obwan

A good mystery it was - what, no colored lines? Good work tweaking the definition in the photo - looks like you have the right area, now we just need a close up with those 90 degree blocks. Some of this thread has kept the Pass area alive, due to the type of rock. Good job!

Good work Klenke - I knew someone would have a good photo, I take back the comment about rock quality. You have some great photos of the area. It even has a ramp to the left for the photographer mentioned earlier about a level shot. The 100% clincher view would obviously be right up there at the base. j_b - I think I meant to say "those guys were hardcore" (I'm probably older than you are); that traverse looks pretty hairy and like their sketchy belay, I guess it's ok as long as you don't fall on it.

Here is yet another analysis. A Park Ranger friend took this photo of the Reflections Lakes area last summer, it was taken about 100 yards east of The Castle. It appears that the lakes are about a mile away in the photo - matching the TOPO and old photo; if it's less than a mile then maybe it is the practice rock area. A shot from the NE corner of The Castle would be close - being a bit more west and also higher, only issue is the rock quality. Where's Beckey?

Regarding rock bollards, it makes sense for running belays. You guys were really hardcore.

I was just about ready to side with MattP and Jens - who woulda thunk. His memory at 97 is better than mine. The rock quality and terrain are starting to add up.

And the mystery saga continues - good idea about the Stuart range. Their methods are pretty scary, especially using the rope drag over the horns for protection on those traverses.

All these observations are starting to add up. Wasn't MRNP a pretty frequented area in the 30's era, as there were not good roads to anywhere else.

The more I look at these, I'm thinking Leavenworth - look at the grass at the base of the climb in the first photo. I just can't place those 90 degree cut outs. And the latter photo looks more like MRNP with those alpine trees and more elevation.

A reversed photo can really mess with you. I think the tell-tale evidence will be the unique 90 degree blocks.

I think that maybe Dru was right on! I don't have that exact photo of those 90 degree blocks, but they look pretty familiar.

From what I can tell it is climber trash talk.

There are some things to consider such as cost, function, reliability, ease of use, weight etc. You can get a mechanical one for $60 - very reliable (no batteries, light wt and pretty functional); but not much fun and is measured in 100ft increments, whereas the digital ones are in 3ft or less. Generally most mechanical ones are plus or minus 30ft due to barometric conditions, and could be off several hundred feet during the day - to keep accurate, one must keep it calibrated at known altitudes by topo map or trail markers (but same for digital ones). They are a good cheap backup when using the battery powered GPS or watches. The watches are also good backup but run $125-250 - Suunto makes the best one with compass,etc (great if you need another watch, and batteries last about a year) - again needs calibration frequently with changing weather conditions, or you could be off several hundred feet. I've got an old Casio, not fancy but works. To solve the accuracy issue, I use a GPS - not all come with an altimeter (barometric version); but most will give elevation by satellite, and pretty accurate with a half dozen satellites acquired and not weather dependent. Works perfect above treeline and does ok in the woods with the newer antennas. It does take batteries of course, so bring spares - Lithium batteries have a longer life and not affected as much in freezing conditions. To save on battery life, one can also turn off the compass and use the satellite/compass function - but the mechanical (battery) compass, as in the 60Csx is handy and you do not have to be moving to get a bearing, just turn it off and use your backup compass. I've been using the 60Csx for several years and find it the best featured GPS, just a little spendy at $400. Being able to use the altimeter in either satellite with auto-calibrate, or barometric mode is handy; and you can also get a weather trend. Some GPS units are good for $100-250, just make sure they will do what you want - smaller is lighter, but harder to read in poor conditions; so lots to consider.

Hey - It looks like Politics are becoming fashionable, good story! http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/396639_needle19.html

Nice Photos - yes, it is a nice slab area. Read "Static Point" and "Mtg on DNR Rules" in 'The Access Issues Forum' for further discussion and information. Matt P. is not paranoid - I have first hand experience of what he says regarding the overzealous land manager. They DO need to re-read and follow their mission statement.

Go Renton! Actually I'm waiting for the next Ice Age so that I can climb Coal Creek Falls on Cougar Mtn.

