CascadeClimber

Having tried many times in the winter I can say decidedly that it is not fun. It's cold. And hard. And psychologically tedious. And likely to result in not summiting...unless you stumble into perfect conditions (missed by a damn day in February). That said, yes, I'm interested in flogging myself against The Mountain again this winter.

We're going to end up with only one effing choice for gear here: BD. This is bad for the consumer all the way around. Suck.

Huh? So he came to and left Register Rock while you were on the true summit? Sorry, but if he don't go to the summit, he didn't go to the summit. It might only be 100 yards, but it doesn't count in my book if he didn't finish. Eight hours is a nice time- good job!

It certainly makes you as qualified as one of the other candidates. It was nice to see you again- congrats on making the summit. L

I've heard a number of reports of new routes up there in recent years. In every case it sounded like this: "I got permission to put up a new route, which I did. It's great. But the land managers made me agree to not tell anyone where it is." Maybe someone should ride their snowmobile up the west side of Si...

Yes. It is. It is?? When did that change? I hate those damn sledders who can't stay within their boundaries. Seems like Darwin failed us in this case.

I have an AOL email addy for him that isn't good anymore. If you have contact info for Dale please PM me, or let him know to email me. Thanks- Loren (loren@cascadeclimber.com)

- Magellan Explorist 400 GPS with charger and PC USB cable. $75. - OR Brooks Ranger Overboots with both liners. Older but never used. $50. Cash only, you meet me (live in Issaquah, work in Seattle and Bellevue). Still more to come...

- Thermarest repaired by Cascade Designs. Not used since repair. Ultralight with no-slip. In plastic sleeve. Can't remember length. Good pad. $25 - Thermarest Ultralight. 1" thick, 72" long. Non-slip, never used, still in plastic sleeve. $35 - Garmont Sticky Weekend shoes, green, size 8.5, lightly used. $15. - LaFuma Extreme Light 32 pack. Lightly used (doesn't fit me well). One non-critical broken buckle. Jberg summit pack! $20 - Marmot Gtex jacket (can't remember the model): Dark green single-layer Gtex. Not the tank-like Alpinist Climbing Jacket- the next one down the line. Used a lot, but no tears or holes. $35. - Stubai aluminum crampons. Moderate use. Could use a file on the points. SOLD! - Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight tent (original). $50. - Two pair Grivel 2f crampons. Well-loved and functional. $10/pair. - Moonstone Sauvage jacket, red. My original Gtex jacket. Best I've ever owned. $20 - Moonstone Sauvage 'Bants', red. My original Gtex pants. Made in USA stuff- 'Bants' are between pant and bib height. $20. - REI Triad down jacket liner, purple. Decent summer down sweater. Have been using as a loaner for a few years. $25. - Lifelink lexan shovel blade. Two available, one red one orange. The translucent kind. $10 each. ONE SOLD! Cash only. You meet me to pick up (live in Issaquah, work in Seattle and Bellevue). MORE TO COME. Spring cleaning!

Nothing like some classic Cascades wallowing How the NE Slab look? I figured the radio was a goner. No worries. L

In my non-expert opinion conditions were quite stable. The recent snow fell on a wet, soft suface to which is it reasonably well bonded. There were some very minor sluffs on south facing slopes caused by snow falling out of trees. We didn't cause even a sluff coming down the descent couloir or slogging down the basin to our skis in snow up to thigh deep.

Lost a yellow FRS radio on the first pitch today. Would be nice to get it back if anyone happens to find it. Getting up to the notch above the basin was perhaps the worst wallow I've experienced in the Cascades- that side was wind loaded with snow up to chest deep. Slogga slogga. The NEB is still in good shape. The waterfall is a bit aerated from the sun hitting it, but took screws just fine.

Agree: Both routes are in plum shape, as these routes go. If you are expecting continuous water ice you will be disappointed. If you want fun, airy climbing without a lot of scratching around on rock, then go get on them. The NF route is starting left of normal, and then traversing into the usual corner because of the avy crown. This isn't the usual glide crack that forms, it's a full-on overhanging crown. The route had decent ice and neve, especially if you stay just left of the normal line (20 feet or so). The NEB has a spicy start on the right side, and the crux up high was surprisingly attention-getting. It's good ice and protectable, but steep for just a few moves. There is good snow coverage on the rib above the opening pitch, and also across the east face to the crux. The approach is (was) in super-easy shape. I was 85 minutes to the Thumb Tack from the lot. I started on the NEB, then went over to the NF. It was in such good shape and so much fun that I ran another lap on it, then skied back to the car. Even with my crappy skiing and tired legs, I was on my way home just after 1:30, having left the car at 6:45. Edit to add: I got Ann's ropes back to her yesterday, but my wallet went missing. What the hell happened to Karma?? Thanks to Ann for a nice bottle of wine!

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Yeah, I have your ropes. And for what it it' worth, moving the knot past the slot in the cornice wasn't enough to make them pull: I had to drop them from above. PM me and we'll figure out how to get them back to you.

Yeah, it was a joy to ski out with 20 pounds (weighed them) of soaking wet ropes in my pack. Dunno why they didn't just go back up the slope and free them. Oh well, it's my karmic investment for the month.

You mean a computer or a butler?

I-90 area climb. PM me where and a description and I'll get them back to you. L

Hey RG, hows about you post back here when the determination about whether Paradise is going to be open to the public on Sunday and save us all a nickel on phone calls? Pretty please?

Thousands of people spend as much time dorking around every year at the site of the worst mountaineering incident ever in the lower 48. I guess it comes down to perspective and 'herd mentality': Somehow the fact that a hundred people tromp under the seracs of the Ingraham icefall every summer day makes it seem safe. But more than half the times I've come down that suck-ass route (DC) there has been big blocks of fallen serac in that area that weren't there when we went through on the way up. Link to the other CK Route TR L

I hope that you won't take this the wrong way, but from my long-distance arm-chair, it looked like your route had objective hazards on par with "Reality Bath," and that for large stretches of the route anyone attempting to climb it would run the risk of getting pulped by a serac fall. I wasn't there, have never been on the mountain, let alone the route - so am I seriously off base here? Yes, you are off base. We spent about an hour directly under the ice cliffs. 25 minutes was soloing on unprotectable 4th and low 5th slabs. The lower 1/3 of the route, including the technical crux, is fully or partially protected, and the upper 1/3 is not at all threatened. But whatever. If Jens and I turn out to be the only people to ever set foot up there, I'll not complain. It's a wild, untrammeled, beautiful place that requires good fitness and solid all-around mountaineering skills. Peace- L

Revenge looked fat last Sunday mid-day. Can only be fatter now. Mikey's Gully is hidden from the road.

Anyone want to skin up to Muir on Monday? From NOAA: "DRY WEATHER WILL PREVAIL ON MONDAY UNDER HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT." Email me: loren@cascadeclimber.com

Nice! Alta is a lovely place with a great view. That bit of nastiness at the end is avoidable with a little jog to the left before the notch.

I asked about the picnic area and was told that they don't feel there is a safe pedestrian corridor to/from that area in the winter. I'm not saying I agree, just passing along what I was told.