Leavenworth Photos

Here are some pictures from this spring in Leavenworth. There is no word yet about when the road will reopen; at this point the hillside is still considered unstable. Here is the latest update form the Forest Service.

I hope everyone has been getting out!

Cortney on the Yosemite HighballCole on Weather ReportWhich Way??Cortney on Atomic Hole"Oh, just what I've always wanted: graffiti!"Me climbing Kyle O's Atomic Lama LinkupJoel Kaufman in His ElementNanookLast Go...

Good as Gold

Here are some pictures from the last few weeks in Gold Bar. The forest has finally started to really dry out. Joel, Drew, Cole, Cortney, Carlyn and I returned to the forest with "beginners eyes" and found some amazing new climbs scattered among existing classics. We also tried some existing problems with some success: Drew came close on Johnny's futuristic Gorilla's Nest, Cole sent the Bearded Lady, and I managed to climb Jamrock, my summer-of-2006-nemesis, after a five-year hiatus. Here are some photos...

Joel on the FA of Pretty PossumCortney on Joel's New Problem Popul VuhCarlyn on Metroid PrimeJeremy on The Bricklayer DirectCortney on WaterHonchoName Those MonkeysThe Tiger's Nest CaveBryan Smith on the Topout to Tiger's Nest (unbouldererd as of yet)Joel Campbell Is A Cleaning MonsterNon-Anonymous Litter - Please Help To Keep Gold Bar Pristine!!!John Helmiere on the FA of Climbey McBoulderJamrockSky Valley Sunset

In other news, I graduated from law school on Sunday! Good job me!

The good news is that three years of stress, hard work, and interaction with a generally obnoxious environment are behind me. The bad news is that I will be spending the next six weeks studying for the bar exam, which is even more stressful and time-consuming... But this in turn has a silver lining: I have been amassing some nice footage that I won't be able to edit this summer, so I should be able to put together a longer video this fall. More on that later...

Icicle Road Closed - Again

Icicle Road suffered a large mudslide yesterday in the vicinity of 4th of July Trailhead. The USFS has the road closed just past Bridge Creek Campground, but will presumably open the area up to the slide in coming days as the hillside stabilizes. Scott Mitchell and his wife Susan almost got caught in the slide, and escaped only by speeding away in reverse in their truck! Roughly 30 people are stranded in the upper reaches of the canyon, and the Forest Service has arranged for a helicopter to medivac people in case of an emergency.

Needless to say, this is another big blow to the Icicle's bouldering, as it closes the Machine Gun, the Sword, Egg Rock, and several smaller areas. This is the second large slide to close Icicle Road this spring, and yet another delay for the opening of the canyon's magical upper reaches. I'll post updates here on the road's status over the next few days. Let's all hope for another quick repair job!

You can find the news release from the Forest Service here. Also, here are a few pics of the slide from Cascade Climbers.

The Airfield

Here are some pictures from the Airfield, a new area high on the hillside above Mad Meadows in the Icicle. Drew Schick gets credit for re-discovering the area this winter, though other Leavenworth locals had probably seen it before. I hiked up to the Airfield with Drew for the first time in early April, and have been motivated to hike back up a few times. The rock at the Airfield is diverse, with some gritty pink granite, some smooth salt-and-pepper granite, and some 'newer' grey rock. There are 25-30 problems, with a lot in the moderate range. Best of all, the Airfield is perched way up the hillside, offering clear views of Mountain Home Road, the Pearly Gates, and the lower Stuart Range. An awesome addition to the Canyon!

Joel on a Nice ModerateThe View from the AirfieldDrew on Punxsutawney PhilThe Airfield

(A juvenile cougar is visible on a rock just above the big white boulder - really!)

The Airfield is about 10 minutes above Pimpsqueak. To find it, follow the Playground Point trail directly uphill from the Hanta Man / Superman boulder. Follow the trail up and right briefly, then work up and left along the base of some small slabby cliffs. At the 'end' of the cliffband, turn the corner and continue up and right for five minutes. The Airfield boulders are scattered under a small scarred dome. The UFO boulder is another five minutes uphill from the main zone.

Here are some more pictures. Enjoy!

Cortney on the CroissantJoel on the UFO RoofDrew Warming UpJoey T on AgapeJohnny on a ProjectJoel on the Drive-On Project

Leavenworth Photos

I've been busy wrapping up school during the last several weeks, but I've been able to get out to Leavenworth for a few days here and there. Leavenworth has been very busy this spring, but there are always places to avoid the crowds.

I will have some pictures to share from an exciting new Icicle area called the Airfield, but I will save those for a day when I can write a little more. For now, here are a few photos of old standbys. Hope everyone has been enjoying the weather!

Cortney on the Footless TraverseJamie Chong on the Cotton PonyReflective ColeMax Hasson Practicing His Crane Technique on Lion of JudahIcicle CreekDrew on Droppin' the KirschbaumMax is Watching YouJoe on Tall Boy'Yakers