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Bennet Pass has been a well-known go to area for xc and AT skiers for decades. The more people that know about this the better. There are no other places to ski besides south side Mt. Hood and Teacup and Timothy Lakes so might as well stop looking and go to one of these areas.

Given what you have posted I think you are in for a rude introduction to winter mountaineering. Weather forecasting for Mt. Adams is hit and miss so you should assume you will encounter very high winds and white out conditions. Avalanche hazards aside, you are in for one hell of a wallow. And that weather window might be long enough for some snow to consolidate, but it's not long enough for you to then go climb AFTER that consolidation period, nor is it long enough for SAR teams to get to you before spring. I would dial back my goal to just reaching the Lunch Counter, with plans in place to bale and save yourself if conditions warrant it. With that more modest goal in mind, you will still encounter avi slopes that haven't had time to settle and slide, and again, the current forecast shows no weather window for a rescue. If you make the summit you can break trail for me anytime, except... I probably wouldn't pick you for a partner until you've developed a more conservative mindset. Best of luck. Be safe and consider the safety of others you might put at risk if you need a rescue.

I don't like the looks of them and they're bulky to haul around, but they are light on the noggin.

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+1 Best place to carry spare batteries is inside a spare headlamp.

The December 2015 edition of OPB Primetime arrived yesterday... "Coming in early 2016... Oregon Field Guide Special. Valhalla. Join Oregon Field Guide on an unparalled adventure of discovery into the wilderness and witness the first images of a hidden geologic wonder right here in Oregon." There is a teaser image in the mag that appears to be taken from inside the mouth of a cave on a mountainside that has a stream running out of it.

Yes, Jay Peterson has done some very innovative "punching out" for two pairs of boots for me and I'm very happy with the results. jay@skiersynergy.com

My Stephenson Warmlite has wind stabilizers which I've never used. The only instructions I've found are what's mentioned on their website, "Wind stabilizers: diagonal inside straps from each side of each pole down to far end of pole, greatly stiffening and supporting pole." Here's a photo I found online. Obviously the "X" formed by interior lines will not make movement convenient inside the tent, but I guess that's a trade off for not having your tent ripped to shreds with you inside, assuming it works. Having been inside a tent during screaming winds it won't let you sleep any better because you won't be sleeping anyway.

Clear Creek route is doable now, just bring low gaiters for the scree fest.

I'm sealing floors and waiting for the first coat to dry so I can apply a second coat and I'm too tired to do anything but go online and look for this hammer (circled in red)...

Awesome! My kind of fun! Thanks Luke for the magnificent photos and video, excellent beta, and for your consideration in asking before launching the drone.

If it was near the trail and obvious as you describe I'm confident you'll get it back. I assume you’ve posted on the hiking forums as well? Last year I found a full pack at treeline on Mt. Hood between Barrett Spur and Cathedral Ridge – complete with tent, sleeping bag, and three bottles of beer. It was well off trail so I’m guessing the owner dropped it on his way up and couldn’t find it on his way down. The wilderness permit attached was two years old. I contacted authorities and determined that he was not reported as missing. Also included were many personal effects. I had the name, address, even social security number of the owner. I traced him to last known address – sent FB posts, registered letters, left phone messages, etc. and never heard back. I finally sent his dog tags to DOD and threw the rest away as it was not in great condition . Sure wish I knew the story behind that. The tent was a large heavy Coleman four man tent so I suspect there were others affected as well.

You should add a Facebook share button to your page.

This is true, but here's a navigation tip if you make this error... If the visibility is even ten feet (it can be zero) you can actually use this feature as a navigation aid. In actuality if you follow the fall line you will likely encounter Big or Little Zig Zag Canyon, instead of Mississippi Head, which is several hundred yards to the north. Where people usually get in trouble is they drop down into one of those canyons, then continue west down into the trees and eventually get cliffed out. Instead, when you reach the corniced edge of either canyon, go south (skiers left) perpendicular to the fall line. If you are on skis just stay on as shallow a line as possible and you will hit the lift station at the bottom of the Magic Mile ski run.

