Hello and welcome to the evolution of my Rhino Ascents Blog! I think I'm finally getting my head around what I want for this site. Aside from climb schedules, pictures, and trip reports, I hope to add pages and features that will make this a viable resource for my fellow outdoor enthusiasts.
For starters, you can navigate my site by selecting pages from the "Contents" on the right ===>>>
The most recent addition is the "Weather and Conditions" page. Here you will find NOAA Pinpoint weather links to many popular climbing sites in the Western United States and Canada. Check back, because in no time you will find additional links related to climbing conditions, permits, road closures, and more!
Each time I make a significant improvement to the site, I'll announce it here, on my "Home" page. That and whenever I feel like spouting off about whatever strikes me that day. I'll do my best to keep it relevant!
That's all for now, and remember-- Just do it.... while you still can!
~John
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Weather & Conditions
Below is a list of popular climbing areas. Click on the mountain/area and you will be transferred to the NOAA Pinpoint weather website for that location.
Mountains & Alpine Areas - Oregon
Broken Top
Hood
Jefferson
Thielsen
Three Fingered Jack
Three Sisters
- North Sister
- Middle Sister
- South Sister
Washington
Mountains & Alpine Areas - Washington
Adams
Baker
Ellinor
Enchantments
Glacier Peak
Forbidden Peak
Liberty Bell Group
Olympus
Rainier
Shuksan
St Helens
Stuart
Mountains & Alpine Areas - Other
Garibaldi Provicial Park, BC, Canada
Shasta, CA
Whistler, BC, Canada
Rock Climbing & Crags
Horsethief Butte, OR
Leavenworth, WA
McCleary Cliffs, WA
Smith Rock, OR
Squamish, BC, Canada
Castle Crags, CA
.
Mountains & Alpine Areas - Oregon
Broken Top
Hood
Jefferson
Thielsen
Three Fingered Jack
Three Sisters
- North Sister
- Middle Sister
- South Sister
Washington
Mountains & Alpine Areas - Washington
Adams
Baker
Ellinor
Enchantments
Glacier Peak
Forbidden Peak
Liberty Bell Group
Olympus
Rainier
Shuksan
St Helens
Stuart
Mountains & Alpine Areas - Other
Garibaldi Provicial Park, BC, Canada
Shasta, CA
Whistler, BC, Canada
Rock Climbing & Crags
Horsethief Butte, OR
Leavenworth, WA
McCleary Cliffs, WA
Smith Rock, OR
Squamish, BC, Canada
Castle Crags, CA
.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
2009 Climb Schedule
Climb Summary (scroll down for details):
1. Horsethief Anchors & Rock Pro Class - April 17, 2009
2. Mt. Shasta, Green Butte Ridge - May 15-17, 2009
3. Olympic Range Retro Climb, Mt. Ellinor, SE Chute - Coming Soon!
1. Horsethief Anchors & Rock Pro Class - April 17, 2009
Leader: Jess Palacios
Co-Leaders/Assistants: John Petrie, Scott Phillips, Scott Kelley, Bryon Snapp, Mike Rudy
This seminar is designed to give Chemeketan Climb Leaders of all types an opportunity to brush up on their anchor building and gear placement skills. Jess Palacios will lead us through a series of exercises that will help get us all on the same page as we head into the climbing season. Even if you have taken this class in the past, I strongly recommend you sign up for another go-around. Jess' updated itinerary will take us from the basics up through advanced techniques that will help us all become more proficient as leaders. Non-leaders welcome as space allows. Visit Jess's Climbing Blog for more details.
Seminar Recon:
Horsethief Butte Weather - NOAA Pinpoint
2. Mt Shasta, Green Butte Ridge - May 15-17, 2009
NEW DATES!
Due to mountain conditions, we have moved this climb back one week. See updated prospectus below.
Current Roster:
John Petrie, Leader
Gloria Petrie, Assistant Leader
Greg Phillips, Assistant Leader
Lynn Kropf
Travis Klaas*
* 2009 climb school graduate
This is a great opportunity for climbers to experience a high altitude multi-day snow climb. Our plan is to start at the Bunny Flat TH and target the ridge bordering the east side of Avalanche Gulch, the most climbed route on the mountain. Depending on snow conditions and other variables, our backup plan is to join the horde in the gulch. Team size is limited but I will hold back some spots for newer climbers. (Prospectus)
Shasta Recon:
Mt. Shasta Weather - NOAA Pinpoint
Mt. Shasta Climbers Guide
Route Information - Summit Post
3. Olympic Range Retro Climb
Mt. Ellinor, SE Chute - Date TBD **Coming Soon**
Grab your woolen knickers and alpenstocks and prepare to embrace traditional mountaineering! This non-technical day climb is a gem, complete with breathtaking views, world class glissades, and mountain goats!
