DPS

I commuted by bus for 10 years. Whatever the drivers get paid, its not enough.

Thanks, I feel it appropriate given their long time monopoly on the mountain, their questionable dealings with the former park superindentent, and their various other enterprises including restaurants, gear stores, and motels. Plus Peter is a dick.

Aren't all radios line of sight and would have the same limitations as cell phones?

One of my partners who had crazy endurance (Aaron Musik) did it in < 24, and trail runner extraordinaire Leor Pantilat did it in less time than that.

Agreed. Most of us have done stupid ass shit and by the grace of God survived. Let's hope that is the case for these missing climbers and hikers.

Has anybody read the comments in the above linked article? This gem strikes me as particularly odd: "I remember a comment by Ed Viesturs (not sure of the spelling) at the time of the loss of two climbers on Mt. Hood in the early winter a few years ago. He basically said that he never climbs in the Northern Hemisphere after late November, even on 10K feet peaks...if he gets the strong urge to do so, he heads south."

Good call, as I was writing Ashland it didn't sound quite right. I meant to write Ashford. I'm sure the Whittaker Cartel would be happy to sell you a shower for the low, low price of all your money. Good suggestion on the private campgrounds/cabins. Quite a few small outfits just outside the south entrance to the park that probably have showers.A quick Google search turned up quite a few: http://www.threebearslodge.net/ http://www.stormkingspa.com/ http://www.almostparadiselodging.com/ http://www.deepforestcabins.com/ http://www.rainierlodge.com/

One winter day while driving SR 18 from 1-5 to 1-90 I saw THREE SUVs on their backs within a five mile distance. Each one was turtled right after a curve or a bridge.

I can' think of any, but Enumclaw has a public swimming pool which has showers. I have found some gyms also offer showers for a nomimal fee, but once again, can't think of any that close to Ashland.

An easy way to save 2.2 pounds is to drink a liter of water on the drive to the TR, drink another liter while you register, pack, and gear up, and carry only a liter of water for the approach, refilling from streams and adding chlorine dioxide disinfectent. You second liter container is an empty bladder which weighs about nil.

Assuming I'm not doing a carry-over, I bring everything minus: -Tarp/Tent -Sleeping pad -Sleeping bag -Stove kit Pretty much everything is worn (harness, crampons, rope, ice axe, helmet) so the summit pack weight is very light. A belay jacket, 2 liters of water, some food, and extra gloves/mittens, glacier glasses, and some odds and ends is pretty much it.

Just beaware, the suspension is very simple (foam pad, unpadded hipbelt) and forces you to pack light.

I'm 5' 9" with a 32" inseamm - I can't imagine in inch would make a big difference.

I should mention the Montbel Balance Light 40 (available at pro mountain sports) might be the best value in a Rainier sized pack. Its volume is more like 45 liters, it weighs 2lb 4 oz and has everything you need (almost) and nothing you don't. It would be nice if it had a crampon holder.

Seconded... white mesh ballcap fleece hat glacier glasses three LED headlamp with 2 AAA lithium batteries Petzl Elios helmet boots Scarpa Summit GTX liner socks - (2 pair) heavy socks- (2 pair) light weight nylon gaitors cheap poly pro liner gloves Primaloft insulated gloves Soft shell pants mid weight long underwear short sleeve poly tee shirt- light colored Marmot Driclime windshirt Montbel Versalite shell hooded Patagonia Micropuff Primaloft belay jacket Petzl Vasak crampons old Grivel Air Tech Racing ice axe simple, unpadded, webbing harness locking carabiner picket pulley prusiks - 5-6mm perlon slings - 2 single, 2 double spectra carabiners - 6 wire gate, 3 light lockers Rando rope - 30 meters, 8 mm high quality down sleeping bag - 20 degrees (Feathered Friends and Western Mountaineering both make bags weighing little more than 1 lb Black Diamond Betamid tarp thin Evazotte pad Montbel Blanace Light 40 pack trekking poles pocket rocket stove fuel 1 liter pot pot lifter knife 2", 1/2 serated blade tiny Bic lighter map compass 1 - 1 liter HDPE Nalgene water bottle, doubles as a mug 1 - 1 liter bladder with no hose Disposable plstic bowl - Ziplock plastic spoon food sunblock 2 oz lip balm toilet paper blue bags first aid kit - For blisters and small wounds Sharing the tarp, rope, stove kit with my partner brings my pack weight to 30 -35 lbs

I like carrying a stove because curling up with a nice hot water bottle along with having a hot drink makes those long, cold bivis more bearable.

For emergencies.

3/5 of a Z-Rest pad which folded in thirds forms the back panel of my backpack Bivi sack Extra socks Pocket Rocket, 1 liter pot, tiny lighter, 8 oz fuel cannister

I hope he doesn't have serious cold related injuries, just a good story to tell.

The last thing I ordered from MEC was a fat Evazotte sleeping pad. The shipping cost more than the damn pad.

Shoot, just about the worst weather of the season too.

Sobo, MEC does ship some brands to the US, but not all brands due to some kind of non compete agreeement. (E.g. Black Diamond). At least that used to be the case.

Does anyone have any links or sources to long term snow pack observations or analysis of snowfall from the present into the future? This is a good start:http://www.nwac.us/

I can't think of any road much above 6,500 ft, other than maybe some logging roads perhaps.

Not that I recall. I've always liked you. I'm pretty sure I cornered the market on making an ass out of myself from years 1990 through, well currently.