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alpine et

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Everything posted by alpine et

  1. got in touch with the forest service - NF23 is closed at milepost 47, though she couldn't tell me where that is measured from, since you only drive 36 miles total from the turnoff from 131 to the trailhead. She said that NF23 didn't get you very close at all to the TH....she didn't seem that familiar with the area, though. The closest SNOTEL site I see is about 600' above the TH at Potato Hill: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/reportGenerator/beta/view/customSingleStationReport/hourly/702:wa:SNTL/-167,0/WTEQ::value,SNWD::value,PREC::value,TOBS::value
  2. Has anyone been up towards Killen Creek TH recently? The most up to date information I get from the forest service is snowlevels at 3500' on the south side of the mountain in mid-April. I'm hoping that by now in mid-May, snowlevels have gotten up to 4500' where the TH is located? If anyone has climbed up from the TH recently, I'd also love to know if snow is continuous up towards Adams Glacier... planning on pulling a sled in for kicks to set up a camp to climb, but was curious what conditions I'd run into... thanks
  3. came across this: http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=28531.0
  4. This might be the dumbest thing I've ever read on this website. Which guide service do you work for Kurt so we all know which ones are hiring the best and brightest? Perhaps you can click the link in his signature. It seems you might need a guide to help you along during your journey on the internet. I'm available to help if you'd like, though perhaps you feel that because you don't have the requisite skills in html and css you shouldn't be allowed to use it...
  5. can it be backwards? I'm no expert, but I thought most breathable materials just depended on capillary action through some thin (non-directional) hole, and that together with some sort of water repellent finish was enough to keep the water on the correct side...curious? I have no experience with your tent, but you can always re do the seam sealing to see if that helps?
  6. make sure you check out the road and fire closures... last I checked they added about 6 miles one way to the approach...
  7. I have a random assortment of gear that has been taking up too much space in the attic. $40 Green Kelty daypack. Decent day pack for hikes and easier climbs. Has a nice rear entry into the main compartment that is either nice if you like that kind of thing, or annoying if you don't. Hardly used. $80 Mountain Hardware Lamina 0degF synthetic sleeping bag. Bought this a while ago thinking I'd want it for winter climbing... Packs a bit too big, is a bit too heavy, and I just go out when the weather is nice enough for my bivy + down bag. If you like to find yourself out in the shit, though... synthetic is the way to go. I think older version of this. $100 Scarpa Spirit3 Ski boots. Dynafit compatible. I used these for 2.5 seasons... certainly shows much use, but has plenty of life left, and are really great boots. I actually really like the fit, but finally upgraded to the lighter Dynafit world... [pending]$40 Osprey Stratos 40L daypack. Pretty nice pack... very tall and has a weird shape along your back that keeps you cool, but also doesn't let you pack it that well. Great for day hikes or hoofing things to the crag... don't count on stuffing that much junk into it. PM me with any questions. I've also got a RockyMount bike tray rack (needs the "skewer") for cheap, petzl headlamp, and some Vasque mountaineering boots (10.5).
  8. Great conditions on Saturday. We let loose a few wet slides coming down at 1:00... but they were only when we ventured onto steeper terrain, and only the first two inches that slowly growled down. The wind kept the snow from getting mushy... otherwise would have been junky and perhaps deeper wet slides, all the way down.
  9. Sounds like you already know how good FF stuff is, but thought I'd chime in. We've used the pengiun for a few years and it is amazing... way warmer than any of our other single bags, easily manages the floor pads etc... yeah it's pricey, but we figured we're using this for the rest of our lives, so... well worth it.
  10. I use an Osprey Variant 37 as well. I'm sure most single day pushes I could get by with a pack in the 20 liter range, but the pack cinches down well (you could leave the brain off too if you wanted). Others have detailed other packs to look into...Only issue I've had with this pack is it's not easy to get into any pockets with skis in A-frame (but is possible) and when fully packed for a 2+ night trip, don't try and look uphill with a helmet on. Not happening. I've started carrying a .5L nalgene clipped to my shoulder strap with a biner. It's great... I'll fill it up at each stop after I've had a swig from my platapus inside, then I have quick water access on the go. It could still freeze, but is less susceptible than a camelbak hose given the larger amount of water and lower surface area etc. I've had it get slushy, but never freeze.
  11. amazing pictures... thanks for sharing. That one of the moon is just fantastic!
  12. Jason thanks for your story and sweet image. Funny you should mention Patagonia, as it's still up in the air if we're going to hit NZ (till now my preference) or Patagonia. We had planned a climb of the NW ridge of Aspiring, as this is more in line with our abilities at the moment, but it seems this SW line on Aspiring and the seemingly difficult lines on Cook (summitpost states the standard route is harder than Liberty Ridge??) might make a climbing trip more fruitful after a few more years kicking it in the Cascades. I'll go to Patagonia now and walk around, because I don't think I'll ever climb anything serious there anyway!?
  13. unless Dchromey is speaking from experience from a recent trip, I'd bring floatation of some kind. Last year early season on St Helens was almost an epic for some folks in our party who did not bring snowshoes. postholing on alll the flat approach and even more so on the flat walk out. Bring slowshoes and stash then at the base of the climb for that walk out... better yet bring skis.
  14. Bummer - we're planning on going from mid-late December through mid-January. Weather is that unpredictable, even during those times? I know how it goes with the Cascades... May and June you're pushing your luck, but by July there are usually ample windows... same go for NZ? When is that sweet spot?
  15. The walk isn't much of a detractor really, as 2/4 of our group will be mostly trekking and not climbing anyway. Though a helicopter ride does sound like fun...
  16. Thanks, looks like a cool area - got one on the list... 5 days for one climb - more than I figured, but scenery looks amazing! Is that common to have long approaches in the range?
  17. Anyone have suggestions for moderate glacier and rock routes in the Southern Alps of NZ? Scheming on a ~3 week trip in Dec-Jan time frame and was curious if anyone had suggestions of areas to look into, particular routes, or anything in between. We’ll probably be camping / hutting it for the most part. Considering whether a car is necessary… shuttles seem to do a good job, and we’re more interested in checking out one or two places thoroughly than trying to get to all the areas down there… Thanks! Erik
  18. As some have mentioned hybrid means it lacks a toe welt, and will work with crampons that have some sort of plastic or metal clip on the front that doesn't require a toe welt. But I wouldn't read much into how compatible your boots are with certain crampons... buy the boots for your feet, then take your boots to the store and make sure your crampons fit tightly with no clearances. FWIW, I use the above boots with the strap version of these . Rear strap fits down very nicely... but it's well worth it to take your boots with you when purchasing crampons.
  19. love the brand. i have these, and they are great. everything i've wanted or needed from Rainier to everything else. climbs rock well. stays dry. warm.
  20. there was a porta pottie there last weekend.
  21. I've had better luck with this link over NOAA: http://www.atmos.washington.edu/data/rainier_report.html though I wouldn't be surprised if it comes from the same data... but the pinpoint NOAA site I usually use averages over a region and this one probably picks out the values for the summit perhaps?
  22. rapping into the golden light. a descent from a wine spire.
  23. Anyone driven up the Middle Fork road recently? NF website is actually rather up to date (2/11/13) but only says snowline is 1000'.... wondering how far a Subaru could get.... http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/mbs/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5150497
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