DPS

Hi Gene, I have a nice, light Black Diamond double gear sling in great shape I would sell you for $20.

New items and link to photos added.

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Is the Megamid the Silnylon version (AKA Megalight) or the older version?

I think Dane is spot on (as usual). For my approach set up I went from Silveretta 400s mounted on an old skewl pair of 180s to a light pair of 167cm skis with a narrow waist and big side cut. The difference was pretty amazing. I could actually carve fairly graceful turns in my Scarpa Invernos.

Agreed Americans are supposed to better than that.

I have a McHale pack that I am willng to let go. I twisted Dan's arm to build what was at that time a lightweight pack for alpine style climbing in Alaska. It is roughly the same size as an Andinista or Chaos but carries heavy loads far better, and IMHO climbs better. The pack was build to fit me (I'm 5'9" w1th a 19 3/4" back measurement). There is a fair amound of room for weight savings if you take a scissors to it and leave off the pockets. The pack is in very good condidion. It has a small scuff, but that is about it. I'm thinking $175. As far as bolts, the hip belt is threaded onto heavy duty, stainless steel ladder lock buckles. It is VERY securely attached.

Great list of routes covering some choice spots in the North and Central Cascades. I think you will have a great time with this. If you are looking to round out your Cascades experience you may want to plan some big glacier climbs and alpine ice routes when you acquire the appropriate skills and gear.

Thanks Wayne! Hopefully I credited the photographers correctly. Although, if you read carefully I spelled Jesse's name differently each time. By mistake.

I don't hope I get killed by a cougar, but 'hiker killed by cougar' makes better headlines than 'middle age man dies of a heart attack'.

Well said Gene. I would hate to have the balance of my life be judged solely on my mistakes.

Congratulations gentlemen.

Don't feed sad, it is called the 'Seattle Freeze' and most new comers experience this to some degree or another. After a few years you'll be treated just like a local; with polite indifference.

After 25 years of hiking, backpacking, trail running, climbing, and skiing, I finally saw a Cougar on West Tiger 2 last year. I am guessing they reclusvie, rare, or both.

I've done TC twice, once in April 2003 and once in February. In April it was a straight forward climb with only 3 technical waterfall pitches that protected with screws well. In February 2000 the crux runnels were bare, slabby rock so we climbed the North Face variation which in the conditions we found them were very significantly more difficult than the standard TC route in fat shape.

You said the boot fits snug with two socks. Do you not have wiggle room for your toes? You should have a little room in the toes, otherwise front pointing, step kicking, and descending will be uncomfortable. To test the fit, kick a stair riser several times. Your toes should not contact the front of the boot.

I did not notice swelling in my boots, Scarpa Invernos with Intuition linters. I think a single sock would keep your feet warmer than any combination of socks that are too tight.

IMHO, one the biggest differences between the top shelf tools and the economy tools is the quality of the picks. With this in mind, I think it is better to buy older, but high quality tools. Charlet Moser Axar, Black Diamond Rage, Grivel Rambo are all solid tools and can be found used for reasonable prices. Many climbers will advise you to buy the best pair of tools you can possibly afford, and there is logic to that. The reality, however, is if you get a generation-old pair of tools you will have a lot improving to do before you out climb them.

No one trip report stands out in my mind, rather the collected works by this profilific author create a new genre that melds the stream of concious ramblings of Jack Kerouac and the gothic aesthetic of Anthony Burgess. The morally ambigous protagonists are drawn across a damp, dangerous, and bleak landscape where adventure and, just as often, basic human survival are hewn from mossy rock faces. That author is ivan. (Note the lower case 'i'). And yes, got a B in English 201, Reading Fiction. 3 cr.

I am also interested in your climb, but only vicariously. I shall look forward to reading about your most excellent adventure from the comfort of my armchair. Bon chance, gentlemen!

Thank you R-b.

2.5 hours. Yes, it averages between 45 and 60 degrees.

I had the SMC Himalayan Hammer. It was great as a second tool for moderately steep alpine ice routes. Like Dane said, heavy, but likely indestructable.

Put a little black skirt and heels on her and call her Misty. That way we can have a coctail server.

A short hammer with a big striking surface, a straight shaft, a pinky rest, and a recurve pick would be sweet.