Rainer, Hood, Shasta, fall 2005??

[TMax]

Ready to count another in? I'm an unknown to all of you but was planning a trip to do a "big climb" out west, with Rainier at the top of my list. It's always risky to plan a big climb like this with people who you're not used to hiking with but I've done a mountaineering course with Chauvin Guides, and some ice-climbing with IMCS in the Whites. I've also hiked Mt. Elbert in Colorado which is over 14,000' (but isn't a technical climb.) Are all the young male beer drinkers willing to have an old female soda drinker join them? SKIMOM...you ready to push the female quota up? Do you all know each other? If not, maybe we could all get together as a group before final commitments are made? Whatchya think?

 

[iceNsnow]

get together!

TMax!
I think you have a grand idea about all of us getting together to meet for a hike - preferably this winter!

PS I am a milk drinking female.

 

[TMax]

iceNsnow...sorry about the gender assumption. I'm not usually that stupid!

I'm planning on hiking the Lion Head winter route to Mount Washington the first weekend in March. I'm going up on Friday the 4th with the hope of making the summit on Saturday. Anyone from this group willing/able to do that? Even if the weather doesn't allow an above tree line hike, there's plenty of other climbing to be done in the area.

 

[hillman1]

I would really like to be in on this hike for Ranier. I already planned on hiking it. I've met Inge at cliff last winter when I was backpacking with Alg. I would like to sign up for a mountaineering course before winter is over. Maybe evryone that is interested could meet for a winter hike. I like the idea of Washington. Any ideas. Just to toss it in for an idea for hiking partners--I know Inge is a guide, and I am a wilderness first responder(and a nurse). Everyone thinking about this probably has quite a bit of hiking experience, right? I also know Inge is super fast. I've been doing alot of hiking, but if this is gonna happen, I'm going to start really hitting the hills.

 

[Guinness]

I'll be putting together a survey form that should be completed by everyone interested in going out west. This form will provide all of us with an overview of experience level, equipment and other pertinent information. The form will be placed on a web site I’ll be setting up specifically for this event. Once the data is compiled, we can move forward in final planning. Since I was planning this trip previously, my tickets are already purchased.

It would be strongly suggested that we get together as least twice between now and July to work together and go over planning such as rope teams, techniques and in general to have time to learn one another. Once we have rope team assignments, each team would then work autonomously of the other team for final preparations. The survey form and web site should be up and operational by Friday (2/25).

 

[giggy]

thanks guiness - sounds awesome.


Lion head first weekend in march sounds good. I have a stupid birthday party in Rhode Island at 7pm - would have be back at my car by 3pm.

I could do - but would like to be on trail going by 7am. Meet at pinkham gear room at 6:30am. I have done this route many times - it is pretty much non technical for those who have never done it.

But - I don't want to ruin others trip if this is too early - also if it is getting late would people be offended if I moved ahead on the way down?

I am thinking we could get get to know each other on way up and then if getting late on the way down - I could plow ahead if need be. Of course if something happens - I would not abondon you!!! I would miss the party - no biggie.

for those asking about courses. I have dealings with both IME and Chauvin Guides for snow/ice courses.. Both are top notch and worth every penny - but it will run you a few hundred if you a do a three day. IMHO - a course alone with one guide (1 to 1 ratio) is most effective. 2 days - totally customized to your needs. If you are are an expereinced backpacker and know how to camp in the winter - you really just need the crampons/axe/rope skills. If you have them but never got taught properly how to use them - your probably doing it wrong. There is a right way to walk on snow and ice, how to hold the axe, self arrest, self belay, etc...

I am sure all the guide services in the area are good. I have never heard a bad thing about any of them.

 

[Guinness]

Ok, now I have done it. I started a web site called: High Peaks Climbing just for me to play with. It is VERY thin right now, but I have built the Rainier / Hood event pages. Please go to the site and review the time tables, check lists and trip survey forms. If you are interested in joining us, complete the survey form which will allow me the necessary information needed to plan and to make better decisions. I will add a lot of information over the next few weeks to bring the site up to a usuable state.

As mentioned previously, I am already booked arriving into Sea-Tac on Saturday July 30th. I will keep everyone posted on the progress of the schedules.

Regards,
Ed

 

[TMax]

Guinness: Thanks for setting up the website. It's looking good to me! I just went and filled out the survey form.

