Fortune and South Ingalls Peaks

Full set of pictures is HERE.
While I spent Sunday night and Monday at Red Top LO, Dane came up with a few ideas for us for Tuesday’s hike. One idea was Fortune Peak with a possible side trip to S. Ingalls. We decided that would be a great trip and on Tuesday morning I picked him up at 6:15. By 8:30 we were at the TH putting our boots on and getting ready for the journey ahead.



We opted to make a loop out of it and took a right at the Longs Pass junction shortly after the trail started. After a bit of time we encountered some snow but we were able to stay mostly on track with the buried trail. Somewhere we lost the next junction but we knew that we were doing alright and were heading north towards Ingalls Pass. By 11:00 I think it was we were at Ingalls Pass with Stuart staring us in the face.





Down below we saw an empty camp with 3 tents sitting on a dry slab of rock. Not being too certain of the snow conditions we sported our crampons and axes and descended into the basin. We did try to stay high and traverse our way around to a route we spied up to S. Ingalls. We decided on a south slope ascent rather than increase our distance and hike the saddle between the two Ingalls summits. We passed two other day hikers who had already made the summit and they told us that the snow for the most part was fairly soft. We decided to keep our crampons on and headed up towards the summit. With axes at the ready we started up the steep slope to the ridgeline. The higher we got the steeper the slope became. Self belay found itself to be rather helpful a few times for us as the snow consistency changed.
Finally we made the ridge and we were staring at the southern approach to S. Ingalls.



We dropped our packs, grabbed Clif bars and our cameras and we set off for the summit. The first part of the ascent was rather easy as it was just on some loose rocks and talus. Within short time we were at the base of the massive summit block.
With Dane helping to eye the route I headed up the scrambly rocks and took my time and had a good time. Now, I’m not a big fan of exposure or crazy scrambling routes, but I found this first section to be pretty good. I got up to a decent spot to stop and Dane quickly joined me. We continued in this manner all the way to the summit where the views were spectacular!!! Oh yeah, I checked the route from the north and it was significantly easier, or so it looked. We took in the views of Stuart and the other peaks in the area, had our small snack and snapped some photos.



I was a bit nervous about our descent as it’s always easier to go up than down. This time Dane would lead and help me from below. I spied a slot route just below the summit that we decided would be better than our route up so he started downward. With the exception of one tricky spot, this route was pretty good and enjoyable.
We rejoined our packs and eyed a route to Fortune just below the ridgeline. Dane led the way as we crossed a snowfield heading towards some rock.



I felt more comfortable on the snow rather than the rock, but I followed Dane’s lead. This route was not as straightforward as Ingalls was, and it was a bit trickier too. As we pressed onward we were in constant contact and he was checking to see how I was doing and how my comfort level was at. I could have turned around at any point I knew, but I wanted to push myself and my limits a bit, but not too much, the punishment for to much risk was too great. There was one spot that made me want to chuck my pack down the mountain due to its cozy nature as I had to half crawl under a rock. At that point I knew that turning around would not be an option and that if I had to bail it would be straight down towards the snowfield.
*Note to self, smaller and lighter pack for this kind of stuff in the future*
After a few nerve wracking moments we were done with this section and we got back onto the ridge and made it to the summit of Fortune. I couldn’t believe our route here and how short it looked but how long it felt.



We snacked and snapped more photos and just relaxed for a bit. Dane almost fell asleep and I just chilled.



We had considered descending the west ridge but decided to head down the south ridge instead. The first section was easy through some short trees and talus /scree. We found ourselves on the ridge with an awesome looking glissade below us. Dane headed down first and got a fairly long run in. With his camera rolling I headed down next. Wow!!! That was a fast run down. The first section of 5 feet was steep and the rest was steep too, but not quite as much. I joined Dane in the run out and he asked how long I thought it would take us to hike back up for another run!!!!! We were exhausted!!! WTF Dane???? W did head back up and this time I went down first. I got to my pack and took some photos as Dane headed down. With his camera in one hand he was all over the place, it was funny to watch!!!
Wet and chilly we continued our hike down and found a talus/scree slope to take down to the trail in the Esmeralda Basin. Quickly the route got a bit hairy as avalanches had ripped the slope apart. Cliffs sprang up and we’d have to quickly change course.




Finally we made it to the trail where we took a break and begged for the car to appear. With fatigue setting in we lumbered down the last 2 miles of trail and 900’ of elevation descent until we saw the happy sight of the parking lot and my car. 8.5 hours and almost 4000’ of gain later we had two awesome summits under our belts and a 2 hour drive back to Seattle. Dane snored half the way back home and I tried to drown out the noise with my stereo.
What a great day to push myself and tag a couple great summits with a friend.

Bat N' Rouge 2009

This was the wildest game of softball that I've ever seen. Every year on Capitol Hill the Gay community kicks off their Pride celebration with this game. The Dykes do battle with the Drag Queens for supremecy. I have not had this much fun in a while.
The Dykes came prepared with their Flannel shirts, mullets and some even had their toolbelts with them.



And the Queens, well they are Queens through and through.



