Bushwhacker Backcountry Scramble Course is Complete

   

 

Bushwhacker Basic Glacier Climbing Course is Underway

The Glacier Course is now underway.  Good luck to both teams!

 Bushwhacker Leadership Course is Complete. 

The Leadership Course is now complete.  Congrats to all!  Thanks for continuing the traditions.

 

Six BWs persevered through challenging conditions on the Emmons glacier to summit on July 11. The team included 3 folks seeing the summit for the first time. Nice going Liz, Adam, Jake and JR, and many thanks to leaders Scott & Richard.  

Four Bushwhackers completed the course of navigation and snow travel skills, with a final overnight to Observation Peak on the north side of Mt. Rainier. Congrats to Beth L., Aaron R., Ian B., and Vinay P. for a successful class!  

 

Bushwhackers, save the dates October 8 9 10 11 for Autumn Rendezvous.  Check your email for details.  Bring bacon!  

 

Six Bushwhackers climbed the wooded north ridge of Benchmark Mountain, then descended via West Cady Ridge in winter conditions.  Including three stream crossings, it was quite an adventure, but we got back to the cars before needing headlamps.

  

On March 8, a fun group of Bushwhackers (Shauna, Fred, Azam, Jesse, Rytis, Patrick & Randy) visited the Paradise area of Mt. Rainier for a day of bc skiing.  The weather was fantastic, and skiing was very good despite lack of snow everywhere else in our region.  Everyone enjoyed the ski tour, got some good turns in, together with great company!

Escape the belay practice was fun.  Thanks to Jeff Julia and Marie for joining.  Everyone took a turn getting out of and then back into the belay.  Good stuff!  Let's do it again soon.

 

Come to the Annual Meeting dinner on March 18 6:30 in Seattle to hear about our climbing club business and classes, share your thoughts on what you'd like to see from the club, and make plans with your buds for the outing season ahead. It's at Tutta Bellas, 4411 Stone Way N 98103.

 

A fine and festive night of swapping stories and making plans. Thanks all for coming!

See the Leadership page under Courses and Clinics for details.

 

On the beautiful Saturday Feb 21 a small but definitely enthusiastic group of BWs headed up to Skyline Lake, across from Steven's Pass, for a day of backcountry skiing. As a special treat in this year of the great snow drought, good turns (and great views) were found at 5000'.

 

The Dec 6 Milkshake Madness was a rollicking success! Thanks who all who came and made it a great time, and especially those who entertained us with great shots from around the planet!

 

Five BW's rambled/scrambled to Alta Peak on Saturday 9/27.  Downhill Doug, Stehekin Steve, Posthole Pat, Celese and Mic were lucky enough to enjoy this beautiful summit in the midst of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

 

Club members, watch your email for the details regarding Autumn Rendezvous.  Hiking, climbing, exploring the river, sitting by the campfire - fun for sure!

 

Over July 24-27, a team of 6 2014 Bushwhacker Leadership grads mounted an expedition to W. McMillan Spire in the Picket range. The group prevailed through soaking brush, high water and steeps to attain the peak in this beautiful area. From Tim F., "The Summit was a jigsaw of boulder faces, 5 or 6 feet wide, with a small fringe of rubbly ledges that dropped over 4,000-5,000 cliffs. We placed our feet with care, grabbed fins or cracks for balance, and avoided admiring the view too much."

 

Over July 11-13, an ambitious team of 8 Bushwhackers hauled themselves out of bed at 11 PM to forge on to the summit of Mt. Rainier via the Emmons route. According to Azam, "Altitude, wind and cold teamed up to test us but we were up to the task" and the return featured "a blazing fast glissade down 2000 feet of Interglacier". Congratulations to all, and hearty thanks to Tim M. for leading the climb and overseeing the many logistics.

 

Jim P and his team of intrepid Bushwhackers successfully summited The Brothers yesterday.  Patrick said "A fine outing, Jim did a stellar job in leading."

 

The Basic Glacier Course is complete for the year.  Both teams successfully practiced all the requisite skills, including crevasse rescue.  Team 1 was able to climb to the summit of Mount Baker, however Team 2 endured days of rain and exited without a summit.  Both sections enjoyed the big Graduation Night party, as did the Leadership Course graduates.  It was a great night, thanks everyone!