JasonG

Thanks everyone! Yeah Steve, we certainly missed you and Holli! Buckaroo- Lucas made it up all three peaks. It was impressive to watch him work up through the boulderfields, especially since he is about 12 or so (he's like an old Tibetan Lama, nobody is quite sure how old he is). Glad you like the long exposure shot, since I was starting to regret lugging the tripod all over the place.

Thanks Stefan! I always start typing up TRs, look at the photos, and think I'm wasting my time. The words don't ever work for me like the images do. Glad you caught the story in the photos, that's always the goal.

Trip: Switchback, Martin, and Bigelow Larchiness - The Dog routes Date: 10/8/2017 Trip Report: Nagging tendon issues have kept me away from real technical climbing this summer. Thankfully, the Cascades are infinitely scalable, and I've been able to shift my focus to scrambles and easy mountaineering objectives. The latest peak bagging mission earlier this month happened to overlap with the Alpine larch insanity that grips the North Cascades every October and, most importantly, a weekend when my parents could watch our boys. As a bonus, Scott and Megan were able to join as well. Oh, and Lucas, MOUNTAIN DOG! My wife and I met climbing, but we rarely get out in the hills together any more. That's why it was a special treat on this trip to hang with good friends, tag some summits, eat chocolate, and share some drinks around the fire. Even after all these years, I'm struck by what a beautiful backyard we have. Especially during larch season..... Gear Notes: Standard hiking fare. We didn't feel helmets were necessary. Approach Notes: Crater Creek trailhead. We went clockwise, but the other way would be fine as well. We camped at Cooney and Boiling lakes. Switchback and Martin on Day 2, Bigelow on day 3 and out. We only ran into a few motorcycles and mtn. bikes on day 1. All were respectful.

This accident, and the aftermath, has been haunting me all week. I can't shake it.

Enter a "media tag" and select the YouTube option....fixed it for you using my new found powers!

You need to get in there Phil! The hike in from the river isn't bad at all and the ridge running over towards the Devil's Tongue stellar. Even if no peaks are climbed it is a great fall destination. Thanks Mr. Sloth! It is mainly the result of spending way too much time looking at maps and Fred's books, and liking to get away from the crowds. The Cascades never cease to impress me, year after year, with surprising nooks and crannies. And I hate to admit that I hadn't seen that video before Ivan. Damn. Glad I haven't been cut down . . .. . yet.

Ugh.

But that open book is certainly worth doing at least once! Not without danger to attain, as you mention.

There is no statue of limitations on cc.com topics. The more obscure, the better.

Blame Darin!

I didn't know V3 was even possible! Thanks Mike, glad you liked the photos. That wall on Lemolo is something else....

Wow, that is a serious effort! Glad it all turned out OK, and thanks for persevering on the TR bugs.

Sigh. Sorry! Try this, maybe? http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1149152/Trip_Report_Issue#Post1149152 If not, send me a PM and we can get the content up! Promise.

And.....just added more captions. You know, to kill the mystery a bit.

It is awaiting your ascent of the Tongue Oly! I had no idea what I was looking at other than a breaker bar with an old axe head shoved on top. I will look it up now, I'm curious. And sorry to spill the beans on the top sekrit moderator hideout. Obviously I got carried away when I was inserting pics. Darin- I took that photo just for you.

Thanks Alex! I added some captions tonight.....

Trip: The Devil's Tongue - Standard- Illegal Immigration Ridge Date: 9/16/2017 Trip Report: In anticipation of our 2018 unsupported mission to the North Pillar of the Devil's Thumb Scott and I recently completed a training climb of the Devil's Tongue. We feel it is a good step towards our end goal, mainly because we saw THREE bears..... and we hear AK has a few of them. That, and we had to ford a river (THE MIGHTY SKAGIT), fight with a Barred Owl, and scramble lichen encrusted EXPOSED third class rock. It was pretty intense. But the pastoral scenery from camp and the approach to the peak helped to calm our nerves, even when we had to sweep bear scat from out chosen tent site. Intense! The chocolate didn't hurt either. But unless you're planning on the Devil's Thumb next year, there's probably no reason to climb the Devil's Tongue. This report is mainly to save you the effort of finding out firsthand why nobody goes up there (we were first party to sign in this year). See what I mean? the MIGHTY Skagit: Jack and Ross Lake: Hard Mox and that wall that Lunger and Layton climbed on Lemolo (separate trips): Luna and S. Pickets: More Lunger and Rat FA's, Zorro wall on N. Hozo and NF of S. Hozo: Northern Lights on the left horizon, fire in BC on the right: THE DEVIL'S TONGUE: Foxy Moxy: The Impressive NFs of McNaught and Rahm to the right of the Devil's Tongue: Custer (L) and Rahm ® from the summit: Scott on the summit with Spickard behind: Hazy Pickets: Scott inspecting his tax dollars at work: Hardman living at camp: Good bivy on way to Trailhead: Gear Notes: Helmet, cord for hanging food. Approach Notes: Old Galene Lakes Trail. Save mileage by fording the Skagit after walking from the Nepopekum day use parking area to river. Follow flagged route uphill on far side which deposits you at Middle Galene lakes. Follow your nose cross country from there.

Ummmmmm..... DAMN.

Sorry about how buggy the site is Chris! If you're willing to email me the content we can work to get it inserted here. Check your PMs...

Nathan- check your messages....we will get your TR up!

speaking of Jason G... he left an interesting playing card in the summit register... choss dawgs FTW! I might be guilty by association, but those aren't my cards officers! Honest. I have to admit that I'm looking out my window nervously for Guido right now......as I work on my next TR.

So, so good! That is a truly impressive and intimidating feature, well done. Have you tried the workaround here: http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1149152/Trip_Report_Issue#Post1149152 Your site is great, but CC.com is a jealous lover.

That's fast! Well done.

If you are starving for protein at 5000m, maybe.

Tony was the best helicopter pilot the North Cascades has ever seen, a true legend. I feel honored to have flown with him and owe him a debt for saving the life of a friend of mine. He will be missed.