dhrmabum

Well, hopefully the bugs will have died down in a couple of weeks. Last two weeks of Aug. usually equals no bugs in the backcountry. Anyway, thanks again for the beta. Bit worried now about getting a permit. Shit. . . we'll see. Wouldn't mind driving down to Devils' postpile, but, doubt that we'll be ready to go before 7am. Given my slowness,(and we'll probably be heading to Mammoth from Tuolomne), it might be after 7pm. . . But, most likely, the bus.

Yep, I was up there on Sat. the 7th, hiked to just below Crater Rock and had a fantastic ski down. Looked up and the route didn't look half bad. And, reading recent climber's comments on the registration sheets, looks like its still in, though following your early hour ascent is the way to go. Good job.

Good job. Pics are nice. Looks like a great climb in a beautiful area. I used to work on in that area, on the John Muir trail, etc. when I was 19. Young Adult Conservation Corp. One of the best summers of my life. Love the area. I'm hoping to head to that area in a couple of weeks with my son, and climb Ritter via the class3 route, along with a general pack on the loop, Minaret Lake to Ediza, etc. I'm wondering, where did/do you park your car to catch the shuttle? Thanks.

Yeah, how much, if I may ask?

Naked with another member of the opposite sex(for me, anyway), also naked, to warm ya up!

Well, I don't believe the lifts start running til 8:00 am. Then add climbing time up, puts you up there a bit late, I'd say. Of course, depends so much on conditions, which, if I remember the recent forecast, don't bode well for next week, though it depends on the day. . . Welcome to the Cascades in Spring!

I'd say,(though it's been years since I've been there, and can't remember what the winter snowpack was like), that the trail should most likely be snowfree, though there could be a lot of snow around Lake Ediza, given the snowpack this year. Hope that makes sense.

Hey, I know this is a little late, but, are you still heading down to climb Shasta? Need a partner or two? My friend and I, both novices but with a little experience, ie. have climbed Hood and Adams, he's a proficient rock climber, are thinking of heading down. Just wondered if you're still going, and looking for partners/ driving or otherwise. . . Thanks, don

Well, Malcom's answer is correct: columnar basalt. Similar or the same, to what you'd find at Devils Postpile, located near Mammoth Lakes on the eastside of the Sierra. Good stuff. Pooled up lava, cooled,contracting, jointing, etc. All geological terms. Don't know if you happened to explore the formation in your pic, but, at Devils Postpile, the top of the formation is smooth like glass, polished so by passing glaciers. Very cool stuff. A copy and paste: The lava cools and cracks reach deep into the formation As the lava flow ceased, the molten rock began cooling into solid rock. Shallow parts of the lava flow would have solidified first, with deeper parts of the lava lake requiring much more time to release the massive amount of stored thermal energy. As the lava lake cooled and solidified from a molten soup to solid rock it began to contract. Contraction stresses developed because the cool solid form of basalt has a lesser volume than the hot liquid form. Cracks, also called joints by geologists, began to form. Jointing releases internal stress created by the cooling and associated contraction. In some locations, such as at the Devils Postpile, the jointing formed columns. Jointing would have begun at the top, bottom and all around the edges of the lava lake where the lava made direct contact with a cooler surface. The cracks would have extended inwards over time as the more insulated locations within the lava lake finally released enough thermal energy to change from a liquid to a solid state.

Wow, yeah, I heard today that the guy down the street wants to climb it as well. Didn't mention his experience, but he's lookin' for partners and wants to leave soon! Maybe I should get his phone# for you guys. . .

Very nice. Early spring climbing in Yosemite. Excellent.

Hey guys. I've heard nothing but positive about the Variant. I'm leaning toward the 52, but, and I know this is a bit of a dumb query, but, should I consider the 37 for any reason? That being more of just a day pack? Already have the Osprey Atmos 50, but I think the Variant would be better for climbing, carrying skis, and just better all-around. Thanks.

Uh, yeah, I think it's that time.

Back up to Denali? for fun? Lucky guy. I'm thinking I'll take my son in the next couple of years. Hike in Denali and maybe kayak some down around Katchemak bay. Yeah, who'd a thunk it? Ever listen to Greg Brown?

Ya, ya, I'll see ya up high. . .

