Alex Posted February 17, 2003 Posted February 17, 2003 Explored and climbed Sat (in light rain/snow). The area we went to (base elevation ~4000) was totally in, although from a distance it looked terrible. Close up the ice was not only solid, but fun, plastic, excellent time. Really made us reevaluate what conditions need to be like to get good ice climbing in even at lower elevations on the West side of the crest. I would suggest that anyone who is still interested in getting in some local ice this year not be dissuaded by the recent weather and get out somewhere above 4500 ft. Banks Lake wont be in, but seems like there will be good ice in the alpine mountain areas like Strobach or Lake Julius etc for a few weeks still. Freezing levels are down to 2500 this week. Quote
erik Posted February 17, 2003 Posted February 17, 2003 enlighten us oh guide book author and ice sage!!! Quote
Alex Posted February 17, 2003 Author Posted February 17, 2003 Dave wrote up a TR. To me the interesting thing isnt really the new routes, but the fact that the ice was so good in this area despite the recent weather. http://students.washington.edu/dbb/ice/ice_climbing3/ice_climbing3.htm Quote
dbb Posted February 26, 2003 Posted February 26, 2003 Went back Sunday with Loren and Jens, but the dumping of snow has mostly rotted the ice at that elevation. We did get on a new 3p route though. Pics/TR here: http://students.washington.edu/dbb/ice/ice_climbing4/ice_climbing4.htm Looks like ice season might be coming to a close. Quote
philfort Posted February 26, 2003 Posted February 26, 2003 "I ... hopped my "frank and beans" right onto a big ass " Quote
forrest_m Posted February 26, 2003 Posted February 26, 2003 do i need a refresher in reading comprehension, or is it true that despite 4 separate TRs, copious route information and annotated photographs, DBB's website does not mention the actual LOCATION of this fabled ice climbing paradise? Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted February 26, 2003 Posted February 26, 2003 forrest_m said: do i need a refresher in reading comprehension, or is it true that despite 4 separate TRs, copious route information and annotated photographs, DBB's website does not mention the actual LOCATION of this fabled ice climbing paradise? You have to be in the super secret in club. I call it the grandest chestbeating of all. Quote
fleblebleb Posted February 26, 2003 Posted February 26, 2003 Cpt.Caveman said: forrest_m said: do i need a refresher in reading comprehension, or is it true that despite 4 separate TRs, copious route information and annotated photographs, DBB's website does not mention the actual LOCATION of this fabled ice climbing paradise? You have to be in the super secret in club. I call it the grandest chestbeating of all. I thought it was somewhat amusing I bet it is possible to figure out approximately where it is, from Dave's web pages. Quote
CascadeClimber Posted February 26, 2003 Posted February 26, 2003 We're holding out until we get invited to next month's "Only for people who have secret ice stashes" slide show at Mattp's. Quote
Alex Posted February 26, 2003 Author Posted February 26, 2003 Location and approach directions are in upcoming guide. Soon you all will be able to sample the sufferfest to your hearts content! Quote
philfort Posted February 26, 2003 Posted February 26, 2003 It's not too hard to find your own secret ice stash by looking at a topomap - sometimes the terrain is pretty obvious - that's how this place was "found". I think people need to do more exploring and less whining. Quote
forrest_m Posted February 26, 2003 Posted February 26, 2003 philfort said: I think people need to do more exploring and less whining. who says the two are mutually exclusive? Quote
Dru Posted February 26, 2003 Posted February 26, 2003 climbing a route and telling everyone about it, but not where it is, is a fancy way to avoid your route getting downgraded picures of my new 5.13d overhanging slab route with the strange, horizontal gravity anomaly, taken at *a secret location*, will soon follow Quote
JayB Posted February 26, 2003 Posted February 26, 2003 I hear that there's some sweet ice in Renton if anyone is willing to head out there and explore. Just turn left at the school and... Quote
CascadeClimber Posted February 26, 2003 Posted February 26, 2003 JayB said: I hear that there's some sweet ice in Renton if anyone is willing to head out there and explore. Just turn left at the school and... Quote
BURP Posted February 26, 2003 Posted February 26, 2003 Looks kinda like Mt. Kent area or maybe Macllelans Butte Quote
dberdinka Posted February 26, 2003 Posted February 26, 2003 I checked out Phil and Dave's websites. Based on their reports here's my go at sleuthing. Of course their websites could be massive disinformation campaigns, so don't blame me if you bushwack up Hidden Lake Creek and find nothing! It's up off the Cascade River Road. Phil first went there for the skiing potential. It isn't too far off the road. When you leave the road you cross a significant creek (Cascade Creek?). Climbs are around 4200' to 4500', north facing. Hidden Lake Creek looks like a prime suspect, though I guess it could one of many, many other side drainages in the area. Where ever it is, it looks sweet! Quote
Dru Posted February 27, 2003 Posted February 27, 2003 cracked said: What's an "overhanging slab"? where you take a picture of yourself smearing up a 45 degree slab and turn it 90 degrees so it looks like you are spider-manning up a 45 degree overhang. you can do it with camera tilt too but this method is better... Quote
Bronco Posted February 27, 2003 Posted February 27, 2003 look at me, here is my secret place I won't tell where it is either! Quote
cracked Posted February 27, 2003 Posted February 27, 2003 According to my TOPO cd, if you follow Hidden Lake Creek up from the road about 1.5 miles, you come to a steep, north facing slope, that is at about 4100 feet. I wish I had a car.... Quote
JayB Posted February 27, 2003 Posted February 27, 2003 Philfort, Alex, and DBB should stash a prize at the base for the first person to discover the actual location of the routes to claim. Maybe some plush toys... Quote
Jens Posted February 27, 2003 Posted February 27, 2003 There's some pieces of my gore-tex hanging on devil's club, and a couple of pitons up there for booty. Quote
Cpt.Caveman Posted February 27, 2003 Posted February 27, 2003 philfort said: It's not too hard to find your own secret ice stash by looking at a topomap - sometimes the terrain is pretty obvious - that's how this place was "found". I think people need to do more exploring and less whining. I think its the way mr alpinedave goes about it. Post 4 trs and chestbeat. We've all been guilty but for 2 years it seems kind of dull and silly at this point. Stroke each others cocks and have your fun. There is lots of ice but if you are going to be "secretive" then keep it that way. I could just call up somebody and ask them but in truth I could really care less. Quote
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