah feeling kept getting to me as well as the sulfer smell which to be honest smelled like bad gas which the name came to mind "Into Bad Gas". We eventually started to see head lamps up ahead which Dan told me to speak only when nessisary and to be loud, or else it might confuse the other parties (rope teams). As we went up a big hill, we could clearly see them (other climbers) going very slow which in a sense reminds me of the Hillary Step on Mount Everest due to the slope and the slow speed at which climbers travel. Dan was not to excited about the slowness, but there was no going around them, plus we asked and in certain area's they did let us pass. It felt nice going slow, one step, breath, another step, which I thought "wow, mountaineering would be a lot easier if I took that pace all the time". It eventually started to feel normal, going over snow bridges and watching out for crevasses. later we were able to pass up the slower groups, some thought I was crazy because I was in a T-shirt which I kept warm because of our constant moving, and I am used to colder weather which is why I do not do well or as well in the heat. As we head up this steep spot we start seeing blue of morning which I could start to see the Twin Sisters with an interesting haze lines which was an awesome view. At one point when we neared the top of the hill, there we met a few climbers, they were uncertain were to go. In front of us was a huge ice canyon which looked very interesting but made navigation difficult. We went left which was only worse so the only way we could think of was by going right. As we go around the ice canyon I fear that there be no way to go around, but fortunatly a route was found. By this time I was starting to get hungry and thirsty which I had a little bit of water which gave me horrible diaria feelings which I decided not to eat or drink much until I got back to base camp. As we went past more crevasses it got lighter, which we would zig zag a little from crevasses and slope. It eventually got colder as we went up, so I ended up no longer being Mr. T-Shirt Man and put on a long sleeve shirt. The Sulfer smell returned which I feared as we went up, but this time it would only get more and more intense. I could literally see it rising into the air from the sulfer spring or rock near Sherman Peak (The False Summit) which was at the top of the ridge of near where we were going. By this point I was quite tired and we took a break alongside with another climbing team (also two people). They were nice, one of the girls told us that "snow mobilers in early season stop here, although some go to the summit". which baffled me, "How can this be? I thought to myself "I'm here getting my butt kicked by Mount Baker while some folks get to be lazy and go all the way to the top?!", which i believed her because I've heard it else were too. Although it would be extremely dangerous, not only could there be crevasses, but it's steep and theres avalanche danger is early season. The Sulfer got to the point were I almost threw up, so I had to ignore the bad smell which eventually it went away because we were away and above it. I later became even more tired and some what weak, although the steepness of the slope increased and was icier, but I started to worry, the summit at times seemed close but would keep having more, infact most of the time I couldn't see the summit. I would say prayers and kept having to endure and find ways to keep my spirit high and hopeful. I later even started to sing: "I'll Fly Away oh Glory, I'll Fly Away, oh halluluh Halleluia by and by, I'll Fly away" which I at my youth group we sang before, which made me think of flying away to the top we go. As we got closer and closer to what seemed the summit I became fersly tired and my fears were of not making it, but I over came the limits that day of tiredness, of weakness, at the time I felt as though I had the heart of a strong mountaineer, a mountain heart. As the summit comes into view joy flows through me, but at the same time I think "you gotta be kidding me", and we had a little more ways to go before reaching the summit. At this point I can tell Dan is worried and he asks me if I'm too tired to summit which I was terrified beyond believe! I tell him "no" although in my mind it was more like "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I came all these ways!" and we crossed a large flat zone, I offer Dan to summit first, but honorably he let's me which we unroped (the very summit which is 30 or so feet high of rock/gravel). So much joy I have when I summit, it was a long waiting victory! I wanted this for so long, I wanted to over come people telling me I can't, I wanted to over come the void in my mind that says you will never win, I wanted to at last enjoy the summit! After this I lay down for a while and just rest, perhaps drank a little bit of water but not really any food due to the problems as previously described which was a major factor in my weakness. I put on a jacket and look at the smoggy view, I was a bit disappointed about the view, but it was still incredible looking down the mountain and seeing some of the near by ones. Also it's the journey that had it's beauty to it, not the destination. A little while later I crawled to the summit register and signed my name and such. I remember Dan yelling "Are you ok?" which I thought about it and said "yes" partly because I did not want to freak Dan out, but after the rest I still had some energy left, but not a whole lot, if the summit was a thousand feet taller, unless we took breaks, I would not have been able to do it. I did not want to leave tge summit, but we had to, I could see down the mountain were the sulfer was being thrown into the air which worried me a bit. I thought of this place as Hell frozen over. My main focus was getting down the mountain... ALIVE! The way dwon for me was intnese as well. Going down I was very exhausted and hungry. I kept stumbling, even when near a crevasse although that was more uncommon and I would try not to. Dan told me that I looked like a super drunk guy going down the mountain. At this point even though we summited, he was very disappointed in me. "If you are having troubles on this climb, how do you expect to be able to