JasonG

Trip: Kulshan - Boulder Trip Date: 05/16/2021 Trip Report: Reports from this past Sunday on the Coleman sounded.... uh..... busy. On the flip side of the mountain we camped and skied alone (though three parties skied it Saturday and one party ascended to ski a different line Sunday). Those willing to endure a few shenanigans can still escape the masses, I guess. Nevertheless, @cfire @Trent and @Kit were skeptical that I could find the mountain without a beat in cattle trail. But find it we did, and it ain't getting any easier. That is the funny thing about climbing as you age, it is painfully obvious that while the mountains don't change all that much over the decades, we certainly do. Though a young guy on the summit (Ingmar, ripping skier) told me that I was in my "prime years", I don't think any of us felt that way on the slog up. I know I certainly felt a bit different than I did when I first ascended the route in the 90's! Still, I think it was about 5.5 hours up to the summit from our camp at 4700', so I guess we aren't doing too terrible. Compared to the 8ish hour round trip (from the car!) of the three young dudes we ran into Saturday, however, it certainly isn't anything to brag about. But, sitting on the snow couch, sipping whiskey, chatting, and admiring the setting, it is hard to complain about a few creaky joints. We have a beautiful backyard, and that hasn't changed. Gear Notes: skis, ski crampons, boot crampons, helmet, axe, glacier gear Approach Notes: snow blocked road about a mile below TH. Snow patchy to about 3400' where it is more or less continuous to the summit. There are a few suspect snow bridges above the cleaver (9000+), everything well filled and easy below.

Trip: Beebe Mountain - NE ridge Trip Date: 05/02/2021 Trip Report: A few weeks ago, @Trent and I missed the Seattle memo that everyone was to leave town with their bikes and convene at the Ross Dam TH to bike the highway before it opened. Because of that we started early enough to be quite surprised upon our return to see a steady line of bikes on the highway, going both ways! We also missed the dude backing his Sprinter over a carbon fiber road bike in the parking lot (his bike, thankfully). Apparently they make quite the pop when they explode. But I digress. BEEBE! BEEEEEEBEEEEEEEEE! Why isn't this peak more popular, given the views and access? There isn't any brush to speak of and you are pretty much guaranteed solitude in the increasingly slammed North Cascades. Is everyone on the Birthday tour? Maybe the lines will form when the snow melts and people are stuck in traffic on 20. May as well pull over and grab a summit! Just be warned that there isn't flagging any longer. We pulled a ridiculous amount down on our way up, filling our pockets. C'mon people, it isn't a hard mountain to find! Oh, and just make sure you wax your snowshoes if you go early in the season. We saw what my wildlife biologist friends called wolverine tracks Gear Notes: Bikes and .....sigh....snowshoes Approach Notes: From Hwy 20 follow timbered ridge just south of Beebe Creek

Well, I trust @Bronco is just trying the "choose files" option at the bottom of the little box here and is running into size issues? I always re-size from Lightroom when I do TRs so I haven't ever had issues. Also, I don't have an iPhone. That also seems to be an issue, those HEIC files.

Yeah, they aren't compatible with the site.

That is a good question @bronco..... @olyclimber?? @jon??

Glad you had a good intro into the HWY 20 corridor! Just an FYI on a couple things....Neither Ruby or Silverstar are in NOCA- Ruby is in the Ross Lake Rec. Area (administered by NOCA, however), while Silverstar is in an unprotected area of the Okanogan Nat'l Forest. Highway 20 doesn't actually touch NOCA anywhere, though you can see into the park from it. Burgundy col isn't the col below the summit, between the summits, rather Burgundy col is on the north side of Burgundy spire.

Just to be clear, this is not me or anyone I know! Just sent to me.....

This week's installment of Slurpee Death, brought to you by Mount Shuksan..... tune in next Monday for the main event on the Coleman Headwall!

I hear bouldering is legit now.

Nice! Just when I thought I had seen all the non-death defying spring routes in there.

Is that the typical amount of snow for this time of year? Wow!

What I wonder, like @olyclimber, is why us @DanO? Why do you care about us so much and not the people over on TAY or Facebook, or wherever? Because, let's be honest, we're not that lovable. Except for @Bronco. He's a love machine!

Can I get a special title too, O Dark Elite Overlord?

When I see this, I eat popcorn? Or, popcorn now, vipers later? Does popcorn attract the vipers?

I couldn't quite figure it out until you suggested it. Yes!

@DanO, did you see what @olyclimber did in the last few pages? HE'S IN THE MACHINE. I mean, just try and escape your "enthusiast" label. I am stuck being a "bro", just because I pissed him off like 5 years ago. @olyclimber is our overlord as long was we type here, that's the deal. He's unstoppable. I can feel his gaze on my forehead!

You guys are testing my supplies. THE FREE FLOW OF IDEAS IS BLOWING MY MIND, AND I CAN'T STOP EATING!!!!!!!111!!!!!!

Good plan @olyclimber, it is worth the struggle to get there!

OK, I'm back. So I need to save more if I am going to retire to Russia? Is China cheaper?

Well, then, we have a lot of ground to cover. Carry on!

I wanted to go skiing with my kids today, and so I did. My hat was wool, however. I think you may be missing the point that you're not making any converts here @DanO. You've done your missionary work, but the field is not yet ripe for harvest. You can keep up with the back and forth with links, but you'll find that we're not apt to change much. But, then again, I'm sure you aren't likely to either. I mean it is fun and all, but I don't think you're really having that much fun with it? At this point, I think we can agree to disagree and check back in annually to see how our respective predictions are working out.

It would seem that the song remains the same. Just checking back in.

Yes! It was only a matter of time until Gen. Ripper made an appearance. Definitely one of my favorite movies, period.

I sure hope so. Otherwise, my ballooning credit card debt will do what the mRNA can't. Minimum payments are made for us terminal patients!

I think I better stock up on popcorn.