JasonG

They have great drugs these days.

I hope someday I can start learning things by drinking beer. Right now I just get more stupid, but I'm sure big tech is working on that.

Trip: Diobsud Buttes - Standard Trip Date: 04/16/2020 Trip Report: How has it been 8 months since I posed a TR??!! Can I blame COVID? You may think that I am now 300lbs, into gaming, and sitting on my basement couch. Oh no! I'm just the same old punter, a bit older and a bit slower, but definitely still in love with the alpine..... So, since the weather has turned and I've caught up on my image editing, I'll turn the clock back and start putting out some TRs over the next couple months. I know you all can't just live on powder and face shots...... April 2020. Public lands were shut for the most part, but dispersed recreation on USFS lands allowed as long as you don't use trails or trailheads. Not a problem in the Skagit! But, in order to be good citizens, @Trent and I agreed to meet at the trailhead rather than carpool. This will come back to haunt us later that day. We drove in tandem up the excellent Diobsud Creek Road to about 2200' were we were stopped by snow. Not a soul around. Perfect. We walked up the road for a bit until it was time to leave for the off-trail fun at about 2600'. Less perfect. Soon (in hindsight) the brush was left behind and we emerged into the glorious alpine to great views and a chance to use our snowshoes. You know you're in for a good time when you put those on. Steve didn't have a chance to use his sunglasses, however, as they were at home. D'oh! After a bit of clumping up the ridge we reached a false summit (previous highpoint for us a few years ago) and a view towards the Buttes. It looked steep, but at least the snow was quite soft at this point in the day: We couldn't bear the thought of failing a second time at the same spot, so we continued clumping. Down, down, down, then up, up, up. Did I mention that Steve didn't have sunglasses? It was bright for him, I'm sure. We got to the summit of the the SE Butte (5850') and it looked like an easy stroll over to the higher, NW Butte (5893') and so we headed that way without delay: But, uhhhhhhhh, this is as far as we got. Just in front of Steve is a really steep gash in the ridge with a huge cornice off to the right and a death gully to cliff on the left. It probably would have gone without a rope if we were desperate, but we weren't. And so we settled for some whiskey, chocolate, and a nap in the sun on the lower summit. Soon enough it was time to descend into the slush and shenanigans. But the Buttes weren't done with us! We got back to our vehicles in good time and sat there drinking beers, eating chips and generally enjoying being outside in good company after weeks of being locked down. We were in no rush. But the sun sank lower and we reluctantly got into our rigs for the drive down. Only to find the gate at the bottom of the road LOCKED! What??!! Were we in trouble??? We thought we had followed all the rules, but it was a pandemic so we couldn't be sure. @Trent and I moved the rigs back up from the gate (not the greatest neighborhood up there) and walked down to where I could barely get a call out to my wife. Needless to say, social distancing was the first casualty, since our kids are small and the whole family came up to rescue us (waaaaay past their bedtime). I was pretty sure I was going to be the next casualty. But, I survived, and so did @Trent. We got our vehicles out the next day, somewhat legally (story best told around the fire with whiskey). And, most importantly, nobody got COVID. The end. Maybe we'll be back for the higher Butte. Maybe. Gear Notes: Sigh....Snowshoes Approach Notes: Diobsud Creek Road to ~2600'. Leave road and head straight up ridge towards peak. Depending on snow depth, expect shenanigans. Spring is best after snow settles and a hard freeze.

So rad! Did you try and put photos in? I'm not seeing them....

Listen up Tech bros! Sprinters are lame. This will score you tough guy points, way more than your mustache.

Wow, you make it all seem so casual!! I suppose it is for the young and skilled. So great that you nabbed both those classics in a short trip.

What did you find @CascadEagan? I have a Nikon but don't think I dropped anything?? So crazy that two parties were on the traverse the same weekend! First time ever, most likely. And yes, the wind was INSANE. I'm glad we weren't on the ridge like you were. That would have been quite scary.

I'll let you carry my camera gear on your cardio days @Colin1984!

I didn't. Headed to UT Saturday! I heard there are a lot of rocks down there.

@keenwesh is spot on. The Downey fire will mess up the last bit of the exit, but not enough to scare anyone off, I don't think. It will be well beat in by July next year.

That looks OK, I guess, if you're into that sort of thing.

As promised, more photos! Looking up the Big Beaver over Beaver Pass at the Redoubt group. Heading to Elephant Butte Summit of Elephant Butte The ridge narrows and Mac Spires loom above @kmfoerster Unknown people posing for me below West Mac Dinner with a view on West Mac Sunrise was windy but spectacular North to Davis Peak (L), and West to Degenhardt, Kulshan, and Terror (R) Teebone ridge on the walk out from Terror Basin

This looks like it is a good replacement: https://www.gossamergear.com/products/thinlight-hammock-pad#specs

So crazy! And that isn't even a big bear, by brown bear standards.

Right on @Ben Johnson! Glad to hear that it all worked out.

Best thing I've seen this week since this. The iceberg's motion reminded me of the end of the video. Don't look away!

I saw that @DPS, but couldn't find an Evazote dealer online?

Apocalypse Now?

They have been my source for "hardman" pads for a long time. It is an integral part of my kit, not because I'm hard, but because they really work to give you comfort around camp without danger of deflating anything. And they're a great backup pad and hardly weigh anything. But, it doesn't look like they carry them anymore anyways? Perhaps this is similar enough? https://foammart.com/product/l200-14-colors/

wow. For a second, I thought you were talking about your bowels.

I love everything about this! More TRs please @Kameron, you have the knack!

Right. That.

So great meeting and getting out with you @kmfoerster! You were an integral part of the adventure and anyone would be well served to have you along on a trip! I will try and add a few more of my favorites in the coming weeks, but that was a super memorable outing! I think part of the issue I had with the snaffles, aside from being snaffle bait, was that I didn't have a bivy sack to seal them out. That and I didn't figure out why they were attacking my head until way too late in the evening. They really do like shiny things! I'm sure a headlamp would be a prized midden addition, and a sure fire hit with the snaffle ladies! I so hate snaffles. A respectful hate, but hate nonetheless.

Good point! Also, the Downy Creek trail has been burned over and is still smoking. Will be spicy/filthy for some time, likely years. Those burns can be spooky, esp. in wind.

I am a dinosaur and wear boots pretty much always, up and down. Mostly because I'm packing an extra 5-7 lbs of camera gear and thrashing blue collar routes. Unless I am in town, then I wear approach shoes to look cool.