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Happy summer from Oregon! It's August and the
weather is great here in the Pacific Northwest.
We had a very busy July. We've been rock climbing,
backpacked around and climbed Mt. Adams, climbed Mt.
St. Helens,
 and
backpacked in the Mt. Margaret Backcountry. I also
led a Mazama Mountaineering Club climb of Mt.
Rainier,
and, on my third try, finally summitted Granite Peak
(12,799'), the Montana state highpoint. It was my
46th state highpoint!
FAIRS AND EXPOS
We participated in the Wellness Fair at ESI in
Hillsboro, OR on 18 July, and our drawing winner for
an OPA gift certificate was Rob Carter. Rob, please
call me at 503 297-5100 to claim your prize.
Please stop by and visit if you will be at the
following Fairs or Expos:
August 11-12 -
Providence Bridge Pedal Expo at the Doubletree Lloyd
Center Hotel Exhibit Hall
August 16 - Freightliner Wellness Fair
August 24 - Boeing Health Fair
Here are the trips scheduled for August:
Mt. Adams RTM Backpack: 10-14 August, 2006
Mt. Adams South Spur Climb: 14-16 August (5
openings)
St. Helens Monitor Ridge climb - 18 August (10
openings) & 25 August (8 openings)
Mt. Margaret Four-day Backpack - 18-21August (3
openings)
We hope you can join us for your next
adventure.
As always, our intent is to send this newsletter
only to people who wish to receive it. If you don't
want it, please click the Unsubscribe link at the
bottom of this email. There you will also find a
link which allows you to send this eNews to a friend
or colleague. We invite you to take a trip with
Oregon Peak Adventures. You may sign-up by e-mailing
us at
info@oregonpeakadventures.com, calling us at
(877) 965-5100, or using our
secure form.
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MT. ST.
HELENS STATUS
No doubt that St. Helens is an active
volcano. The new dome is constantly growing,
and occasional earthquakes shake the
mountain.
 However
the ongoing activity is a good thing in that
it keeps the stresses from building up and
diminishes the likelihood of major activity.
Daily updates are available at
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/MSH/CurrentActivity/.
We had a great climb on July 21, the first
day St. Helens was open since 2004. The view
of the new dome is awesome. there are steam
vents throughout the crater and constant
tinkling sounds as the extruded rocks slide
down the dome. All of the guides are very
excited about being able to climb St. Helens
again and we hope that you would be excited
about it also. We had 10 prepaid permits for
4 August, but no one climbed with us! The
100 person per day quota is in effect
through the end of October and there aren't
many permits left for purchase. None are
available for August and very few for
September.
We have prepurchased permits for the
following days:
August 18 (10 spots available)
August 22 (Full)
August 25 (8 spots available)
September 6 (5+ spots available)
September 8 (5 spots available)
September 13 (Women Only - 5+ spots
available)
September 22 (5 spots available).
If we do not fill the Women only climb with,
well, women, we will make it coed, if
additional men want to go.
The climb is much the same as in the past,
except for a significantly different view of
the crater from the summit rim. Even though
we and the Monument managers believe that
the risk level is very low, we will
institute some additional protocols. The
Forest Service will rely on the US
Geological Service to monitor conditions and
will close the mountain if they believe the
risk level is unacceptable. As a precaution,
each climber will carry a climbing helmet,
and the guides will carry a filter mask for
each party member. Climbers should also
carry a bandanna and goggles.
We had to prepay when we reserve our climb
permits, so we would greatly appreciate it
if you would climb St. Helens with us!
Prices: 1 person - $300, 2 persons - $250
each, 3-4 persons - $200 each, 5-10 persons
- $150 each.
You can observe St. Helens at the
VolcanoCam.
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FEATURED HIKE - APE CANYON
OPA makes it exceptionally
convenient to go on a hike. We pick you up,
feed you, and can tailor a hike specifically
to your comfort level and interests. We
usually include some general sightseeing
stops as well. Check out the
hiking pages on the OPA Website and let
us know what you would like to do
Ape Canyon
 Ape
Canyon is on the east side of Mt. St.
Helens. If you are in the area and unable to
climb to the rim, this is a great day hike
that enables you to experience the effects
of the eruption and get a good workout. the
trail wends its way on the margin of the
powerful lahar that roared off St. Helens
when the heat of the eruption melted out an
entire glacier to our right and ancient old
growth forest to the left. After a final
ridge run, we emerge onto the Plains of
Abraham with amazing views through the Ape
Canyon slot
 and
upper Mt. St. Helens and the blast zone to
the north.