CragginCragin: A 6:30 meet in the gear room sounds OK to me. I'm usually a bright and early kind of gal! And I have no problem with people setting their own pace if you want to speed things up, I tend to be strong and steady but not speedy. Are we talking Saturday the 5th or Sunday the 6th?

Anybody else interested?

 

[Guinness]

Thanks TMax,

I have received four completed surveys. At this time it looks like six of us are looking at going out West. Excellent turnout! I plan on reviewing the forms and make some intitial calls out by Rainier and Hood. Then toward the middle of March, start contacting everyone to discuss plans, teams, timetables and open questions.

As previously mentioned, we will try to get together a couple of times before July. I already know some of the climbers, I'll make a special effort to meet those I do not know.

Keep an watch on my my web site in the Events Page for updates, and latest support pages for this West coast trip.

Ed

 

[SherpaKroto]

One of my life goals is to climb above 14K. The mountains I had in mind were first Rainier, quickly changing to Shasta as an easier option. My original plan was to climb Rainier for my 50th Birthday. I turn 50 on May 9th. To say that I am very interested is an understatement.

Ed: I would forego/shorten our ADK plans for this in a heartbeat.

 

[daxs]

Checking air fares and working with one of the athletic trainers at work to set up a workout program to make me a lean, mean hiking machine......Vacation submitted and approved

 

[coldfeet]

I promised i wouldn't get sucked into this thread, I hope all goes well and you set this up again in 2006!

 

[SherpaKroto]

Ms Sherpa just gave me her VERY enthusiastic encouragement to go for it. Time to clean up the weight room.

I'm in if you'll have me.

 

[Jasonst]

Ms Sherpa just gave me her VERY enthusiastic encouragement to go for it. Time to clean up the weight room.

I'm in if you'll have me.

Do you think she could call my wife?

 

[sli74]

One more in for this trip. I talked with Ed and have decided that I am on for this trip. Need to get myself to the gym more frequently now I guess. Hey FRODO, I am in training for Denali

sli74

 

[Rik]

One more in for this trip. I talked with Ed and have decided that I am on for this trip.

Great now that there is a 'single, exotic, female' going my wife will never approve!

 

[giggy]

I am damn glad I posted this - this is great and looks like it is going to work. I am in for rainer - not 100% on Hood yet.

round trip from prov RI looks to be about 300 bucks.

Does anyone want to get together in march in the whites for some stuff. Maybe a nice trip up washington - there was a somewhat trip mentined for the 5th - but never heard much else.

We are having a baby in april - so that mont is out for me - I will still be training locally, but won't even think of heading up north until probably late may.

But - I have all of march. anyone, anyone,

the 5th - can only do a day thing - but all others are open I think.

Sli74 - I see you are in n attleboro - a decent place to train locally is diamond hill state park in cumberland RI - I mean for nights after work - throw the pack on and go up the hill a few times.

 

[sli74]

Well, March is pretty well booked up right now so April is the earliest I have any time but even April is booking up pretty quickly though we can all have a get together in the Catskills in May and do the Escarpment Trail in one shot? Any takers. We hiked Washington and Monroe last March and THE most fabulous day up there so have fun if you do go.

I have a gym membership that I am going to dump as soon as it starts staying light out later so I will keep that in mind, giggy. Can't be trekking around alone in the dark in populated areas, I save the alone in the dark for wilderness and out of the way areas, much safer for a woman out there, ya know

 

[Papa Bear]

A little local information. I was in Poretland over the weekend (my daughter lives there). Aparently there has been a very mild winter in western Oregon (including low snow cover on Mt. Hood) to the point where everyone is talking draught for the late summer (most of Portland's water supply depends on the snow burden on the west slope of the Cascades). Last year we did Hood in mid June and by late July it was very dicey. The bergschrund was so far open that most local guide companies were not doing it.

Soo ... I suggest you have some alternative objectives. If Hood is bad, do Adams and St. Helen's. Or look into Glacier in northern Washington. You might have a much better wilderness experience (= fewer people) there than on the popular peaks. But of course do Rainier, come rain or come shine.

Pb

 

[Guinness]

Papa Bear, Thanks for the advice. I know from experience what the bergschrund on Mount Hood can doto you plans. My first attempt in 1998, we started navigating the bergschrund and ended up retreating with just 300 feet to go. It was wide open and you could not even think about jumping it. On that trip it was 105° at Timberline Lodge.

I'll look into other options. This is why I like to plan early. I have been on St. Helens already, but Baker or Adams have always interested me. I figure by mid March I want the "almost" final plans done and distributed to all that have shown interest.