JasonG

You don't need to mod your whippet to deadman it. I was trying to figure out what Dave was talking about when he mentioned drilling the head and threading it with cord. Sounds like a Spectre without a way to hammer it in, and not something I'd trust it in a crevasse rescue or belay scenario.

Huh? You would use a whippet for belaying off of, or for crevasse rescue? And Water, the photo of Hood is freaky. Good reason to stay far away in summer!

Just to keep the debate going, why start at Stehekin? Your neighborhood was built on the site of an old growth forest, as were the roads that take you to the mountains. Start local.

Lots of area to park near the gate, you don't need to walk from town!

Sounds like you need to pick up a copy of "Extreme Alpinism". Twight has your answers.

Yes, and it is fairly steep. If it is icy, crampons and an ice axe may be warranted. Since it sounds like this isn't something you guys have experience with, you will want to be careful when assessing conditions. Colchuck Lake is a worthy winter backpacking objective by itself, so it isn't a a wasted trip if you don't get up Asgaard. FYI, you will likely walking from Icicle Creek, as they gate the Eightmile road in the winter.

Damn. That is a sobering accident in many ways, thanks for taking the time to share about such a terrible day. I have set up many top rope anchors with one locker, but I don't think I will ever again.

Eric- That picture is amazing. Thanks!

Ah right, the Hidden Wave! It is impressive that it is still in business. Everything else has come and gone. Don't get me wrong, I have grown to love the Skagit. But it is very different than Seattle, Portland, or even B'ham. Slow and quiet. And affordable if you avoid LaConner/Anacortes.

With snow, it often takes me 1.75-2 hours to get to Baker. So you can add 20-30 minutes to that depending on where in Anacortes you live. If you are single, Anacortes is a pretty sleepy place, as is the rest of the Skagit.

There isn't a ski shop or outdoor store in Skagit Valley, and past evidence indicates that the market won't support one. We're a small, poor crew.

So, is this a reverse of the traverse he and Rolo did? Very cool!

That is a monster undertaking on a short winter day, well done! Meanwhile, I was in the Tacoma Dome, watching monster trucks with my boys.....

That's what I thought too, until I realized that he had another piece that you can't see unless you look close in the photo. Both were pretty bomber, but I remember thinking the same thing as I cam up to the belay. Probably why I took the picture. Gordo was unconcerned per usual. And, since the ski season is so lame, I wanted to bump this to get folks thinking about heading in there this late spring.

I don't like the sound of that one bit.

And that was edited. Impressive.

How is this going to help you with your New Year's Resolution?

Well of course, but the truck to watch last weekend was Son-uva Digger. While my wee lads were justifiably mesmerized by the monster trucks, I was much more impressed with the freestyle motocross dudes. Those guys are crazy skilled. I just wish I could live closer to Tacoma.

I went to MonsterJam last weekend in the TACOMA DOME. And SUPERCROSS isn't coming to Seattle this year. The implications are clear.

Well, how about that: http://tutorialheads.wikia.com/wiki/Alantutorial He plays a pretty convincing whacko.

thanks for the real time reporting! Hydrophobia looks just as you describe, like something out of a comic book. Amazing.

Humor is culturally based, no doubt about it. However, I don't think Alan is trying to be funny. I wish he were, it wouldn't be nearly as disturbing.

That is insane, and possibly one of the more pointlessly risky solos I've ever read about. He'd already done it before in much better conditions!

Oh man, I thought I had an epic before, but it doesn't even make it on the scale. I never plan on dinner with my wife the night I'm due out of the mountains. And, wait a sec, wasn't his wife with him?

That guy scares me, some of those tutorials are pretty wild.