We awoke to fog - a state of being, within a cloud, literally. So we hung out. Nothing cleared by 10 am, so a rest day was declared. I decided I needed a warmer sleeping bag and more padding, and jogged down to the car to pick up a few things, including the Megamid. Good thing too, as about 6 pm it started drizzling, and kept at it until morning.
Read MoreThe plan was to hike in to Boston Basin for a 5-day overnight, with a wide assortment of classic peaks to choose from. Boston Basin is one of the most popular alpine climbing camps in the North Cascades.
Read MoreWe made an early night of it, despite a late departure from Cutthroat. A 3:30 am start found us back at Rainy Pass for The Northeast Ridge of Black Peak, first ascent by Roger Jackson and Michael Kennedy 9/1/73. With 4970 feet of gain and loss
Read MoreArriving at Larry's at 11:30 pm did not portend an early rising. Thus, the concept of "Alpine Light", roadside alpine climbing just up the road near Washington Pass.
Read MoreRamoo has spewed for years how the July Cascades Trip is his best trip of the year. Yeah, like 5000 foot ascents, super-scary loose rock on alpine ridges, really truly bad weather and Ramoo without a bath for 19 days in a row could be fun...
Read MoreRam in Zion? Mon Dieu! Well, we had a project to do, so Ram assembled a top team, we got up really early and... and... and... and the weather did not cooperate.
Read MoreA visit with a (psychotic) old friend... how sweet!
Read MoreA trip with Ram is always a risky venture. The man has too much energy, too much enthusiasm, too much durability.
Read MoreThank you to everyone who submitted. It was fun to see photos from many different places, including a variety of places in the US of A which do not get much action. Contest rules were as follows:
Read MoreUnder threatening skies... Well, this one is different, because Mark, Randi, Rick, Courtney and DB were coming back and gifted us ANOTHER exploration. Such fine fellows and gals. Today's canyon would be called "Forge", though... well, can't give it all away at the beginning.
Read MoreStyx Canyon is yet another BIG Death Valley Classic... does it ever end? I sure hope not. Ram's Death Valley Diary of the day available HERE (on the Canyons Group).
Read MoreDeath Valley is surprisingly close to Zion - about 5 hours, add an hour for traffic in Vegas if you have to hit Trader Joe's on a weekday. The Nevada (Nucular) Test Site and Yucca Mountain are to one side of the Highway 95 (if you drive that way)
Read MoreHades Canyon is another BIG Death Valley Classic. Good fun, despite what the Baptists say. Didn't take too many photos that day, but here's what I have...
Read MoreRam hooked me an invite on the big trip, and off we go. First day (for me), we got invited on an exploration right off. Excellent!!! Nothing better than that…
Read MoreBrandt Hart from Bluff was visiting the Zion area, and looking to get out and enjoy the sunshine (what there was of it). We thought Angels Landing might be adventurous in a small way, suitable for a days outing…
Read MoreAll this coincided with me finally biting the bullet and getting a digital SLR - so many of the shots here are my new rig, but I haven't read the instruction manual yet, so there's some degree of just plain playing around with it
Read MoreWell, we ain't nuts, so we made the last long drive to the land of the Maple Leaf in search of glorious canyon fame.
Read MoreThornton was the business. It was my favorite canyon of the trip, though some of the other festers would like to disagree. But let's be real, this thing has it all.
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