Conditions Report -- October 14, 2009

NORTHWEST:

--Forecast for the West Slope of the Cascades.

--Forecast for the East Slope of the Cascades.


The Supercave!!! Photo courtesy of Lee Arden Pete

--Earlier this month Lee Arden Pete and his partner had a very interesting adventure climbing near Washington Pass. Their objective...Supercave. This is quite an amazing feature and a great story of the climb up to it. To read the full report click here.

--Webcam for Leavenworth and the Stuart Range.

--Forecast for Mount Rainier.

--Due to the warm temperatures seen in the Cascades this summer the snow which typically covers our countless glaciers has melted, exposing the glacial ice below. To read more about the hazards this presents, particularly on Mt. Rainier click here.


The Coleman Headwall at sunset. Photo by Dan Helmstedder

--Mount Baker is now in very icy late season conditions. To access the Football Field and the Black Buttes Camp on the north side of the mountain, climbers must traverse significantly right of the normal approach. Climbers on the Coleman-Deming are traversing far to the right from the top of the Pumice Ridge and are joining the Easton Glacier route on the right side of the Roman Wall. Dan Helmstedder recently went on a little scouting mission up to 10,200 ft on the Coleman-Deming. To read what conditions he found click here.

--The Easton Glacier route on the south side of Mount Baker is also quite broken up. Many crevasses currently require belayed crossings to safely surpass. There is exposed gravel in the ice on the Roman Wall.

--Forest Service Road Report for Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

--Mount Saint Helens, Mount Adams conditions and recreation report.

--An up-to-date ski and snow report for the Northwest may be found here.

--Up-to-date Pacific Northwest ice conditions may be found here.

Highway 410 landslide. Photo courtesy of Sara Gettys/Yakima Herald-Republic

--There was a massive landslide that occurred on Highway 410 east of Chinook Pass near Naches. The landslide occurred on Oct. 11 and destroyed at least two homes, blocked and changed the flow of the Naches River, and left many without power. To read the complete story follow this link.

SIERRA:

--There is a major storm is currently passing over California this week. The storm is due in part to a large tropical storm over the Pacific. High winds and large amounts of rain are predicted for the Sierras. The full weather forecast can be found here.

--Conditions in the Sierra are generally excellent in October and November for alpine ice climbing. Call our office to find out about guided ascents of classics like the U-Notch and V- Notch couloirs.

The beautiful Sierra high country. Photo by Tyler Lappetito

--Tyler Lappetito recently headed up into the Sierra high country to climb the NW Buttress of Tenaya Peak. He and his partner had a great climb and found favorable conditions. To read the complete report click here.

--For an update on road conditions in the Eastern Sierra region. Follow this link to read more.

--For up-to-date avalanche and weather reports in the Eastern Sierra, click here.


RED ROCK CANYON:

--The American Alpine Institute's Red Rock season officially started on September 21st. Please call our office for up-to-date information on courses and trips offered in Red Rock.

--Forecast and average temperatures for Red Rock Canyon.

--Webcam for Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

--The late exit and overnight permit number for Red Rock Canyon is 702-515-5050. If there is any chance that you will be inside the park after closing, be sure to call this number so that you don't get a ticket.

--The entrance to the scenic drive had a parking area for those who wanted to carpool up until approximately April of 2009. That lot has now become employee parking and people who want to carpool are required to park at the lot outside the Scenic Drive exit.

--The scenic drive currently opens its gates at 6 in the morning.

--There are plans to change the fee structure for camping and climbing in Red Rock Canyon. To learn more about the proposed changes and to find out how you can help keep the fees as they currently are, please click here.

JOSHUA TREE:

--The American Alpine Institute Joshua Tree season has started, please contact us for more information.

--Forecast and average temperatures for Joshua Tree National Park.

--Webcam for Joshua Tree National Park.

ALPS:

The Aiguille du Midi. Photo courtesy of Sky Sjue

--Sky Sjue recently returned from an incredible climbing trip to Chamonix. While there he and his partner got some serious climbing it. To read about their great climbs follow the links below:

--Chamonix and Mont Blanc Regional Forecasts may be found here.

--Webcams for Chamonix Valley, Zermatt and the Matterhorn.

ALASKA RANGE:

--The climbing season in the Alaska Range has come to an end. The American Alpine Institute is now accepting applications for the 2010 climbing season. Please call our office at 360-671-1505 for more information.

--Denali National Park and Preserve experienced its first significant snowfall of the season last week. Accumulation ranged from 2 inches at the Park Headquarters to almost 2 feet at the Eielson Visitor Center. The Denali Park road is still open to private vehicles to the Teklanika River Rest Area at mile 30.

--Forecast for Denali.

--Webcam for Denali National Park.