Water

i think i'd personally err towards not. unless you're here short term and you can't give it a go another year... hope better for next spring. that said if family want to visit and enjoy the NW.. topping out on hood isn't the be-all-end-all. Adams will be melted more but an easy romp you don't have to concern much with the hazards/pitfalls of hood.

vintage snowcat jamboree this past weekend up at Tline

what's your definition of lightweight? i've got some G3 Saints (170cm) (rocker, not too much sidecut, 93mm underfoot), G3 Alpinist skins, and Dynafit radical STs on there.. looking for boots too?

zachgw, where are you located? I've got some gear I've been on the fence about selling. I'm 5'8" 145, 9 to 9.5 shoe size. have a pair of 170cm G3 Saints w/ dynafit radical ST, g3 alpinist skins, and some 26.5 Garmont Axon boots [will need liners probably]. I'd like to sell the boots for sure but if just interested in the ski/binding/skin setup that's fine too. PM if interested, discuss price.

if you are going up the standard hood routes you shouldn't need to be practicing crevasse rescue exactly...there is the berg on the hogsback and unless you're going up the pearly gates, you shouldn't even need to go above the bergschrund. the route finding is quite easy, there are many, many pictures available that clearly lay out the route, and if it is nice out, there will be many people and you can follow them. If it isn't nice out, wait and see if it clears or probably top out somewhere above the lifts but shy of the top. if you are fit and confident rock climber with that glacier class, you will be fine. research it and look at pictures, and be dialed in with the weather.. and like bronco said adams is higher and less technical (my wife who is scared of heights and won't wear crampons gets up that one with microspikes and a whippet)

is sobo still around? miss that guy's presence here..

why be nervous? i signed up... always looking for new grub ideas

you're not doomed. it has snowed quite a bit in April so far. With at least a bit more on the way in next few days. So...there will be lines to ski on the volcanoes. Right now some TH that one could drive to for most of winter now have snow inhibiting access. But that lower elevation stuff will melt quick..unless April keeps hammering low fz levels and precip, I bet access will be fine in May, you just won't be skiing to the car necessarily at most of those in all likelihood. do you have routes in mind for each mt? North and Jeff are a little more limited in ski routes, not that they don't have lines on them. South Sister can also be a bit of a drag to come across the 1-2 miles of flats on the way down..if you're planning to ski the south side of it. North side of Middle down the hayden glacier is a fairly relaxing enjoyable climb/ski objective, throwing it out there.

pole creek access to both i'd guess..what other access you considering? just speaking from experience but middle will be easier...go up spine of hayden glacier..

Sat in on a presentation from a researcher (physiology PhD) from Nike when Club Sport opened their altitude lab (John, believe I saw your image panned on the LCD TV in front of it). Anyways the take away was unless you live at altitude or are able to spend enough time (most of your day) in simulated low oxygen environment, you're not really doing anything but possibly accelerating your cardio fitness regimen. The only advantage is if you live at altitude and can adapt by growing more red blood cells, which takes a damn long time and probably only really benefits for going down to sea level. Also, seemed like it made more sense to train at sea level but live at altitude due to the strain and diminishing returns one gets being at altitude.

went up march 8th myself looked about the same...nice to see it holding steady. snow to the lot still?

nice, made it to page 3! but nobody has a problem with wolves at the crag? much more serious issue, about 5 people per year die due to wolves.

