SierraDescents | 2008
August 7, 2008
Dept. of Propaganda: BPA Facts.org
Perhaps by now you've heard the radio spot on KFI AM 640: A concerned female voice warns consumers: 'Soon, many common everyday products could disappear from grocery store (more)
August 5, 2008
LA Climber Among K2 Survivors
On August 1, 2008, Hermosa Beach climber Nicholas Rice awoke after a freezing night at Camp IV and made his way to just below the "Bottleneck". Rice, 23, was attempting to climb (more)
July 29, 2008
North Peak…Skiing…July?
I was browsing the message boards at thebackcountry.net when I happened to see a new "North Peak" post. I clicked on it, thinking someone had posted a climbing trip report (North (more)
July 19, 2008
The Wall-e Review
I envy those who went to see Wall-e without knowing anything in advance about the film. By now, word has spread about Disney/Pixar's new animated picture. You've probably heard (more)
July 18, 2008
Vasque Breeze GTX
At two pounds, nine ounces per pair, the Vasque Breeze GTX qualifies as a light hiking boot—but don't think that means they're not durable. This is the boot I used to hike and (more)
July 16, 2008
La Sportiva Trango S EVO
La Sportiva's Trango S EVO GTX Alpine Mountaineering boot delivers a mighty punch of versatility and performance. What truly makes the Trango S EVO special, however, is its (more)
July 16, 2008
Whitney Fish Hatchery Destroyed
Sounds like it was a wild weekend in the Whitney Portal region, with heavy storms closing the portal road (due to mudslides) and even Highway 395 (which remains closed at (more)
July 11, 2008
Teeth of Steel: Sabretooth Crampon
Black Diamond calls the Sabretooth their most versatile crampon, suitable for travel from Denali to Ouray and everywhere in between. The Sabretooth is an aggressive 12-point (more)
July 11, 2008
Lone Pine Peak: Another Look
When I skied Lone Pine Peak's East Couloir this spring, I forgot to photograph LPP's northeast face in its entirety. Here's a recent shot of the line from Highway 395 near (more)
July 10, 2008
Axes I Have Known: BD Venom
Every now and then a piece of gear comes along that changes the paradigm. Such is the case with Black Diamond's Venom ice axe. The Venom directly addresses the dilemma of having (more)
July 7, 2008
North Palisade: the U-Notch Couloir
What an absolutely amazing adventure this was! North Palisade offers the gamut of high alpine mountaineering challenges, from glacier travel to ice climbing to technical rock, (more)
June 4, 2008
March, April, May: ‘Driest Ever’
The Los Angeles Times is reporting that March, April, and May 2008 were the driest winter months on record for California and the Sierra Nevada mountains. I suppose that (more)
May 29, 2008
Sierra Snow Update
SMS Leader Alvin Walter sent me a few photos from the Sierra's Rock Creek drainage over Memorial Weekend. Alvin encountered 'full winter conditions' with up to a foot and a half (more)
May 23, 2008
Traveling in Bear Country
Late season storms aside, I've been looking forward to ditching the ski gear and switching to hiking and climbing. After all, summer camping in the Sierra is easier in almost (more)
May 22, 2008
Rain, Hail, Lighting, Snow…Tornado?
I was walking today around 5 p.m. on the way to the grocery when the sudden rumble of thunder stopped me. Hmm...I guess those black clouds on the horizon weren't fog, after (more)
