Newman55

I have a number of Osprey Packs for backpacking and day hiking. I like them for those activities. Just wondering what thoughts people had about the Osprey brand packs for Skiing and Climbing? Model names are Kode, Kode ABS, Mutant, and Variant Thanks

Taking up AT skiing this year. Haven't been skiing for 12 years. I got Dynafit bindings and boots for Christmas (though I need to unload the boots to trade for something with a better fit. I need to choose skis. I these will probably be used mostly for beginner ski-mountaineering. I'm pretty set on something at 100 underfoot, but I'm not sure about length. I'm 5'10" 187lbs - so I've been looking at the 174-181 range. Does that sound about right? I'll be carrying some weight on my back so should I focus on the higher end of that scale? I think the frontrunner in my mind is the K2 Coomback. Feedback appreciated.

Yesterday, in the Fremont area of Seattle, my car was broken into and my pack was stolen out of it. The pack was an Osprey Atmos 50 in Grey Inside were the following: MSR Hyperflow Filter Jetboil Flash - Green Feathered Friends Daybreak Hooded Jacket - Green, L OR Axiom Jacket - Blue, L OR Alpine Bivy - Blue Thermarest Z-rest pad - Yellow 2 Sam Splints Adv-Medical Ultralight First Aid Kit Black Diamond Storm Headlamp - Black Brunton Compass with Sighting Mirror Kelty 30 degree sleeping bag Native polarized sunglasses 2 Mountain House Pro-paks If anyone sees a crackhead running around Seattle in $1200 worth of technical apparel, please let me know.

Attempted to climb Eldorado on Sunday. Left my trekking poles leaning against my car when I drove away from the TH. I won't have time to get up there to retrieve them this week - if anyone finds them please PM me. Thanks!

Attempted to climb Eldorado on Sunday. Left my trekking poles leaning against my car when I drove away from the TH. I won't have time to get up there to retrieve them this week - if anyone finds them please PM me. Thanks!

Thanks for the heads up - been wanting to see this but missed the film tour.

http://www.nps.gov/noca/planyourvisit/road-conditions.htm Gated and closed after Eldorado parking area. Driveable to mile 18. Thinking about heading up to Sahale on Saturday, so just wondering if anyone as any eye-witness recent beta? (ok, I'll take hearsay and rumor as well) I'm wondering if all-wheel drive will get me to the Eldorado parking area, or if I'll have to hike those last few miles?

Now that the SR20 has opened, and we can access the North Cascades, a few friends and I were thinking of climbing Sahale this weekend. Cascade River Road is drive-able to mile 20 so we'd have to park and hike 3 miles to the trail-head on snowshoes. Anybody climbed Sahale Peak in Spring? We're planning for a snow-shoe approach Saturday, camping overnight, then a Sunday morning summit and returning to Seattle Sunday evening. Any Springtime-specific tips or info would be appreciated!

Unit has been returned to owner.

If you lost a GPS unit on the 29th or 30th of March on St. Helen's please PM! Found near snow park lot.

I found your camera on St. Helens! If you lost a Sony Cybershot on or before the morning of the 30th on St. Helen's I'd love to get it back to you.

I'm camping at the mountain the night before so I'll bring both and see what conditions are like. Hopefully I can leave them in the car. If not, I like the idea of stashing them. Thanks

Dchromey, Thanks, yeah I'd already checked your trip report, which was helpful. How long is the portion of the route that passes through the trees? If I can leave the snowshoes behind that would be optimal for weight savings, I'd be glad to go up on just crampons as long as I'm not going to have to slog through soft snow for too long before I begin the ascent. Right now I'm planning on staying the night at the TH and begining the climb around 4am - 11 hours round trip should be plenty of time - especially if I can glissade part of the descent.

Hoping to hike up St. Helens this Saturday on Snowshoes. Problem is, I gotta be showered and looking handsome in Portland for a 5:30 family dinner for Easter weekend. I know the summer trail is 10 miles round trip, 4500 feet elevation gain. I assume the winter route is comparable in distance? I need to be pulling out of the trailhead parking lot at 3:00 to give myself time to shower/change in PDX. So if I start up the trail at 6:00 am, that gives me about 8 hours to make it to/from my car, if I give myself an hour total for breaks and lunch. I need to know how long I can expect the round trip to take on snowshoes. Anyone done it recently? Thanks!

+1 on a thin liner sock. i've tried a lot of them, i like smartwool's the best. Not sure if your moisture issue is caused by sweat or water somehow seeping into the boot, but that's got to be contributing to the issue. If it's coming in from the top; gaiters. If it's coming in through the material; nikwax. If it's coming from your foot - gold bond powder (pour it in your socks before putting them on - it will keep your feet dry and fresh)

Matt, Have you checked out the UW climbing club at all? Probably a good place to start.

+1 for nuun. that stuff is essential for all of my outdoors and fitness activities, plus they have some 12+ flavors now, most of which are pretty tasty. best part is - no sugar! might seem like a detriment when you're on a 10hour climb but get your calories somewhere else - like a gel or a banana, or a clif bar. the no-sugar thing keeps nuun from gunking up your hydration bladder or water bottle and wont leave a residue if you use your bottle for multiple purposes... i.e. coffee in the am, nuun in the day, soup or coacoa later on (for overnighters).

Snagged St. Helens climbing permits for a Sunday in September. Planning to make a weekend out of it and camp in the area prior to the Sunday hike. Anyone have recommendations for camping in the area? Also interested in other recommended day hikes or outdoor activities in the area to keep us from drinking around the campfire all day Saturday. Thanks

looks like somebody already posted the FA already covered in chalk. smh.

how long is this seminar expected to run? thanks!

The small sign currently riveted to the side of it is particularly classy. Great way to impress non-locals out to get a taste of the Cascades. I know the sign you're referring to and I thought the same thing. Fortunately you don't get many kids up there, as it's a pretty strenuous hike.

Where did the snow start? Much below the boulder field? Packed snow on trail started around 3,000 feet. Snow started in earnest around... 1000 feet below summit? Just an estimation.

This is really great! Thanks for posting!

I would be interested in joining in on this as well. Unfortunately my only experience in crevasse rescue is book learning, but I'm useful as a dead-weight to pull out of a crack. Also live in Seattle (Fremont area). I'm working a 9-5 so I'm limited to weekends unless I have a few week's notice.

Was up there Saturday. Beautiful views all around - could clearly see Rainier. I got a late start so descent down the top 500 ft was made difficult by softening snow. There's a bottle of Jack Daniels in the mailbox and plenty of snow at the top so just bring a glass and maybe a Coke if you like.