Time to Upgrade

Well, I think I have to bite the bullet and just upgrade to a full mountaineering boot. I have been looking at getting these Scarpa's but I'm not sure yet. Any recommendations?

My Review of Android Jacket - Men's

Mountain Hardwear Android Softshell Jacket - Men's Black, L

Originally submitted at Mountain Gear

The Android Jacket from Mountain Hardwear is a flexible mountain town companion that can take you from work to the trail and to the pub at the end of the day. Clean, stylish, and athletic, the Android is constructed with elastane-aided polyester for flexibility and range of motion. When the wind st...

Android Jacket - Men's

Great around town jacket

By Kain from Glacier Fresh from Sheridan, Or on 4/6/2012

3out of 5

Pros: Durable, Well Constructed, Great Value
Cons: Doesn't breathe, Heavy
Best Uses: Around town, Outdoors
Describe Yourself: Enthusiast
Was this a gift?: No

This is a great around town jacket. I really wish it wouldn't get so hot but it just doesn't seem to breathe so I can't take it on any trails that will require a lot of exertion anymore. It also seems a little short for my torso, as I have to tuck in any shirts I wear under it.

(legalese)

My Review of PreCip Jacket - Men's

Marmot PreCip Jacket - Men's Cobalt Blue, XL

Originally submitted at Mountain Gear

Combat the wettest conditions in the world with the time-tested PreCip Jacket from Marmot that keeps you dry with waterproof, lightweight Dry Touch technology. You're protected by a full-visibility, roll-up hood with Peripheral Cord adjustment and lightweight, seam-taped PreCip fabric that shun...

PreCip Jacket - Men's

Inexpensive yet powerful

By Kain from Glacier Fresh from Sheridan, OR on 4/6/2012

5out of 5

Fit: Feels true to size
Sleeve Length: Feels true to length
Chest Size: Feels true to size
Pros: Stylish, Comfortable, Lightweight, Durable, Breathable, Waterproof
Cons: Not Windproof
Best Uses: Wet Weather, Hiking and Camping, Cold Weather, Casual Wear
Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer
Was this a gift?: No

I wear this jacket almost daily to prevent getting wet. It is great and I have only had to treat it once so far. I fold it into it's own pocket when I go mountaineering/hiking. When and if this one gets ruined or damaged I will most likely buy another one.

(legalese)

South Sister 10358' - South Side (09-16-11)

The South Sister stands at 10,358'.

On my second attempt for a "big summit" I found myself down in the Three Sisters Wilderness sizing up the largest and youngest of the three. At 10,358' the South Sister is the safest and most climbed. There is no technical ability required to reach the summit in the summer, only determination, patience, and strong legs.

On the day before attempting South Sister we set up camp at the Devil's Lake Campground. Admittedly, we were so set on climbing mountain's that we forgot to look at the lake itself! We decided to take a nice short day hike over to "The Wife" (will write something on this later) where I snagged the picture above.

Headlamps are the way to go.

The next morning at 4am our alarms went off and we woke up and got ready. Frost lay upon the ground and the tables as it dipped down to about 34 degrees (in the middle of September). Headlamps adorned to our heads we ate a quick meal and set out on the trail. Within about 3 minutes we ran into our first issue, a large stream. We hunted around and found a few downed logs to use as a bridge. Back on our way we ran across the highway and began on the trail. This portion was surprisingly steep, especially considering we were no where near the mountain. If you struggle too much on this portion, you may consider turning around as the mountain is much more difficult.

Broken Top during sunrise.

After about 1.5miles you reach a plain and are faced with a crossroads. Stay heading towards the South Sister Summit. This was one of the most awesome parts of the hike. The sun was just beginning to rise behind Mt. Bachelor and you could see the outline of Broken Top. I fell in love with Broken Top and plan to reach that summit in 2012/2013. We were also able to see the South Sister in all her glory just waiting to be climbed. A pink, rosy hue illuminated the summit for about 15 minutes, something everyone should experience at some point.

