Alex

Rope management and weight are cons for any double rope system. As such, I use twins for when we anticipate possible retreat or are returning the way we came, *or* might accidently chop the rope seconding (e.g. Polar Circus), and a single 60m 9.4 for when we think we can send and there is a walkoff (e.g. North Ridge of Stuart, S Face of Prussik, and so on).

enema, I don't know why you even bother with him; he's such a spraYn00b its not even humourous anymore to continuously see him founder and sink

You answered your own question. http://www.mtnphil.com/Rate.php?ID=57

Also, if you itemize deductions you can write off the cost of tax preparation,...so next year you can write off that 14.95$ you spent on TurboTax Basic on teh InterWeb the previous year.

Yep, all manner of cheap sleds if you watch craigslist, but if you buy something that vintage (like mine, which is 1979) make *sure* you know what you are looking for and at when you buy, as you will not find many parts anymore for that kinda horse.

archenemy in bed, oly coming...over...with tarps, I am waiting breathlessly for the next post!

thats some nice looking skiing

Actually Shreddie was still leadable Sat. We were silly for messing around with Loose Lady in the AM, and missed the boat.

I dont think so, compare... Kind of looks like Silverstar, or that area. Don't know.

No doubt. With the last couple crap years, we're due for a few good 'uns.

I've done NF Vesper 2x from the glacial remnant, and both times had a really excellent outing. Others I know who've done it have all had excellent time on it. I'd recommend this route over alot of other Cascade moderates incl S Face of Ingalls. The things you list as making it "contrived" (contrived as a summit, but as a climb in itself...? Isnt all climbing "contrived"?)...e.g. the easy walk-off descent, are in fact a big plus for the route.

Really? What page? I'd be surprised if that thing ever formed real water ice.

It will be fine. I've done (most of) it July 4th weekend one year, and it was very easy travel. If we get more snow, you might be able to ski it well into June. (It gets more difficult into late Aug and Sept, because the snow finally melts and reveals ankle-twisting scree, and whatever brief glacier navigation becomes more interesting in a few choice spots.)

Yeah we scoped that one out when we were there, it looked fun! I agree with you. I haven't been in there except the one time, but if it forms up every year even remotely as well as it did this year, its the place to go for moderate mileage for sure.

phat

how would skis fare on this traverse? make it faster? it looks fairly level but if they save you an hour or two, might be able to complete the thing?

Do it on the east side

They could start by plowing Highway 20!

Next you'll have kids and a mortgage, be going bald, never go climbing, and work for Microsoft. Oh wait, ... thats me... Happy birthday Mike! Relationships are a lot of work, but getting one's own head straight, a never ending process in itself, always helps.

I think "old school" vs "new school" --------------------------------- Capt. Caveman vs kevbone (Capt Caveman wins) mikeadam vs pink (mikeadam wins) trask vs archenemy (trask wins, though enema has made a strong showing) Dru vs G-Spotter (kind of a toss up here )...

"Death by Sewage"? Looks....temporary!

I am looking at this pic and thinking of that traverse off to the left and up onto the hangers, and out the hanging curtain left of "Snake Bite" (the left TR in the pic)...if there is pro in the roof it would be rad

Yeah Hubba is looking decent these days (for once). The other stuff is Mountaineers Creek ice, which is in the book but also has seen a lot of recent activity as the ice is fatter this year than most (see Ice Climbing forum here for recent TRs). These two particular pics are of "Mr Seattle" and surrounding climbs. Other moderate routes are found further downstream.

grade-8 mono's are old skool

From a few weeks ago