climb Mount Rainier?" he knew of my ambisious goal but I believe he wished me good luck if I was going. He also said even Baker was a bit over my head, but he said you have the ambision, but perhaps need more training. Perhaps I took the quote a little too far "The training is nothing, the will is everything! The Will to act" -Ras al Ghul As we kept going down through the area of bad sulfer fumes I stepped on the rope a few times by accedent which eventually he said "If you keep stepping on hte rope your buying me a new one" which after that I attached the rope to a carribeaner to hold it up to make it less likly to be stepped on. Later I started to really worry about making it down ok, because some times I would likly twist my ancle but catch the wieght with the other foot, and I feared of some how breaking an anckle which I would not want to crawl down the entire mountain. I did not notice at the time but from some of my stumbles I punctured my brothers boots a little, and I ripped up the bottom of my paants from the crampons. I tried hard not to be dizzy, but even when trying to focus my mind would unfocus or my eyes would unfocus which I knew I was in a bit of a situation. It eventually I came into a state of apathy, I was still leading, still observing, but having a hard time. As we pass a great big crevasse I could practically see the bottom of it, I only saw the view for a few seconds because Dan told me it was not safe near the crevasse, but it was one of the scariest things I have ever seen in my life! Some how there was some kind of other hole in it making the inside visible and it must have been 100-200 feet deep, it was hard to tell. Dan too seemed amazed at how big or deep it was. As feeling started to get back into me, I started to feel soar emotion because I felt as though perhaps I should not have climbed Mount Baker. At the same time I did not expect to get caught in a situation that would have caused me lots of trouble, if I did not have the sick felling problems (if you know what I mean) I would have been able to eat, and drink which would have helped a whole lot. Nearing the bottom of the snow field we went a diffrent route and avoided the snow bridges, or atleast the scarier ones, the ice holes did worry me though and I was causious on the ice not knowing how stable it was. After this we were off the glacier and we unroped. Then we finally separated for a little while whihc I finally got to take care of my little problem which as I expected I felt so much better! I was finally able to eat and drink as much as I wanted which after using my crampons to take off the duct tape (it was sealed very very good!) I glassaded down the snow field and went to base camp. At base camp we met up, took a rest, ate, drank which by this point I felt much stronger, if only I had been able to eat above I would have been way stronger. As we leave base camp I take in the view for a final time knowing I would miss it. Dan found my perlon cord where I put on my boots that morning before the climb. We purified some water for the decent, because Dan's cell was out of power, we did not know the time, Dan had work the next day and has to finish moving. We hurried down the mountain which wasn't too bad, I packed way better than the time I attepted Mount Rainier the first time. At times when on the railroad ridge I would worry about slipping off the side, but that wasn't too bad, everything else down wasn't really dangerous. As I look back at Mount Baker and giving it the classic solute (which I do when leaving a tough mountain), I thought if only we could go down the valley instead, which probably could work, but the trail was the way we took. As we get back into the woods the flys are there which at first I just thought they were annoying, when then one bit me and made me bleed a little bit which later the blood smell attracted more to bite the same spot so I had to keep hurrying down to prevent getting bitten. The trail had a never ending seem to it, when I thought we were close, there would be still more and more distance, kinda like the summit.When we crossed the river it was much bigger than it was when we first came in, which all the hot weather melted the glacier. I tried to look for a way that would not get my boots soaked, but neither me or Dan could find one, the river was muddy and there was so much water that some of it flooded into the trail! After this we endured a while longer and eventually got to the trailhead which at first seemed unreal. We brought over our stuff to the car which after taking a break my legs had horrible cramps which after this I had to walk very slowly to get back to the car, even getting off my boots were painful. As I remember it I believe we started to leave the trailhead at 1:00 p.m. which Dan seemed pleased that we made good time on the way down. I asked if he was ever willing to take me perhaps even for a scable or hike again and he said "yes" and seemed as though if I fully knew my crevasse rescue and got stronger perhaps would be willing to go climbing in the future. I'm not counting on it, but it was nice of him. I soon fell asleep and woke up in Berlington which Dan bought me a 5$ subway sandwich Dan really did not want to take me home which is very much understandable, because he was probably tired and had moving to take care of. Our home phone was out because we could not afford the phone bill and my mom was across the country, so even after attepmting to contact family, Dan was my only way of getting home, although there is always hitch hiking, but doesn't sound like a good idea. It was nice of what all that Dan did for me on this trip, I gave him 5$ which I told him before I left that was all the money I had. I thanked him and he seemed as though he was no longer upset with me as I left. I was sun burnt and was very tired so I talked a little with my family, showered and went to bed for 15 hours which I think is the most I have ever slept. After I woke up my sun burn was mostly gone and my prayers were heard because my brother at first did not want me to go to Lakeside Bible Camp to serve as a TCL for 3 weeeks because of my sun burn. This was an adventure I will keep in my memories forever! Gear Notes: You know, the basic Glacier Gear and such.