Our plan is to head up Saturday morning and setup camp at the trailhead by mid-afternoon. We'll hang out in our retro gear, eat dinner together, tell lies, and make fun of all the other climbers in their fancy $450 Gortex shells. The next day it's up early, climbing side-by-side with mountain goats until we reach the summit. After numerous self-indulging photos we'll start the long glissade back to treeline. You'll be home by dinner! (prospectus)
Leaders: John Petrie, Matt VanCampen (?)
Additional Retro Climb Recon:
What to Wear - Historic Climbing Photos
Mt. Ellinor Weather - NOAA Pinpoint , Avalanche Report
Hoodsport Weather - 10-Day Forecast
Route description, lots of photos - Summit Post
Other Info - FS Recreation Page
1. Horsethief Anchors & Rock Pro Class - April 17, 2009
2. Mt. Shasta, Green Butte Ridge - May 15-17, 2009
3. Olympic Range Retro Climb, Mt. Ellinor, SE Chute - Coming Soon!
1. Horsethief Anchors & Rock Pro Class - April 17, 2009
Leader: Jess Palacios
Co-Leaders/Assistants: John Petrie, Scott Phillips, Scott Kelley, Bryon Snapp, Mike Rudy
This seminar is designed to give Chemeketan Climb Leaders of all types an opportunity to brush up on their anchor building and gear placement skills. Jess Palacios will lead us through a series of exercises that will help get us all on the same page as we head into the climbing season. Even if you have taken this class in the past, I strongly recommend you sign up for another go-around. Jess' updated itinerary will take us from the basics up through advanced techniques that will help us all become more proficient as leaders. Non-leaders welcome as space allows. Visit Jess's Climbing Blog for more details.
Seminar Recon:
Horsethief Butte Weather - NOAA Pinpoint
2. Mt Shasta, Green Butte Ridge - May 15-17, 2009
NEW DATES!
Due to mountain conditions, we have moved this climb back one week. See updated prospectus below.
Current Roster:
John Petrie, Leader
Gloria Petrie, Assistant Leader
Greg Phillips, Assistant Leader
Lynn Kropf
Travis Klaas*
* 2009 climb school graduate
This is a great opportunity for climbers to experience a high altitude multi-day snow climb. Our plan is to start at the Bunny Flat TH and target the ridge bordering the east side of Avalanche Gulch, the most climbed route on the mountain. Depending on snow conditions and other variables, our backup plan is to join the horde in the gulch. Team size is limited but I will hold back some spots for newer climbers. (Prospectus)
Shasta Recon:
Mt. Shasta Weather - NOAA Pinpoint
Mt. Shasta Climbers Guide
Route Information - Summit Post
3. Olympic Range Retro Climb
Mt. Ellinor, SE Chute - Date TBD **Coming Soon**
Grab your woolen knickers and alpenstocks and prepare to embrace traditional mountaineering! This non-technical day climb is a gem, complete with breathtaking views, world class glissades, and mountain goats!
Our plan is to head up Saturday morning and setup camp at the trailhead by mid-afternoon. We'll hang out in our retro gear, eat dinner together, tell lies, and make fun of all the other climbers in their fancy $450 Gortex shells. The next day it's up early, climbing side-by-side with mountain goats until we reach the summit. After numerous self-indulging photos we'll start the long glissade back to treeline. You'll be home by dinner! (prospectus)
Leaders: John Petrie, Matt VanCampen (?)
Additional Retro Climb Recon:
What to Wear - Historic Climbing Photos
Mt. Ellinor Weather - NOAA Pinpoint , Avalanche Report
Hoodsport Weather - 10-Day Forecast
Route description, lots of photos - Summit Post
Other Info - FS Recreation Page
Saturday, January 31, 2009
2009 Trip Reports
Mt Shasta, Avalanche Gulch (14,162’), May 15-17
Perfect weather, great companionship, and over 7,000 ft of elevation; what more could we ask for? After waiting an extra week for the avy danger to subside, our five member team began the six hour journey to Northern California and our date with the alluring Mt Shasta. If Mt Rainier is the “granddaddy of them all,” Mt Shasta is certainly the grandmamma. Unlike my grandma however, she’s no pushover.
