alpine et

I've got three open seats in my helicopter. We're planning on going straight to the summit. And we're leaving from Seattle- actually my backyard so I can roll out of bed right into the helicopter. If anyone wants to join, tickets are $350 a piece. Really a good deal if you factor in gas for the drive, avoided tips for your sherpa and the $35 you won't have to spend on those noisy cats.

Avy conditions are forcing a change of plans... and I'm thinking beach camping and rain forest trekking sound nice. Anyone have tips for some good sport / trad climbing out on the peninsula? preferably west side of mtns? Never been out that way, but something other than x38 or sunshine wall would be a great mixup. thanks Erik

I went up on April 21... a bit dated now, but floatation was certainly warranted then. We had a number of skiers, and two on foot... they were quickly termed "team posthole" and basically pulled an epic to make it up and down the approach. The climb itself was just fine though! Erik http://highpressureadventures.blogspot.com/2012/04/april-21-2012-mt-st-helens.html

crampons and one set of glacier glasses gone. stove all but sold... so that makes one pair of glacier glasses left... sans cord. thanks for playing

It would be great to see the applications, or at least the notable ones that the committee had to really dig into before making a decision. Sounds like a great thing I'd like to apply to in the future, but would love to see how others envision using it...

$40 Whisperlite: used a few years. Comes with 3 fuel canisters. Also comes with brand new service kit that has all the seals etc that you'd need to overhaul it. Also has windscreen, metal platform and bag. $25 each both for $40 Glacier glasses. Julbo sherpa. These have seen real light use... no scratches. Only one has cord. $100 Black Diamond Contact strap crampons. These have been used twice on Granite Mtn.... and... carried up and down a number of other climbs. [img:center]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/609959/IMG_4478.JPG[/img] [img:center]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/609959/IMG_4483.JPG[/img]

PM sent - I'll also be heading down to do Hood on 5/12. Maybe we could meet up then?

I'd try to find some used dynafit bindings on craigslist / tay... I've put my old dynafit bindings through lots of touring and inbounds skiing, and they're just fine. I'm sure if you are used to stiff alpine binding and boots then my setup would feel a bit squishy... but I don't notice it and appreciate getting used to my setup in bounds. I agree with others that skiing in bounds and getting comfortable is the easiest / safest way to go. I think the notion that you need to do every weekend day and a few nights is probably a bit much - if you pick things up fast stacking a few weekends together will get you a long ways if you stay on the slopes most of the day. have fun Erik

Found a camera lens on the Muir Snowfield at around... 2ish on Sunday, April 15. Let me know if you lost it... what brand / model it is, and we'll make sure it finds its way back to you. Erik

I'll second South Sister's South ridge. Easy beautiful climb. Here's a trip report from this past summer if you're curious. Smith ratings and Gunk ratings might be somewhat similar. I'm more familiar with exit 38/exit 32 etc being from Seattle, and those ratings are at least 1 - 2 grades easier than gunks, IMHO. So you're 5.9 is easily a 5.10 up this way, FYI.

No, those stickers come with our granola.

Thanks Max, I'm hopeful that those were probably mine. Which sign? At the parking lot just past the campground? I'm passing along messages to a friend out there this weekend, so I'm hopeful she can grab them... thanks Erik

Unfortunately not mine... was very excited when I saw the subject of that one though... We were at Kotik Memorial Wall... shoes would probably have been right next to rod of god. Erik

I think I left a pair of mythos la sportiva shoes behind at the Kotik Memorial Wall on October 22nd. They are pretty lightly used, but have just started to be comfortable....would love to get them back! thanks Erik 518 two two five eleven 84

Great- thanks for the advice everyone. We're actually teaming up with some folks who are in the pickets all week, so they finagled their way into obtaining permits for Saturday night for Sahale Glacier camp almost a week in advance. Perhaps a slightly unethical way to obtain permits... but... I'm pretty happy to have them in hand! I think we'll be planning to do Sahale arm up towards camp, hitting Sahale that afternoon. Then traversing all the way over to Sharkfin the next day before heading out via Diamond Mine.

My goal for the weekend is a double of Sahale and Sharkfin Tower. There are a few trip reports pulled up from google, but was wondering if folks around here had advice as to order. My thought is to go up Sahale Arm via Cascade Pass and set up camp at 7000', run up and do Sahale on the first day. Then the second day traverse over to Sharkfin Tower, climb there, then descend down towards Diamond Mine. Thoughts? Only portion I'm hesitant about is having to drop down pretty far on the glacier on the traverse in order to avoid walking right above any crevasses, but it still seems doable. thanks, Erik

We climbed MSH on Friday 6/24. Partner had snowshoes strapped on her bag... somewhere on the glissade from ~6500' to the parking lot along the winter Worms Flow route a single black MSR snowshoe went missing. They are Denali model- no riser... I can check which "foot" it is, but I don't think there are that many laying around out there.... please drop me a line if you happened upon it...