This will be my trip report on the DNR Rules mtg at the Issaquah Library last night.7pm 11/05/08. First of all, a thanks to MattP for the tip about the mtg shown at the end of my post on "Static Point 10/28/08" (he also shows links to the revisions). The last time I got involved with the DNR folks was about 18 years ago (more on that coming). I hope I have enough Henry's to get through this. The mtg was attended by about 90 people to have a public hearing and testimony on the upcoming rule changes due to the Legislature by Dec 2nd,08; with final input by email Nov 10th in just a few days. There was a mineral/rockhound, a couple shooters, some mtn bikers but mostly dirt bikers (over a dozen), and a couple snowmobilers. I seemed to be the only climber and the pres. of Issaquah Alps. In my view they are pretty worried about being shut out, and you constantly hear about lack of funding. One of the dirt bikers was a lawyer, and like me saw to many vague areas and stuff left open to interpretation - it's a good start, but the intent could be misused by local, over zealous land managers with a personal vendetta (I advised the committee that a few local mngrs should re-read the DNR mission statement anyway). This has been the first re-write since 1970 and may be needed to get current with the new hobbies and interests. It is pretty specific to firearms, motorized and non-motorized use, camping and fires, etc. but nothing about climbing. One area talks about new trails and removing soil, plants, rocks etc (gardening?? route cleaning??) who knows. And I can see why maybe, as the working commttee has no climber or Access Fund type - only the dirt bikers, mtn club etc. It's disturbing to note all the WAC and RCW stuff that takes a lawyer to read, but definitely violations do not appear to be a slap on the wrist; and are classified as 'misdemeanors'. So, I couldn't let the mtg go by while the other groups/affiliations gave their testimony - and I gave some public comment from the climbing community, with a promise to follow up with some email. With only a few days left, perhaps a few of you could read these changes and send an email to: sepacenter@dnr.wa.gov This is Dejavu back to 1990/91 when Bryan Burdo and Leland were busy putting up routes at Lil' SI (Exit 32). they were reported to Olympia as putting in erosive trails and hundreds of bolts. So Bryan and I took the North Bend DNR lady and her bosses up the trail, and they couldn't find one bolt until we showed them. Then we apologized and promised to do trail work, which we did over the next couple years thru Andy Fitz/Access Fund and WTA, REI and others and made it a real nice area. Also as a back fall the route builders agreed on a moratorium for new routes and said we'd start development on Exit 38. Guess what? Trouble again as it was a State Park - The Ironhorse Trail, and the Ranger said we couln't climb there. So we linked him and Olympia up with the DNR lady who helped champion a budget for a parking lot and trail revision, as the old one went through a neighbohood and almost shut it all down at Li'l SI. So don't tell me money is an issue (this was also a recession time, Gulf War etc), you just have to budget it and wait for the beauracy to unfold - so the system did work,.. and we have a couple of nice local climbing areas inspite of all the pro's and con's. We also got a revised State Park RCW to recognize Rock Climbing - ok for a start, but it has worked. If you have made it this far and get what is going on -I'd recommend we get involved like the climber coalitions in B.C. do, along with these Mtn Bikers. Let's hope it's not to late - so please read up on this and offer any comments by Nov 10th. Cheers, ps. I luv Henry's Blonde!

Jens is right, places like this fall into obscurity - these reports sound pretty bad. It is disturbing, as I helped in resurrecting this place from the obscurity that evolved in the late 80's. I spent two seasons looking for Static Point in 90/91' when some 70's80's climbers were unwilling to give it's location. So armed with an original copy of Washington Rock and a lot of bushwacking with my climbing partner, we stumbled upon a hidden Mtn Bike and ran into a couple of young buckaroo's - Dave & Matt, who had found it sooner than us and had been retro fitting the old 1/8" button head spinners, and doing some over night stays. They told us stoies of either the Water Dept or DNR guys tracking them down for illegal camping and bent on climbers not knowing about it. They even pitched their halfdome tent on the skinny Space Port Ledge to hide from them. Believe it or not, back then I was able to drive my 4x4 all the way to the trail head start at the last culvert ( with the use of a couple loppers and scratched paint), that really blew the DNR people away and the next season they had gone in with big CAT eqpt. and carved up all of the culverts and made it a long walk. I think we kept the secret for awhile; but about a month after we found it after searching for two seasons, some dude sent it in to Rock and Ice as "the climb of the month" - "On-Line"; and every climber from Northern Calif. to British Columbia showed up pissing off the Water Dept/DNR folks for good. It's really to bad as it is some of the best granite slab climbing next to Darrington in Washington. So, over the last ten years or so - now they are more bound and determined to keep the climbers out. I'm just glad I was able to do some of the other routes such as "the Curious Cube" - a very cool place.

There are some new rock walls in Renton/Newcastle. Climb now before restrictions are applied. On Rainier Ave So. across from the Renton Airport Control Tower, and on Coal Creek Pkwy 1/2 mile north of the new May Creek bridge ( I call this one "Endless Crack" 5.8+) - go on Sundays when construction crews are gone and LE patrols are light.