JERRY_SANCHEZ

I have a pair of Garmont Veloce Telemark boots that I just recently purchase used. However, this size is too big for me. This is a US Men size 12 or 31. The shell and liner are in excellent condition. This is the last year's model. Please email me at JERSAN@SAFECO.COM to make me an offer. I purchase this used for about $140.00 and I want to sell it close to that price. I live in Seattle and can deliver around that area but I can also shipped as well. I can also send pictures as well.

There are other slopes I found that looked worth skiing but never have because I never had the time to ski it. THere is a nice northwest slope just above the small lake that looked good to ski. Also at the summit of Green Mountain on the opposite side of the main south face slope there is a long 3K ski decent that looked very tempting to ski but you would have to climb back out of it. Has anyone ever ski or board this fall line? Yes snowboard would be good but I think a split board would be better as there are some flat and up hill sections to deal with.... Also there are not many people go there so plenty of fresh tracks for everyone....

I was there last Sunday and there was some good slopes to ski. We were able to drive all the way to the trailhead but there is about 4 iches of snow at the trailhead. All wheel drive vehicle would be nice but you can probably make it without one. THere is snow on the trail but unless you have rock skies I would not ski the trail below 4000 feet level. There is almost 3 feet of snow above 5000 feet level or at the small lake but the main slope still had some heather expose because it was wind effected. You can still find nice powder on that slope as we did but the best slope we found was on the westside or the slope that was not effected by the wind. That was on Sunday Oct 31st so the slope and road conditions could have change by now. I would go check it out. But go as soon as possible as that road get snow bound very quickly. I may go again this weekend....

I don't know anything about cars so I would have to go to a repair shop but I know some trusty shop owners. It might be better to get a car that is 5 to 6 years old with about 80K miles and pay car payments for 2 years. But I hate car payments... What do you think is the best mountain cars or trucks? Seems like every climber has the Subaru wagon... (gas mileage is a consideration)

Just wondering if it would be worth getting an old car or newer car as I plan to use it only to drive to trailheads in the mountains and some long trips… For example: Subaru GL 1988 station wagon with about 233,000.00 miles with 130,000.00 on new engine for $1,500.00 obo Or should I get a newer car and take a loan from the bank and deal with car payments for 4 years? I rather use the money for outdoor pursuits then use it on car payments but then again I would hate to get stuck at a trailhead. Thoughts on those of you with past experience.... Thanks!

UBB23-ML-408325-ML- not really a climbing topic. carry on...

ASHFORD, Wash. - Two climbers were buried in an avalanche on Mount Rainier over the weekend. One managed to dig himself out, but the second climber suffocated. The dead man was identified as 21-year-old Aaron Koester of Monroe. The survivor is 23-year-old Matt Little of Monroe. The accident happened early Sunday afternoon around on the southeast side of Mount Rainier. Park Service officials said they were experienced climbers who knew what they were doing, but unexpected conditions and events changed everything. Park rangers said the two climbers were on Mount Rainier to prepare for a climb on Mount McKinley in Alaska and were walking down a snow ramp into a crevasse near Disappointment Cleaver at the 11,000-ft. level when something triggered the avalanche. All of the snow and ice swamped the two men. One suffocated, the other one was buried to his head but was able to dig his way out. After that, he dug through the snow to pull out his friend’s body. “You really don’t hear about avalanches in crevasses all that often,” said Patti Wold, U.S. Park Service. “You don’t get that many people going in them. However, we have been getting snow on the mountain, so it is avalanche season now.” As the surviving climber made his way down the mountain to help, a radio he was carrying actually picked up the transmission from a hunter’s radio some 30 to 40 miles away. “He has what is called a free talk radio and he was listening to what was going on and he heard a hunter down in Natches,” said Wold. “He was able to contact the hunter on this radio who then called 9-1-1.” On average, three people die every year on the mountain. In early June, 40-year-old Jon Cahil, a firefighter from Auburn, Wash., fell more than 200 feet while climbing Liberty Ridge. He scaled Mount Rainier more than two dozen times. Two weeks before that in the same area, a National Guard crew saved 39-year-old Peter Cooley, but his injuries were just too severe and he died. The Park Service said the two climbers in this accident were also veterans who became victims of Rainier’s constant dangers. “The reason they were on the mountain was to train for a climb up Mount McKinley,” said Wold. “The decease climber actually summitted Mount Rainier earlier this year.” The two men had been climbing partners for the past year and a half. Park Rangers said they had just recently finished a five and a half-day climbing trip in which they summitted Mount Hood, Mount Shasta and Mount Whitney. A helicopter dropped three rangers on Mount Rainier Monday to recover Koester's body.