Price: 1 person - $150, 2-4 persons - $100
each, additional persons (Up to 10 total) -
$90 each. Includes guide, door-to-door
transportation, entry permit, trail snacks,
and lunch.
Scheduled hikes with folks booked to go
on them are posted on the OPA Website.
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MT. ADAMS CLIMBING
At 12,276 feet, Mt. Adams is the
second highest mountain in the Pacific
Northwest (after Rainier [14, 410']) and the
third highest in the cascade Range (after
Shasta [14,162']) and a very fun place to
climb and hike.
We climb three routes: the
South Spur, the
Mazama Glacier, and the
North Ridge.
South Spur
We have two remaining climbs
 scheduled
for the South Spur: August 14-16 (five spots
available) and a women only climb September
20-22. This is a non-technical three-day
climb with two nights at the Lunch Counter
(9,000'). This is suitable for the novice
climber. The 2,500' glissade back to the
Lunch Counter is outrageous!
Mazama Glacier
We do not have a Mazama Glacier climb
scheduled but can arrange it if anyone is
interested. Since the Mazama Glacier is on
Tract D of the Yakima Indian Reservation, we
can do this three-day climb over the
weekend.
This is a steeper, exceptionally scenic,
roped climb suitable for the intermediate
climber who has had the equivalent of our
Alpine Mountaineering Training Class.
North Ridge
The North Ridge route is a rocky scramble
followed by a traverse over the summit snow
cap. It is an exceptionally scenic and
interesting, if strenuous, climb suitable
for the intermediate climber. We don't have
a climb of this route scheduled, but can
make arrangements if you would like to do
it.
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MT. MARGARET BACKCOUNTRY
Join us on a unique adventure to one of the
most special places in the Pacific
Northwest-the Mt. Margaret Backcounty. We
have two four-day, 30 mile Mt. Margaret
Backcountry scheduled trips left for this
year: August 18-21 (three spots available),
and October 20-23.(three spots available).
 The
backcountry is just north of Mt. St. Helens
and was in the direct path of the blast when
St. Helens erupted May 18, 1980. The effects
are still evident in blown down trees and
still standing ghost forests killed by the
intense heat. But also present is lush green
regrowth, pristine lakes, elk herds,
startling scenery, huge huckleberries, fish,
and - no people.
 After
being closed to camping for 19 years, access
is strictly controlled with a maximum group
size of four. We stay at reserved campsites,
each of which has a solar toilet!
Oregon Peak Adventures is the only guide
service permitted to operate in the
Backcountry. For complete information
click here.
The price is $450 each. Don't miss this
unique opportunity - it's a very cool trip
and one of my very favorite places.
The
Indian Heaven Wilderness is a
gorgeous area with
 lakes,
amazing views, and moderate trails. This
three-day trip is a perfect introduction to
backpacking with easy days and scenic camps.
This trip is appropriate for backpackers in
reasonable shape. We hike 15 miles in three
days.
PRICE: 1 person - $600, 2 persons - $400
each, 3-6 persons - $350 each
MT. ST. HELENS ROUND-THE-MOUNTAIN
When the the climbing route was opened all
the previously closed trails were opened
also. We have scheduled a four-day backpack
trip around
Mt. St. Helens for September 22-25, 2006
(6 spots are available).
This trip is appropriate for backpackers in
reasonable shape. We hike 30 miles in four
days starting at June Lake on the relatively
unaffected area on the south side of St.
Helens and travel counter clockwise to the
north through the blast zone and back to our
starting point.
There is no other backpacking experience
like this.
PRICE: 1 person - $750, 2 persons - $600
each, 3-6 persons - $500 each. |
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TRIP SCHEDULE
Most of our
scheduled trips are posted on our
website. You can view the schedule by date or by
trip. The
2006 Schedule of climbs, backpacking trips, and
training activities is updated on the Website.
Please contact us if you are interested in a private
trip or would like for us to post a trip for another
date that works better for you. |
INTERNATIONAL TRIPS
Galápagos/Machu Picchu - April-May 2007
We have changed the dates for the trip to the
Galápagos and Machu Picchu to 20 April - 8 May 2006.
This enables us to add a pre-trip to the Amazon Rain
Forest, which many of the participants want to do.
The Rain Forest people will arrive in Lima on April
15 and join up with the main group on April 21.
Specific details are on the
OPA Website. This is a 19 day (24 days with
Amazon rain Forest) trip with stays in Lima, Cuzco,
Machu Picchu, the Galápagos and Quito. The inclusive
price is $4,815 (Add $745 for the Amazon Rain Forest
trip) which includes all taxes and all fees and
round-trip airfare from Miami. This is an
extraordinarily reasonable price for an interesting
and inclusive trip. Joe Whittington, owner of Oregon
Peak Adventures (and author of this newsletter) is
the trip leader. Overseas Adventure Travel will be
handling the local arrangements and reservations.
