JasonG

A friend of mine who fishes for a living uses this stuff when climbing (because he can "borrow" it from the boat). I don't really see any downside (besides the ageless spectra vs. nylon debate), but was wondering if anyone else had experience with it. I do know that you have to leave plenty of tail when tying, as it it pretty slippery stuff when new. You can find amsteel blue relatively cheap on some marine supply websites and it is ridiculously strong for its diameter. http://www.samsonrope.com/index.cfm?rope=192 http://www.reddenmarine.com/site/new-detail.cfm?id=AMRAMSTLBLU14 Cheers, JG

I don't really need this jacket anymore due to the fact that I'm a weenie don't do enough winter stuff to justify it. Has been used a handful of times (<10), but still looks brand new- no tears, stains, holes, etc. Size: XL (but fits like a large IMHO) Color: Charcoal Grey Shell: Epic Fill: 800 something Price: $200, or make me an offer! I'm not a smoker either, if that matters. Anyway, I think it retails for ~340, I'm asking 200 and can deliver to the Seattle area(I live in Mount Vernon). Anyway, here is what FF has to say about it: http://www.featheredfriends.com/Picasso/Garments/Mid/VolantJacket.html Shoot me a PM if you are interested! Thanks. JG

We met all the criteria for great fall colors this year: http://botany.suite101.com/article.cfm/why_are_fall_leaf_colors_different_every_year

I am pretty sure it was May (2000 or 2001), but you are right in that it will vary year to year. I think the gully normally fills in pretty well from large avalanches and should be good to go for at least a month April/May/June each year. Although it may be tough to consider giving it another shot, I keep on meaning to go back because it was such a fantastic spring trip. Now I will know how bad it is without snow!

Just an FYI- This is a MUCH better trip to do in the spring. Good step kicking almost the entire way up to the summit (with short bits of scrambling interspersed) and some ripping glissades on the way down. What you guys did most certainly looked unpleasant in comparison- Good job to stick it out!

Could your salmon have been a bull trout? It's hard to see in the video, but the coloration and the white leading edge on the pelvic fin lead me to think that it just might be . . . JG

Oh yeah, most certainly three days. It actually was a pretty nice trip, especially with the fishing and all. I kept on thinking what a long descent down the east ridge that must have been for you and Andy, carrying overnight gear too! JG

Thanks!

Trip: Jack - EastRidge Date: 9/13/2008 Trip Report: Well, this is going to be short and sweet because I am a dad now and need my sleep. Since there is no TR per se for this route in the database (but thanks to curtveld for some great info), I figure folks might be interested. A short while ago Tim, T.J. and myself hiked our butts up to Jerry Lakes for leisurely assault on Jack, somewhere around 48 hours car to car. The hike in was fast on trail up to Crater Lake and then some cross country travel around Crater, past the Jerry Glacier: Including some nice views over to fall colors on Jakita Ridge: Jerry Lakes are a great spot to camp, with fine views, and decent fishing (Mmmm, furry trout): On our summit day, we climbed above the lakes and got a view of the route (the right skyline): . . .then dropped a disheartening amount on the other side, and began our climb up to the east glacier. We had to do some wet, loose, 4th class scrambling to get on the ridge itself (the glacier was pretty broken, otherwise it is probably straightforward snow travel), but once on it the climbing was surprisingly good: As Beckey says, pretty solid 3rd and 4th class, with a snow bit towards the top. We belayed a short bit right before the summit, but pretty much just carefully scrambled the rest. I think it took us about 3 hours to get to the ridge, a couple hours climbing up, and a couple hours on the summit delaying the reportedly unsavory descent. Good times, and some pretty expansive summit views: Then came the not so good times, the descent down the south face. See if you can find two climbers here: While never very serious, it is a long and tedious descent where you have to stay on your toes. Maybe it helps if you have come up this way before, but we had not, so it was slow going. This type of stuff is not fun no matter how you cut it: All in all it was a great trip to a mountain I have wanted to climb for some time. We basically went up the right skyline in the photo below and came down the middle of the mountain: And it this report wouldn't be complete without a team photo: Some fall colors: And me looking like an idiot: Gear Notes: Fly rod, 8.5mm half rope, a few nuts, a couple of tri-cams, crampons, and axe. Don't forget your HELMET! Approach Notes: A long way up and down and up and down.