Not sure if this was already posted so my apology for the repeat. An interesting article today in the Seattle Times. Would be cool to hear the story from anybody caught in this storm. Friday, October 22, 2004 Daring rescue gets pair off El Capitan By Ben Margot The Associated Press YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — Rangers yesterday completed a dramatic rescue of two climbers from a snowy mountain and removed the ice-encrusted bodies of two other hikers who died on the peak in an unexpected early blizzard in the Sierras. The deaths occurred on El Capitan, a forbidding granite mountain at Yosemite National Park, after a fierce blizzard that stranded nearly two dozen hikers and climbers across Northern California this week. Other than the two deaths, everyone was found or rescued. The blizzard blew in early Sunday and continued through Wednesday, creating deadly white-out conditions and 50 mph gusts as it dumped several feet of snow across the Sierra Nevada. "Oh, thank God, thank God. This is the greatest day of my life," Rita Bargetto-Snider said after receiving word that her brother, Paul Bargetto, was safe. The two deaths were first confirmed by a helicopter crew that managed to fly close enough Wednesday to spot the bodies as they dangled from their ropes about two-thirds the way up the precipice. To retrieve the corpses, rangers rappelled down El Capitan, put the bodies into yellow mountaineering bags, and carried them on their backs hundreds of feet to the summit. Another ranger team, using ropes secured to thick pine trees on the mountaintop, rappelled down to rescue the surviving climbers, who were airlifted off the mountain. "They're cold and they're tired, but they're in fine condition," said Jen Nersesian, a park spokeswoman. Paul Bargetto was part of a four-person group — two father-son pairs — that had been missing since Sunday after becoming stranded at a 9,400-foot-elevation lake near Fresno, about 70 miles southwest of Yosemite. The men, members of a California winemaking family, were greeted yesterday by about a dozen friends and family members after being removed from the mountain. None of the men needed hospitalization. "Once the conditions got overwhelming, they stayed put and rationed their food and kept warm. They saved themselves," said Jenna Endres, one of the rescuers. Another member of the group, Frank Horath, said no one packed gloves, so they shared wool socks and used them as hand-warmers. They only brought food for three people for one day, so they ate five peanuts for breakfast and a scoop of peanut butter for dinner. "After five or six days, we didn't think anyone was coming for us," he said, adding that when the weather began clearing, they would signal at airplanes with a mirror and lay out an orange tarp. "I've never been that cold in my life," Michael Bargetto said. Seven people were stranded on El Capitan by the storm: the two Japanese climbers, a man and woman ill-prepared for the weather, a ranger said; the two rescued yesterday; another couple who asked for extra supplies but apparently didn't need additional help; and one climber who was rescued Wednesday. One-half mile high and one mile wide, El Capitan casts an imposing shadow over the glacier-sculpted Yosemite Valley. The first successful ascent took 45 days, but most climbers today need three or four days to reach the top — clinging to barely visible outcroppings and prying their way up cracks invisible from the valley floor. The face of the mountain is 3,200 feet high. Springtime, when days are long and weather often is perfect for weeks at a time, is the best time to attempt an ascent. By June, the wall can be an inferno due to high temperatures. By September, days are too short and nights can be chilly. By October, there's always the risk of an early snowfall. Earlier yesterday, four other hikers were rescued from Yosemite's Ansel Adams Wilderness, southeast of El Capitan. All are experienced backpackers who had camped in snow previously and were prepared for bad weather. Jeff Peacock said conditions Tuesday were "pretty miserable" and the group used an insulated red pad and handkerchiefs to try to attract the attention of rescuers in a helicopter. "It was boring most of all," Peacock said. "We were just sitting in the tents staying warm. We knew we'd be found eventually." Associated Press reporter Tom Verdin contributed to this report

