Winter camping and backpacking is often full of hardship with little reward - the pack is much heavier, the going is much slower and more treacherous, the views are often minimal or nonexistent, the nights are very very long, and it's either brutally cold or just miserable and wet. Despite these things, there is a certain charm to winter camping - you can pitch the tent anywhere and make yourself a level platform while not permanently terraforming or destroying vegetation. You can cut switchbacks, or better yet, not even follow the trail.  And sometimes those rare but wonderful good weather days come along - then the payoff is more than worth the hardships.

Read more of Yana's and Carla's TR on NWhikers.net

OK .. so a friend when hearing about our plans and encouraging us to go .. says, "you should have a blast up at Ruth." Hmmm from whose perspective I started to wonder as time went on ... obviously his .. a skier ... this being a grand playground; but for us with boots .. more like work ... though we did have our moments of pure joy for sure ...

Read more of Robert's and Kathy's TR on NWhikers.net

On this rainy Sunday afternoon, there was an impromptu gathering at Vertical World, and lots of Bushwhackers were there, all swapping up partners and climbing with each other. It was so fun to see everyone. Laurie, Doug, Seth, Carla, Jill, Keith, Doxey, Jackie, Frederic, Katie and her friend, Amy and her friend Jen - whew, it was great!

Frederic and Doxey made a day of cragging at Vantage. Good times! We climbed Choss Master and other routes. Also, Frederic got to lead his first bolted 5.8, the aptly named Vantage Point. Fantastic!

On Saturday, Seth and Ian, their friend Dylan, and Dylan's Dad(!), met up for some sunny rock climbing in Index. They climbed a route named Slow Children, a 5.10d finger crack. Wow!

Dylan leads the pitch

Ian ponders the route

In this photo, Ian studies the Bushwhacker Club Articles of Incorporation. "Hmmm... how does one become president of this organization?"

Doxey, Doug H, Sandy and Randy K piled into Sandy's car and trekked over to Tieton's Royal Columns Sunday. Sandy led Good Timer and Western Front. Randy led Double Trouble and Slacker. I was feeling really good, and so led Mushmaker, 5.7, and Jam Exam, 5.9. Royal Columns was not at all crowded - two other parties in the morning, and in the afternoon we had the crag all to ourselves. All agreed, it was a great day out.

Seth, Frederic, Keith and Doxey took a day to go cragging at Tieton's Royal Columns. Frederic and Doxey stayed on the easier stuff, like Western Front and Nimrod's Nemesis, while Seth and Keith took on more difficult climbs. Seth led the roof on Render Us Weightless - wow! And Keith led the area classic Inca Roads. It was a great day out there!

Here is a photo of Keith leading Inca Roads. It's a butt-shot so it won't win any awards, but hey, its Inca Roads. I just had to take a picture!

Last week our friends Seth, Shail, Shauna and Steve climbed to the south summit of Luna Peak.

Cool photo by Seth P

Laurie, Beth, and their friend Karen are now Picketeers! The three climbed West MacMillan Spire. Says Laurie,

We spent about an hour at the top looking around at the north cascade jewels then back to camp.

Must have been a great trip.

It was fantastic. The trail is steep but we took our time and still made good time.

Good job!

Our friends Sandy and Steve M and friends completed the Ptarmigan Traverse last week. Steve said they had a great time.

A couple photos by Steve M: