What should I climb this winter?

[Dannible]

Ok, so I've had enough of this rock stuff for a while and am getting way stoked for winter. I've only done a little bit of ice and mixed climbing, and am hoping to get a few alpine routes in this winter. What are some good moderate (to about WI4, M4) routes around here that come in somewhat regularly? Any good obscure routes that should be climbed more? I know I'm a few months early here but I want something to daydream about.

[TrogdortheBurninator]

NY Gully on Mt Snoqualmie goes at the grade you listed, and is an excellent climb. Any of the winter climbs in nelson V1 or 2 should also be good. Otherwise, look at the last few years of NWMJ as a number of great looking lines have been put up.

[John Frieh]

Whatever is in.

 

People tend to get fixated on just one or two routes and as a result look at just those every weekend and maybe only get out once or twice all winter when everything (avy, weather, conditions) just happens to come together... you can honestly get out just about every weekend at least somewhere if you are willing to drive and look at as many objectives as possible.

 

Also have a list of stuff that is way easier than what you listed and use those climbs as backups for the weekends when the weather/conditions is truly teh suck for your "to do list". Yeah the tooth is easy but go do it in absolute teh suck conditions.

 

Lastly: if you are completely unfamiliar with the approach of a climb you are looking at it would behove you to go do it ASAP before more snow falls so you can get familiar with the approach, etc. Better yet take your GPS and get some way points so you can do the approach in the dark or less than ideal conditions. A lot of weather windows around here in the winter are so short that if you blow it on the approach you missed your window.

[Dannible]

Good advice, thanks.