Route: Any route on Shuksan that tops out via the summit pyramid
Last Climbed: Last August
Short description of route: Shuksan is a beautiful summit with a "center of the universe" sort of view, with the jagged sea of the North Cascades unfurling in all directions. It also provides a unique perspective on the range, in that it is a more northern peak, with a view of the often-hidden northern glaciers of many surrounding mountains.
*Heads up, I’m not a doctor. The following information should be used as a guideline for preventing climbing-related injuries. For more in-depth knowledge, you should consult a professional.
I fear the sun. Really fear it. Too many sunburns as a kid. Too many sun burns in my 20s. Too many sun burns.
I’ve tried all sorts of shenanigans in the mountains to hide from the sun (I’ve even used a parasol while teaching crevasse rescue skills…it doesn’t work very well FYI).
Route name: NE Ridge of Black Peak
When you climbed it last: Last Summer
Short description of route: Beautiful hike through alpine terrain to Wing lake and bivy sites. From there, snowfields increase in steepness to the notch at base of ridge. Long, exposed and moderate climbing (usually done in mountain boots or tennies) up to one of the tallest summits around. After a few hundred feet, the descent turns into a walk off.
(Disclaimer: daisy chains should not be used in personal anchor systems)
Route: West Ridge of Forbidden
Last Climbed: Usually I guide it a few times per year
Route name: North Ridge of Forbidden Peak
When you climbed it last: Summer 2016
Route name: West Ridge of Paisano Pinnacle/North Face of Burgundy
When you climbed it last: Try to climb it once a year, at least.
There are a huge number of belay devices on the market, and this makes it a bit confusing to make a choice. The good news is that every company is making great, safe devices and the differences in basic belay devices are so minor that it’s more important to choose a style of belay device than a specific brand. The basics styles of belay device are 1. Simple tube-style devices, 2. Autoblocking belay devices and 3. Assisted Braking belay devices.
We've gone from powder skiing posts to spring training posts. It's been a busy ski season and we've been a bit lame on our blog postings. As the WSDOT plowing looms it's time to turn our sights towards spring skiing, climbing and mountaineering. We just sent out a newsletter with lots of training tips. If you'd like to recieve this in your inbox send us a note and we will add you! We send these out monthly and always try to include a tip or gear review. Here's the intro to this month's newsletter.
Stories of recent adventures
