AlpineK

The area is new to us, so it added an element of exploration even if it's been skied a few times. On my February trip we did see evidence of recent slides down the main drainage chute on the west side.

Actually if you run a search for each image and look at usage rights both images are labeled for reuse

Trip: Lichtenberg Mtn - SW and N Faces Date: 3/22/2014 Trip Report: Skiing Lichtenberg from Yodelin in February helped me dial in a summit route and give hints on a variety of descents from the summit. After convincing Cman and JH skiing new lines was better than repeating standard trusted routes we played a game of Frogger on HWY-2 and started skiing. Thanks to other skiers trail breaking wasn't required till we reached the base of the slope on the SW side of Lichtenberg. From there a hard but breakable crust made setting new tracks relatively easy Above Tree Line on the SW Face [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3064/medium/1-W-DSC01056.jpg[/img] View from the summit were great Daniels, Hinman and Rainier [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3064/medium/6-W-DSC01061.jpg[/img] Stuart [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3064/medium/7-W-DSC01062.jpg[/img] We weren't quite sure where we'd end up, but skiing on the north side looked good. After finding gaps in the summit cornice we found nice spring powder [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3064/medium/14-W-DSC01069.jpg[/img] After our run from the summit we did some hunting and found a nice chute dropping down to a flat area [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3064/medium/19-W-DSC01074.jpg[/img] Looking back from the flats [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3064/medium/23-W-DSC01078.jpg[/img] From the flats we decided to traverse towards Lichtenwasser Lake till we found a good line headed back to the top. A traverse past old avy debris brought us to a nice angled uptrack [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3064/medium/25-W-DSC01080.jpg[/img] After all that powder skiing the uptrack required real trail breaking. After a few lead swaps we found ourselves back on the summit ridge. Clouds were starting to move in from the west [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3064/medium/26-W-DSC01081.jpg[/img] Skiing off the summit started with hard breakable crust. With elevation loss the crust softened and turning was relatively easy. [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3064/medium/27-W-DSC01082.jpg[/img] Looking back from the base of the SW Face [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3064/medium/28-W-DSC01083.jpg[/img] From there a combination of sliding and skinning brought us back to the highway and a new game of Frogger. Route map [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3064/medium/3-22-2014_Lichtenberg_Route_1475_1279_-1.jpg[/img] The red line marks ascents and the blue descents Gear Notes: Bring snow sliding gear Approach Notes: Follow roads past cabins then follow or make a track west of Nason Creek. Once past tree line slopes on climbers right provide a lower angle ascent route

The winter here started out thin. Basically a little new snow at altitude then a long period of dry cold weather. In January few ski areas were open. Where there was snow it became an icy layer with hoar frost on top. When February rolled around snow started dumping. Now we have a near normal snowpack, but risks of persistent deep slab avalanches are still present due to the January icy surface underneath. While human triggered you can see what I'm talking about in this video of a trashed ski lift at Crystal Mountain Crystal Mountain Avy In general terms I'd expect risks of big avalanches to continue as things warm up in the spring. June to mid July tends to be stormy-wet in most years, and rain adds weight to the existing snowpack. You'll have to make the final call on what route to do, but snowpack history and weather trends are something to think about.

Sorry I didn't note previous Muir ascent(s). While a good thing to have done it is one of several stepping stones. As noted in my post there are cracks in the Muir snowfield at times, but it isn't real glacier climbing. Any ascent of Rainier requires experience with glacier travel. Every group climbing the mountain is different. Adding a new member to the group without glacier or related climbing experience implies you are willing to accept a new level of risk. Perhaps he can find a willing team or group, but you increase odds of finding climbing partners with greater experience. If Rainier is the one and only climbing goal paying for a guide is a better and often safer way to go.

If you want to get on Rainier consider setting a goal like a day trip to either Steamboat Prow or Camp Muir. Both are good for snow skills practice and give you an objective to work for. Keep in mind, especially if you choose an ascent to Muir, map reading and navigating may be required. If the forecast calls for 100-percent chance of sun it's a relatively easy ascent/descent. On the other hand white out or near white out conditions require good map reading and navigating skills. Via standard south side routes, climbing to the summit of St. Helens and Adams are options as well. Being able to navigate in sketchy weather may be a requirement on both routes. My suggestions include some minor crack/crevasse crossings at times, but they are minor league and good training.

