Mt Baker

Epic weekend with pals BWB, Vern and Steve.  Here's our music video: https://animoto.com/play/T2szr4zYejJDcEqtzYcD6Q

Mt Shasta bid May-2013

Quick report and photo link from a bid to summit Mt Shasta this weekend. Frank Mungeam and I drove to the sunnier state south on Friday with intention to climb the Hotlum-Bolum route on the north side. Car camped in luxury at the 7000' north gate TH that eve, and packed up to high camp at 9000' on Sat.  Weather moved from CAVU cloud free Sat morning to thru a series of declining stages until we decided Sun at 7am after a few hours of socked-in clouds sort of like heaven only without the view, that our summit bid was off.  

Most dramatic was the show from 5-9pm Sat as we set high camp with repeated snow/sleet squalls separated by long views to Diamond peak and Klamath Lake, dramatic clouds, thunder close enough to touch. We encountered approx 8 other teams, all with the same outcome, the highest reported he got to 12000' before wind knocked him off. 

Selected photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/104314591543358730400/MtShastaClimbMay2013?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJOD3YTVkdDohAE&feat=directlink

Mt St Helens summer summit

Today I joined four first-timer mountaineers on a hike up the popular Monitor Ridge summer route.  Our neighbors Jamie and Matt asked me to go along a few months back with Jamie's brother Mark and wife Emily.  

All went well on another fine CAVU day on the mountain.  Click for the rest of the pics and flicks.

Frank's 50th birthday MSH summit party

Yesterday, Frank M decided to spend his 50th birthday snowboarding off the summit of Mt St Helens, and I got to go with him!   He picked an incredible day with the mountain still covered in unusually late snow, bright sunshine and air so calm the birthday candles wouldn't blow out at the summit antic birthday party.

We made great time to the summit in less than 5 hours, lunched on cupcakes and whisky, then shredded downhill almost 3 miles of beautiful backcountry spring snow, losing 4000' feet over the 40 minute freeride.  Incredible.  Especially for Frank's 6th time on a snowboard!

Click here for pics and flicks to prove we don't make this stuff up. 

Mt Hood summit: Like April only it's June

Justin S, Frank M and I enjoyed the summit to ourselves after spending 7 hours of our Flag Day - 14.Jun.2011 - climbing up to hold a US Flag at the highest point in Oregon.   Did you catch that in the news? 

It was Justin's first summit experience, and he was pretty stoked, especially after doing most of training in a stairwell in Manhattan.    My Mt Hood summit log now reads 27 and Frank's approaching double digits, sort of like his age only smaller.

Mountain conditions were more like April than mid-June, sort of like the weather in the rest of the state.   Icy, colder than expected, windy and lots more snow cover than normal, from the Timberline Lodge parking to the summit. 

Click here for 20 pics of the day. 

Spring training #4: Ruckel Ridge/Creek loop

Our team of six (Renee, me, Shannon, Nate, Frank And Kellie) polished off one of the Columbia Gorge's monster hikes yesterday . . . the infamous Ruckel Ridge / Creek loop.  9 miles, 3800' gain, team time a bit over 7 hours, why hurry on this glorious May 1 day?   Wow, what a display of spring wildflowers today!

Click here for pics and flicks. Click here for our route map.

Spring training #3: Dog Mt

The hills were alive today with climb teams in training, despite the overcast, drizzle and wind, which the devoted didn't really seem to notice.   It was just another beautiful day in paradise!

Our team of 4 (Margaret, Frank, Ron, me) completed the 7m loop, 2700' gain, in 3.5 hours, socialized, and even had coffee twice in Stevenson.   Click for map.

We even ran into team Gamer, Svensson, Mattern, Fear, Belt!