Hello I'm looking for a partner to do anything Alpine for this week. I want to do a 4 day outing either this Thursday thru Sunday or Friday thru Monday or a 3 day outing or ? - I'm flexable. The weather forcast looks great this whole week so perhaps a long loop hike or scramble peaks in the Bailey Range Traverse in the Olympics or perhaps go into the southern Picket Range. I'm open to anything..... Send me an email if interested... JERSAN@SAFECO.COM

How much will be the plane ticket? (Estimate)

Hello Everyone I'm looking for a partner for this weekend to do perhaps Logan Peak or something shorter. I'm free this Saturday through Monday and can do 1,2 or 3 days clmibing alpine or some rock... Send me an email at JERSAN@SAFECO.COM if interested...

Not sure if there is a post on this yet but if not here is info... Mudslides close Highway 20 west of Winthrop 06:44 AM PDT on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 From KING / KING5.com Staff and Wire Reports KING Heavy rains triggered three mudslides on the North Cascades Highway Monday night, closing Highway 20 west of Winthrop, Wash. NEWHALEM, Wash. - State Highway 20, the North Cascades Highway, has been closed by mudslides at the site of one of Washington state's wildfires. A lightning storm rolled through the Cascades around 6 p.m. Monday and started the slides about 38 miles west of Winthrop. The storm dropped about half-inch of hail and an inch of rain within half an hour, causing three sudden mudslides in the area. No one was injured in the Monday evening slides, but about 40 motorists and 25 firefighters and their vehicles were trapped between the slides, which are 3 miles apart. The members of the U.S. Forest Service were en route to fight the nearby Mebee fire about a mile away. "They're trapped in between the slides,” said Trooper Lance Ramsay, Washington State Patrol. “There are 25 firefighters fighting up there, and the fire is contained, and now they're contained with them." WSDOT maintenance crews from Everett and Twisp converged on the slides from opposite sides of the pass and were on site by about 8 p.m. Reports from the crew leaders indicated the slides were about 300 feet wide and 8 to 10 inches deep. They worked throughout the night and were able to create a small passageway. It enabled the stranded to get out just after midnight, but the highway remained closed indefinitely Tuesday morning. "These mudslides are several feet wide, and 3 to 4 feet deep and still moving,” said Ramsay. “There are others, one potential that could still move into that drainage." Firefighters gave blankets and hot meals originally intended for “hotshot” firefighting crews to the stranded motorists, , fire information officer Cynthia Reichelt said. Motorists were directed to move their vehicles to a safer area where a mountain ridgeline met the highway, she added. Highway 20 remained closed at the gates of Milepost 126 and Milepost 171. Road crews did not estimate when the highway would reopen. An unknown number of people were also stranded by a 60-foot washout on a U.S. Forest Service road leading to Harts Pass, Reichelt said. “Everybody’s safe,” said Dave Johnson of the Washington Incident Management Team on the Mebee fire. Because of the rain, the lightning-caused Mebee fire, which had burned 238 acres about a half mile north of the highway, has burned itself out. But nine new forest fires are burning near Winthrop. The same area was closed last fall when the North Cascades Highway was closed by washouts and several mudslides.

Missing hiker found safe along Snoqualmie River 12:18 PM PDT on Thursday, July 15, 2004 From KING Staff and Wire Reports KING George Hurlbut NORTH BEND, Wash. - A hiker who failed to return from a Sunday hike near Snoqualmie Pass was found alive on Wednesday. George Hurlbut, 59, was found along the middle fork of the river. He was a bit dehydrated but otherwise unhurt. When Hurlbut, who maintains a Seattle residence but lives in Florida, didn’t show up for work Monday at Washington Mutual, his co-workers grew concerned. His wife, who also lives in Florida, filed a missing-person report with Seattle police. On Tuesday, Hurlbut’s co-workers found his 2000 Ford Explorer at the Denny Creek Trailhead near Snoqualmie Pass. After the King County Sheriff’s Office was notified, authorities mounted a search. Searchers with dogs, horses and all-terrain vehicles searched for Hurlbut.

