t_rutl

Trip: Mount Shuksan - Sulphide Glacier Date: 5/25/2009 Trip Report: I hope ya'll like pics!! With an actually favorable forecast for Memorial Day decided to brave the crowds for an ascent of Shuksan. To our pleasant surprise we found solitude. As we descended from the summit there wasnt a sole in sight. Left the car Sunday mid-afternoon. The snow started about a mile or so into things but was nice and consolidated and made good time onto Shannon Ridge. At that point it quickly turned to sluff and was a post-hole trek up the notch and onto the Sulphide. Although Baker was on quite the display! As evening crept in we found ourselves with spot for the tent, some alpenglow and a view of the summit. Set up our bivy, melted snow for H2O, packed down some calories and crashed for what was more of a catnap around 11:00. The alarm buzzed at 1:00 am and after some breakfast, shortly thereafter we were off. The snow was firm and we cruised to base of the summit pyramid in a smidge over 2 ours. Took 15 or so to refuel and up the couloir we went. Word had it that things were nasty by mid-morning so I was eager to get up and down and as far into the descent as we could before then. As the sun rose the N. Cascades put on quite a show and Baker gleamed. Steps were good up the couloir minus a couple sections where an previously attempted ski descent wiped them out. Booted up pretty smoothly for the most part. Followed some steps to the right which dead ended costing about 45 min but if that's it for problems not a bad day! The snow got thin in a spot or two so set up a belay on an outcropped rock...but conditions were quite nice over all. Quick pose for the summit shot then down and out! Great time to be out and how about the vis?!?! Gear Notes: Ice Axe, Crampons, pickets (never placed), slings (used once), SUNSCREEN!!, iPod for the slog out, snowshoes would have been nice when things where more firm but would have been useless for the plunge stepping out Approach Notes: Good boot pack all the way up. Snow starts a mile or so in but is melting at a rapid rate. From the notch to the Sulphide, soft slides ABOUNDED and you have to traverse right in the thick of them. Be aware...

brilliant!

Well done!

nasty washout

wow...

if that don't get your heart racing...

Trip: Whitehorse Mountain - Neiderprum Trail Date: 4/26/2009 Trip Report: On a whim gave the Neiderprum a hoot...wanted to take the glacier direct but couldnt track down a partner for that route...passed a trio coming off and was quite jealous they caught that day for the Whitehorse Glacier!! They did some serious work and it looked too fun! Started out cold and clear with Whitehorse beaming in morning hours After exiting the tortuous miles of switchbacks we landed on a trough of avy debris. With the cold night before the neve couldnt have been better although, some sections debris were ankle twisting chunks of ice. All it all it was much nicer taking a direct route up to Lone Tree Pass rather than bush whacking. Great view of the summit and weather to boot! Just shy of Lone Tree some recent snow fell. Some nice sugar that made things a little more interesting. After continuing along the ridge snow conditions were still quite good and took a direct route down to make the traverse to High Pass. After crossing through the last section of forest the sun started to warm things up and the immense amount of ice on the cliff bands above began to melt and break away. We scooted past that had lunch and dropped any extra weight (snowshoes, stove, ect). After making the arduous ascent up to High Pass we were socked in with clouds and light snow. Due to the low vis we moved slow, very slow. As there was a small break we took steps until we could see any more. Thankfully the party ahead of us on the glacier direct were descending the Neiderprum giving us a path to follow in less than ideal conditions. As we booted up the summit it was nice to see that the snow finger led straight to the top! After a min or two at the top it was time to head out. No view and it was getting cold up there. Just as we descended the snow finger onto the glacier the weather broke revealing some amazing photo ops... After 30 min or so the system passed and we were back under blue skies...if we only this view once we hit the glacier! Made the trek down High Pass, picked up the cached gear and traversed to Lone Tree. As the sun set atop Lone Tree I knew it would take a bit longer to make it to the rig. Set tracks with the GPS and had spare batts and headlamps so weren't concerned. Made it out and headed home! Gear Notes: ice axe, crampons, snow shoes (not needed), stove (for water...no natural sources yet), rope Approach Notes: Snow free through the switch backs of the "official" Neiderprum trai and easy to follow. Exited east to continue up avalanche gully to Lone Tree

was up there a couple weeks ago...used a snowmobile for the approach (cheating I know but was short on time) to the TH but left the chainsaw...deadlifting a snomobile is no fun...the road is only 4 mi and some change...over the first 2.5 you'll end up with about 8-10 downed sections then it's free and clear to the turn off where the trail head is...also the snow was only a few inches deep in some areas so may be spotty by now...but that was a couple weeks ago

TR is 'beaut...thx

brilliant...absolutely brilliant... pics are amazing my friend...dang...

she's a 'beaut when dusted with powder...thanks for the pics

no doubt...thanks for the info gents...appreciate it and no kidding...skiing sounds a hell of a lot better that unprotected 5th! peace t

alright...thanks for the info man...plan was to take advantage of this nice little weekend weather window...hump it out today up to Lone Tree and summit tomorrow...gotta love it when your climbing partner delays things until noon and you gotta call it off...looks like a winter ascent it is... when the snow recedes and that thing gets exposed late in the year...it worth bringing any rock pro?

was up month before last but got a late start and hit the turn around mark at High Pass...question though for those who have hit it...how's the rock scramble up the summit block? is the class 3/4 that is noted or the 5.0+ that some claim? tia -T