Going to suggest a chest harness can help a fair bit with extraction (self or otherwise) but I haven't come across info as it regards to fall safety factor. What routes are you hitting? Generally fine with waist, not often are big empty falls on cascade peaks.

why would skiing on wizard island be prohibited if it is snow covered? do they simply not allow skis on the tour boats that go there?

wouldn't wholly discount avalanche. it has been laughable this year but doesn't mean nothing. nwac would have rolled up the carpet if the risk was zero-though hopefully my donation gets rolled to next year's banner snowfall (one can only hope). What about leutholds or wyeast if one is ice climbing capable? not as 'hikey' at the southside but gives some more entertainment? i will second being fit. but i suppose for a climb that should go without saying...degree is only speed, 2hr to the top? 3, 4, 5, 6? 1k vert rise/hr is a fair benchmark. that said if you've never climbed hood before, i really don't think there is anything wrong with going up pearly gates via normal southside and getting a feel for the mountain. Just, if you'd go back home (wherever) and feel like it was a waste of your time, then maybe don't opt for that? full disclosure-amount of times i've felt a route was a waste of my time: 0 p.s.: ben, will we ever climb together? kautz? Otherwise I think you're above my pay grade.

Well stated and my feeling as well , KISS principle. I have PLB that is for when shit happens. When craps occurs I dealt with it. But as you say that doesn't work for some. Regardless, though one should never be dependent on technology to bail their sorry ass or carcass out. 2 more cents. Same boat, one more for vanilla PLB. McMurdo FastFind. 2way comm is nice but I leave clear plans with relevant parties before trips. The PLB = something is horribly wrong. I know situations exist where some friends could help (maybe simple but debilitating thing like an achilles rupture with 8 miles of de-proach left after a climb)..maybe friends could help you down vs needing a rescue? I just figure if it is serious enough for friends to help, I can't do it myself and actually would need rescue assistance. I think himalaya type distance/extremes or expeditionary trips abroad the 2way merits really come to the fore.

asinine! bring skis! it's going to be firm early and get beautiful later (around noon-1pm). hell, it might be spectacular above 8500 (top of palmer) based on the fresh snow that fell higher up [powder?](hopefully)...I didn't follow on account of knowing the weekend would be lousy/booked with wife for her bday. it would have to be really utter crap for me to suggest boots over skis, and that has not been the case for weeks. it's been serviceable to great for over a month.

I'd bump this too.. Dan probably would downplay but just within the last week I was going over his summit post climb/ski log and marveling. Tell me this guy was sponsored by someone..please

i would rather write 5 stories here that embarrass me than deal with almost any physical trauma, frostbite feet, etc. Would have traded that for the 9 months of downtime and the terrible hassle and cost of foot surgery from stupidly lead climbing two season ago. So very glad you are both ok physically, the ego can heal, but you only have 1 body per lifetime. There's been some injury TRs lately and I would much prefer to see this than that, for everyone's sake. To me it sounds like you weren't too far off prep/research/difficulty wise/gear, but did get pushed to your margins-that can happen to the most prepared and prudent (which is why they focus on being so prepared). You say if things were worse weather wise you would have been up shit creek further--but I get the impression that if you saw that potential in the forecast you probably would have further hedged against it (gear/turn around time/etc), no? gives me a little comfort for always including a quality sit pad. without getting into it too much, SPOT functionality options =! superior imo. I'm still of the understanding that the Cospas-Sarsat system is superior to private enterprise operations. The satellite system is supported by a bevy of countries and has high (geostationary) and low elevation circumpolar sats, and it looks like they may be launching a medium range SARsat system. The 406mhz transmission is supposed to be much stronger than the 1601(?)mhz transmission by SPOT(II/3). Features = everyone at home feel good. PLB = send the troops. With all deference to preference of 'canceling' an emergency signal, I think frankly once you've hit the button, cancelling it is not going to make things 'clear' for those who may have received the initial emergency request--they'll still come out--it's like dialing 911 but then hanging up. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Cospas-Sarsat_Programme

i too would like to lodge my complaint, that was weirdness. 2005 much?

this definitely made me laugh. lulz for sure. thanks for sharing

yes...pending avalanche concerns. I'd suspect quite a bit more snow than 5-10 on the higher reaches of Adams. That said it'll be some great pow.. looks to be fairly cold

throw that damn video back up, it was awesome. don't need no stinkin' 15 second'er.

spray?

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