sobo

My advice (it worked for me) is to sign up for the Level 1 Avalanche Awareness course, offered by National Ski Patrol. Should be easy to find one this time of year. Look 'em up on the net for more info. This was a 2-day course, with the second day in the field. Covered hazards, nomenclature, weather, snowpack, terrain, route selection, self-rescue, transceiver searches and probing, and concluded with a "real" multiple-victim search/rescue on skis. I thought it was well worth the $40 i spent. ...sobo ---------

below is a link to an article about Bill Robins from the local paper. http://www.tri-cityherald.com/ click on the link below the picture. ...sobo ------------

heyyyyyyy... Who deleted my from last night? I've been -robbed! ...sobo ------------------

not so fast, icegirl. keep counting ...sobo -----------------------

We're all sitting around drinking Fat Tires and Black Buttes right now. Not too bad for a bunch of geeky engineers... ...sobo

Thanks, Alex. That's exactly the kind of beta I was looking for. With that little piece of info, I was able to locate B4 Mtn on the WSDOT road map within 15 seconds of unfolding it. ...sobo [ 11-26-2002, 02:09 PM: Message edited by: sobo ]

Welllll, that sorta helps a bit. WA or BC? No wait, I'll do a search. thanks

quote: Originally posted by bolt clipper: I'm heading up the Big Four caves tomorrow. What's the likelyhood of dangerous avalanche conditions? Can someone enlighten me as to where the Big Four Caves are? I haven't heard of these. It appears that they contain ice climbing, yes? TIA ...sobo

quote: Originally posted by Alex: ...White Pass - Horsetail if you have it, the only times I've been up there with camera, the damn thing was running water Alex, To clarify, Horsetail Falls is actually closer to Chinook Pass (SR 410) than White Pass. But not to quibble... I do have a photo of Cragg and/or myself on it, but it is running water down the middle and it was a pretty dark, dreary day. You can judge if it's "guidebook worthy" for yourself when you receive it. ...sobo

quote: Originally posted by allison: I want some for carrying spices in the woods. You're not supposed to use film cans for this purpose... How come? I've been using plastic film cans for eons. Am I going to die of Ahlzeimer's or something like that? ...sobo [ 11-13-2002, 05:01 PM: Message edited by: sobo ]

quote: Originally posted by imorris: Here's a link to the award It's... happened... again... Save... me... ...sobo

quote: Originally posted by allison: Anyone know whare I can get some of these? Like maybe 2 x 4 inches. Local climbing store here in Yakima (Hyperspud Sports, 509-248-2093) sells them down to about 1.5" x 3", but they all come in a variety pack, so you'll get some other, bigger sizes too. ...sobo

quote: Originally posted by Dumpster Diver: Someone here give the rest of the world the directions to Strobach. Thanks a lot. I can do that, but the latter part will be sketchy until I can go in again. I'm planning to go up again on a weekend soon and re-flag the route with new survey ribbon. But here goes... From I-82 entering Yakima, take Exit 31A towards Nachces/White Pass, and get on Hiway 12 heading west, Drive 10 miles or so to Naches, then 4 more miles west of Naches to the US 12/SR 410 "wye" and turn left at the wye, Drive up US 12 towards White Pass about 12 to 15 miles until you see a sign for South Tieton Road, Turn of US 12 onto South Tieton Road and quickly cross over the Tieton River, round a bend, and pass by Goose Egg Rock, Shortly past GER, a pull-out for a FS road (#?) signed as Soup Creek appears; park here as the FS/WSDOT will have plowed the entrance shut (snowmobile works well here), Snowmobile, hike, snowshoe, or ski up the road for about an hour or so (couple miles +/-) and exit left on a marked ORV trail (#692?) and head into the woods bearing towards the obvious cliffs about a mile distant. From here, my directions would be sketchy as you "just kinda know which way to go" if you've ever been there before. That's why I was planning to re-flag it before the snow level got much lower. There's a beaver dam x-ing, a hike up a bare hillside/slide area, a bushwhack through a small thick forest, and general angling towards The Septum and Split Rock Camp. The approach, by skis or shoes, takes about 3 hours from South Tieton Road (sound about right, Alex/Jason?). HTH ...sobo

neversummer: iain has given an accurate description of what an MLU is. The acronym stands for Mountain Locator Unit. With regards to AA: I too have taken the WFA course. Twice now, once in 2000 and again just last month. I am not a guide, so I find WFR to be too expensive, too time-consuming, and generally unnecessary, all for reasons cited earlier in this thread and elsewhere. I did find the WFA course as necessary, however, after many years of close calls with no tradegies. I figure my number is coming up, so I better get acquainted with something beyond the basic Red Cross CPR class. My club in the Tri-Cities subsidizes its members for the WFA class to the tune of about half the cost. I intend to renew/recert every two years from now on, and take other courses as I see appropriate. As said earlier here, "use it or lose it", so keep up the practice. One course 10 years back will not save you in the long haul. Stay current. ...sobo

