You're not being a downer, Alpinist, and I don't mind discussion on the issue. One of the reasons I went with IMG is because they specifically advertise that they allow clients enough time to walk over and tag the true HP if they so choose after reaching the rim. But as you can see from my profile shot, conditions on the mountain ruled the day and I will forever be grateful to IMG for the mad dash we made for the crater rim in rapidly deteriorating conditions when the decision to turn around could have just as easily been made. Upon reaching the rim, it was war whoops and high fives for a few minutes and then a quick descent.

Now as to whether or not the rim counts, I've seen many discussions on this issue and never imagined I would wind up in the position I'm in. As far as the NPS is concerned, the rim is the summit; as far as the guide services are concerned, the rim is the summit and according to certificate that is now hanging on my living room wall, I summited. But I am not claiming to be anywhere I wasn't and understand that some (including you) take the Messner position that "there is only one top."

It's all good. I hike/climb for its own rewards and have no current plans to reclimb Rainier just so I can walk across the crater. If I ever go back, it will be because it's a great mountain and I wouldn't mind seeing what it looks like from way up there.

sm0421 wrote:I plan on doing Granite SW Couloir this August and Boudary in early December, will report back.

I hope this wasn't your group. Did you make it?

Good luck on your Granite Peak attempt this weekend guys!! Wishing you clear skies and safe climbing and looking forward to hearing how it all pans out.

Ok, maybe nothing to do with highpointing although it will have in the end

Looking for a way to calculate the fastest and shortest distance between 50 mountains to try to find a way to break a record in climbing all of them ... No, not the state highpoints but a different one ... Is there a google tool or another tool to do this?

Thanks!

modcunts wrote:How about you fuck up

some troll is offended by a deleted post ... poor little boy ...

sjarelkwint wrote:Ok, maybe nothing to do with highpointing although it will have in the end

Looking for a way to calculate the fastest and shortest distance between 50 mountains to try to find a way to break a record in climbing all of them ... No, not the state highpoints but a different one ... Is there a google tool or another tool to do this?

Thanks!

I think more details are needed in order to get a helpful response. Are we talking about a list of 50 in a single mountain range or a list of 50 spread out over an area as big as US State Highpoints?

In my region of the US, there are constant attempts to break the speed record for bagging the Adirondack 46 or White Mountain 48 and it's always interesting to see how the hopefuls order the peaks in order to maximize their chances. But for a list covering much of an entire continent, you really need to start with the toughest peak first and go from there. State Highpoint record attempts tend to start on the summit of Denali so that the clock starts ticking at the top of the hardest summit to reach.

Just got down. Amazing sunny weather for 3 days. 4 people in our group.

I turned back at the entrance of the coloir because I'm not sure if I can make it safe down by myself at the first move.

A friend and a 44er both turned back in the middle part, way too many loose rocks.

A 48er completed the summit!

The SW coloir approach is a spectacular trip in itself. Constant view and lakes, unbelievable terrain, just hike to the sky top glacier is 110% worth it.

However i don't think an 'agile dog' can make it and condition changed with many loose rocks. And the approach is still very steep and exposed, too much risk for me to take. My fried kicked off a night stand sized rock and you just don't know which ones you can trust.

Next time I'll probably go with guidesI from the north side, this trip has been phenomenal.

Thinking of the european highpoints...

You have 2 really hard ones with elbrus and the russian one.
Add mont blanc and dufourspitze and even grossglockner and the icelandic one and you get a proper challenge.

You need flights because over land is impossible all the time but at the same time you need to decide which ones first ... elbrus or the georgian one ...

Also you need visa for those mountains (russia but also kazachstan and belarus and ...) and you need to travel a lot...

with making a good schedule to gain time or drive while sleeping you win a lot of time ...

Record at the moment is 835 days and want to do it properly

sm0421 wrote:Just got down. Amazing sunny weather for 3 days. 4 people in our group.

I turned back at the entrance of the coloir because I'm not sure if I can make it safe down by myself at the first move.

A friend and a 44er both turned back in the middle part, way too many loose rocks.

A 48er completed the summit!

The SW coloir approach is a spectacular trip in itself. Constant view and lakes, unbelievable terrain, just hike to the sky top glacier is 110% worth it.

However i don't think an 'agile dog' can make it and condition changed with many loose rocks. And the approach is still very steep and exposed, too much risk for me to take. My fried kicked off a night stand sized rock and you just don't know which ones you can trust.

Next time I'll probably go with guidesI from the north side, this trip has been phenomenal.

Glad you had a good time and made it down safely. We were all wishing you guys well after hearing about the rock fall recently.

What Jow said.

What a shame it would be to return from Granite and to not have appreciated the beauty of the area. It's a fantastic mountain and I hope you and your partners get to see more of it next time you're out there. People tell me I'm young but next to you guys, I feel ancient. I learned on my trip how outstanding guides can be in helping to get maximum enjoyment out of the mountain experience so it' cool to see you're considering that for your next attempt.

sm, thanks for the info on the SW couloir route. It must have been really sketchy if 3/4 of you turned around! Are you still in Royersford? I just moved back to Philly!

sjarelkwind, what an awesome project! I have to admit that I think it would be cooler to do the European HPs than the US HPs. The Alps, Urals, Tatras, Iceland and Scandanavia- oh my God! Harder, too, since I bet there are very few drive ups. I wonder how many of those are on par with the Western US HPs?

Can't help on figuring distance, but obviously with all the border crossings, languages, currency, and other issues related to visiting so many countries, you will require an incredible amount of research, organization and planning. No doubt you will do them all in one season! How long do you think it will take? Where do you anticipate problems climbing? Travelling?

And just one suggestion: in the US, as already noted, most people start when they summit Denali because it's the hardest. Do you maybe want to order some of the peaks, not on the distances, but on climbing the hardest ones first, or timing some of them to get the best weather or climing conditions?

Hey GEM, I moved to Reading recently, not much to hike around Philly, I probably hiked The Pinnacle 10 times and that was it. Maybe we should meet up and do some weekend hikes.

3 of us turned back because it was too much risk to take at that time...and I was thinking about my wife, just married for a year and I really wanted to be safe. I'm afraid of height and exposure and just wasn't sure if I can down climb highly exposed ledges by myself. I researched the SW route countlessly and read just about every trip report on the internet many times, it's harder and longer than what they described But I'll definitely come back. I'm very familiar with the BEST route to hike-in/hike-out/camp site, it will save you much time and energy.


The entrance of the coloir and where I turned back, it's very steep and exposed, doesn't look like it in the picture though.


2 friends started to hike down.


Almost down.


Look back to the valley from the entrance of the coloir.


Friendly mountain goats stayed with our camp site for 2 nights.

Wow sm, that picture of the valley is incredible! Is there anything you would do differently for the next time up there, either in training or gear selection? Definitely up for a weekend hike sometime.

GEM Trail wrote: Definitely up for a weekend hike sometime.

I'm in Wilmington. Holler if you guys want to hook up for a local adventure some time. Elichten was in Exton but I believe he moved to Europe. Hotoven is in Lancaster. Maybe time for a SE PA SummitPost gathering!

Hi All,
FYI

We got a group of 5 up the SW chute of Montana's Granite Peak, this past weekend.

I posted details here: Northern Rockies Forum \Granite Peak Conditions.

BTW, Congrats to Bob Webster~ this was his 49th successful peak ! only Denali is left....


-TL