Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Study: rope team and knots technique

Gears


  • 6 Non-Locking carabiners [footnote 2]
  • 4 locking carabiners
  • 1 belay size locking carabiners
  • Harness with belay loop
  • Hero Loop [footnote 3]
  • Autoblock [footnote 3]
  • Texas Prusiks (seat & foot) [footnote 3]
  • Personal safety anchar
  • (4) double runners [footnote 4]
  • (1) sewn double runner
  • Cordelette (7mm nylon ~20feet)
  • Chest Harness [footnote 5]
  • Climbing Helmet
  • Belay/Rappel device [footnote 6]
  • Ice Axe with leash
  • Crampons with anti-balling plates
  • Petzl Mini Prusik Minding Pulley
  • Chock Pick
  • Picket (24'')




- picket

- prusik minding pulley


Pulley有更小的,注意一定要prusik minding的那种。

More details see previous post rope team gear list.


Knots & Rope


belaying方法,top rope(比如gym)用的是PBUS,如下:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCUJrXSKWrw,而alpine用的很多是SSS,类似leaderbelaying:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvEQrKOtUZg,不要弄混了。 

介绍knots的YouTubevideos很多,大家要用批评的眼光来看是不是正确。

除了我上次介绍的mountaineers的一个seminarhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7E1M_PAwQs

Detailed breakdown link of the Sierra Mountaineers Seminar:


还有个knot of the week channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCWAuQxWjXKBQ8f5XBNHxgnz9H8_RfCIS大家可以看看。knots有不同的方法,找到自己喜欢的方式并stick with it就可以了。最好练到成本能的反应。




General Climbing Gears

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Route: Mount Hood - South Side (Hogsback) (South Cascades)

Mountain Information:

Driving Directions:

Route Information: South Side (Hogsback)



 
 


 

 

 

Misc 

Notes
  • The South Side Route, which begins at Timberline Lodge parking lot (5,924 ft.), is the shortest and by far the most popular route to the summit. Mt. Hood’s popularity and dubious distinction as an “easy non-technical hike” or as a “walk up” is a misconception that tends to increase the number of deaths on the mountain. These inexperienced climbers in conjunction with severe weather (which can move in quickly) or the ever present danger of avalanches, rock and ice fall account for most accidents. 
  • Climbing to the summit means entering the Mount Hood Wilderness Area which requires a free, non-quota, self-issued wilderness permit. These are available at the Timberline day lodge “Climbers’ Cave” and all trailheads within the wilderness area. The Climbers’ Cave does not have a door and is open year round, 24/7. The Climbers’ Cave does have bathroom facilities available to climbers. 
  • Mt. Hood can be climbed any time of year, depending on your chosen route. However, climbers using the South Side Routes should consider climbing from mid-April to mid-July, depending on route conditions. Earlier and there is an increased risk of avalanches; any later and there is an increased risk of landslides, rock fall, ice fall and open crevasses. Weather and mountain conditions should be the ultimate indicator of when to climb.

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Route: Whitehorse Mountain via Northwest Shoulder (Mountain Loop Highway)

Mountain Information:

Driving Directions:

  • Trailhead: Neiderprum Trailhead
  • Co-ordinates: 48.2511104,-121.6764304
  • Address: Niederprum Rd, Darrington, WA 98241
  • Elevation:  918 ft
  • Pass:  Northwest Forest Pass
  • Directions 
    • Mountaineers: "Drive north on I-5 through Everett. About 11 mi north of Everett turn right (east) onto SR 530 to Arlington. Continue on SR 530 about 23 mi east of Arlington (5 mi west of Darrington) to Shell Station at Mine Road/387 Av. Turn right (south) and in 0.5 miles park at the closed bridge over Moose Creek. Walk the road, turning left at each of the next two forks. Shortly after crossing Furland Creek, the trailhead is marked “Niederprum Camp” (on the right, about 2 mi from the store)."
  • Weather forecast
  • Avalanche danger forecast:  

Route Information: Northwest Shoulder

















 