Left interior forearm: Several hook knife/chemical burn scars, all about 1 inch long. Years ago, pre-college education and current desk job, I worked in the textile manufacturing industry. Rayon is made from a combination of caustic soda and paper pulp. Without a lot of explanation, I cut myself on several occasions while performing my duties on the yarn spinning floor.The caustic soda enters the fresh laceration, and CS will eat to the bone unless neutralized. How does one neutralize CS, you may ask? Well, interestingly enough, rayon is made by spinning liquid CS through a platinum jet into a hot (120 F) zinc sulphate acid bath. Now are you getting the picture? Education and opportunity saved me from an untimely death at the hands of the Amalgamated Textile Workers of America. ...sobo

Don't get your hopes up just yet, folks. Just wanted to let you all know that the recent cold snap yielded bupkis as we haven't had enough precip lately. However, on my jaunt into the hills around White Pass over the wekend, I noted that recent significant snowfall was eveident on Strobach Mountain. Snow reached from the summit of Dome DIvide all the way down to just at the top-out of the climbs, right around 4400-4500 feet. It snowed 6 inches Saturday night at the 5200-foot-level where I was camped, on top of an existing 6-inch base. It was dark when I passed by Strobach on the way home, but I expect it got hit again pretty hard. More free water... goooood. Also noticed a group of three long, east-facing, sheltered, drips up the trail I was hiking (about 2 miles up from the truck, elev. ~4200) that I would guess haven't ever seen an ascent, unless Wes D. got to them before he moved south... Looked like stiff WI-3 to easy 4, with contemplative exit moves required. Keeping the location secret until I get back up there and nab 'em. Hang on a little while longer, Alex and Jason!

We have a winner!! Have you been there recently, robertm? In other news, it would appear that this FOWB has a partner for the trip. One hard guy who recently made the round trip to Oly by way of the Hoh valley in less than 24 hours. Thanks to all those who responded. Planning begins... ...sobo

WANTED: Partner to climb with aging trad climber who just wants to get out and clip some bolts on moderate multi-pitch routes this weekend. Can extend into next week a bit if it works out for both. Climbing is on granite, mostly older bolts, but with the odd trad move/pitch/route thrown in for good measure. Crowds non-existent, car camping is free (last time I was there), beer close by. Ideal candidate is someone to swap leads with at 5.9 or less face/friction/crack. Will follow 5.10; may even take a stab at leading it. As I said, "...aging trad climber...", so you young hot-shot bucks probably won't be interested in hanging around with a 40-sumpin' FOWB. It's a long way for west-siders, so someone on the east side may be more interested in hooking up for the drive. It's about 5 hours from Yakima. Folks from Walla Walla, Tri-Cities, Yakima, or Dayton may have more interest. Send PM. ...sobo

Agreeing with DAT here. In addition to CR, check out Harrison Peak on the north side of the cirque, a few miles from CR. Drive to Sandpoint, continue north, turn west up Pack River road, drive 20 miles or so on mostly dirt road to Harrison Lake TH, hike up 2 miles to lake, then antoher mile to the south face routes. Routes are clean granite, seldom visited, upper end of moderate. Randall Green had a guidebook out about 15 years ago or so. Idaho Rock, or something like that. I go there every Labor Day for a nice climbing getaway. Snowed about 4 inches two years ago... Cheers, ...sobo

Thanks, erik. Maybe i was a little too premature in my actions.

Gentlemen, I'm no moderator here, but you guys have gone waaaay OT. Please do the rest of us a favor and take your scrappy little tiff to Spray, and have fun over there.

erik, Don't know what the name of the route you did is called, but it sounds like a (painful) reminder of something we did in the IC several years ago, namely Condor Buttress. Could that be it? We were so proud of topping out that we pissed down the top pitch. [ 06-03-2002, 08:09 AM: Message edited by: sobo ]

quote: Originally posted by Norman Clyde: jhamaker, I think the quotation is "Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment." But I don't know who said it. Norman, I'm not sure who said it either, but I think it goes something like, "Experience is the result of exercising good judgement. Good judgment is the result of surviving bad judgement." TG, First, I extend my sympathies to you and your family on the loss of your daughter. In the same breath, I congratulate you on your completion of a fine route in bad weather. And lastly, I implore you to understand that there was really nothing you should/could have done for the LR party (even if you knew about them, which you obviuosly didn't). Your first concern was for your own safety and return, and concomitant with that concern was a safe return to your family. Well done, and Cheers! ...sobo [ 06-01-2002, 07:51 PM: Message edited by: sobo ]

i-am-in-the-grip-of-the-alpine-kitty. please-help-me!

Exactly where is it, as it applies to road approaches, parking areas, etc? It sounds similar to a place I climbed at years ago without knowing what its name was. Do you use the PCT to get to it? ...sobo