I'll release the 2005 Annual Mountaineering Report in a few days. It will have stats and other information about the climbing and rescue activity last year. Check back early next week.
Regarding 2006 climber registration, if you purchased a 2006 climbing pass, it will be mailed to you in the week.
Adult National Open Championships
Well, last year I had the pleasure of being a judge at the Junior National Climbing Championships in Boston. The kids who won went on to climb for Team USA in China and the World Cup Championships.This year I will have the privalege of judging the Adults. I don't know where the adult World Cup competition is, but the national open is in Boston this year.Metro Rock has only been around for a
Damn Injuries
Suffered a tough string of injuries that are still keeping me grounded. First my shoulder buckled in January on a tight series of stemming moves then I slipped on a patch of ice on my front steps and suffered a two-week debilitating back spasm. Now my elbow is inflamed and sore. I am getting old.
Sunset Amphitheater
The Headwall Couloir...A team of five climbers made a strong attempt on this remote and difficult route a few weeks ago. Here are a few images from one member's website; I'll attempt to sumarize the trip. They decided not to post a report, but did share a few details with me.
The team first noticed that a major section of the
Tahoma Creek Trail was destroyed below the suspension bridge/Wonderland Trail. Last fall, glacier outbursts from a heavy rain storm took out some of the westside road and Tahoma Creek Trail. The trail washout, in particular, was rather amazing. The original trail abruptly disappears into a creek bed of gravel, rock and boulders. What was once an old growth forest, moss, downed trees, dense vegatation, is now a creek bed with gigantic trees. The forest floor is buried. In all, about 1/2 mile of the trail is wiped out.
As for the climbing route... The team reported a few problem, the first significant one being a dropped set of tent poles. This would make things difficult later on. Also, and maybe more importantly, they selected a route up St. Andrews Rock that cost them a day of travel... This exposure left them more vulnerable to the changing weather. And that's what happened, wind, snow, /12 a tent, and a snow shelter... It made for an interesting night. 
After losing the effectiveness of one tent, and a day of travel, the team reluctantly retreated with plans of returning. Despite not summiting, they felt the route was a go! Here is a closer picture of the Amphitheater and upper Puyallup Glacier. For more information, see: a listing of climbs here. These photos are courtesy of Alexandre Mineev
Monday Image
A classic Mount Rainier image to start the week, taken last Friday after the last major snow. More soon...
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