JasonG

Doesn't it have to do with whether or not you're pulling on gear, rather than grade?

Trip: Hidden Lake Peak - West Trip Date: 02/12/2018 Trip Report: With @TorreyMoreno's recent TR on the HLL I don't need to say much on the conditions @Kitand I found earlier this week. I will say that the rime covering the peaks of the North Cascades is probably about as spectacular as I've seen. Pretty much the entire summit mass of Eldorado looks prime for new routes. Same with Dorado Needle, Forbidden.... everything. Wow! I hope someone was out getting after it. Really though, I know you all are mostly looking for glamour shots of Kit to get you through this work week. You came to the right spot. Early Morning Spire, Praying Mantis, Marble Needle, Dorado Needle (L-R): The Draughtpony gittin'er done: DAMN: J'Burg: Look at the ski potential of Mutchler! And Snowking! The Hidden Lake Lookout is plastered down there. And just a reminder that the lookout isn't on the true summit: Formidable, paging @skyclimb: Torment and Forbidden: What's App or it didn't happen: Dakobed: Weeeellllllllll, shoot. I thought I was going to work and look where I ended up? Better than expected on the way down: @Kit always packs his American flags: Gear Notes: Skis (+ski crampons), American flags, Hunter. Approach Notes: We parked the car at the USFS "washout", about 2.5 miles from the Cascade River Road, elevation 2500'. A 4X4 HC could have made it probably almost a mile farther before deep snow would force a stop. About 4 hours to the true summit, which is higher than the lookout. A bit over an hour down to the car. Much time and a few drams of whiskey on the summit.

Trip: Coleman Pinnacle - West Ridge Trip Date: 02/10/2018 Trip Report: It finally stopped raining this past weekend! Us, and everyone else within a three hour drive descended on the Heather Meadows parking lot to get our vitamin D for the month. @dberdinka and friend were the smartest of the bunch, leaving the parking lot in the dark to ski in solitude out to Coleman Pinnacle - which happened to also be our objective for the day. We arrived on the summit to see the masses coming from every which direction to the col just to the west. It was by far the busiest I have seen the area immediately around the Pinnacle. Strangely, we were the only party that actually booted to the summit. C'mon people, no summit, no party! The ski conditions were predictably mediocre, matching the telemetry, with a few inches of low density snow poorly bonded to a supportive crust. It is probably pretty interesting up there right now given the new storm snow on top. But last Saturday it was a glorious day in the sun. And sometimes that is enough. That looks pretty OK More left @Trent: :C Coleman Pinnacle: A party got after it this particular morning: @wbk: The final bit to the summit: Slogging for the win: @Kit, @wbk, and @Trent: Fisher Chimneys look pretty spicy right now: Shuksan: The Portals: Rival faction: Better than expected: @Kit gunning for the tidy tracks: fin Gear Notes: skis Approach Notes: Ptarmigan Ridge from Heather Meadows.

@Z-Man as @Hans Travis pointed out a lot of folks are using IG for beta and connecting with fellow climbers. I was surprised to talk to a couple dudes this past summer hiking up to Eldorado armed with nothing more than IG beta (and sporting GoPros). "Ummmmmmm.....are we going the right way?" The mountains are busier than ever, so climbing goes on with or without CC.com (hard as it is for me to fathom).

The admins have been discussing this very concept. Great ideas for fleshing it out @sampdx, thanks!

Nicely done @TorreyMoreno, the conditions now are pretty challenging for skinning. @Kit and I were just up there yesterday and I'll post a few pics later this week.... sounded cozy in the LO!

Cool, I didn't even know about this as a winter route!

FA of the Yocum Ridge Sit Start!

sensitive teeth

sore tendons

old age

My heart rate quickened reading that story of you and Jens on Dragontail! Yowza.

Wow, @Dannible that's quite a site! I will have to read the posts closely as I'm sure you have a lot to teach folks like myself. And I always love great images! Thanks!

Technology battle cage!!

yeah dudes! Way to teach those Kiwi-wankers how to choss.

I still mostly don't treat my water. I typically pack a couple liters from the car and by the time that is out I'm in the alpine and selectively choosing where I grab from. I don't think the risk is all that great, but then again you all haven't gotten giardia (twice !!). My short memory is probably why I still enjoy thrashing around the North Cascades after 25 years of suffering. And I love sparkles.

What us fish folk call running bankfull. All the rivers are firing right now! good looking pup you got there....

WOW! That is amazing!!

The other thing to keep in mind is that some people can get giardia and be pretty much asymptomatic. It doesn't hit everyone hard, and sometimes you can be a carrier without feeling terrible (or so I've read). I guess what I'm saying is that the same methods won't have the same result for everyone. The good news is that there are effective drugs if you do get a debilitating bout of giardia. They work to almost completely remove the infection in 24-36 hours. It's amazing.

Blue c AKA blue collar climbing hangover!

Da Toof speed record is only with dog, by definition. Mount Si is where to go if you can't speed climb without your cat.

We need Leor to tell us.

@cgolden123 yes, there will be. Jon is working on the replacement page. We know that this is the most important part of the site and it will be coming back. Until then you can still search and find what you are looking for but agree that it isn't ideal.

And....back to the filter issue, I've found that most tend to be a bit on the heavy side once they have been used and are soggy. AquaMira saves close to a half pound on most. Which I really care about since my camera gear is so stinking heavy. But if you weren't carrying an SLR and several lenses I can see why a filter is a no-brainer.

Don't you guys know about raw water? pH balanced for white people! C'mon, it's the only way to go!