Our hike up continued  and members in our party were having a difficult time so while it slowed us down, it also gave us time to appreciate our surroundings more. I couldn't help myself and kept turning around to see Mt. Bachelor and the valley getting further and further away.

Mt. Bachelor above the blanket of fog in the valley.

Fresh lake near Lewis Glacier

 We reached the saddle near Lewis Glacier and admired the fresh lake that was formed. I have been told that if you wanted to go ultra-light you could filter water from this lake instead of packing too much water all the way up. Either way it was beautiful and we stopped to eat/drink before the mile of cinder ridge.

10,000' and loving it

 This is the steepest portion of the trail and as you reach altitude you may start feeling it's effects. We happened to get ahead of the rest of our party so I figured I would celebrate crossing the 10,000' mark for the first time by posing for a shot.



Once you reach the false summit, you have another 1/4 to 1/2 mile left. You can cross the glacier or walk around the ridge to the true summit. You will notice rock structures made by climbers to deal with wind. I was really hoping to see Teardrop Pool, which forms in the crater, but it never showed in 2011 so we weren't able to see "Oregon's Highest Lake". From the summit you can enjoy views of Middle and North Sister, Broken Top, Mt. Bachelor, Mt. Washington, Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Hood, Mt. Saint Helens, and Diamond Peak.

Final Stats:

Summit: Yes
Elevation Gain: ~5000'
Round Trip Distance: 12.4 miles
Round Trip Time: 12 hours

Mount St. Helens 8365' - Monitor Ridge (07-27-11)

View from the top

This was my first major summit. I still get goosebumps thinking of the drive up to the mountain. Somewhere on the forest service road you round a corner and there she sits. Everything changed. I knew that the following day I would be standing on top regardless of where we started or how long it took to get there.

First sight of the mountain

Nostalgia aside, gearing up for the trip was fairly easy. I ended up waiting too long to get my climbing permit from Mount St. Helens Institute so instead I had to buy them from a user on the Cascade Climber Forums. They are $22 a piece and needed when attempting the summit. We signed into the Lone Fir Resort in Cougar, Washington and pitched tents at the Climber's Bivouac.

We started out our day at roughly 5am and spent the 2.1 miles following the Ptarmigan Trail. Just before you break out above the treeline there is a restroom. I recommend using it now as you will most likely have to bluebag it after this point. We had a rough time figuring out where the trail started due to foggy conditions and no footprints. Make sure you keep a compass/map handy and know how to use it. We eventually found a marker in a tree and from there forward there was nice wooden posts most of the way up indicating the trail.

Halfway up!

 We kept bouncing back and forth between snow and rock. I am sure that later in the season it would have just been a nice scramble all the way up. Another defining moment on the mountain was when we got high enough on the ridge to notice Mt. Adams standing mightily to the east. After seeing that, everything just got easier and easier knowing that reaching the top would mean even better views. Several parties passed us as one of the members in our party was having knee issues. He pushed through and we reached the top. Here was another defining moment in my mountaineering career. Reaching the summit was unlike anything I had imagined. I stood proud knowing that I was over-prepared physically and over-came mentally on the way up.

Monitor on Monitor Ridge

We enjoyed our time at the top and even traded some trash bags for a nice cold beer. After getting our summit photos and having a much needed lunch we decided to put on some trash-bag diapers and glissade down. We accidentally glissaded too far west despite multiple warnings at the Lone Fir Resort/Cafe. This left us to scramble back over to monitor ridge across several nasty loose volcanic rocky ridges. Lesson learned! Make sure you know where you are glissading to.


I also learned that you should always apply sunscreen liberally. I was absolutely toasted after this trip and hurt for several days. It took away part of my experience that night when I finally got home.

 

Final Stats:

Summit: Yes
Elevation Gain: 4565'
Round Trip Distance: 11.6 miles
Round Trip Time: 12 hours
FULL GALLERY

On top of the world

A Fresh Start

Hello!

This is my first post of course. I will make an official introduction later. This is basically a site to track my mountaineering accomplishments, review gear, and provide great original pictures/stories along the way.