[TR] Mt. McLoughlin- Thin Mint Cookies 7/7/2004

[gapertimmy]

Climb: Mt. McLoughlin-Thin Mint Cookies

 

Date of Climb: 7/7/2004

 

Trip Report:

my name is gapertimmy, and i have a skiing problem.

those were my thoughts when i sat on my back porch, drinking a beer, and waxing my skis in the 85 degree weather. i bet my neighbors think i'm a freakin weirdo, but then again, their thoughts are dead on.

 

i had been jonesing to check out McLoughlin, the jewel of the southern OR cascades, and a recent TR from Amar on T.A.Y. with a tasty picture of the NE bowl whetted the appetite for some July corn down south!

 

departed the capital of gaperdom, bend, or. around 5am and headed south... arrived at the trailhead around 8:15 (after getting lost, forgot maps and directions to TH, woops) and saw no less than 10 cars in the lot!?!? WTF, my dreams of solitude on the pile o choss were crushed.

 

the approach on the climber's trail is a pleasant walk through towering fir trees. every-so-often along side the trail i was begining to notice water bottles and sweatshirts cached.... gaper tracks! alas about 2 miles in I encountered the first crew of little 'britneys'. indeed, i happened to be sharing the mountain with no less than 45 young girl scouts.

 

as i passed each pack of ladies the questions poured in:

"Why do you have ski's on your pack?"

"You are hiking in your ski boots?"

"What is your phone number? You are core!"

"Are you going to ski?"

 

to these inquiries i always had a witty response such as:

"Ohhh I'm just carrying these ski's for extra weight"

"Ummm, I'm in training for a first ascent/descent on horsescock direct, pilot butte"

 

With each questioning from the young ladies, I couldn't help but think that it is July, and I am slogging my ski gear in multiple miles to ski ~2k of vertical. I'm a freak, and I fucking love it!

 

All pre-pubescent girls aside, McLoughlin is a great ski-hill. The NE bowl/face holds a variety of exciting lines, steep, narrow, and ohhh so purdy!

NE Face of McLoughlin

 

Got to the top around noon, snapped some pictures, signed some autographs, and then something happened to me that has never before, and probably will never happen again in the mountains. About 20 young girls congregated just below the summit to watch gapertimmy RIP IT UP extremo style. The crowd quickly snapped pictures, shouted cheers of support, and informed me that i'm crazy. Too freaking weird.

 

SE ridge/SE face, i skied the snowfield that starts climbers left of the summit

 

The skiing was great, quick turns up top where the snow field was thin, and then some big turns lower down... about 2k' of vert.

 

I'd have to say that the season on this hill is pretty much close to being done... but if you are eager, and perhaps a High Schooler wanting to do some big pimpin, McLoughlin is calling.

[swaterfall]

I also suffer. I feel your pain.

 

[iain]

Right on, keeping the season alive!

[steepconcrete]

Oh yea timmy, you are a rockstar.

 

It would be cool if you influenced some of thoes girls to start skiing.

[gapertimmy]

HA steep, yeah this one girl kept asking me to ski down, and hike back up so she could give it a try. spreading a good disease.

[badvoodoo]

Careful there timmy, I hear out in central OR guys givin diseases to girlscouts is a hangin offense!

[iain]

How many boxes of thinmints did you come away from the mountain with? Samoas?

[sk]

thank you timmy that was an awsome TR

[Lambone]

DUDE!

 

Dear Mr Extremo,

 

You must gimme a shout out next time you go! You know I live about 30 min from that trailhead right?

 

Word...looks fun! Medford girlscouts are all hotties, all you Seattle geeks are missing out!

[steepconcrete]

somoa's are another GS product. A sugar cookie with a carmel layer on top, then coated with chocolate and coconut sprinkled. Purple box, I think. Mints are a green box? Maybe vice versa. They are not good with beer.