zoroastr

hahahahhaha....that blog is like 90% ad space. Don't bother.

Damn! When does your coffee table book come out? Those are some REALLY nice shots!

Can I be you...just for a week or two? ...please?

...there should really be a new word for "awesome," just to describe this report. Thanks VERY much for sharing!

Damn! Yet another great t.r. from one of my favorite posters...thanks! Great photos, too. The area looks incredible! I think you've hit on the secret to doing your kind of routes...now if only I could learn to enjoy being sickened... cheers ;-))

ok...now i'm getting seriously jealous. either stop posting or take me with you.

poor doggy. dogs make such great hikers. i take my bro's fox terrier on occasion, and after i spent over an hour looking for him on mt. si during our first hike together, i learned a simple rule: if he's not in the car, he's tethered--either to me or to an immovable object. ...fingers crossed for a miracle....

Way to nab the weather window! the cloud ceiling really enhances some of your landscapes. Congrats on your summits, and thanks for the share.

OMB...thx for not getting pissed at my silliness. BTW: you're route on Stuart looks REALLY nice! I'm going to pitch it to my partner and hopefully snag it before the snows fly... Thanks!

...forgive me...

...One of the most jaw-dropping climbing shots I've ever seen! ..and coming from a dedicated armchair alpinist like myself, who mainly just looks at mountains rather than actually climbing them, that is high praise indeed! Congrats, and thanx!

Amazing! I took my 9 year-old nephew to the top of Mt. Si, and I only had to carry him for about 2/3 of the way, explaining constantly that this was reality, and that we couldn't simply change channels.

Trip: Sloan Peak - w/ Optional Spire Date: 8/16/2010 Trip Report: On Sunday I joined EJohnson and Nick, an office pal with atomic legs, for a daytrip to the North Cascades and a relaxed afternoon's peakbagging. On this occasion, the target was a repeat of the normal glacier route on Sloan Peak. Ejay and I had done this one a few times already, but Nick had yet to sample Sloan's airy and ample alpine charms. On our way to the top, we encountered much about which to rave: a half mile of beautiful, high glacier booting, endless postcard-worthy vistas, and a brisk workout on the local practice rock, a curious spire that juts abruptly from the summit crags. Planning a trip to the Alps? Save your money--this hike's got it all! Some snaps.... JCain discovers ancient tat atop the spire... Earlier in the day, Nick and EJ booting up the still-buried slabs on Sloan's lower portions, with Glacier Peak in the distance... Johnson mounts the glacier... Leaving the snow, about to turn that incredible corner (Sloan veterans, you know what I'm talking about :-))... Johnson jogging the goat trails above Amazing Ridge (dunno what it's really called :-D )... I'd seen this crag on previous trips, but never gave it a try, not wanting to lug gear for such a minor objective. This time, though, I took a good look at it from the approach, and thought it might go. Turned out to be a quick and easy freeclimb. A short offwidth crack leads to a huge, bomber flake; cheval over the flake to easy jugholds--nothing above, say, 5.3. Back down after reversing the crack moves... Nearing the summit, an airy catwalk trail leads to some fun class 3 scrambling to put you on top... After swatting flies and ladybugs for half an hour, we left our summit perch and headed down, using remnant snow whenever possible to save time (plenty of nicely groomed boot-ski runs still available!). We made it back to the car with plenty of sunshine to spare after spending about 8.5 hours out. Incidentally, the creek ford, which in years past has been a challenge, is currently a well-flagged no-brainer. Another fine day in the hills... Gear Notes: 'Pons, stick, snax, tunez. Approach Notes: Huge, friendly log for the creek ford!

Damn kewl goat / mountain / wildlife shots!!! (the snap of Stuart behind Ingalls Lake w/ islands is drool-worthy!). thx for the share! :tup: :tup:

thx..yup, pretty sure that's B.B.

Trip: The Citadel - C2C Date: 8/8/2010 Trip Report: Alex, a friend who's been working in Japan for the last couple of years, was in town over the weekend and wanted to take in some local alpine scenery. I'd seen The Citadel on a recent trek into the Mt. Daniel area and decided it might make a fun day trip. Our modification of the normal route included extensive 3rd and 4th-class scrambling, a single low-5th-class step, a very pretty ridge walk, and enough routefinding puzzles to keep things interesting. Some snaps... The peak, as seen from our cross-country traverse to the Circle Lake drainage. Arrow indicates the point where we accessed the main ridge. There's actually a nicely cairned path to Circle Lake from the main approach ridge to Mt. Daniel. We didn't discover this path until our return trip, so our cross-country approach was a bit of a 'schwack. Out of the jungle, and nearing the Circle Lk. drain... The drain... From the notch to climber's right of the small, obvious gendarme, a single low 5th-class step gains the main ridge. We didn't bring any gear, and so took turns on the first part of the loose, blocky ridge, which quickly gentles out and becomes a very pretty walk. We weren't sure how far we could follow the ridge, but committed to it knowing that we could reverse our moves if it cliffed out. Eventually, we were forced to exit the ridge short of the summit mound, blocked by small cliffs and spires. Below the upper ridge, the way to the summit climb is a pleasant mix of slabs and remnant snow patches. I don't think we lost any time by following the upper ridge, and I would tentatively recommend this mod for those who want to add a little spice to what is otherwise a pretty tame approach. The complex summit of Mt. Daniel from near the top of The Citadel. The final climb to the summit of The Citadel is mainly 3rd-class, with nice 4th and low 5th-class options slightly off-route. Care must be taken on the surprisingly narrow and nicely exposed final summit ridge... Some amazing geology is on display from the airy perch atop The Citadel, including this curious ridge... ...and another kewl lake... The careful down-climbing went quickly, and we boot-skied the snowpatches along the normal route down to the lake drainage. Heading back, we found the cairned path back up and over the main Daniel approach ridge and down to Peggy's Mosquito Nursery. MP3's came in handy on the pleasant, sunny hikeout. ...A great day in the hills!

Sweet! We C2C'd the Needle a few years back, but had to stumble over the boulder field in the dark on the way down--not recommended. I also think we took a different route...never went above low 5th. Thanks for the gr8 t.r.!

Very, very kewl shots! Especially the flailing ice tool pic...it should go in Webster's next to the word "stoked." Congrats!

Yes! Gawd, I'm jealous! What a great route! I'd even bivy for that one....thanx for the share; you took me right out of my cubicle for a good 20 mins, and I'm grateful. :tup:

V-E-R-Y nicely documented! My climbing buddy's done that one, but until now I didn't really have a good sense of what the route entails...thanks for enlightening me! For anyone planing to try the route, your big-rez photos are definitely worth the click-through!

Wow! Beautiful pix, and a great story. Superdad!

Geez, Mito! Your t.r.'s gimme nightmares! I know you prolly hear this alot, but fer chrissakes be careful!!! (and thanx for sharing an amazing story...) :tup:

Looks like a blast! Congrats, and thanx for the share! I have got to make it out there some day...

Geez, what a place! I want to be there RILLY badly! :tup:

Amazing! After coming up via the NE couloir on Argonaut a few years back, I remember looking down the opposite side from the summit and thinking how hideous it looked--nice work!