03/19/2014

Last Friday the Vantage climbers parking lot was full, and lots of folks were climbing. They don't want folks to walk or drive on the newly exposed area created by draining the dam

KIRO video

Pretty much toast on a stick [img:center]http://crystalmountainresort.com/gallery_cache/1396/550_550/Chair-6.jpg[/img] [img:center]https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/p526x296/1977265_10151975752555233_1986680159_n.jpg[/img] [img:center]https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/1524632_10151975752760233_1014732170_n.jpg[/img]

Shoulda been there, but climbing at Vantage the next day was worthy of not staying out late. Next time

In most cases the best skiing is near the top of Arrowhead. This time it in the valley.

Trip: Lichtenberg Mtn - SW Face Date: 2/28/2014 Trip Report: While having skied off the summit ridge of Lichtenberg I'd never skied off the top or the west side of the peak. Skiing in this area has been on the must do list for some time. A moderately sunny forecast and moderate avy conditions convinced me to try and ski back there and see what things looked like. Starting from the Yodelin ski area added a bonus by eliminating the long trudge up Smith Brook Road. After crossing HWY-2 from Yodelin we followed cat tracks past cabins to the end of cat tracks. From there we followed the western side of the Nason Creek drainage to an open area below Lake Valhalla. At this point I was psyched to find recent skin tracks to take advantage of. While mostly sunny clouds kept swirling around the summit [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3063/medium/9-W-DSC01021.jpg[/img] Looking towards Stevens Pass [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3063/medium/15-W-DSC01027.jpg[/img] Eventually clouds moved out for nice summit views Looking towards Nason Ridge and the Chiwaukum Range [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3063/medium/16-W-DSC01028.jpg[/img] Stevens Pass Ski Area and Heather Ridge [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3063/medium/18-W-DSC01030.jpg[/img] While slightly funky near the top the snow had a nice young corn consistency [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3063/medium/20-W-DSC01032.jpg[/img] [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3063/medium/21-W-DSC01033.jpg[/img] Looking back from the valley [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3063/medium/24-W-DSC01036.jpg[/img] On return to Yodelin we found standing water and signs of spring conditions. As always the weather can change rapidly. The next day a friend and I skied Arrowhead and found clouds, wind, and dust on a hard breakable crust. Frozen partly buried chunky chunks of snow added some excitement too. [img:center]http://cascadeclimbers.com/plab/data/3063/medium/6-W-DSC01042.jpg[/img] The vehicle temperature gauge read 18F while driving back by Yodelin. Gear Notes: Snow sliding devices are nice given current conditions Approach Notes: Park at Yodelin cross the highway then follow a road past cabins to the NE. From there follow a slightly rising traverse west of Nason Creek

Outside of the core of downtown and Capitol Hill makes parking easier. Georgetown has some good spots as does the Greenwood area

Replace Spray with Angry Birds [img:center]http://www.freevector.com/site_media/preview_images/FreeVector-Angry-Birds-Characters.jpg[/img]

Exactly, I've only been in the island mountains in winter once, but there's some cool stuff there. Nice to see a cool TR like this

In my view the only nagging problem faced by CC is too much political bullshit and not enough time talking about goats. [video:youtube]58-atNakMWw

There is this forum on CC Mike. Rest of the US and International Post a Canyonlands or Utah report

Can't speak for what Lenin did to Poland. On the other hand some modern russians seem to have bigger issues with Vladimir Putin riding around shirtless. [img:center]http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/07/16/article-2366037-016A1126000004B0-364_306x482.jpg[/img] At least based on the Pussy Riot interview on the Colbert Report http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/432806/february-04-2014/pussy-riot-pt--1

Umm, Real peak renaming requires an act of Congress and signature by the president. W mentioned Mt. Stevens in Alaska. Look up what it took for that permanent change. Yes there are issues of much greater importance, but chances of getting the state legislature to work at 100-percent efficiency are very low if not zero. Source

Can you say, "drubbing." [img:center]https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1/1486584_10151908208368016_2068483466_n.jpg[/img]

I read somewhere that the plan is to fly to the summit tomorrow and bolt a plaque bearing "Mount Seattle Seahawks" to register rock. Rumors are flying about a new via ferrata route to and from the summit of Mt. Seattle Seahawks too.

Google takes the renaming seriously https://www.google.com/maps/preview/place/Mt+Seattle+Seahawks/@46.8638119,-121.7578074,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x5490d193f70860fb:0x5b5e4fe17ad6b707?hl=en It is only a temporary name just like Colorado renamed all the 14ers after Bronco players. Can't see any of those names sticking longer than a few days

[img:center]https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/67857_10202296858936485_2128515334_n.jpg[/img]

West Ridge of Forbidden is a good one.