philfort

Scenic Goat Lake, near the Mountain Loop Highway (infrared) Skiing Josh Hummel getting some air in the E Wilmans access gully. Humour Heli-ski trash protest in Fisher Ck (hwy 20). Full size version is available in the gallery, for those who wish to risk retina damage.

Chair looked like this:

Kiddie Cliff didn't look too good today. I don't ice climb much anymore, but I thought these ultra super secret ones we skied by looked pretty good: oh, I'm such a jerk....

-dynafit MLT4/Voile Mtn Plate. -there's no lean adjustment -skins off

If you can ski, they work fine for short stretches as skis. The width means they kind of suck on firm snow, but it's not too much trouble. I've split-skied many miles of narrow trail on descents - it works. In deep soft snow, they actually ski pretty well. Uphill: In you're in powder, they are superior to skis as a climbing tool. On firm snow, they pretty much suck if you're trying to side-hill.

Yes, a napproach ski would be great - always nice to catch extra Z's before a climb. I might be going for an Alpental dawn patrol this wk, shoot me an email if you're interested...

North slopes seem to have a nasty crust on them (haven't heard of anyone finding powder anywhere lately - I think it rained high up before the high-pressure moved in), so you probably want something that will get some sun to soften.

good shape to ski?

Was at ski area today, didn't see any ice on Pan Dome.

I took up boarding 2 years ago, but I don't remember why, other than it wasn't because I found skiing boring. I think I saw movies of people boarding down steep powder and that's what did it for me. I prefer it to skiing in powder, even on flattish stuff. It's a different feeling for sure. At a resort, I much prefer skiing. I hate snowboarding on bumpy snow. Boarding is all about surfing and floating for me. I ski/board about 50/50 now, mainly skiing in spring when the snow is firmer and bigger tours are the objective.

Wasn't too heavy just a little east of Rainier:

I thought it would be appropriate to post some Quick Facts about Lake Huron (near Lake Erie), which has some of that lake-island-in-island stuff. From http://blacksbay.com/links/manitoulin_links.html: This is exactly the sort of thing I was pondering to achieve a zen state while my body and head were engulfed in powder this past weekend.

Here's another shot of the hole on Mowich Face, with sunlight shining through it, making a spot on the snow. It's pretty big, I would guess two people high (I had several hours to contemplate it this summer while hanging out across from it on the face)

like maybe if you tried to get out, but just fell right back in?

I think he meant that fact that picture of a skier in an illegal area could affect legal skier access to areas. Suppose, for example, that were the cover of a snowmobile magazine, and there was a shot of snowmobiles highmarking in the crater (which I have witnessed) - that could potentially affect currently legal snowmobile access to St Helens.

Haha, I laughed when I saw that post that Olympus was going to be impossible to climb this summer Paul didn't seem have too much trouble: http://students.washington.edu/pbelitz/2005/olympus/

My hands were painful and bleeding for a few days after climbing that thing... (cold rain -> numb hands, probably didn't help). ouch!

I always had the feeling that Tupshin was an out-of-the-way rarely-climbed peak... what is this, the 3rd or 4th TR from that peak this summer? Nice pics

Holy freaking crap! TR was very "from the heart" too - makes for a great read.

Wow, ballsy route, but I have to say I kind of agree with Josh. To each his own, but even if I was capable of climbing at that level, I don't think I would try that route. A few years ago in early fall, I saw what appeared to be a glacial outburst on that glacier. An incredible amount of water and debris came down, and that "little" waterfall at the bottom turned into Niagara Falls for a minute or two. Amazing sight. Anyway, here's to you for pulling off a sick line and getting down safely. I gotta add, it must have been really cool to be in such a dramatic spot that so few travel in... up close and personal with the evilness that is Johannesburg. I often look up at a mountain and wonder "what would it like to be up there?".

No, it takes you to the south side. But you could camp in the West Col, and access the N side from there. Are you back in town Tyler? Anyone know... has NF of Whitecap been skied? Don't they have heli-skiing around there? (Maybe it gets skied all the time...)

Ah, quintessential Cascades

The purple mushroom is Cortinarius Violaceus (edible, I think).

Why not just use nalgenes, easily accessible via a water bottle holder on your hip. Because water bladders suck. 74% of the time climbing Rainier, they will empty themselves out "accidentally".

Well, to each his own. Some folks aren't comfortable w/o a rope on that terrain, some are - it depends on you and your partners. I'd sure want more than one piece in if I was roped up though...