JasonG

My Canadian buddies do that all the time. I'd be happy to have you ship stuff to my place in Mount Vernon (which is farther, I know). Will PM my address to you....

Glad that everyone is enjoying the photos! Believe it or not, they actually don't do the larches justice. They were stunning, maybe some of the most intense color I've seen. Also, I forgot to mention that an added bit of interest on this trip are the rock glaciers in the vicinity. There is a photo of the one on Oval, a few images from the bottom. I believe there is also one on Star that you can see from the summit of Oval. Cool landforms that I'm not sure I've seen before, at least up close. Ivan- they've read too many of your TR's

Trip: Star, Courtney, Oval - The easiest way possible Date: 10/6/2014 Trip Report: The first week of October is known as the "Golden Week" for a very good reason. The larches in the alpine are typically at their peak, and often the window is narrow between peak colors and fall storms. This year, everything aligned (on a weekend no less!) and a few of us Skagitonians had the Fish Creek Pass area mostly to ourselves (save Joe? from Ballard on Star). Summits were obtained, whiskey and chocolate consumed, fuel loads reduced, and far too many photos taken. Fall perfection in the North Cascades. Gear Notes: Halen, Hunter, Hops Approach Notes: West Fork Buttermilk Trail

That is Spray, and the internet, in a nut shell. And that's the way we like it!

I seem to remember reading that there aren't many private parcels on the ridgetops around Mazama. Thanks for the legal clarification on covenants.

Interesting and good point, Rad. County staff would have had access to the covenants, but undoubtedly interpreted it differently than the judge. One of the problems of vaguely worded covenants. Bronco- pretty good looking ski terrain right out your back door! But, I know that the long, hard days can/will wear on you. That was my take home from living in the bush for a couple seasons in AK. "Fun", but not terribly sustainable for me either. We have it pretty good here in Western WA!

I don't know how big the parcel is that the hut sits on (i.e. other options for placement), but I would have to agree that it wasn't placed to “minimize the visual impact”, as detailed in the covenant. Oh well, it was good theater while it lasted.

As in the cycling Greg LeMond? Cool. And, you should post up a pic of the house you built for yourself over there, I haven't ever seen it.

Same architect, but I suspect you knew that.

I kind of like it, architecturally. Having driven by it lots of times, I have a hard time seeing what all the fuss is over. In the end it comes down to perspective, I guess. I imagine that the animals who live (or used to live) on the valley floor aren't all that pleased with the development at the lower elevations, even if it doesn't offend the "locals".

Shapp- Keep those emails coming! I didn't know Tyler, but I'm getting a better sense through everyone's posts. Thanks,and condolences to of you who knew him.

You've done well Rudy.

I don't know about the absolute rates of death quoted in Tremper's article, but I do know that I've lost four times as many partners to alpine mountaineering than to backcountry skiing. Small sample size (five deaths) on my part, I know, but I would tend to agree that prudent BC skiing is safer than alpine climbing.

I imagine that this is forecasted danger rather than field measured? I often go out on days rated "Considerable" and ski various aspects/elevations and find mostly "moderate" conditions (based on skit cuts, hasty pits, natural activity, etc.). Of course I sometimes find touchier conditions than forecast, but it is usually the other way around. But, maybe we get off easy with our rapidly stabilizing coastal snow pack? Fascinating analysis though, thanks!

I got my first BB gun when I was six, but I certainly wasn't traveling the world climbing pointy things. Damn. Kudos to you for making it happen, that's quite the impressive family outing!

Very cool trip Mark, and I love the new art as well. I hope things go well for your show!

Yes, thanks much for all the hard and thankless work! It is a pretty amazing resource for us all, and getting better every year.

I forgot to mention that we pushed a herd of about 50 goats from Clark all the way past Luahna. You can see many of them as white dots in the photo of Luahna above. I don't think I have ever seen so many goats in one spot, it was pretty cool.

Trip: Clark and Luahna- Another Bulger is crowned - South side scrambles Date: 9/14/2014 Trip Report: Tim finished the Bulger list, on Luahna. Overall, the trip was a festive occasion with five of us along to celebrate, perhaps a little too enthusiastically. Turns out that you don't need more than a flask of whiskey per person on a one night trip. However, it was also a bittersweet trip, being nearly five years since the day that Tim and I found our friend T.J., dead, on the slopes of Luahna. I think T.J. was on around #87 on the list when he died, and the accident looked to have happened very near the summit, based on where we found him in the talus below. He was probably on his way up as well, given the lack of his entry in the summit register. RIP T.J., Tim finished the list in your honor! Miss you! Luahna with goats below: Stopping for a bit to remember T.J., not far from where Tim and I found him Finished! Clark from Luahna: T.J.'s "Go Juice" of choice: Gear Notes: Helmets. Approach Notes: Boulder pass trail to the Clark Mtn High route. Climbed Clark, then did high traverse over to Luahna. Mostly third class scrambling on Luahna except for one bit of exposed 4th. Clark is a walk up from the south.

Stunning as usual Luke! You're a tough act to follow, image wise.

I thought I was clear in my report that I got my beta from leland and bryan, and I talk about their ascents in 2004 & 2005. Drew and I are talking about ascents prior to 2004. In my report I reference chuck's tr and his quote.

FYI: Lost and Found Forum

Ah, Chuck was mistaken. The standard route is indeed the SW face, though you finish on the NW side of the summit.

??.... that is a link to the regular SOUTHWEST route. We're talking the SOUTHEAST slab.