Want to climb Mt. Washington, info needed

[Bill O]

Fifth. Don't worry about your camera.

[b1029384756]

To Bill O: Ok, you see I'm not quoting this time. Didn't realize that wasn't standard protocol on this forum. As for this being "for real", I still don't know what your issue is with me but if you're bothered by this, go ahead and delete this thread if you want, and I'll take the hint and not post here anymore.

To krummholz: The link isn't working for me either for some reason, try this one:

http://www.armysurpluswarehouse.com/...valve-4030.cfm

Thanks for the rest of the info about the route as well. As for hot water freezing faster, I've tried it and seen firsthand that it's true (in buckets, anyway). I suppose it probably wouldn't matter in a waterproof container, though, so I'll try one cooler (for immediate use) and the other hot (for longevity).

[Steve M]

Just looked at the link, a good read. Perfect timing, I'm actually heading out the door right now to drop something off to a friend who works in a book store, so I'll look for the book while I'm there.

Since you have your own photo page and all, can you tell me anything about my camera dilemma? I'll definitely post something when I get back, hopefully, and pictures as well if I can find out what to use to take them. Thanks in advance.

If I were you I would just take a point and shoot. Keep it in a plastic bag and put it in and insulated glove and keep it inside your jacket. If it is cold enough out it won't matter what camera you have. Batteries don't work well when they get cold but what does? Keep this in mind also if you intend to bring a GPS or your cell phone. You can't count on these in case of trouble.

[KD Talbot]

this with some amusement. When Bill starts asking is this for real I know it's time for me to jump in!

Get a lot of these every year. I will say this. At least you're asking questions. Hundreds don't bother.

The best advice you've had so far is this: Don't be afraid to turn back. Most people who get in trouble in the Whites, (there are deaths just about every year on lesser mountains than Washington) get themselves in trouble because they consider it their only chance. They won't turn around because they've come all the way from, I don't know, say New Jersey, and this is their only chance. They've spent a lot of money, given up their vacation time and damnit, they're going to concur this mountain no matter what the weather, the temperature, what the fatigue factor may be, whether they're truly prepared or not. Skip "Not Without Peril and read this. The only people who fail have their names right here:

http://www.mountwashington.org/about.../surviving.php

Check this, too:

http://www.mountwashington.org/about/visitor/winter.php

Now go back and read "Not Without Peril".

http://www.mountwashington.org/store...products_id=37

I'll only enter into the camera department in this discussion. Take your Canon digital. Keep the batteries warm. Keep the camera cold. If it's near zero take the batteries out and keep them in a warm pocket near your body heat. I hiked 13 miles in -7 degrees last weekend. 8 hours. Your hike will be significantly less distance, but 2000' more elevation. Everyone I know who hikes these mountains says it's not the distance, it's the elevation gain. Temps may be colder. Had no issues with my lithium batteries or Nikon camera. I carry 2 lithiums. Obviously, the more you have the camera out facing the elements, the faster the batteries will drain.

Get this for your water bottle:

http://www.rei.com/product/770795

And this for a thermos:

http://www.rei.com/product/752887

Send us pictures.

KDT

[Bill O]

I just want to make sure we're not getting trolled.

Quoting is perfectly fine, and I encourage it. It just happened to be getting a little out of hand in this particular thread.

Those boots are probably warm, but it doesn't look like they offer much physical protection for your feet. From your ice axe or your crampons.

[JimS]

You have to understand that we get A LOT of trolls sturring the pot here...we have to question new members...feel free to stick around...you WILL learn things...

To the group...It seems he is for real, though the attempt on the surface seems a bit absurd. What we as a forum have to remember is that people who share his dream and inexperience try this peak every weekend. Most make it back, some even summit. All return humbled with respect. I agree, atleast he is asking questions, and as much as we are all biting our tongues to keep from saying "don't do it"...many each weekend are much worse prepared.

I echo Kevin's advice, don't wait until you feel like you can't go higher, because often times it's too late to go down too...

You can get a good taste of the mountain at treeline...assess from there.

Your camera will work fine...I think that's why noone is addressing that.

