What better way to celebrate the Forth of July than a successful summit on a beautiful day?  We had 8 Bushwhackers (3 first timers!) get up the mountain via the Emmons route.   We then got back to Camp Schurman in time to catch a nap before most of the fireworks north of the mountain.  Thanks to Chris K for leading everyone.

Keith, Sandy, Kevin and Seth visited the sand-blasted granite of Joshua Tree this week.  They had a great time!

Seth and Keith got out yesterday with a winter ascent of The Tooth.  Nice one!  Seth said,

We started the day wandering around in full-on whiteout. In the basin below the Tooth, it finally cleared, revealing four (yes four) other parties five to twenty minutes in front of us. I guess we should have gotten up a half-hour earlier? No worries, the sun came out and by the time we ate our lunch we were clear to climb.

One would expect it to be quite chilly out there.  Keith said,

It was far from a foregone conclusion with near-total whiteout conditions lower down and burr-cold up in the basin.  But the sun came out and we made it!

And Seth added,

Cold conditions, and windy at times, but the route was in fine shape. Summit City!

Way to get out there guys!

Mike M and Andy P headed up to Shuksan Arm on Mount Shuksan for some hiking yesterday.  Says Mike: 

The mountains were so clear and detailed that you could see the individual crevasses and snowfields on Baker and Shuksan. The climb was certainly strenuous but goes down in my top ten of best outings.

Looks like they had a great time out there.  See more of Mike's pictures here.

Anna, Sandy, Jackie and Seth were in the field, enjoying Mount Rainier's Castle Peak.  Says Seth,

Great snow conditions for snowshoeing: 10-12 inches of powder over the base, which meant smiles all around, particularly bombing downhill!

Jared's been getting out.  NEB of Chair Peak last week, and yesterday a fine winter ascent of The Tooth.  Way to go!  Says Jared:

It was indeed pretty up there.  A little overcast since a weather system was arriving, but the temps were mild and there wasn't much wind.  You could make out Glacier Peak despite the cloud cover, and even Stuart appeared through the clouds at times.  Rap stations all had fresh webbing and rings, and I donated a sling to make a quick rap down to the basin from Pineapple Pass.

Fantastic!  Now if only we could get him to remember his camera!