 Misc 

  • NWHikers.net trip reports
    • Whitehorse Mountain has it all: The mountain itself is spectacularly beautiful, especially from the little town of Darrington at it's base: The views from the summit are world class in all directions; the hike in and the climb are difficult enough to be forever memorable; and the solitude, especially considering this mountain's proximity to habitation, is remarkable.
    • Whitehorse Mountain is a classic peak you want to save for a picture perfect day. You also want to catch this one when the conditions are just right. With a trailhead at 900 feet and the summit at 6,840, you will experience a summit that probably turns back over 50% of those who attempt it. It’s not just the elevation, the route finding, steep trail, steep snow traverses and glacier bergschrund issues all cause people to turn back.
    • Starting Point: FSR 2030 (c.750'), or Niederprum Trailhead (918')
    • Mountain Skills: Route finding,  ice axe, crampon, steep snow/ice climbing, avalanche assessment (class 3-4 rock later in season)
    • The trip starts out on Trail #953, the Niederprum trail. After around a mile of swithchbacks, the trail is more of a fisherman’s route, built by boots working their way up as fast as possible. Keep this up another mile, now having gained 4,000 feet. Eventually, the trees thinned out and we headed up on snow slopes to Lone Tree Pass. Once at the pass, take the ridgeline for a mile or so. A trail should exist in summer; in fact it apparently continues (doing ups and downs) all the way to the final climb up to High Pass. In spring/early summer this will all be snow covered. Work you way along and then below the ridge until you find the correct ascent gully to High Pass. From the pass, you will see the route across the glacier and up to the summit. In spring/early summer this is relatively safe, from July on you will encounter crevasse and a major bergschrund near the summit. Instead of snow, your summit will be climbing 5th class rock for 60 feet or so. No matter when you go, bring ice axe, crampons and some pickets to be safe. The snow was extremely icy.
    •  Everything needs to be good for an ascent of Whitehorse, the weather and more importantly the avalanche conditions, good route finding would be the key to a successful climb. The biggest difficulty seemed to be the traverse on the south side of the mountain, finding the gully leading to High Pass in particular. The view from highway 530 is helpful, but certainly incomplete. 
    • The bridge over Moose Creek 1/2 mile south of hwy 530 has been closed and barricaded due to "unsafe" conditions. You can still walk across. This will add 2.6 miles RT and an extra 400 vertical feet to your already epic quest.
    • Winter ascents can be made directly up the Wellman basin on the north face of the mountain once the snow is deep enough to cover the brush and small trees. The adjacent basin, Snow Gulch is also sometimes used for winter ascents/descents and is at least as steep as the Wellman route. These are shorter routes but with an average slope of over 50 degrees it looks pretty grueling. 
    • Getting to Lone Tree Pass (4973') is not difficult, but is moderately steep in places. 
    • From Lone Tree Pass, follow the ridge east for about a half mile. One description said to follow the ridge until further progress is stopped by a buttress but I didn't see the point in going higher than about 5200 ft. and began descending SE until above the small basin with a lake mentioned in most descriptions of this route. You do not have to descend all the way to the basin before beginning a rising traverse below cliffs. The traverse is long and steep and continues until you can go no further without climbing a cliff. High Pass (6032') is located west of a prominent tower (pt. 6357'). A broad gully leads to the pass which allows easy access to the So-Bahti-Ahli Glacier, more commonly referred to as the Whitehorse glacier.
    • This route is long and strenuous with less room for error than many peaks but well worth the effort. Expect to ascend 6800 feet by the time it is all over on slopes averaging about 35 degrees. The traverse on the south side is tiring and the threat of falling ice is present much of the way.
    • Car camp  is recommended as this is a very long climb and requires an early start in the morning. The other climbing route via the Whitehorse Glacier should be avoided as it is dangerous (avalanches, rockfall). This climb is an excellent conditioner in early season. Consider stopping at the Texaco station (where Whitehorse Merchantile used to be) and looking at route before climb (Lone Tree Pass is not obvious from directly below).
    • Bridge over Moose Creek closed and barricaded for safety reasons in 2008.  You can car camp at the closed bridge.

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Route: Vesper Peak - Ragged Edge/North Face (Mountain Loop Highway)

Mountain Information:

Driving Directions:

  • Trailhead: Sunrise Mine Trailhead
  • Co-ordinates: 48.0295755,-121.5085599
  • Address: Sunrise Mine Trailhead, NF-4065, Granite Falls, WA 98252
  • Elevation:  2100 ft
  • Pass:  Northwest Forest Pass
  • Directions 
    • SummitPost: "From Seattle take I-5 North to Exit 194. Follow Highway 2 East for 2.3 miles, stay in left lane, go to Lake Stevens Highway 204 East, in 2.2 miles take left (north) on Highway 9 to Lake Stevens, in 1.7 miles take right (east) on Highway 92 to Granite Falls, in 8.4 miles turn left (north) to Mountain Loop Highway. Follow for about 30 miles to the Sunrise Mine Road on the right. Road dead ends in about 1 mile where parking is limited to one side of the road. Leave room for others to turn around."
  • Weather forecast
  • Avalanche danger forecast:  

Route Information: Headless Pass

 






 

 Misc 

  • Nwhikers.net trip reports
  • Other Links: 
  • Notes: 
    • Stream crossings
    • Good water flow at the Vesper Lake outlet creek
    • While FS road 4065 is officially closed, it is passable all the way to the trailhead.
    • Bring ice axes and micro-spikes.  The first 3 or 4 inches of snow was soft.  However, there was an ice layer just beneath the soft snow.  Be prepared to kick steps the last 500ft of the ascent.
    • The trail fades out as you enter the basin between Vesper and Sperry Peaks. Cross the outlet of the lake and follow an obvious talus ridgeline up to a col between the peaks. The climb is accessed by a ledge system that cuts across the north face of Vesper at about 5800 ft elevation and begins at a small notch overlooking the Vesper Glacier. Allow 3+ hours for the approach.  
    • Walk out the ledge on steep exposed heather (snow until mid-late summer?). When you can't walk any further either (A) scramble up over an obvious chockstone formed by a large, thin flake to a belay ledge or (B) as a variation backtrack a bit and figure out an exposed 3rd class traverse down and around the toe of a buttress before scrambling back up to an obvious and clean 5.6 layback crack (better start). The 3rd class slabs at mid-height on the first pitch could easily be accessed after climbing the lower half of the north face as well. 
    • Gear: Doubles of .5 - 1, singles of .2 - .4, 2, 3, and a set of small nuts. The route is protected by a mix of gear, bolts, and pins. Pitch 5 required the most gear, as it is very exposed, but takes gear well. Set up gear belays at the top of P1, P3. The rest of the pitches have fixed anchors for belays.
    • This is the 5.7 variation that is on the eastern half of the North Face and the direct start begins at a large flake. Ragged Edges was retro-bolted in some places in August of 2013 and there are still some old pitons along the route. Generally done in 6 pitches.