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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
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    Seattle/Chamonix
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    67

    Talking TR: Home, Sweet Home. Baker>Index>Rainier

    These past couple weeks back home in Washington have been just what I've needed before heading back up to Alaska to guide Denali. Baker is a mecca for year round riding but is especially nice in the spring and early summer. In the springtime in Washington it's rare to see more than a couple blocks of high pressure and when you see them you go!

    This trip we went up the North side of the mountain, up the Coleman-Deming route. There can be snow on the road up to the trailhead miles out depending on the snow year. I've skinned four miles on the road in prior years to get to the trailhead, this time it was only about a mile in a half. We decided to do a one day push, leaving the car at about 5am. We parked at ~3,000 feet and the summit of Baker is 10,781, making it a pretty big day.

    Finally out of the trees, atop Heliotrope ridge.


    Drew Tabke photo of me with the Colfax icefall beyond.


    Conditions were great for skinning, firm and fast. (Split-crampons are essential for spring touring on the volcanoes). The crevasses were really big, bigger than I've seen them in previous springs and the glacier has changed a lot in the last two years since I had been up the CD. You can easily avoid most big cracks but spring and early summer is the perfect time for those snow bridges to be getting thinner and thinner so a rope, harness, crevasse rescue skills and smart partners are essential. If you don't have basic crevasse rescue and glacier travel skills, I offer courses through the American Alpine Institute up on Mt. Baker. https://www.alpineinstitute.com/cata...-or-snowboard/

    We rode a variation from the summit linking together the upper section of the Roman Wall and the bottom section of the Roman Mustache. The Coleman/Deming route is a great ride but is a little traversy with a few ups and downs and route-finding to get up to the glacier but it's an absolute beautiful side of the mountain, my favorite.

    We made some coffee on the summit and waited for the clouds to clear while getting a nice coffee high. Joe charging down the Roman Wall.


    Tabke slashing.


    Joe gittin' some under the rhimey Roman nose.


    Joe droppin' into the lower section of the Mustache, a really nice kind of hanging glacier ramp.


    Joe boosting.


    We were tired so we went climbing in the sun at Index.... wait, the Champ never gets tired. Correction, I was tired.


    Me, sending most magnificent splitter.


    On to Rainier. Not too sure what our objective would be, Blaine and I headed out on the Turtle to camp for a night and practice some rescue skillz before we both take off for Denali. I've had my eyes on some bigger objectives but the snow wasn't right. It hadn't consolidated like I'd hoped so we did a Fuhrer Finger and Thumb lap the next day. Both super nice, sustained 2,000 ft lines. Pretty manky and it felt like 85 degrees booting up.


    Blaine crushing the Fuhrer Finger.


    Quick booter back up the Finger then dropped into the Thumb. Blaine having fun on the Thumb:


    Whelp see ya! Off to Denali. Someone shred some wicked lines on Rainier for me while I'm away!
    Last edited by BettyDee; 05-16-2014 at 11:46 PM.
    www.lizdaley.us
    @liz_daley

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Midgaard
    Posts
    2,885

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Paradise
    Posts
    5,197
    Another BettyDee TR that delivers a crushing blow to my male ego.

    Seriously though, awesome stuff. I'm going to share this with my 7 year old daughter.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    tourin BC
    Posts
    2,773
    no shit RaisingArizona ...

    and I thought I was all rad n hardcore n shit ...

    I aint got nothing ...
    We, the RATBAGGERS, formally axcept our duty is to trigger avalaches on all skiers ...

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    At the beach
    Posts
    19,067
    I wish I had a huuuuuuggge monitor to look at these photos on, as they are fantastic. Have a great summer Betty and be sure and post some fresh air for us cubicle jongs.
    Quote Originally Posted by leroy jenkins View Post
    I think you'd have an easier time understanding people if you remembered that 80% of them are fucking morons.
    That is why I like dogs, more than most people.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    CA
    Posts
    2,903
    I like that Tabke looks like a hacker. Probably the first time that has been said by anyone ever.

    Sick TR obviously...nice work. Looking forward to some Denali snaps!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Vanity Fair
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    2,720
    I spent two weeks getting rained on in norway with kyle and a certain photographer who apparently grew up two doors down from you and we totally talked about you. just so you know.

    nice pictures!
    Ich bitte dich nur, weck mich nicht.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
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    19,814
    Great color in those photos.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    excellent
    "fuck off you asshat gaper shit for brains fucktard wanker." - Jesus Christ
    "She was tossing her bean salad with the vigor of a Drunken Pop princess so I walked out of the corner and said.... "need a hand?"" - Odin
    "everybody's got their hooks into you, fuck em....forge on motherfuckers, drag all those bitches across the goal line with you." - (not so) ill-advised strategy

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    2,720
    bump.....
    Ich bitte dich nur, weck mich nicht.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Golden, CO
    Posts
    2,730
    RIP ....

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Ottawa, ON
    Posts
    1,257
    RIP
    Ski Mad World
    A blog of MadPat's World: A History of Skiing Geography
    http://madpatski.wordpress.com

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Maine Coast
    Posts
    4,681
    Thanks for bumping all these BettyDee TR guys. She brought so much life to this board. Every time I saw she had a new one up, I knew there would be goodness inside.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    crown of the continent
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    13,947
    Damn, one rough day. Rip chica
    Something about the wrinkle in your forehead tells me there's a fit about to get thrown
    And I never hear a single word you say when you tell me not to have my fun
    It's the same old shit that I ain't gonna take off anyone.
    and I never had a shortage of people tryin' to warn me about the dangers I pose to myself.

    Patterson Hood of the DBT's

  15. #15
    spook Guest

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    New England
    Posts
    12,098
    Quote Originally Posted by cat in january View Post
    Thanks for bumping all these BettyDee TR guys. She brought so much life to this board. Every time I saw she had a new one up, I knew there would be goodness inside.
    Agreed. She was a breath of fresh air... will miss seeing these great reports.
    Screw the net, Surf the backcountry!

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Talkeetna
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    RIP Liz. You always cracked me up.
    Did the last unsatisfied fat soccer mom you took to your mom's basement call you a fascist? -irul&ublo
    Don't Taze me bro.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
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    Maine Coast
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    4,681
    Bobby you can bump Liz's trip reports for ever and I will open them every time. Such a wonderful soul to be able to touch me through these 0010011000111

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    Vanity Fair
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    The pictures are gone but the vibe remains. As good a time as ever to appreciate the living. RIP, Liz.
    Ich bitte dich nur, weck mich nicht.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    Not in the PRB
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    32,782
    I still remember her great TRs, her enthusiasm was infectious.
    "fuck off you asshat gaper shit for brains fucktard wanker." - Jesus Christ
    "She was tossing her bean salad with the vigor of a Drunken Pop princess so I walked out of the corner and said.... "need a hand?"" - Odin
    "everybody's got their hooks into you, fuck em....forge on motherfuckers, drag all those bitches across the goal line with you." - (not so) ill-advised strategy

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    PNW -> MSO
    Posts
    7,889
    Quote Originally Posted by klar View Post
    The pictures are gone but the vibe remains. As good a time as ever to appreciate the living. RIP, Liz.
    I'm still seeing the pictures, Klar. They have a Photobucket watermark but do show up, in the app, at least.

    RIP Liz, sorry I never got to meet you, even though I'm sure we had crossed paths in the mtns.

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