CascadeClimber

You can call me Imelda from here on.

I'd prefer a shorter wall inside, but I don't have any place inside that would get clearance from the tower. -L

It's hilarious! Anyone have an electronic copy?

I think Rainier is much more enjoyable when done in three days. The elevation is a butt kicker, and having a short day before summit day makes the slog to the top less work and more fun. We may live at sea level here, but we have lots of hills on which to train: West Tiger 3 (2100' gain), Si (3200' gain), Granite (3800' gain), Mailbox (4200'? gain). There isn't anything like that gain or steepness in Florida. Besides, living here makes it less significant: If we feel like shit we descend and go back the next weekend. It's a different story when you're burning vacation time and flying in from 2000 miles away. My Dad came out from Michigan in 95' and we climbed the Kautz together. We took three days and made high camp at Camp Hazard. The result was that everyone had a good time and got to the top. A 3200' summit day from Ingraham Flats isn't too bad, especially if you take two days to get there. There is an alpine zone at 12,500(+/-) on the Emmons where I've seen encampments. Just remember that you'll likely have to do some work to make a flat spot if you get away from the usual camps. My advice: Take your time, enjoy every minute you're on the mountain, and let the summit be secondary to an overall positive experience. Also have a backup plan in case the weather is awful, which it can be at any time of the year: When the weather is bad up there a tent provides a means of survival, not comfort. Have fun, climb safe. -L

Are they talking about the lower bridge, about 1 mile from the TH? The "bridge" just before you reach the cabin was just a log with a makeshift railing, which was falling down anyway, and the creek was easy to cross elsewhere. I'm sure any new trail will feature 287 new switchbacks and add five miles to the five mile hike to Kennedy...

IIRC, there is a major washout about ten miles from the White Chuck TH. Kennedy Hot Springs got wiped out, too. The approach will be long even after the snow melts out. The TH is at 2200'. Do a search- there was a thread on this last fall with some pics.

The attachment system on the newer Ascension skins blows chunks. The older system with the original green stretchy (not the 'improved', breaks in six outings one) in the front was better.

Yeah, Bush's "War on Terror" is looking a lot more like a war on peace and civility. This guy and his administration full of repressed-anger hate-mongers is a train wreck in process, and the whole world is on board. Everyone needs to vote this Fall. And everyone needs to make sure their friends vote. VOTE!!!! -L

I'll take some of that! You think $100 is a reasonable price to replace the battery in a $220 product?? Sure, all batteries wear out. But I don't have to send a $2000 laptop in and pay $1000 for that new battery (1/2 the cost of the laptop). It's just another example of how they take a near perfect product and F it up with one moronic decision. Don't get me wrong: I was a Mac fanatic before you were walking, and lasted longer than even Guy Kawasaki. But they've been doing the same dumb things since 1984. -L

Style: A Features: A Cost: B Battery Issue: F. It's a show-stopper for me. No excuse whatsoever for building this thing with a finite-life battery that can't be *easily* replaced by the end user. Stupid Apple, again.

We skied to just below where the summer trail crosses the main gully, which is 1800' up from the trailhead. There was scattered snow on the trail below that. Some really wanting to maximize turns could drop a couple hundred more vertical through patchy snow and brush. -L

Post deleted by mattp

Good: Old-school Windstopper fleece gloves, Windstopper balaclava, Nalgene holders (insulated and not), old style taped Gtex mitts, the little stretchy shorty gaiters, which I use over my approach tennies. Okay: Crocs (should be shorter with more Cordura higher on the inside and none on the outside, strap buckle is prone to getting pulled out). Notsogood: Fall Line gaiters (should be called Fall Apart gaiters- stitching is prone to crampon nicks and then they literally fall to pieces). I still haven't found anything that works better on Rando boots, though. YMMV -L

Climb: Granite (I-90)-South Gully Date of Climb: 3/13/2004 Trip Report: Easy climbing, great skiing for 2000', lots of options. Go get it before any more snow comes off. It was plab...I think...I'm not sure what plab means. Gear Notes: Skins not needed. Crampons not worn, but wise to take. Approach Notes: Trail is in good shape to gully. Yet another trail with too many switchbacks.

My kids are 6 ("Almost 7, Dad!") and 4. Keep me in the loop on this- though I probably won't truck them all the way to Smith. Would also be interested in some half-day 32/38 outings with others with kids. -L

Ice Screamer: 13.75" Reg. Screamer: 9.0" (not including biners) Don't have any shorties. I like the length of the regular ones: They help even out the rope as I wander back and forth looking for the easiest line. -L

Stay away from the ice screamers- if you rack them on the back of your harness they are long enough to catch your crampon points on when you step up. -L

I started too far climber's left my first time on the NF, too. It's significantly harder over there. In the correct groove the climbing is easier, though still a bit runout and often mungy. Go back and get it! -L

The system munched my original post. I've fixed it now. -L

Climb: Das Toof-NE Slab Date of Climb: 2/29/2004 Trip Report: NE Slab is climbable, though I wouldn't call it "in". Some ice, some nice firm snow/neve/styrofoam and plenty of snow and thin ice over compact rock. 2.5 pitches to the ridge, one simul pitch to the top. Ended the first pitch at the tree across the gully from the fixed station, the second pitch at the big dead snag. Gear Notes: Didn't use any screws. Small nuts, small cams, one kb, and some medium cams (WC 2.0, 2.5). Approach Notes: Good for approaching, bad for skiing.

CBS is right about the source of the bounce messages. The sending address on infected messages is almost always forged now. Getting a bounce notification just means that the infected message bounced and it had your addresses forged on it. The list of words is added to spam to fool filters. It depressingly effective. -L

Hey, I have a single here, let's make a set! Oh, wait, that isn't going to work...

Definitely: Hence the name of the last route we climbed there: "Beggars Can't Be Choosers"

I was there on Sunday- is that really representative of "in" conditions? We found vertical running wet slush, sloppy, muddy top outs, and poor protection. Not trying to be critical, just curious. -L

After last weekend I seem to be down to one of these snowshoes. I'd be willing to buy a second, or sell this one to complete someone else's set. -L