JasonG

I can see your point. Should be an interesting finish, either way.

That is one of the issues with a family/job/etc.- ample time to research, not enough time for doing. I know I'm over thinking this, but thanks for humoring me.

Well, that's why I was asking about the pack. But perhaps you didn't understand that there is an upper cable to hold onto (but it does have cones and balls you have to clip past, via ferrata style). Sorta like a graduate version of a NZ walkwire. You're not balancing on a single cable the whole way! That would certainly not be the ticket.

Thanks for the info, sounds like walking may be the ticket. Did you hang your pack off the main cable and drag it? I imagine that the cable with the balls and such is a smaller diameter than the lower one that folks Tyrolean? Interesting tip Pat, but I suspect your are right about just clip and go. And, I wasn't worried about the cable, just the wear on the biner from dragging my fat ass across.

That is probably smart Matt. I have access to steel but I really don't want to carry one thru the range if I can burn an AL one on the cable. Was planning on carrying a couple to back up the weighted one & hang my pack, so I wouldn't be trusting my life to one. I ran across a TR where they said that AL worked, but that you would retire it once across. I guess I could suck it up and hike a big steel 'biner over Tantalus from Sigurd Creek, but I'd rather not. Thanks MC, I guess I will try and get a bit more detail on the exact dimensions. A typical belay 'biner will accommodate 7/8th but not >1".

Thinking of a Tantalus trip this upcoming summer. I know of the options, but the Tyrolean seems like a fitting part of the whole package. I've heard you need a few "large" carabiners, but mainly I'm wondering what the diameter of the cable is to see if I need to search around for some to burn or if what I have will do. And, I'm not sure if I am man enough to walk it. Thanks for any info!

Excellent! After the show, could you write up a TR? Would love to hear the story.

I'm glad you recognize which forum you are in. It is a good day.

So, maybe this will give it away, but did you make it??!! I won't make the presentation, unfortunately. That mountain is incredible and it looks like you had some good weather. According to this, it sounds like no woman had ever gotten to the tippy top (before this summer?): http://fiveten.com/community/blog-detail/11917-devils-thumb-via-the-east-ridge-mark-smiley

No, unfortunately, but I have a scan that I can see if the Kloke family minds if we post up somewhere on cc.com

I know, but I couldn't resist. He does like to pretend that he owns the land sometimes, but it is hard to argue with a free lift.

That isn't the case with all MRA units. Skagit, for example, though I don't doubt that some units will spring for it. Going out skiing with more experienced folks is often a good way to learn, as is paying attention to the NWAC report, reading books like you cite, collecting data as you tour, and spending a lot of days working your way into the BC via more and more challenging terrain. You can play it conservative and still gets lots of great skiing in each season. I really do think that the Level One course is pretty valuable these days, especially if you take it from someone like Kurt Hicks (who has a background in outdoor ed.). Even though I have been doing this awhile, I learned a great deal from an AAI course I took from him and Gregg Cronn last season.

Sounds like you ran into Duncan.

Yes, thanks Lowell. I went back and read your article again. Joe and Joan were even more remarkable than I remembered. So inspiring!

Wow. I'd say no, given the forecast. Too bad, I've never made it there yet.

Certainly one of the old school greats, RIP Joe. I had the honor of meeting him a few years ago at a Bulger Party and got to talk with him about a few of his FAs, a remarkable man!

Nice work guys, that looks like a pretty special route, worthy of repeats. Does the approach length go up significantly under normal winter snowpack conditions? Edit: Holy Mackerel! I just took a look at where it is. Much farther up than I was thinking.

I'm sure Li-Ion would perform much better, but if you already have the battery, I would think 4-6 hand warmer packs and a bit of foam would go a long way in improving performance- and it'd be light. You look to be using some top end glass, what are your lenses of choice in the hills? And, though it is obvious, those are fantastic images!

Thanks for the link, I saved a copy for myself as well. From the little I skimmed, it seems interesting and well written. I'm certainly on the side of Ira ("Saint Ira" as old Harvey sneered) in this age old debate. There is no shortage of places to go thrash oneself in the Cascades without a hint of a road or trail. I would much rather we preserve/restore the road and trail system that we are losing slowly on an annual basis. We have the means as a nation, but not the will it seems.

Great write up on the blog, loved it!

It's been fun watching the progress on your quest, well done! I liked the write-up too, excellent prose as always.

I wouldn't beat yourself up over it, or over analyze things. It was a small slide (in line with the forecast), nobody got hurt, and it sounds like eyewitnesses overreacted. Perhaps I'm being too flippant, but those types of small slides are not that unusual in the winter around here when you are ski cutting slopes. And, the conditions this past weekend were nowhere near those at the time of the Tunnel Creek avalanche. I was out that fateful day and was certainly worried about things. So much so that we stayed buried in the thick old growth around Stevens. Conditions were High/Considerable then (with large slides possible/predicted/realized), as opposed to Moderate this past weekend (with small slides possible/predicted/realized).

Very cool! Looks like a fun route. The USFS closes that road seasonally, but it will reopen in the spring or early summer. A lock may have stopped you, but it wouldn't stop the locals!

Excellent effort and write up, thanks! Good luck down south!

It is not a summit, but hiking camera gear to Sahale Glacier camp is good way to get some summit looking shots, in a rugged part of the range. A few more to the excellent suggestions above (many are former LO peaks): Hannegan Peak Anderson Butte Sourdough Crater Pugh Mt. David .... If you are willing to deal with a very benign glacier, I think the views from the summit of Ruth are perhaps some of the best, for the amount of effort expended.