I've been wanting to do this one! Count me in! I've been to the False summit, but had to turn around due to no crampons, plus the leader made the call to turn around and there were heavy winds. I want to do this one!

Nope. I don't think so, you could expect me to go help someone, but some Rangers... well can be lazy, but some are good too.

One of my most classic quotes I've heard when rescueing two girls from a river "HELP HELP! There are two girls in trouble!" so I go to run and help and she says ["Oh wait for the ranger!"] Which lol the ranger wasn't gonna do anything, so me and my bud had to do the ranger's dirty work. That's why self rescue is always my favorite.

nice!! you nailed it, for me! Now that's a very good reason to peak bag! Two thumbs up!

I changed the quote for myself... it's not "because it's there...." but rather "Because I can!"

First off, people get to brag about it, if I told my mom I climbed Mount Stuart, my mom would be amazed because she seen it, but perhaps doesn't know of the non technical route on it. Second if you tell people "I climbed Mount Rainier" they might think great, but it wasn't that hard, but if you do not go into telling them that you climbed the Nisqually Ice Fall and had to use special gear it doesn't sound like as much as it was. Another aspect of the peak bagging thing is also climbing the most famous and highest of the mountains. If you climbed 100 mountains like Mount Si, it would look good on your hiking record but not so much on your climbing Record, if you climbed Mountains like Mount Adams on the easiest route, people are gonna think your strong and hard core (unless they acually know the route which your talking about) even though Mount Adams is not technical and is a walk up (although ice axes and hands might be needed at parts). Also if someone bags (summits) a big peak, it might make them look like a better climber hence forth them being able to go with people with higher skill levels or atleast that might be apart of the thought process. Now there are other aspects as well. Also people can use the idea of peak bagging to make goals of going places or get in shape. So I wouldn't nessisarly say Peak Bagging is bad, but just another perspective of climbing mountains, there are some that have like peak bagging but also enjoy the mountain as well and don't always have to be at the summit to say it was worth it. Even though I understand why people peak bag, for me I would say I'm a mix, I like climbing as many mountains as possible but at the same time I like enjoying them, taking photos, ect. I would rather go part way up a really cool mountain that to climb to the top of a few small mountains. There's my two cents.

For the next few days I'm avalible to be a scambling partner. ;-)

I'm interested. I'll see how my scehdule turns out, if I am avalible, I'll keep you updated.

Trip Report coming eventually, I have it manually written on paper, it's 20 pages long! By far my longest trip report I have ever written. I went with a guy named Dan, he was very nice and patient. I was at a bible camp serving for 3 weeks which I had an awesome time!

I just climbed Mount Baker!! So I think I'm ready for Mount Stuart.

Ewww Ewww.... I want to be a belay monkey. I'm fine with carrying gear and belaying people, so long as I can get out there! If you need one, you got one right here. Does a belay monkey do acual climbing? As for the other info, well said.