40" x 76" x 3/16" - buy two and glue them together with a little contact cement... http://shop.bivysack.com/Foam-3-16-5mm-Thick-Sleeping-Pads-Foam-3-16-Thick-5mm.htm

I'm no expert, but I remember myself and others sometimes getting the dry heaves after prolonged hard exertion. I assumed that was due to a weak diaphragm? Nope... not the reason at all. You mean to tell me all those situps were in vain?! What is the cause of dry heaves after hard exertion?

I think it is only against the law if you charge for your services.

I'm no expert, but I remember myself and others sometimes getting the dry heaves after prolonged hard exertion. I assumed that was due to a weak diaphragm?

That makes total sense to me. Years ago when I was nordic training the thinking was that the ideal altitude for living (this was before altitude tents, etc.) while training was 6,000 to 7,000 ft. Any higher and it was too much strain on the system. Also, the thinking was that there is a benefit to training at sea level and that is that it makes your diaphragm stronger since it is working with denser air. So yeah, train at sea level and live at altitude. Isn't there a "Nike house" in Portland that is kept at altitude for living. I suspect no one trains in the house though.

I just pulled out a half dozen cemented fence posts.. wet ground + chain + 4wd truck + 1 min digging on truck side = pop right out Two of them did break off, but six did not. Or.. saw off the posts and leave the cement in the ground. Shift the post pattern a few feet and make new holes.

OK I'll start. Do you go on a backpacking trip in the backcountry to see bolts and chalk? Neither do I. Maybe I'm being presumptuous. Maybe you do. Why can't people leave things be? If you can't climb something safely without chalk and bolts why not just accept that and leave things be. I enjoy sport climbing as much as anyone else. Bolts and chalk have their place, but it's at a crag by a highway. Now that I've stated my opinion in a forthright manner I should also state that it is good of you to ask before bolting. It shows you are aware of differing opinions and considerate of them so thank you for that. We all have to share this earth and I know we all have different visions for how to do that. Thanks for listening to mine.

At the Frey Valley in Argentina, Emilio can often be found exploring 4th and low 5th class territory on Aguja Frey and... he buries his poop discretely, doesn't stink, slobber on your hand, bite children, bark, whine, pee on other people's stuff, or eat other people's stuff. He grovels to no one and he is lord of his kingdom... Crags, along with their dogs and noise and trash, perform a necessary function. I like them because they keep the riff-raff out of the hills.

Respect!

Good find. I recall, after mentioning I was buzzed at eye level by a border patrol heli, that Kelly Bush told me they were supposed to stay 900' off the deck in NCNP. Thanks for bringing more info to this conversation Jason. I think one of the key points is what our expectations are when we venture into the great outdoors, and how we respect the expectations of others. If encounters with helis and drones become more frequent, and those encounters are not what people expect when they go into a specific area, then there will be more unhappy people. This will change with time as those expectations change. There is now talk about banning heli flights in the Grand Canyon. I want my cake and I want to eat it too. I like the movies and they make it possible for people who cannot, for whatever reason, experience those places first hand, to do so in their mind. Interesting though, that the movies showing beautiful scenery to the tune of Pink Floyd or whatever, never show the sights and sounds of the devices buzzing around doing the filming.

I have to agree – very cool video. Not just the scenery, but the video quality itself – very well executed Luke. You have a real talent for photography and videography. What you create is beautiful. This is why I’m torn about telling you I’m very disappointed to see this. The reason is simple – I think the sight and sound of drones are invasive and violate the very nature of the place where you took this one. I think assuming that what you do with a drone doesn’t spoil something for other people that might be around is shortsighted. Maybe you think on one else was around except for you and your friends and you are probably right – this time. But this is where it begins. Please give this some thought before you do this again.