JasonG

Oh, I have no business trying for Huntington, but I do love pretty pictures. That is one beautiful mountain.

Indeed. Another impressive smash and grab ascent! Your success rate using this tactic is hard to ignore. Are you going to add a few more photos of the rest of the climb/descent?

It's so light that I can't bring myself to sit or stand on it, even though I've seen photos of people doing just that. It isn't brittle like EPS foam, so I don't doubt that you can sit on it and it will be just fine. I'm pretty amazed at the material, and I'm surprised that nobody has made a helmet out of it before. From what I understand, EPP foam has been around for a long time. It does get dented and scratched from abuse, so if you sat or stood on it in a gravel parking lot or something, I could imagine that there would be indents that wouldn't pop back out.

I've never taken a big hit with any of my helmets, thankfully. The UIAA helmet standard is higher than the CE, requiring 20% less force be transmitted to the head during a top/side/front/back impact with a test weight (5 kg) dropped from 2 meters(8kN vs. 10 kN for CE EN 12492:2000). Some of the other lightweight helmets out there made from EPS foam (BD Vapor) do not meet the UIAA standard. The Sirocco does, being made from EPP foam. Still though, a helmet can only do so much. A 5 kg rock falling 2 meters isn't exactly moving that fast. At some point the force is enough to break your neck or turn your brain to mush so matter what you are wearing on your head.

No argument that I look like a pumpkin head (Scott knows I'm no mountain god!), but once you put one on, you don't really care. I sometimes forget that I'm wearing a helmet- that never happened with the old plastic ones. The EPP foam is surprisingly durable too. I've had mine for over a year and put it through some pretty typical Cascadian alpine abuse. It isn't like the foam that is under the hard plastic shells of its competitors. The one drawback I've found is that it isn't easy to tighten the fit on the sides, if your head isn't shaped like the helmet. You can get it tight so it won't wobble around, but there is still some slop, side to side, if you get hit (at least on my head). Still, I think it would protect you plenty in the event of a fall. Plus, I've noticed I no longer need a headlamp.

When you say hard shell, do you mean old school helmets like the edelrid or ecrin roc? I don't know if there is any way that the new foam helmets will be as safe as the old ones, or distribute the force of an impact as well (but maybe I'm wrong), but I've switched to the Sirocco and couldn't be happier with the comfort/weight difference. It has been tested and passed and that is good enough for me.

That's right! Gordo says, "Always pack the Hunter!"

Not to mention the brush bash out of the White Salmon valley would be especially epic in July or August. I always hang up the skis come July, but I'm not that dedicated to any one mountain discipline. When skis make a trip more enjoyable, I use them, but ski descents in high summer or later just involve too many shenanigans for my tastes. Plenty of people do though, so yes it is possible to climb up the chimneys and descend the White Salmon. Bring some leather gloves. The sulphide would be a much better ski in mid summer (though still not very good), but the car shuttle if climbing FC is problematic.

In July or August, skiing the Fisher Chimneys wouldn't be too much fun. If you are set on skiing, it is much better to go in the spring and ski the Sulphide as a day trip, or the White Salmon. The Fisher Chimneys is a great route and well worth doing, it's just not a great ski in mid-summer.

I had no idea that Columbia had such cool mountains, thanks for the report!

.....but skiing powder is so much more fun.

I'm going to hit 40 this year, and I'm about to look over the crest of the hill- thanks for some advance warning. I can always look forward to my boys mocking my mistakes, they're just starting to realize that I'm not infallible.

This is all the information I needed: "If you have any doubts about your ability to navigate through loose/grainy rock, vegetation, gravel, bad or sometimes no protection, and lots of lichen, do not attempt this route."

Pretty interesting

Trip: Mount Ann - Standard Date: 2/8/2014 Trip Report: The snow of the last couple of weeks has almost made me forget what a drought we were experiencing earlier in the winter. The upside to that was sun, and lots of it, even if the ski conditions were nothing to write home about. Kit and I snuck out for one last sunny day before the storms came rolling in and we were treated to the typically inspiring views found just beyond the Heather Meadows lot. It had been a long time since I had been over to Mount Ann, and after a quick chat with Oyvind (he was teaching a course) the plan was hatched to head down Swift Creek and away from the hustle and bustle of the Bagley lakes bowl. We were surprised to have the mountain to ourselves on a sunny, busy weekend, and savored the views of some of our favorite peaks from a slightly different angle. At some point in the day I remember thinking "It must be a drag to live in the Midwest." Mainly though, I wanted to post a few pictures to entertain our friend Steve who is recovering from major surgery and is living vicariously thru cc.com. You'll be out in the hills soon, my friend! These are for you:

Near CenturyLink field? LOB!

Thanks Jon, good to know. I know you guys work hard to keep this place up and functioning and it is appreciated. And thanks for not selling out! Although I've gotten used to it and have a system worked out for getting photos into TRs, I agree that improving that functionality will help the cause.

Maybe this was already posted, but has usage actually declined? As in posts, TRs, unique users, etc.? I would think Jon and Co. would have this data at their fingertips.

So you already have an axe and are looking for a second tool for steeper climbs? Ice tools are pretty tough so I wouldn't worry about buying one used. For what you are talking about any number of used tools will work. I have some old BD shrikes (X-15's, Axars, or a number of other tools from the 90's) that work just fine for steeper summer alpine routes. You could probably find someone practically giving them away for no more than $50 each. That said the modern tools certainly are better, if you are looking at steeper routes. But if you aren't, the straight tools from yesterday are still just fine and almost free.

I'd never even heard of this LO before, now I will have to check it out. Thanks!

Oh man......so sorry to hear this news. My condolences to the many folks around here that knew him so well. He will be missed.

Bump. Anyone planning a road trip this spring or summer?

I missed this interview last fall, though I heard of the link-up: http://www.alpinist.com/doc/web13x/wfeature-leclerc-squamish-chief-solo The interview makes it sound like you soloed the first part barefoot Marc, is that so? Regardless, it is a very impressive day. Thanks for the inspiration!

Good write up on the blog, thanks. Given the really light snow and crusts, another reminder that now is the time to play things really safe.

Bad News: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/2-Seattle-skiers-killed-by-avalanche-in-eastern-Oregon-245061501.html I imagine that some on this board will know the party. My condolences to the friends and family.