DPS

That doesn't sound right It is not right. I misinterpreted some data compiled by our hydrologist. March typically has the heaviest rainfall, but on average Nov., Jan., and Dec. have higher accumulative rainfalls. Last year, however, March was the wettest month: http://www.seattleweatherblog.com/rain-stats/rainfall-2014/

March is the wettest month of the year, so expect lots of precipitation and short weather windows.

Dec 7, 2014 Gerrit and headed to Leavenworth to take a look at Hubba Hubba. We wandered around for 2 hours unable to see much of anything through the dense fog, so we headed back to the road to climb some ice we saw near the road. We ended up finding some surprisingly good, steep ice. We also noted routes forming on Careno Crag, although with the warm temperatures forecast for this week I suspect they will fall down.

I pitched the idea of modifying a synthetic bag by removing the zipper and hood to make a bag like a Vireo to a friend who sews. She did not think it would be that hard and agreed to do it for me, but I have not found the right (read cheap enough) synthetic bag to sacrifice.

Alex gave me a Platypus as a gift once. The first time I used it, it sprung a leak and the cap broke. I refused to use them for years until a partner convinced me to try one again. I have since used one 1 liter Platy (no hose) and one 1 liter Nalgene. The Nalgene doubles as a mug and if the Platy springs a leak I still have one serviceable container. This summer I started using a 3 liter Camelback with a hose on day climbs and overnight climbs where we do not bring a stove. In the winter I still bring two Nalgenes with cozys. I have had problems with the Camelback I use for trail running freeze in the winter.

I remember this one awesome tech tip in Climbing magazine that suggested wrapping Nalgene bottles in black electrical tape to help melt snow. Do you remember that one Gene?

Is there any information on what route the fellow was climbing and has his name been released?

I was ice climbing last year and my partner remarked on my 'museum piece' crampons. They were first generation Grivel Rambos and I thought they were still the best crampon available until I tried his, then promptly bought a new pair.

I'm not sure that Cathedral Gap is any more or less of a problem than the any of the other potential avy hazards on the way up to Ingraham Flats. If avy conditions in general are moderate or high on that aspect of Rainier then just getting to Cathedral Gap could be dangerous. Folks have died in avalanches at Panorama Point.

Nice beaver.

Hey Jake, Sorry you guys got rained out. Bummer to hear the road is gated. Did the other party have a woman amongst them? A colleague and her BF were planning on heading up. Dan

FYI, these are currently in stock at SierraTradingPost.com. Use coupon code 'SFB112914' at checkout for 30% off ($260).

http://gripped.com/news/leclerc-lavigne-climb-wild-thing/

I climbed with Rob before he moved to Colorado. He was a great guy, a strong climber, and very humble. The first time we climbed together we did Liberty Ridge, at the time a big deal for me. He mentioned he enjoyed canyoneering in Utah, so I checked a book out from the library on the subject. There was an entire chapter in it about how he and Rob Roseen (see above) blew into the canyoneering community and proceeded to do the hardest descents, setting a new technical standard. We lost touch after he moved to Colorado, but I got updates from his brother who worked at Marmot. I had meant to drop him a line when he returned to Washington but never got around to it. My condolences go out to his family and friends. This had been a shitty year for the PNW climbing community.

How do the photos of the route you have seen recently compare to the conditions during the FA?

There are quite a few folks in Issaquah who climb whom I have met through this website. I climb and ski with a couple of strong young alpinists who moved from Seattle to Issaquah and North Bend specifically for the proximity to climbing.

I like Issaquah due to its proximity to trail running, (Cougar, Tiger, Squak, Grand Ridge), rock climbing (North Bend), and accessible back country skiing, alpine rock, ice climbing and winter alpine climbing (Snoqualmie Pass). The downsides are no climbing gym in town and it is not exactly a hip place for young people. Mostly family types.

I still have mine.. want 'em? PM sent.

Hansel, so hot right now.

When I was up there a number of folks wore ski boots to 14k and then switched to climbing boots for the summit. I did not see anyone above 17k with ski boots though.

It is kind of a toss up, I like and dislike certain things about both tools. The Cobras are the most naturally swinging tool I have ever used. Just beautiful - swings from the shoulder like a great framing hammer. The down side is the hammers/adzes are tiny and the laser cut picks are inferior to Petzl's forged designs. Add bigger hammers/adzes and the swing is not as well balanced. The Quark requires the Charlet-Moser/Petzl wrist flick/elbow drop thing. For me, not as natural as the Cobra and is too light without head weights. The hammer and adze are smaller than I like but better than BD's. If they had made the hammer and adze bigger (heavier) the tool would be better balanced for pure ice climbing IMNSHO. I recently bought Quarks because I found them on sale for $199 each. I'm still looking for the head weights from my old Pulsars. I'm sure I have them somewhere...

Sweet, just ordered a new cam hook set for Wa Pass... Just gotta make sure to keep it away from that uber choss pile over at Index.. I climbed the Early Winters Couloir route in fantastic conditions; beautiful water ice, fun mixed cruxes topped off with a 20 foot cornice. To surmount the cornice I aided the left hand wall and nailed a flake with a KB. The flake broke off and landed in my lap. I nailed the stump, stepped onto the KB which rotated 90 degrees to face straight down but held. Awesome rock.

A geologist and sometime climber I worked with told me the only true granite in Washington State is at Washington Pass. Index, Leavenworth, the Enchantments, the Stuart Range, and Darrington are all composed of white grandiorite. Just to add to the discussion, I really like cam hooks.

I just looked up "sponge bath" on urban dictionary. I'm not sure if I would visit a lookout again after seeing something like that.

I was raised Catholic, so I assume everything is my fault.