The rules of the game are simple. The first inning is played by standard rules. The second inning has, well, no rules. Being a fund raiser, one can donate money during the even number innings and they can buy strikes or balls, base hits, outs or even home runs. You can also have a batter hit with a crooked bat, hit from their knees, runner can be told to run backwards, skip, or even crawl.
For another rate one can pay to have two Dykes wrestle between innings on the infield.



There was an appearance by the Knights of Malta who donated money to the Capitol Hill Alano Club, who the fund raiser was for.



The Sisterhood of Perpetual Indulgence was in charge of selling raffle tickets.





At one point a Queen was given a Dyke make over complete with a mullet, toolbelt and even a backpack, oh yeah, and her very own flannel shirt too!



One Dyke was so smitten by the new Dyke that she even proposed to her.



Sadly for the real Dyke she was turned down....



With Dyke names like: Amanda Wreckin With, Trailer Trash, Boobs, and Queens with names like: Victoria's Secretion, Miss Peaches, and Skipper how could anybody not laugh their butts off.
Years ago I would have never expected to see myself at an event such as this, much less enjoy myself, but I'm finding that I'm really enjoying living on Capitol Hill and all of the floavor that it has to offer. I won't be adjusting my sexual preference at all, but this neighborhood is helping to open my eyes up to so much in life and helping me enjoy life so much more than I have in the past.
To see plenty more pictures on my Flickr page go HERE

A hike with friends

I haven't been on a good hike in quite a while and I was getting restless. I called Adam and Dane and we headed out to Putrid Pete's Peak off I-90. The trail is not maintained but does get quite a bit of use. Most refer to it as a boot path. The route was snow free and straight forward. We made it to the summit in good time and safely.



From there we traversed the ridge connecting to Mt Defiance to our east.



WE encountered a bit of snow but managed quite well and didn't fall at all. The last bit of the ridge was a bit tricky and through some thick trees but we were soon rewarded with the open summit and more views to gaze our eyes upon, complete with thawing lakes far below.





We headed down after about 30 minutes on the summit and had a somewhat tricky descent through some snow in the trees. We made it down to the main trail safely and headed down to Mason Lake which sits below Bandera Peak.



I don't know the stats for this trip, but it was long but a lot of fun with close to 4000' of elevation gain I believe.

Photos from the ballpark

I have hundreds of photos that I've taken while attending a Mariners game at Safeco Field but I've never taken any like these before.

Not so lucky bamboo plant

I awoke today and walked into my living room and saw carnage on the floor from a 4 year old Lucky Bamboo plant all over the floor. Those who are aware know that these plants grow very slowly and take patience. This plant was about 18" tall but has been reduced to a stub no thanks to my cat Charlie. He chomped on all but one of the leaves, bad kitty!! I guess that's what i get for moving his climbing tree from it's usual spot in front of the picture window.......
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Getting ready for the game

I got a call from a friend the other week inviting me to the Mariners vs Baltimore. Of course i had to say yes to the invite.
Baseball is something that has brought me closer to my sister and niece. We have not missed an opening day at Safeco Field in four years and don't on missing one any time soon.
The only game where my loyalties are torn is when the Detroit Tigers come into town. I grew up cheering for the Tigers back when Sparky Anderson was the manager. Sadly i never got to go to a game at Tiger Stadium.
The game of baseball will always be in my heart.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Times change, but vigils never stop

With Washington Mutual now down for the count, Chase is slowly becoming the new face at bank branches around Seattle. It is unfortunate that an icon in the region has gone under and is being taken over by what some have described as a "soul-less excuse for a bank"



In a short period of time they have taken away the small town feel of a bank and replaced it with a cold-hearted feel that pays substantially less for interest bearing accounts. I've read numerous accounts of people who banked with WaMu and will be closing their Chase accounts in favor of a credit union instead. With what I've heard, I would do the same thing.

On another note, yesterday I was relaxing at Cal Anderson Park when I noticed a group of people start to gather. When I asked what was going on I was told that there will be a vigil for Dr. Tiller, the abortion doctor who was killed while at church. In a short period of time there were a few hundred people gathered to remember this man.





Please understand, I am not pro-abortion, but I am pro-choice. I do not believe that abortion is the answer to irresponsibility or poor decision making. I do believe that there are circumstances where an abortion would be justified, such as rape or incest. At the vigil a woman spoke who had been raped years ago. She hid her pregnancy out of shame and finally decided to have an abortion. She found her way to Kansas and to the care of Dr. Tiller. She shared how he and his staff were kind, caring and loving towards her. They did not pressure her into the procedure, but rather talked with her and helped her determine if the choice she was making was what she truly wanted.
I believe that people have the right to oppose abortion, as long as they do not impede or harm those who perform the procedure or those who may get one, or who are just looking for information. Not all women who walk into an abortion clinic, or Planned Parenthood are getting an abortion, but many times they are being treated as though they are by the protesters who frequently hang around outside the offices.
To the family and friends of Dr. Tiller, I send my condolences for your loss. To those who oppose his work, there is a time and a place to make your voice heard and a place of worship is not that place.