JasonG

Also check out the BD Speed 50 and Mission 55. I don't get skipping the top pocket, nor those ridiculous fabrics that don't last. If you must have a monster pack, I'd look closely at the Gregory Denali 75. I've been using an older version for 10+ years on week long trips and it is great.

Thanks @curtveld, glad you enjoyed it! And yes, you nailed the approach beta from the trail- I could have been more specific about where to turn off. Post up a TR of your own if you have the time! I should add that in my correspondence with the Skagit Oracle (John Roper) he was of the opinion that nobody had climbed the rib before last summer. Not that our ascent was a huge deal, just passing it along that I did check with him. Fred, of course, is silent on the matter- both in word and print.

My lament in the last decade or so. I guess every generation in WA says the same though. I know the crowding since Treaty times has been a one way ratchet, with no relief in sight.

Sweet! Such a good climb- a CLASSIC. I'm a bit surprised it isn't busier. On the 4th weekend a few years ago we were the only ones on the route and, like you, had that beautiful ridge camp to ourselves.

There is a reason they only come in this configuration. It's pretty optimistic to think you'll be able to climb real ice with approach shoes. Regular strap-on Al crampons work fine for anything less than actual water/glacial ice. I like the longer points of Stubai ultralight universals, personally.

I don't think so, but perhaps @therunningdog did? The only way I could think that you wouldn't have problems coming back would be to go a different way!

It looks pretty involved from the summit of Fernow, but maybe that's what you're after?

Yes, yes it is.

92 as of this weekend! I won't finish this year I don't think, but I'm getting closer. And no, we didn't do any bouldering on Shelter Rock, but I can see how that would be a thing. It is pretty impressive!

Thanks much @G-spotter!

Totally amazing!

Great beta for a nice looking trip, thanks.

Wondering about the road into the Statlu Lake TH specifically, 2WD?.....Thanks for any info!

We rapped to the SW, I believe. It seemed like the only reasonable route in the conditions we found and wasn't tricky to figure out. Since most everything was buried in rime we added a station below the summit to reach easy snow below. I think it was 2 single raps. Yeah, you definitely want a good freeze before embarking on that route.

You'll want it to be cold for getting up and down the summit pyramid, but with a good freeze and an early start I would think you could keep it manageable with a 13k FL. If you don't get either, it is an awesome place to hang out on a long weekend and well worth the hike in and out of basecamp. I was pleasantly surprised by how great a climb it was on a 4th of July weekend a few years ago....

Thanks @genepires! Choss can be beautiful sometimes, just don't let @cfire hear you say it.

@Marcus Russi....thanks for that. @jon fixed the photos!

They're opening back up soon! And perhaps as Second Ascent again...

After stalking @kmfoerster on IG, my estimate is he would be a fantastic roommate for folks that peruse this site! Just don't hold my opinion against the lad.

The audio would only confirm how right you are there @Bronco!

Maybe I won't use my store credit for toilet paper after all....

OK....GPX now there at the bottom of the original post!

Well, shoot....looks like the GPX didn't upload. Will try again tonight..... (and add captions) Yeah @genepires, that photo with Three Fingers and Whitehorse has all those walls, with Green Giant Buttress in the foreground.

OK @Asfahl....added captions. I wish Smooting paid like NatGeo!

Love how casually you guys dispatched that!