Mt Shasta from Bunny Flat Trailhead
We spent the first night camping at the Bunny Flat trailhead (6,950’). Clear skies, a warm breeze, and the melodic sounds of a local Native American drum beat are all it took to send us off to la-la land. Early Saturday morning, we started our four hour approach to our high camp at Helen Lake (10,500’). We had originally planned to ascend Green Butte Ridge, but poor snow conditions and recommendations from both the local rangers and a friend that attempted (and bailed) the route the week before, convinced me that we’d have a better chance getting our summit via the standard Avalanche Gulch route. Thankfully, the decision paid off!
Our route leads to the ridge in the upper right of the image
Warm temperatures forced a 3:00am alpine start. If not for the constant chatter from the French team camped next to us, we might have actually slept that night! However, when you sign on for Avalanche Gulch, you get the privilege of camping with all sorts of characters in “tent city”. For some, this departure from the serenity of a typical alpine adventure is a deal killer, but for us it was an opportunity to share a common experience with people from all over the world and from all walks of life. Fun stuff!
Gloria surveys the scene from our high camp at Helen Lake (10,400')
The steep, 2,000’ climb up to the Red Banks starts right out of camp. We maintained a steady pace, and as we crested the ridge we were greeted by a beautiful pink sunrise. Half way to our goal and still going strong! At this point, I turned the reigns over to Travis Klaas, a recent climb school grad. Travis is a capable young man, and after telling him my compelling “old bull-young bull” story, I was confident he could lead our team up the next section without incident. This was to be his first summit, and he was certainly excited. Ya done good, kid. Within a short time we were on the plateau leading up to the summit pinnacle. A short twist and a turn later, we were all standing on top!
Summit celebration!
The summit was superb, and after 15 minutes we had it all to ourselves. We ate our lunch, signed the summit register, took a few photos, and eventually made our way back to camp. After a short rest, we donned our heavy packs and jumped into the nearest glissade chute we could find. 2,500’ later, it was time for snowshoes and the final leg back to the car. Sweet success!
Congratulations to my dear wife Gloria, Greg Phillips, Travis Klaas, and Lynn Kropf. You definitely earned it!
Perfect weather, great companionship, and over 7,000 ft of elevation; what more could we ask for? After waiting an extra week for the avy danger to subside, our five member team began the six hour journey to Northern California and our date with the alluring Mt Shasta. If Mt Rainier is the “granddaddy of them all,” Mt Shasta is certainly the grandmamma. Unlike my grandma however, she’s no pushover.
Mt Shasta from Bunny Flat Trailhead
We spent the first night camping at the Bunny Flat trailhead (6,950’). Clear skies, a warm breeze, and the melodic sounds of a local Native American drum beat are all it took to send us off to la-la land. Early Saturday morning, we started our four hour approach to our high camp at Helen Lake (10,500’). We had originally planned to ascend Green Butte Ridge, but poor snow conditions and recommendations from both the local rangers and a friend that attempted (and bailed) the route the week before, convinced me that we’d have a better chance getting our summit via the standard Avalanche Gulch route. Thankfully, the decision paid off!
Our route leads to the ridge in the upper right of the image
Warm temperatures forced a 3:00am alpine start. If not for the constant chatter from the French team camped next to us, we might have actually slept that night! However, when you sign on for Avalanche Gulch, you get the privilege of camping with all sorts of characters in “tent city”. For some, this departure from the serenity of a typical alpine adventure is a deal killer, but for us it was an opportunity to share a common experience with people from all over the world and from all walks of life. Fun stuff!
Gloria surveys the scene from our high camp at Helen Lake (10,400')
The steep, 2,000’ climb up to the Red Banks starts right out of camp. We maintained a steady pace, and as we crested the ridge we were greeted by a beautiful pink sunrise. Half way to our goal and still going strong! At this point, I turned the reigns over to Travis Klaas, a recent climb school grad. Travis is a capable young man, and after telling him my compelling “old bull-young bull” story, I was confident he could lead our team up the next section without incident. This was to be his first summit, and he was certainly excited. Ya done good, kid. Within a short time we were on the plateau leading up to the summit pinnacle. A short twist and a turn later, we were all standing on top!
Summit celebration!
The summit was superb, and after 15 minutes we had it all to ourselves. We ate our lunch, signed the summit register, took a few photos, and eventually made our way back to camp. After a short rest, we donned our heavy packs and jumped into the nearest glissade chute we could find. 2,500’ later, it was time for snowshoes and the final leg back to the car. Sweet success!
Congratulations to my dear wife Gloria, Greg Phillips, Travis Klaas, and Lynn Kropf. You definitely earned it!
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