JasonG

Howdy Folks- In case anyone is interested in an inexpensive (~$200) mountaineering class, our club will begin the 2010 class soon (3/29/10). Here's the page with more info: http://www.skagitalpineclub.com/mount_class.htm'>http://www.skagitalpineclub.com/mount_class.htm For those that live in the North Sound, it is a convenient way to learn some skills for the hills. We already have a few interested souls and only 25 spots, so it may fill up quick. The 10 week class will meet one day a week in the evening in Mount Vernon (6-9pm), and most weekends through June will have field trips one or both days. We hope some of you will come out this spring with us! For more information about the club: http://www.skagitalpineclub.com/ Cheers, Jason

BULL TROUT!!! They behave quite differently at night, thus why bios go out on night snorkels. Cool. JG

Way to get back to it Oleg! I would wish you a speedy recovery, but I think you are recovered enough to make most of us look flabby. Sheesh.

Nice work Curt!! I'll have to add it to the list . . . JG

Forget the Olympics, go to the N. Cascades if you want the most bang for your sweat (I know others may argue, but to each their own). The Olympus area is great and all, but it isn't the North Cascades. Whatcom Pass is pretty much where you should be looking to travel through in NCNP, IMHO. It wouldn't be a bad idea to have an east side option just in case the weather turns. The Crest Trail north of Rainy Pass is a good one . . . I'd recommend going to wta.org or nwhikers.net, this site won't be of much use for backpacking information (unless you like lots of spray) .. . Have a great trip, just don't show many people back home the pictures- unless it rains the whole time.

Cool! It has been fun watching your progression these last couple of years. Ahhhh, youth . . . .

I agree that 50 is pretty silly, but as ole' Bush liked to say, "nobody expected catastrophic success". . . .Now all the climbing groups in WA can come on the same day as one big, happy family.

Thanks to all who came and spoke before the city council last fall. It really helped! In addition to mellowing other areas of the forest plan (climbing paths, scramble trails), they have really taken a big step back from the unreasonable insurance requirements for instructional groups. Should make things much better for climbing classes and regular climbers too. The reversal on insurance: Hello, One outcome from our Anacortes Community Forest Lands Comprehensive Plan update process was the review of our requirements for instructional climbing groups to use Mt. Erie. Based on the advice of our new City Attorney in consultation with legal counsel for the Washington Cities Insurance Authority, the city's risk management advisor, they have suggested the following: The City of Anacortes will no longer require instructional climbing groups on Mt. Erie to provide the City with a hold harmless agreement, proof of insurance, or participant waivers. All groups shall follow these rules: 1. Group size must not exceed 50 people per organization per day (this number includes instructors). 2. Groups should carpool when driving to the summit to allow for other recreational users to enjoy the mountain. 3. Please pack out all trash and use the restroom facility provided on the summit. 4. Notify Anacortes Parks and Recreation staff of the dates you wish to hold instructional courses on Mt. Erie well in advance (2 months notice is preferable for classes held during high use season.) This is not a reservation, nor does it guarantee exclusive use of an area. It does help us regulate and avoid crowding at any one site. Local residents and the city have worked to balance recreational use and conservation on Mt. Erie. Your cooperation and support to help us care for it is greatly appreciated. Please contact me with any questions. Thank you. Jonn Lunsford Anacortes Parks & Recreation

Might as well bump this back into the light of day. I happened to stumble onto it and found it a great read . .. c'mon post the pictures!

I'll bet: 2 more than the number of handguns, 1 more than the number of Bud sixers, and the same as the number of women Scott brought. Four years has been too long, I need to go back. So Purty! -JG

Dallas too?

I know what you mean, after some of the loosey goosey outings of 2009, I hope 2010 will be a year of solidness. Or somewhat solidness . . . OK, just not super-scary, cross your fingers, I don't think this is gonna hold, sort of loose. And yes, Curt, it is amazing how well the route comes into shape with a little fine weather. Certainly a good way to prep for the big 35! JG

The BD Quantum 55 will wear out prematurely, but the upside is BD will replace it at no charge. I know from experience . . .Great pack other than durability (mainly bottom, and lining behind hip belt).

Nevermind . . . should have checked your profile. D'oh!