I was there on 4/24 and it was excellent conditions. There were 6 inches of powder snow on the glacier (around 6000 feet) and great corn like snow lower down. But the snow is melting fast on the approach in the forest. You have to boot it for about 1000 feet until there is continues snow to skinning up. Going down in postholing through the snow was hell. I'm sure after today with the warming trend things will change. But I would go no later then by this weekend.

Hello Everyone I have a pair of Black Diamond Termigaters2 for sale. I got this at Marmot in Bellevue for $39.95. I used these gaiters for my BackCountry ski boots but bought another pair after I thought I lost a pair. Well I found it and now I don't need two pairs of gaiters. I wored it few times but it is still pretty new conditon. I'm asking $25.00 These are great gaiters to wear over ski or telemark plastic boots. Look hear for picture and details http://www.bdel.com/gear/alpinism/termigaiter2.php Email me at JERSAN@SAFECO.COM if interested... Thanks!

I'm selling the 457 Pieps Avalanche Beacon. Almost brand new and includes fresh batteries, instruction Manuel and original case. I'm selling it because I bought it for $160 from a friend and a gift for my girlfriend but she went and bought the Tracker. I had this for few months and never used it. $140.00 OBO

yes it is for racing. I wouldn't do this for every outing

Hello Everyone Does anyone know where I can find info on how to put climbing skins on without taking my skis off for AT or tele gear. I think there was info on this before here but can't find it... Thanks for info

Has anyone been up Jim Hill Mountain for some Back Country skiing near Stevens Pass this year? I just wanted info if the approach is feasible from Henry Creek drainage. In early last December my friend and I tried this approach but we couldn't reach the bowl because of heavy brush from lack of enough snow. Thanks for any info

Thanks for the replies and tips. It seems that a GPS is useful in whiteout conditions such as on a glacier where land feature becomes obscured.

Hello everyone Not sure if this topic came to light here but I was wondering which is better for navigation, using a GPS or a map and/or compass with an altimeter watch? I was thinking of getting the Garmin eTrex Vista - http://www.garmin.com/products/etrexVista/, this unit provides bearing information while you’re standing still and it displays a map of your location. Couple months ago we got lost in a storm but my friend used his GPS to find the location of the trail that was displayed in his GPS and helped us located it pretty quickly.

