JasonG

That wouldn't be at all fun for me, but glad it is for somebody! That is one of my favorite trips, though I haven't been since the road was closed. Thanks for the reminder to go back!

Sounds perfect. They'll be more opportunities when conditions are better!

One thing to keep in mind with more challenging routes is to have some breathing room on the back end of your itinerary in case something goes wrong, or the weather comes in quicker than forecast. If the closes down for a few days after you are slated to be done it could prove problematic to mount a rescue. I know you are young and invincible, but.....

You HAVE to hit it right. Otherwise it could easily be horrible or fatal. I've gone a few times and only hit it right once. You really need a snowpack without PWLs and a La Nina winter.

The rock isn't very good, from the little I've poked around the regular route. Skiing the north face, on the other hand.....

The Tarver kids?

Damn @stillcrankin. Those are totally classic. The one of you and Timson.... fit!

Yes @OlympicMtnBoy...do tell. Maybe you can draw in Colin and Dave's line against your for comparison?

Love it! Intravenous looked especially cool.

Oh, I don't want to cross the site admins. You don't want to feel their wrath, trust me.

Weather. It is always the weather (and it sounds like you might already know this). It is great to plan far in advance, but if the weather is bad on the upper mountain (i.e. ANY precip and wind) it is best to have a solid plan B (Stuart Range?) and save Rainier for another trip. It is no fun up there in a storm, and often dangerous. Early May is often unsettled. Or, it might be just fine. Good luck!

Well, now you tell me!

OK @rbw1966, @CapitalNathan, @Jason4.....Talked with @jon and wer'e going to get it up on the site in pdf. Standby.

I feel I have the tendons of a senior citizen.

Thanks! I always enjoy John's perspective.

ohhhhhhhhh.....we're talking about ancient cc.com history. I thought this was something from recent years. As @jon points out, live and learn. It's all we can do and we're all older and presumably wiser now.....

What is the year on that message @CascadeClimber? Totally mental!

per capita CO2 emissions..... you guys are arguing apples and oranges.

More popular than I thought! I'll have to talk with @jon about hosting the pdf on the website or something....

I think most of the crowds have to do with IG and FB these days, but it is hard to say. What is most certainly true is that the North Cascades are WAY busier than they were 20 years ago. The gong show at the ranger station on weekends is pretty amazing. Of course, probably most are not climbers, but the climbing areas are increasingly busy as well. I'm especially amazed at how the Picket cross country zones fill up in July and August. Inconceivable!

This is a great mystery, indeed

Wow! I guess I wasn't paying attention (wasn't a moderator then as well), or just naive. I had no idea it had gotten that bad. It's a hobby people!

"We were in the jungle, there were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane"

I have not heard of any repeats. Skinning up the road this past spring underneath it, I was wondering myself. It scares me, like most everyone else probably! And, it's great to see a few new posts from you @CascadeClimber!