AlpineK

Highclimb, If you climb the north ridge on the Grand Valhalla canyon approach is technicaly harder but safer. The Grandstand approach is easier but their is lots of rockfall.

Highclimb, I've been to the Tetons a couple times. I've never done the Black Ice Couloir, but I have climbed the north ridge and north face of the Grand. Both are great routes. You need a strong stomach to climb the guano chimney. Wet birdshit is slick.

Does anyone have information on the condition of the Cascade River Road? How far up it can you get without a monster truck?

There's been a bunch of new snow in the Cascades in the last two weeks, so conditions may be much better than Atle experienced.

We used a Warmlite tent on Denali in '87. I think they are great if you set it up correctly. The wind blast from an avalanche broke the center pole. At the time we left it set up half-ass while we were moving loads. Later in the climb we were forced to use it as a bivi bag and a windstorm (100+ gusts) riped a huge hole in it. Set it up nice and in the right direction to the wind.

I refuse to pay user fees. Large companys that log and mine get subsidies from the government to rape and pillage our land. Why should we pay for recreation. Limiting use is fine, but you shouldn't have to pay.

SHW, Did you have any idea about the bee's nest you were playing with? I agree totally with Lowell S. The mounties have done a lot to be admired; however, their climbing class and other classes are an objective hazard in the Cascades. SHW please don't become part of the problem. PS Stay away from those WACky people too. there may be only 300 of them, but they have chosen the dark side of climbing.

SHW, I took the mounties basic class years ago, and I've also helped instruct the WAC's class. I highly recomend learning climbing some other way. In both clubs most of your teachers were students the previous year. You aren't going to learn much from folks like that. Also the mounties are pretty goofy; you can spot a group of them a mile away. I recomend taking individual classes from places like the Vertical World. There are some good glacier classes out there too. Once you get some basic knoledge try and find a partner with your skill level and go climbing. Start with climbs you both feel comfortable with and have fun.

Alex, I will worship your god if: 1) you ski on double camber skis. 2) you wear leather boots. 3) you have three pin bindings. If you don't your just an alpine skier with bad equipment. My advice is lock'em up and rip.

I'm looking for backcountry skiing / ski mountaineering partners. I have a lot of BC skiing experience and a good deal of motivation. I'm on randonee gear but I ski with tele or snowboards. Lets rip it up. I don't like tele guys on a holy crusade