[TR] Bellingham - Pineapple Express 12/20/2008

[spacecadet]

Trip: Bellingham - Pineapple Express

 

Date: 12/20/2008

 

Trip Report:

This TR is a bit late, but the ice is still there...

 

A few weeks ago a few of us were lamenting about the warm weather and lack of ice or snow and so we decided to make use of an 80 or so ft "stump" for some alternative ice-climbing.

 

 

Used some ancient tree-climbing gear, which was far more scary than crampons and ice-tools.

 

 

This is Joe smokin' up the wood with crampons and tools. They go in solid, just a bit difficult to pull out.

 

Then this fantastic cold stap hits and Joe has this great idea of running a hose up the rope...a few days later we've got 30ft or so of great pillar ice. Which can be climbed at night with porch lights, beers, and a bonfire!

 

 

 

 

Faceshots of ice! Just like the "real" stuff. (Think this particular route is a FA...)

 

Gear Notes:

Couple of lag bolts, drill-bits, harness, ice-tools, and at least 6 beers.

 

Approach Notes:

I-5 to Bellingham, E. on Lakeway Dr, S. on Austin, knock on Joe's door for permission to climb his pillar.

[Calder]

Nice sticker on the lid

[Whatcomboy]

I like it. Ice climbing in downtown Bellingham. Reminds of pics in Climbing mag of ice covered farm silos in Iowa.