Hey Tom- Nice work on Rainier . .. Tim and I were remarking how cold and windy it must have been. That Ingraham descent is pretty fun in lean conditions eh? I remember rappelling off ice bollards and generally being pretty sketched a few years ago . . . I think I might have a photo you'd be interested in . . . but I didn't bring my SLR so it isn't super high-def. Shoot me a pm with your email (I don't have it on my home computer). -Jason

Trip: North Twin Sister - West Ridge Date: 12/27/2009 Trip Report: This is such a well traveled route, I don't expect to tell anyone anything they don't already know- more of a conditions update with some pretty photos . . . The good weather was taunting me over the holidays so I jumped when Tim said he could get out on Sunday. After hemming and hawing and generally avoiding some sort of overnight deal (we're too soft for such long nights), we settled on the North Twin, figuring it would give us a good, scenic alpine workout with some skiing for good measure. We were right on one count . . . Leaving the car about 7:20, we had arrived just in time to see a group of four head up the road with bikes. Bikes?? What do they know? Skis were going to be the obvious choice for the day, but we just had to hike for a bit-right? Turns out we hiked all the way to the turn off, and only started skinning because we felt stupid and wanted to destroy our gear. We could have pushed or rode bikes most of the way to Daley Prairie, oh well. We left our skis at the overgrown turnoff and trudged up the thinly covered road (nearly bare in places!!!) to the wilderness boundary where the snow was still only a foot or two deep. Stinkin' El Nino. The good thing was that Tim was pretty psyched to climb the route in tele boots and who could blame him, it was a great day to be in the hills . . . It started to get a bit more wintry near the top and we finally got to use crampons on some ice- they also helped on the descent down the extremely variable ice and snow of the north slope. On the ascent, we belayed a short, icy step just below the summit- otherwise the rope stayed in the pack. The views from the top were grand as usual: Hoar frost formations were pretty cool, but perhaps won't be so cool when covered by a good storm cycle: We were lucky and never had to use the headlamps - while on the climb. Driving home, however, they came in real handy when we had to change a flat tire. Gotta love "winter" in the Cascades! Gear Notes: Skis if you feel silly. Crampons, single axe, short rope, some rock gear, headlamp if you are unlucky. Shortbread cookies if you have a flat tire and need to bribe the Mosquito Lake Rd. neighborhood dog. Approach Notes: Long, if you hike with ski boots.

C'mon Wayne, was I right about the picture you posted near the beginning?

Not the NF of little J'berg? If so, the late, great Roger Jung soloed it a few years back. His quote in the summit register- "No route description, no rope, no problem". He didn't give it a grade and I'm sure never reported it . . .

. .. leave it to Drew to make things interesting . .. nicely played.

Nice work guys, love the name too . .. . but how about this quote from the movie? "Welcome to Costco, I love you. Welcome to Costco, I love you. Welcome to Costco, I love you. Welcome to Costco, I love you." Nope, definitely "brawndo". JG

It certainly wouldn't hurt if all of us climber/hiker types made lists and sent them to our electeds. Nothing may come of it, but it certainly won't if we don't speak our minds. It seems like too often ordinary folks don't comment on things anymore . . . . and then wonder why their views aren't represented. And I agree, the Dose and Westside roads (five and counting .. .) would be on my list too ! I think I am starting to see a pattern with the Park Service . ..

This is one of the three roads I really miss, the other two being the White Chuck and the Suiattle. Sounds like they are moving ahead on the White Chuck repair up to MP 5.6 or so . . I don't know about the Suiattle. I see your point about fiscal responsibility, but it is a pretty special area that isn't very easy for families to access any longer. I guess if I was going to have to pick a road to repair, The Stehekin is pretty high on my list. I understand that it probably won't happen for some time, if at all, but still I thought the Park Service's position to be a little out of step with my own. It really isn't about the Stehekin residents, I'm interested in my family's access! I know there is a lot of passion around this issue, I'm just explaining my perspective- right or wrong.

H.R.2806 passed the House, on to the Senate! I, for one, am in support of it . . .especially now that I have short legged ones I would like to take to areas I remember fondly as a kid.

Noah- that's Sloan

Strong work guys! We were on Vesper wondering about how things were going. After seeing the condition of the face, we were relieved when we saw your car at the dry creek pull off. Little did we know that you were heading back to the North Face! Do you have a shot from Dickerman that you could draw a line on? Cheers!