They are a highly regarded and experienced company
who have the connections and volume to provide this
trip at an amazing price.
We currently have nine people signed-up to go and
would like to have three or four more. Like Warren
Miller says, "If you don't do it now, you'll be at
least a year older when you do."
To reserve your spot:
Call OAT at 1-800 597-2452, press option #2
Tell the representative you want to book with the
Oregon Peak Adventures trip, Group number G7-20835.
A $500 deposit is required to hold your reservation
OAT can also make flight reservations from your
departure city to Miami if you so wish.
Want to Plan a Trip?
If you have a group of folks who would like to go on
a trip, we would be pleased to work with you to put
it together. Most trips end up consisting of a core
of friends and family, with some additional
compatible people.
Often we consider going somewhere cool, but, when
confronted with planning and making the
arrangements, the idea dies and we end-up not ever
going anywhere. So where do you want to go? Send us
an
e-mail or give us a call at 877 965-5100 and we
can discuss it. |
TIPS
MUSINGS ON CLIMBING GRANITE PEAK
 Our
Granite Peak climb was a classic road trip and
challenging climb combination. Here are some random
thoughts on the trip:
The Drive
The Subaru Outback was great. There is a 14 mile
drive on a gravel road to the trailhead. At least
two of the vehicles at the trailhead had blowouts on
the way in and had spares that were very low on air.
So, check your spare when you check your rolling
tires. (You do check them every month don't you?) I
provided an aerosol flat-fixer to our climber and it
got him out to where he could get the tire checked.
I usually carry a battery/compressor unit which
would have been very helpful as well.
We now have a standard routine when we stay in
Missoula, MT. First, we stop at the Motel 6 at I-90
exit #101 and ask for a room. They never seem to
have a room, but they give out a $5 discount
certificate to the Super 8 Missoula Brooks Street
Motel at 3901 S Brooks St. It's a 15 minute drive to
get there and it was $58.00 for two of us. The Hu
Hot restaurant is nearby and is a very good all you
can eat Mongolian grill style place.
The only REI in Montana is in Missoula, and if you
forget something, like a rope, for example, that's
the place to get it.
We did not like the Super 8 Motel in Columbus, MT so
much. The facility is OK, but we ended up paying the
rack rate since the desk people were totally
unempowered and could not make any adjustments to
anything. Additionally, most of the published
information about the facility turned out to be
incorrect.
We had dinner at the 307 Bar in Columbus. It was OK,
but I felt it was over priced. The Apple Village
Cafe is a good place for breakfast.
On the way out from the climb, we stopped at the
Five Spot Bar in Absarokee, MT. While they allow
smoking, it's well ventilated and we loaded-up on
post climb essentials: protein, water, and fat. The
wait staff was very attentive, the steak sandwich
was a great deal, and the bar sitters were
entertaining.
Our best find was
Borden's Corner in Whitehall. MT, where we
stopped for breakfast. The building was constructed
in 1914. Great food, very reasonable and delivered
by charming Emily. I would extrapolate that lunch
and dinner would be worth stopping for as well.
We like the 75 MPH speed limit.
The Climb
With a 1,800 mile round trip drive and a strenuous
11 mile hike into base camp, I truly wanted my third
try for Granite Peak to be successful. Fortunately,
all of us had allowed for some flexibility in our
schedules and we were able to spend an extra day in
base camp waiting for better weather. The
observation is that when the travel distance is long
and the approach difficult, allowing for an extra
day or two to accomplish your objective is a good
thing.
Things that made the layover day more endurable was
a copy of Flashman and the Dragon by George
MacDonald Fraser, an IPod, and a Crazy Creek chair
to lounge in. I continue to be very pleased with the
Jetboil stoves. They now have a French Press
accessory for making coffee.
 Granite
Peak is a sustained and complex route finding
challenge. We had general information from books and
the Internet, but it still took a lot of climbing up
various routes to find the chimneys, traverses, and
gullies that would get us to the top and back again.
Patience and endurance were the essential factors.
Following our track on a GPS helped us find our way
back to camp in the dark. |
INTERESTED IN SETTING UP AN OUTING?
Please give us a call if you are interested in
setting up an outing for your work group or family.
We handle all the arrangements including
transportation and food at a reasonable price. If
you are coming to Portland for a conference or
convention, we would be delighted to set-up outings
for your attendees. Just let us know when.
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