See this post from the Times today. Seen black bears but they are not as big and aggressive as grizzley bears. Ever seen grizzlies around here? I heard there is a small population in the North Cascades... Thursday, October 09, 2003 - Page updated at 12:00 A.M. Audiotape captured sounds of bear attack By Jai-Rui Chong and Steve Hymon Los Angeles Times Timothy Treadwell can be heard desperately fighting off a grizzly bear on a 3-minute audiotape of the fatal mauling that claimed his life and that of his girlfriend, Amie Huguenard, in Katmai National Park and Preserve earlier this week, Alaska State Troopers disclosed yesterday. The Malibu couple had been camping in a remote corner of the 4-million-acre park on Alaska's southwest coast for several days to observe the bears. Treadwell, 46, was a self-taught bear expert who frequently described his adventures with the animals on television and in schools. Their remains were found Monday by the bush pilot who had flown to their camp to pick them up. The audiotape is from a hand-held video camera that Treadwell used to record his encounters with the bears, some of which weigh more than 1,000 pounds, police said. There was no video of the attack, said Greg Wilkinson, public-information officer for the Alaska State Troopers. Treadwell was last heard from at noon Sunday, when he used a satellite phone to call a friend in Malibu, Calif. According to Wilkinson, the tape begins with sounds of Treadwell screaming that he is being attacked and calling for help to Huguenard, who was apparently still inside a tent. "Come out here; I'm being killed out here," said Treadwell, repeating quotes from the tapes. "Play dead!" Huguenard yelled in reply. That strategy is commonly used to pacify angry bears in an attack. But Treadwell told Huguenard the strategy wasn't working and she then urged him to "fight back." Treadwell, who never carried weapons, then asked her to get a pan and to hit the bear, police said. At that point, the tape stops. Much of it is fuzzy or inaudible, Wilkinson said. Wilkinson said investigators had found the camera inside a bag they had picked up at the couple's campsite. He said he did not know whether one of the National Park Service rangers or state troopers who responded to the scene had put the camera in the bag or whether Huguenard had done so before she was killed. The beginning of the tape included video and audio of Treadwell interacting with the bears in the days before the attack. "The troopers who saw the tape said that, at one point, Treadwell is doing something and a bear suddenly comes up behind him and he has that 'oh my God' look on his face," Wilkinson said. "I'm sure all along he knew that he was playing with fire and that probably was part of the appeal." Park Service officials for years have been critical of Treadwell, saying he got too close to wild animals and made the mistake of treating them like people. His friends, however, said Treadwell's photos and 1999 book, "Among Grizzlies," helped educate people about bears. Treadwell had spent the past 13 summers in Alaska. He had been there since June, traveling to remote locations where he could pitch his tent and view bears. Huguenard, 37, spent time with him in July and traveled to be with him in September. Dean Andrew, owner of Andrew Airways in Alaska, said his company had flown Treadwell on three trips into the Alaskan wilderness this year. The last trip was a spur-of-the-moment decision that took Treadwell and Huguenard back into Katmai on Sept. 29. "The morning of the pick-up, there was no call," Andrew said. "That was a red flag." The pilot who was supposed to pick up the pair was a good friend of Treadwell's and did not want to speak to the media, Andrew added. Andrew said the pilot knew something was wrong when he landed near Treadwell's camp at 1:10 p.m. on Monday. Usually, Treadwell would contact the approaching pilot through a hand-held radio and then arrange his gear on the shoreline of the lake where the pilot landed his floatplane. On Monday, the pilot did not hear the familiar voice and noticed that the camp was still pitched about 100 yards up a hill from the lake. The pilot got out of the plane, shouted and walked toward the camp when, as Andrew described it, he "got a strange feeling that something wasn't right."

Thanks for all the feedback on this and hope this and my experience will be a learning tool in the future. I'm doing fine and plan on still backcountry skiing again in the near future but be much more careful. I hope they find the 2 skiers around White Pass area. Witnessing the avalanche last Sunday was enormous and I hope they didn't run into similar fate.

Well on December 17th Tuesday was my 31st birthday and I had to take a day off work. I decided to head up Crystal Mountain area and with the rain and cloudy weather on the way I had my doubts about going. I plan to do some backcountry skiing around Norse Peak area just east of the ski lifts. When I got there there was about 2 inches fresh snow at the parking lot and it was snowing pretty hard. Going to the backcountry solo I wonder if it was safe. Headed up to Bullion Basin with pretty good coverage and breaking trail all the way there with good base and about a foot of powder I knew I made a great choice coming here. Little concern with avalanche conditions I stayed in the trees climbing out of Bullion Basin and up the steep face of Norse Peak. I reached the summit around noon and it was still snowing but the weather was improving. I was amazed how well the coverage was. about 4 feet at its deepest. I took one run down eastside of Norse peak and it was a dream. About a foot of untouched powder snow. I was the only one there and didn't see anyone the whole day. There was no other people's tracks and didn't think I would see any when I headed out my own tracks was already almost buried with the snow coming in. Climbing out of the eastside basin I headed back up Norse Peak and then I took a run down Norse Peak and the run down was even better especially in the trees were wind protected snow was so soft and powdery. Again the coverage was great and never hit any rocks. I had to take another climbed back up Norse peak to ski it again before heading out. My conclusions is this don't go up lift areas where it is skied out within an hour. Backcountry is the way to go. Go where others haven't gone before!!!! There is suppose to be high pressure building this weekend and Saturday is going to be sunny. GO UP THERE AND SKI!!!!!

Hey there Do you think it would be worth skiing Ruth Mountain this weekend near Mount Baker or should I wait until spring? I thought with the new snow there would be some good turns.