ARRRRRGH!!!! What a frustrating weekend. I drove all weekend. I went from Central CA to Vancouver, WA spent a night at my sister's and then delivered my daughter to college in McMinnville, OR and drove home. What made this so agonizing was the awesome weather. On Saturday morning as I drove, Lassen Peak came into view. Then I sat and stared at Mount Shasta as I ate breakfast in the town of Mount Shasta. Into Oregon and Mount McLoughlin. Stopped for gas near Corvalis and could see all Three Sisters and Mount Jefferson. Soon Mount Hood appeared. Finally as I drove through Portland and into Vancouver I could see Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams. Never did see Rainier. Spent last night in Weed, CA at the foot of Mount Shasta knowing I had to get on the road in the morning. I have to get out next weekend. Thanks for letting me vent.

Went to Longs Peak in Colorado to train for a bigger climb. Met high winds and sub-zero wind chills. Climbed as long as it made sense then turned around when the blowing snow was covering our tracks. Oh well, still a good workout!

-Facts-

This afternoon my father and me have gone to La Pedriza, a very good rock-climbing spot near Madrid, Spain. We've hiked from Canto Cochino (1.020 m / 3,346 ft), passing Refugio (hut) Giner to El Tolmo (1.258 m / 4,127 ft), where we've had lunch. El Tolmo is a huge granite rock of 18 m / 59 ft high and 73 m / 240 ft perimeter that weighs aproximately 500 Ton with a volume of 176 cu m. There was a herd of wild goats in that amazing scenery of peaks and rocks that surrounded us. Then we ascended to Collado (Col) de la Dehesilla or de la Silla (1.453 m / 4,767 ft) in a light snowstorm. On the col we turned back, at a temperature of 1 ºC / 34 F, to the parking following the same trail of ascent. We've seen many storks while driving to La Pedriza and vultures flying over the peaks. It was a short but nice hike under beautiful lights and shadows

Yesterday, I was skiing in La Pinilla, a ski resort of Segovia, Spain; near Pico del Lobo (see page). At midday I went there with my oldest brother, the weather was fine, only some clouds. The snow on the upper tracks was quite hard so we left them for the afternoon.

Went to Banff and did some sport ice and mixed climbing. Excellent conditions! A long drive for 2 1/2 days. On the way home on the Columbia Icefields Parkway, I lost control of my Audi and slid in reverse accross a lane missing another car by about 2 inches, then slammed into a snowbank at about 35 mph. I am soo lucky. No damage from the nice soft snow, and two nice Canadian ice climbers pulled me out with their rope and biners using a pickup.

Last night when I got home I prayed for the first time in several months.

Damn, Martin. Glad you're ok. I've always said the most dangerous part of any adventure is getting there and back.

I like the view but dislike that parkway. It is always icier than it looks. Good to hear you are OK.

lol your accounts of the Northwest sound all the more interesting and hard to believe as I'm sitting in Massachussetts watching the snow drifts bury cars outside on the street...

Had a great 3-day weekend! I just got back from snowshoeing and backpacking in the Little Lakes Valley area in the Sierra.

After driving all of last weekend I headed up to the Mokelumne Wilderness and <A HREF="http://www.summitpost.com/mountains/mountain_link.pl?mountain_id=368">Round Top</a> on Saturday before the storm came in. The weather was a bit windy but it felt great to get out.
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I've hiked near La Granja (Segovia, Spain) with friends on saturday. There were no big hikes because my friends are not mountaineers but the landscapes were amazing. The snow covered all Sierra de Guadarrama (Peñalara, Risco de los Claveles, Peña Cítores...). The woods, streams and pastures were very beatiful and I had a good day with my friends. We ended drinking chocolate with "picatostes" in the most typical restaurant of the village.

I had absolutely the best weekend for my 47th birthday anyone could ask for - I had some new Summit Post friends over for my birthday!! The beautiful, talented and charming Eileen Bistrisky, the most excellent climber Alois Smrz and his lovely partner Penelope, and my new climbing buds John Wang, David Kiene and Daniel - you guys made my day - thanks!

Quote: "two nice Canadian ice climbers pulled me out with their rope and biners using a pickup."

Damn right they were nice. That rope is retired (I would hope).

"Damn right they were nice. That rope is retired (I would hope)."

Considering that they had to really yank on it to get my buried car out, I hope so too. I thought the biners and rope were going to fail for sure.