JasonG

Trip: Plummer Peak - Standard Trip Date: 12/21/2017 Trip Report: I don't get to Rainier in the winter much, and I can see that I am missing out. Last week, I had the fortune of getting out for a day in the Tatoosh with Tim while the family and I were down staying in the Park for a few days before Christmas. And what a day it was! Several feet of dry snow, beautiful sunshine, and nobody around our intended destination- Plummer Peak. Well, I should say our Plan B destination. We had hoped to ski the Zipper on Lane this day, but stepping off the skis found us sinking to our waists. No thanks! Skiing off Plummer was a great consolation prize, especially since we had that whole part of the Tatoosh to ourselves. I'm used to the crowds of the Baker backcountry these days so it was a treat to not have another ski track (new or old) in sight anywhere. I need to remember to not look down my nose at the South Cascades! Lane Peak: Unicorn! Pinnacle Peak: Denman: Near the top of Plummer Lenticulars around Pinnacle: Pyramid Peak: Little Tahoma: Mackerel sky on the way back to the car: Gear Notes: skis! Approach Notes: Park at the Narada falls lot and skin up to the old road. Ski along until you come to the first Reflection lake, then leave the road and contour SW

Summit Camp! I've always liked the idea of camping up top, but each time I'm there I immediately just want to get down. Strong work!

The yin and yang of cc.com, in one sentence!

The Olympics lack good rock, which you've probably figured out by now. But, there is a lot of country to explore and it is a lot quieter on that side of the Sound. Personally, I like PA (though never lived there).

Amen. Thanks to Oly and Jon for powering thru the recent upgrade, putting the site on a firm foundations for several more decades of alpine fueled tall tales! We should all raise an extra Christmas Beer to them Peace, joy and snaffle love to you all this Holiday Season....

I basically just went to the high point just past where you first hit the ridge. The true summit was a bit too far for the daylight and energy I had. Plus, it would have significantly cut into the photo taking and chocolate eating! Tabor and Crowder really got around! I guess it helped that it was their jobs, but still. We used their beta for getting around Crowder to Pickell Pass last summer. Worked like a charm!

Perfectly accessorized, as I would have expected.

Yeah.....I can't believe YOU did it either!

I'm glad G-spotter found this! So classic.... all four pages.

Nice! The hike in or out of Plateau is no joke. I'm lucky my wife didn't divorce me on the spot. Glad you ticked the summit, it's a proud peak! Did you get to Aspiring?

Surely a latte was involved?

Trip: Sulphur Mountain - Old Lookout trail Trip Date: 12/14/2017 Trip Report: At the tail end of the high pressure last week, ski conditions weren't great, but you really can't waste a nice day in the winter around here. Unfortunately, all the usual supects were busy on my free day.....What to do? A mention of Green Mountain on the NWAC avy forecast the night before got me thinking about the Suiattle. The old lookout trail up Sulphur Mountain! I'd seen that trail on the map many years ago and always thought it would have a good view. But then the 2003 flood isolated the TH for a dozen years and I'd forgotten about it. I'm not sure what it was about the Green Mountain mention on NWAC that jogged my memory, but I'm glad I finally was able to hike this somewhat forgotten trail. It was worth the wait. Dakobed: Dome: Sinister: The old Sulphur Mountain Trail: Suiattle: Gear Notes: SNOWSHOES......sigh Approach Notes: Old Sulphur Mountain Lookout trail. Still in good shape and easy to follow. Looks to get periodic maintenance. Last week, no snow to 5000'! That is no longer the case, however....

If I remember correctly, she has stories about when they filmed it! I think she said it caused quite the stir in Darrington at the time....

Wait.....you wrote up your TR in eBook form?

They have to fill out NEPA paperwork, which is a fate worse than death.

Rumor is that the Darrington Ranger station may have a copy. Talk to Phyllis. I would like to see it as well!

Trip: Big Snow! - Jefferson Smootship Trip Date: 10/31/2017 Trip Report: Calling all Smooters! You don't have to hide any longer, list motivated peak bagging is all the rage now. Just look at those thousands of Bulgers out choss polishing each summer......and many of those peaks are pretty unpleasant and would hardly ever be climbed if it weren't for the hallowed list. In contrast, Mr. Smoot has compiled a list based on nothing other than WA peak bagging for the sheer joy of it. Such a good list, I might add, that I was more than halfway done with it before I'd even heard of "Climbing Washington's Mountains". But even an ardent Smooter has their limits, this ain't the 50 Classics after all. So, I typically pace myself, ticking off a couple a year in the shoulder seasons when I am looking for straightforward, yet interesting, diversions among the lower elevation summits of our home ranges. Which is why I found myself with Scott and Kit at the end of this past October hiking up the Dingford Creek Trail, en route to Snowflake Lake at the base of the north side of Big Snow. The gating of the Middle Fork at Dingford Creek has meant that the north side approach is the shortest route to the Big Snow summit these days. While likely not as dramatic as the Hardscrabble climber's path, it is still more scenic than I would have thought. I think it took us about 4-5 hours to camp or so, where we quickly set up camp at Snowflake Lake (where you can be yourself) and set off for the summit in the late afternoon. A bit of brush wrangling just about the lakes (would be snow covered in early season) found us on a minor rib scrambling surprisingly decent rock upwards to the broad summit ridge, less than two hours from camp. A quick check of our phones revealed that the indomitable Fred Beckey had passed away peacefully that morning while we were walking to camp. Gazing out across the Middle Fork at the Snoqualmie Alps (Lemah, Chimney Rock, Summit Chief, etc.), we raised our flask to Fred and his incredible life. We were all lucky enough to have run into him over the years and felt standing on a Cascadian summit was a fitting place to remember a legend. After all, the brown guide was what had gotten us to that very point. Crag on the NW side of Big Snow, I've heard someone has been up to this wall an climbed a bit: Kit on the interesting approach to Big Snow Lake: Scott surveys Big Snow Lake: Snoqualmonix! Gear Notes: ice axe and crampons Approach Notes: Dingford Creek to Myrtle Lake. Leave trail and stay low until right below Big Snow Lake. Go up cool talus gully to lake and follow your nose to Snowflake Lake, where you can be your very own snowflake. Up and left from the lake to a minor rib then directly up mellow slopes to summit. Would be doable in day with longer days of early summer and more snow. Great relaxed fall trip.

For sure, War on Drugs has been putting out great records. Also a big fan of Kurt Vile in recent years:

Damn. That is some obscure vinyl! A change of pace, but do you have this one (my favorite Lanegan Album):

Another classic!