Wow, thanks for the education McJizzy- us backwoods Skagitonians need some occasionally. But perhaps I should have been more specific- see the edited title. It is usually a little nicer to email, rather than cold-calling people. But I guess you don't worry too much about being nice . . . Jason

Just wondering if folks know how to get a hold of him. Please shoot me a PM- Thanks for any info! Cheers, Jason

Great, thanks for the info!

Just wondering if folks have any recollection of good camps in the basin and where. Heading in there this week, so any info is much appreciated. Thanks! -Jason

In case folks were wondering, it was a fantastic show! Many thanks to Blake for getting the SAC motivated to head to the hills. We will be taking a break for summer, but stay tuned for more programs this fall. I have a feeling there will be a few shows you don't want to miss. . . . Cheers, Jason

Hey Folks- Just a reminder that this is TOMORROW night! Hope to see you there . . .

I should stop trying to be so grammatically correct when using links. I fixed it, thanks. For folks not familiar with the campus, I would recommend using the map on the link. I know they are doing a lot of construction around the campus, so I'm not surprised that the on-campus maps on out of date (thanks for the heads-up woodchips). Now spread the word everyone!!!

Being a familiar face around cc.com, I hope those that live up north can pack the house for Blake's presentation on Tuesday, June 3rd. Blake will entertain us with some stories, and share pictures and topos from 4 or 5 of the new alpine routes he's been a part of over the last few years. This show should get us all psyched to find some adventure in the hills this summer! As per usual we will have a short business meeting at 7pm, followed by Blake at 7:30. The presentation will be in Roberts Hall, Rm 41. It is T-41 on this map: http://www.skagit.edu/images/color_mvCampus.pdf I hope to see you there!! -Jason

Just thought that those headed up Whitehorse would like to know about the new two-mile addition to the approach. You can thank the FS for keeping folks from plunging to their deaths on an "unsafe" bridge. It didn't look like the bridge was damaged, but Oh Well . . . .

FYI- Just read in the Skagit Herald tonight that the road will be open soon- I guess the damage isn't as bad as first thought. They are still talking about a replacement sometime in the next year.

Thanks to Matt and David for an interesting and entertaining show last night! I encourage everyone to pick up a copy of Dave's Darrington guide (ask him to sign it too), and to heed Matt's call to climb more often in Darrington. The more use it gets the better chance we have of preserving access. Sorry for the confusion on the rooms- being a new dad makes for a scattered brain. It was nice to meet some new faces; hopefully I'll run into some of you in Darrington this summer! Cheers, Jason

Matt beat me to the bump. Should be a fantastic show... Don't Miss It!

Thanks for the added info! I'm sure many (including myself) weren't aware of this excellent guide to Darrington . . . Come up this next week and hear all about it!

“Darrington rock climbing, and other out of the way crags” - Matt Perkins and David Whitelaw Skagit Alpine Club. March 12, 2008 - 7:30 p.m. Skagit Valley College. Darrington climbs are located in or near the edge of the Boulder River Wilderness in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The area is not only beautiful, but rugged and remote. Cell phone coverage is poor; emergency help is far away. There is often brush to deal with, and the area is rainy, even for Western Washington. But, there are many fine routes . . . Please join veteran climbers Matt Perkins and David Whitelaw as they explain the allure of Darrington climbing and some of its rich history at the March meeting of the Skagit Alpine Club. They will also be speaking about a few other poorly known climbing areas tucked into corners of the Cascades. Both have spent many years documenting and climbing new routes on Washington’s many crags, especially Darrington. David has put up more than 250 new routes in North America, and is the author of nine climbing guidebooks, including “Weekend Rock”. Matt is the force behind the online Darrington Rock climbing guide: http://www.seanet.com/~mattp/Darr/about.htm, and is an avid connoisseur of all things alpine. The presentation will follow the monthly business meeting of the Club at 7 pm. We will meet at the Skagit Valley College, Ford Hall, Room 120. http://www.skagit.edu/images/color_mvCampus.pdf. Don’t miss it!

I've tried the usual channels and get no answer. Is he out of town? I'm trying to finalize details for his SAC slideshow . . . Thanks!! Jason

Now THAT is dedication. Eastside Folks, you better not miss the show tonight! - jason