TR: Bring the sexy back- North Face of Mt. Shuksan, WAaarshington 7.14.2007

**Squirrel99** · 07-16-2007, 10:51 PM

Date: 7.14.2007
Sufferfest Participants: Lani, Sq99, Rudolph
Objective: Mt. Shuksan, North Face - Near Mt. Baker, Washington
Elevation: 9700' Summit (ski descent starts about 8400')
Descent: 2700' feet
Exposure? Take your pick

Bringing the Sexy Back

Well, it's not quite a 14'r. Actually it's only a WA 9'r... and our line starts about 8200'

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Must be that early alpine start time of "whatthefuckoclock?"

I ask about the adventurous approach. Lani laughs. He looks at this "road" and says "sometimes you get lucky."

Wow, we must be really lucky today!

Squirrel practices tai-chi

Oh thank God it opens up (sort of)

But what is that I spy underneath the trees? DEVILS CLUB! arrggh.
In the everlasting words from Hop, "RETREAT!!!"

After a couple hours of steep forest climbing, we finally reached the a ridgeline and the snow. Finally, our objective comes into play- and for the first time, I feel that cold gulp in my stomach as I think about what's ahead.

The ascent -

Okay, double check the crampons and make sure i'm locked in. Axe, check. Moving forward, a green light was needed with each step.

Up close and personal - our next step after the crevasse field was up and over this short but steep & narrow chute

Did I forget to mention these faces were not only 100% exposed, but steep?

A precarious rest stop allowed us to take in the lofty views

Baker to the West

yes, the glorious summit! I think I see LeeLau & Shirk biking in the Coast Range...

Are you pumped yet?!!! Let's DO IT!

Rudolph drops in first, Price Lake below

North Cascades action shot

Does this make you feel like you're leaning over the edge a bit?

Lani likes to get high

to stay cool in the summertime

Squirrel enjoys quiet walks, red wine, networking, and skiing big steep faces of wide open corn

Chris enjoys the company of steep narrow chutes with crevasse exposure below

I think I spy Lani

Squirrel getting thirsty

Lani

Ahh yes, looks like a Rudolph

Lani enjoying the cornucopia

**Squirrel99** · 07-16-2007, 10:52 PM

Squirrel says July corn is almost as good as December pow...almost.

Mmmm, Squirrel likes the arc

Lani leads the procession home

Another couple hours of adventure awaited. Both my feet blistered up, each step downward like stinging needles. Upon reaching a large river crossing, I welcomed the opportunity to wade across. We meandered a bit off path- and ended up climbing back to the White Salmon lodge. I've never been so happy to get out of the woods. That was at 9:45pm. Today, I've gone through two bottles of the "stop itching you motherfucker" lotion and a month's supply of neosporin & blister bandaids. But it was worth it.

A line with significant, relenting exposure. For Rudolph and I- it was exhilarting. For Lani, it was just another day in the Park.

Another look back at the line from a different perspective

**dirtybryan** · 07-16-2007, 10:56 PM

awesome TR and great pictures.

**homi** · 07-16-2007, 10:57 PM

a ski epic in july. nice!

**MeatPuppet** · 07-16-2007, 10:57 PM

Sweet TR!

That looks like all kinds of fun.

Thanks for sharing.

**Chainsaw_Willie** · 07-16-2007, 10:59 PM

FKNA! Love it. Nice work gentlemen.

**MadPatSki** · 07-16-2007, 11:02 PM

WOW !!!! Sick TR

July skiing is definitely sicker and longer than what I did in the East this month.

**TyeStick** · 07-16-2007, 11:02 PM

Nice work!

**Hutch** · 07-16-2007, 11:02 PM

Thanks for the much needed stoke.

I have a watercolor painting of Shuksan that my grandfather painted and sent to me when I was in college. It is a beautiful mountain.

**cj001f** · 07-16-2007, 11:03 PM

cas-co-licious!

**Steepdeepnlong** · 07-16-2007, 11:03 PM

Uh, there's a word for this kind of thing........wish I could think of it.

**RootSkier** · 07-16-2007, 11:05 PM

That is awesome.

**AKbruin** · 07-16-2007, 11:11 PM

Nice one! This is my favorite photo:

CS · 07-16-2007, 11:11 PM

Bad.

Ass.

**Tyrone Shoelaces** · 07-16-2007, 11:24 PM

Bad Ass indeed.

**Alkasquawlik** · 07-16-2007, 11:26 PM

after two years of seeing this TR, i'm making a point of getting up there next summer. summertime exposure is kick ass.

noicely done again.

**Pow4Brains** · 07-16-2007, 11:29 PM

Paging Sick Bird.

**Ottime** · 07-16-2007, 11:31 PM

fuckin sick summer fun

**powstash** · 07-16-2007, 11:33 PM

I think this TR needs a Sickbird and Marv Albert appearances. Does anyone keep the stoke flowin' like the rodent? I think not. Excellent warm up for Lenas my friend!