mhux

Smith is pretty reliable, a lot better than rocky butte or is that too far?

keep those heels down! funny, I dig it

Good advice all around, what about winter climbing? Snoqualmie area, Enchantments...thought it might be a little dry this year (Enchantments at least), but then February came...thoughts?

Nice! Lucky you got wed-sat, the weather on saturday alone was worth a trip! Love that last shot...

So Leavenworth will be crazy during that time? I know some schools take a spring break a week earlier/later, probably not much difference in crowds though..

Curious how you see them comparing to NW Alpines pants. The REI stuff on sale at $117.93 is still costlier than these made in America pants at $110: http://nwalpine.com/fastlight-pant REI description says windproof to 16 mph...I don't know about you but I'd much rather take my NW alpine pants out, I've never had a problem in almost-can't-stand gusts! Maybe you're confused on 'best pant ever'

Oh man the ultimate smith trad ticklist just keeps getting longer and longer...I'm super stoked to get out there now!

Yeah I'm based out of Salem, Smith was the obvious choice but I was hoping for something new...guess the weather will decide on Leavenworth or not. thanks for all the suggestions so far, too!

Guess I didn't really specify- I'm looking for what's good in the PNW during that timeframe, sure there's sunny rock if you drive, but that's not quite what I had in mind... Surprised no one's mentioned Canada after that recent thread, probably the best 'value' for driving ~13 hours, no?

Like I mentioned in my post, I'm in salem for school, unfortunately NOT salt lake. Otherwise this wouldn't be a question! Most of my climbing friends are headed towards Bishop, I don't see why you wouldn't put in a few more hours and go to Red Rocks instead of wasting your time bouldering

Hey there, I've got March 23rd-31st off for spring break, and instead of hitting a warm beach and hoping for televised party madness (who does that anyway?), I'd rather go climbing...any suggestions on what's usually good during that time period? Obviously it's weather dependent (esp. for the alpine), but is any good rock like Leavenworth reliably dry by then? Lots of ideas already floating around, eg. Sisters traverse, Smith Rock, Hood antics...lets hear the WA options! (since I'm in Salem) Or is the best advice to keep an open schedule and watch the weather? thanks in advance!

awesome recommendations everyone, I appreciate it! keep 'em coming, unless that's all the good trad at smith by the way, how much sun does the gorge get this time of year? I figure the shade is nice in summer, but a little chilly this time of year...

Hey there, I've done a bit of trad at smith (Lion's Jaw, Moonshine Dihedral, what have you) but I'd like to get into some more splitter cracks in the gorge...anyone have any suggestions/recommendations? I'm not the most experienced trad leader, so the easier the better, especially if there's some TR's to practice splitter technique. (Yes I know the gorge mostly has 10a and above) Lets hear it!

mine says she's not 'coordinated' enough and that the one time she tried indoor bouldering, she sucked at it...I keep telling her I suck too ...any tips?

Sick pictures Dane, good to see you're out and about again! Which climb is the 6th from the bottom, the steep one with a tr on it?

rocky butte yeah!! wait..

I think we need more pictures to round out the decision

Looking for a ~30L pack to use for skiing and cragging/light overnighters...something like the BD alias or revelation, preferably with a dedicated avy tools pocket and ice tool holder/straps, no avalung. If it has a back panel for easy access that's even better...anyone have something like this you'd like to sell me for a decent price?

Went in there last January, first time into the area for both myself and my partner, started at 12am and had no problems finding the lake...we made it back to the car around 11pm that night, the slog out on the road was a soul-crusher though! So yes, a car-to-car first time is very doable (though camping at Colchuck Lake would be a great way to spend a day!)

What was that about seasonal farm labor in leavenworth DPS? Sounds like a fun summer...

Oh man, they make a hooded version?! I always wondered...surprisingly rain has never been a concern- even after a short deluge, the jacket is soaked, but I'm not...of course a good dwr treatment never hurts

I use a marmot driclime windshirt for most everything, and if its cold/really windy I'll put on a membrain shell (the hyper). Though it's a 'shell', its stretchy and super breathable like a softshell, but has the wind and precip blocking properties of a hardshell (and only weights 13oz too)! My nano-weight (60g synthetic) hoody is just too warm to move in over that combo, unless its really cold out. Whatever works for ya..

Nice job, looks fun! What would you rate it in conditions that dry?

Hmmmm...It took us 8.5 hrs from the car to the base of the North Face on deep postholey snow through the T-line, down and up the Eliot gl. 8.5! in high winds and spindrifts - as opposed to 4.5 hrs back in December! Would you go and get on a grade IV route after that? We did not. 8.5 hrs!? That's insane! Good to know, too, my partner was about to trick me into that, saying the approach was a breeze in December...at least you got some ice though

Got out yesterday (well started up Friday night), skin up to the top of Palmer was good, a little ice crust (sometimes breakable) near and past the top we tried Reid headwall but despite the lack of sun on the rime towers, chunks were still falling down(!) so we headed to the west crater rim variation and encountered either styrofoam snow, breakable but solid ice crust, or pretty solid (almost) alpine ice sticks.