Pete_H

And what peak is that in the pic above the fried chicken shot?

You'll have to fight off the other 300 pounder he's currently dating.

Damn! I thought I was the only one who bouldered at the gym in a horse costume.

You can keep the company of women, but you just have to deny them your essence.

And Warren Harding did get laid a lot. Though I doubt most of his contemporaries can make the same boast.

I did climb Mt. Si once (well, at least to the end of the trail) so I figure I pretty much know everything about this here mountain climberin.

Not really. All mountains I know of adhere to the laws of weather, climate, physics and gravity and that sort of shit.

Neat. Glad you had a great trip!

Dude, you're asking the Bone to demonstrate a simple understanding of basic civics. That's like asking a monkey, or me for that matter, to comprehend nuclear physics. Just ain't gunna happen.

Looks like marmot bait.

You mean like aid climbers or something? More like inner city kids without the opportunities most of us had. This looks pretty cool. Geez bro are you not allowed to have a sense of humor where you live or what? On another note, is there any research that actually shows hoods in the woods programs actually work?

This thread took an interesting turn.

Great story. Classic example of ideology taken to the absurd.

Maybe because its a bad idea.

Snow camping mid-winter in the Cascades does not add to the richness of my wilderness experience. Well ... I take that back because sometimes it does. I guess it depends on the experience you're after. I enjoy the reward and solitude of a fully self-sufficient alpine endevor and have done many. However, a B.C.-esque hut system in the Cascades would add options for other types of experiences that are just as rich. The Cascades is indeed large enough for a hut system that wouldn't corrupt the flavor and nature of the range. Furthermore, how much different would a hut be, say for example in Boston Basin, than 20 tents spread out all over the glacier? One isn't exactly going to find solitude there the way it is. The hut on Muir has not ruined any experience for me. I've actually never even stayed in it. I've never even climbed the DC route. I've climbed other routes that are less trafficked just as someone could do in the Cascades if they wanted to avoid the area where huts where in place. The environment and solitude of B.C. hasn't been ruined by having a very extensive hut system. In fact, I'd argue that the opposite has occurred as huts and better access spread the use out over multiple areas.

Its not a really big deal to solo the DC. Its been done in sneakers in under 5 hours. Helmstadlers probably done it in a lot less and just never told anyone.

I'm guessing guided trips start super early for a couple reasons. First, things can get more dangerous from sun exposure, such as snow bridges softening up, wet avalanches, cornice and serac collapse, etc. Its also easier to move when the snow is firmed up as opposed to slushy and deep. Second, big guided groups include people of different abilities and some people may be really fucking slow. Finally, if anything did happen and someone got injured its better if its noon instead of 6:00 p.m. So a competent, fit person probably wouldn't have to leave Muir at 2 a.m. to tag the summit unless they just wanted to get done early.

Of the handfull of times I've climbed / skiied Rainier I've never brought a shovel. Since this guy is supposedly going solo, a shovel isn't going to help him for anything but digging a pointless hole.

and a snow saw. Or for less weight (and energy expenditure) you could just bring a tent.

If I was a guide I'd want to be at the pub spending my tip by cocktail hour too.

Wilderness has its place but so does multi-use areas. It seems to me the expansion of Wilderness Areas are a tool to limit access. By transferring land from the Forest Service to Wilderness Area the FS doesn't have to maintain roads or regulate multi-use, just a few foot trails here and there. All justified by a false ethos of conservation. In Washington, access is already so shitty, it would be a net benefit for all outdoor enthusiasts if we could have more huts / permanent structures (built using mechanical tools) on Forest Service, National Parks, and Wilderness Areas.

You're fucked. Like the rest of us.

I'm not sure what the difference is. But you probably have a point.

Its pretty funny, and well ironic too, how you promote yourself as such a champion of diversity and defender of the persecuted. But when you actually encounter anyone from outside of your sheltered socio-economic bubble the arrogant judgemental white man comes out.

You should check out Renton. Its right next to Tukwilla and the granite is huge!