Takes one to know one, big Pink. Actually, Ivan and I did pm each other, and he publicly set the matter straight. And you're right, the breaking of branches doesn't have much to do with monitoring falcons, but it's at least on the same thread as Beacon, which is why I posted it when I saw people saying they'd just climbed there. Just being polite about the space. Some get pissed when seperate conversations go on for too long, maybe esp. when it concerns where I worked, who I know, etc. etc. Cheers.

Yep. What years were you there? I spent the summers of 1993-2000 working in Denali. Perhaps we crossed paths up there? Was that you chasing me during the "Denali Dash" circa 1995ish (a 3 mile naked run that is held every first full moon of August)? I think that was the same year two naked guys on mt bikes crashed into each other and were both knocked out. Seems one of them broke his nose pretty bad. Then again, maybe that was 94? But I digress.... No, I wouldn't have been chasing you naked, unless I was very drunk, and even then. . . I was chasing that ranger chick from Interp, don't ya know? No, Dave, I think you and I talked on here last. . . spring/summer, about Denali, climbing, etc. I think I was up there just a bit before you; my last summer was '92, I believe. Was there from '87 til then. Good times. Sometime I'll tell you about the one and only triatholon I've ever entered, which was up there. Almost died swimming in the lake, half-drunk. Did alright on the bike ride, though, as the swim, uh, sobered me up, ya might say. I guess the "Denali dash" came a bit after my time, unfortunately. Sounds wild. I definitely had a few wild times up there. Miss it terribly. Can't wait to go back and show it to my son. I think he'll love it. And, yes, again, I was a ranger there(but not at BEACON!). Loved it, besides working for the Govt. that is. Ah, well, there were perks. C-camp, Toklat, Eielson, tourist chicks. . .

Yep. what a cool job? are you or have you ever been a ranger at beacon rock and have you ever had interactions with joseph healie prior to your conversation on this thread? Yes, it was a cool job. No, to your questions. . I already said that I'd been a ranger long ago(previous post), but not around here. Are you incoherent at present? I have an idea. You seem to be very suspicious of me for some reason(maybe you're a conspirator?), but, I feel that this conversation has gotten a bit off topic, and I don't want to derail this thread nor take up any more space, talking about my personal history, or who I might know, etc. If you have more questions about my short but fun experience as a ranger in Denali, or who I might know, why not pm me and we can continue the conversation there, rather than taking up this space.

Yep.

No, I don't know of the person you speak of. Didn't think I was beating up on tree climbing; I rather like climbing trees. Was actually,(if you reread my original post), questioning the practice of breaking branches off of a tree. That question has since been answered by the party in question.

Uh, no, though I used to be, but not around here. What gives you that idea? where were you a park ranger? i've spent some time in a few parks.... you know a bit about climbing but say you don't climb but yet you post on a climbing site. how many times have you visited beacon rock? Worked up in Denali. Yeah, I know a little about climbing, though I'm currently trying to get more into alpine. If you look under my name you'll notice it says "noob." And, right, don't have much experience on rock. . . Don't know how many times I've visited Beacon over the years; too many to count. Never climbed on it though, just hiked to the top. Is that ok?

Uh, no, though I used to be, but not around here. What gives you that idea?

It is good to remember that while we seem to toil in relative obscurity folks are sometimes seeing us from various other vantage points. At one point some folks scanned this site and between us figured out they had shot pics of Shane and I on Menopause from up on Hamilton - talk about good eyes and camera gear! Similarly I've seen folks at the boat launch and in boats out in the slough shooting pics of climbers. dhrmabum, I and others would be happy to take you up the SE Face route once Beacon opens for the season. Just post back up then or pm one or more of us. Thanks for the invite, JH. I've been talking w/a couple others, and I will gladly take you up on the offer when the time is right. 'Til then, happy climbing! Btw, I agree w/ your last post concerning the salmon/sea lions/ and that damned dam. A big mess.

Excellent work dudes! Just reading a bit on Colchuck today, and now here's your tantalizing ski trip. Damn nice. Salivating here! That couloir looks pretty sweet. Good stuff.

Alright. I'm sprayed, splayed, and filleted. Stick a fork in me, and stick me up any bare-limbed tree on the mighty Beacon as a sacrificial newb. I'm done. I'll buy the beer if we ever hookup out at Beacon.