CascadeClimber

Yep. Here is an outdoor enthusiast who has had some adversity in his life and is taking on an immense and interesting challenge. And yet two people 20 hours overdue (at the time this thread started) in the midst of a storm are getting more press. This is a great opportunity for the press to pick up on and celebrate something positive *and* interesting. How about it King5News and Newstips?????

Looks much better to me, yesterday you couldn't see that chair lift:

Before you all send out a party of ping-pong ball imprinted Mounties out on a SAR mission for me, I thought I'd let you know I'm back. It was incredibly difficult- the trail had mud in places, and there were several downed trees. Three times I had to exit the rut to pass parties bivouacking in the trail. The partly sunny weather was also menacing (I burn easily), and visibility near the summit was limited to only several miles. After 46 arduous minutes I reached the top, and seriously considered spending the night, as I was spent and worried about descending safely. The call of a half gallon of cookie-dough ice cream in the freezer overruled my better judgement, and after 35 sketchy minutes I was safely back at the car, though quite rattled from the whole experience. Now to complete my February day in the Cascades day, I'm going out to mow my lawn.

Just so that I can meaningfully contribute to this thread, I'm leaving now to make a winter ascent of the cable-line trail on West Tiger Three. Just to make it interesting, I'm leaving my bivy gear and the ten essentials at home.

I haven't climbed much in the winter outside the Cascades. This last trip to Hyalite was a real wake-up for me: We spent three days in deep snow, getting snowed on, and even had to go crawling around under the car to chain up one day. And I was *DRY* the whole time. Plus I didn't need snowshoes or skis to travel in three feet of fresh snow. I used to think I had shitty winter skills, because I couldn't stay dry. But now I'm starting to think that staying dry around here in the winter is damn near impossible. Winter climbing in the Cascades is a suffer-fest most of the time.

You guys are hauling ass. Only two hours to go. And you can smell the ice from Missoula. ice ice ice ice ice ice ice

I'm jealous, even though I was just there! If you hit Perkins for a pre-dawn breakfast, tell Laura the waitress that Loren, Brett, and Eric say 'hi'. Climb safe- Loren

That's "Mummy 2" Your going to need: 1. A 4x4 with chains all around and high-clearance or 2. A snowmobile or 3. Lots of people for pushing, and digging or 3. To be ready for long approaches. The ice is FAT and BLUE and pretty plastic later in the day. Hyalite rocks. The Sceptre was huge, but I chickened out. It's right next to Mummy 2. Dribbles is great, too. Go get it. Temps were moderate for us. Take pics for those of us who are trapped in Washington. -Loren

I have a couple of older Kong keylock ovals that I use for chocks- they work great.

Which make/model are you using?

Amen to that Brother Knight! Phair Game is another stellar Phair Creek climb. From late February, 2001:

I really enjoyed this one, though it looked a little different when we climbed it: It's every bit of 60 meters, too.

Yep, you can see it from directly below, though that isn't the best approach.

Might want to double check that one. APTA is WI5 or 5+.

Rather than pontificating from the comfort of your desk chair, I suggest that you zip in there and cruise the second ascent, then report back. Happy climbing.

The giant eyebolt was still there last time I went that way. You don't need to rap, though. It's pretty obvious when you get to the notch. There is just a little elevation gain and loss on the travese, until you get to the exit chute. Wear a helmet. -Loren

Not this weekend. That would be the Lambone Party. I'm gonna sponge off their beta and go next week. ice ice ice ice ice ice ice ice

I'm gonna skin through bottomless powder to a fat, blue, plastic unclimbed three-pitch WI4+. Then I'm gonna yoyo ski three laps on the way out just because the snow is a dream. Then I'm gonna wake up and realize it's all a dream and that it's effing 50+ degrees and raining again and there isn't any fat ice or powder within 300 miles. Hyalite here I come.

Nice start, and thanks for the link on the Phair Creek page. When complete, your site will be a excellent completement to Lyle's ice guide. If you want/need, you are welcome to use my images on the site, as long as you don't mind including a copyright notice. Best- Loren

One is a closeup of Genesis 1 looking fat and picked out, and the other is Dribbles, looking much more appetizing that it did in November. Ice ice ice ice ice ice ice

I wonder how they feel about their employees taking that advice...

Anyone speak French?

Ahem, I think you are perhaps leaving out some pertinent details. Specifically: In those SIX years, how much money was spent by RTA and what, precisely, did they accomplish, other than a bunch of monkey spanking? Any entity that throws away as much taxpayer money as RTA did should be stripped of funding. In the same amout of time, Portland tripled the size of Max and rebuilt their airport. This is not about lack of money, it is about complete incompetence and lack of accountability. That is why I've voted for lower taxes. Grumble, grumble, grumble...

It's that the cuts they chose seem to be quite vindictive that irritates the hell out of me. Thay aren't shuttering the State Capital dining room with it's french chef, but I have to pay to park anywhere in the damn state except my own driveway. How about Gary Locke and the rest of the schmucks take it in the shorts, too? Maybe a nice fat paycut, or maybe cut the size of the State House in half. They are quick to point out that these cuts won't make a difference, so they shouldn't make them. Poppycock.

Good onya! Got any pics for us? -Loren