[Bill O]

Good advice and points Jim.

Knowing when to turn around probably prevents most accidents. That's one of the major uses for a guide service. They pretty much force you to turn around, and they don't get emotional.

[b1029384756]

Steve M: Thanks for the info on the cameras. As for GPS, I don't own one, since I've never had any trouble driving and finding my way around. A particularly fun moment was when I drove to Buffalo, NY, and about 3 hours into my trip, realized I'd accidentally grabbed a blank sheet of paper heading out the door instead of the driving directions I'd written. Still managed to find the place. I'm sure it'd be much more useful on a mountain but people have been climbing for a long time, and they're relatively new, so I'm sure I can get by without one. I will be bringing a cell phone, and I don't plan to depend on it (though in the unlikely event of an actual emergency, I'd certainly try to use it). I'll try to avoid getting into a situation where I'd even to call for help anyway.

KD Talbot: Thanks for your info, I'll do as you suggest, put the batteries in my pocket and the camera in my backpack in a ziploc. Looks like I'll be bringing lots of ziplocs and socks to put things in. I've already read the links you've posted to pages on this site. Just came back from the book store, they didn't have the book in stock, but will try to find it at another store. Those last few posts were all the info I needed about cameras, so I should be good with that. I'll definitely post the pictures I take.

I'll check into those water bottles as well, they seem a lot more rugged than the previous suggestion I got here. I'm sure those would be fine as well, but better to have too much protection than too little, so I might just get the ones you suggested. I'll see if they sell them at EMS, since we have a store around here.

Bill O: I understand the need to deal with trolling. This doesn't seem like the type of forum to attract immaturity such as goatse spammers, though. I was getting a bit defensive because it seemed like you were being elitist and didn't want noobs in "your" sport. Maybe I was wrong about that assessment. I just want to add that the way you seemed to come off might actually endanger people, though, making it that much more difficult for us noobs to turn back when it'd be wise to do so, in order to avoid having to hear "Told you so!". Maybe others don't have my type of defiant personality, though...I've accomplished some difficult things simply because others have told me that I couldn't do it or that it couldn't be done. I've also put myself at sometimes unnecessary risk in the process. Still, if I've seemed like I'm trolling, I'd like to know what particular points made me seem that way, as that then makes me think I'm making some bad decisions and I'd like to know exactly what they are for safety reasons.

I tried the boots out tonight. They're almost uncomfortably warm here at 10?F, so it seems like they'd be just right at -30?F. They're otherwise very comfortable to walk in, without the need to break them in as with other boots. They're unissued and would appear new if not for the fact that they've probably been stored and shipped around surplus dealers for years. I don't know about protection from other things. I never thought about impaling myself with my own ice axe (everyone would be right to laugh at me if that happens), or the crampons (stepping on my own feet is a possibility, I suppose). They're designed to take snowshoes, so if crampons attach the same way, I might be able to rent them. I suppose if I get to IME and find out I can't, I can always swallow the loss and pay $40 to rent boots and crampons from EMS. I'll call them tomorrow and see if they have a size 14 just in case.

JimS: Same thing, as above, if you think I'm being absurd about something, tell me exactly what, as that just might be the thing that keeps me alive.

To all: I understand not to try to press on at all costs (I have no desire to have my name added the list). I suppose a good rule of thumb would be to turn back when I feel I've exhausted about half of my strength? Obviously that's difficult for me to measure objectively, but I'll do the best I can. And I do realize that it might seem unwise to go without a guide, and maybe it is, but I don't think I can budge on that issue. If I were to go with someone, it'd have to be someone I knew and trusted. None of my friends want to go on this, though. Since I'll be going alone, I'll need to trust in my own instincts, along with information I've gathered from trip reports I've read, and mountain climbers I've spoken to (including on here, of course). I'll be the first to admit I've made some very poor decisions in the past (swimming out off the north shore of Oahu might top that list), and most of the reason I'm posting here is to avoid doing so again.

[b1029384756]

One more thing...if a moderator here could do me a favor, could you edit my name out of post #11? I'm unable to do so, and I don't mind everyone here knowing my name but would rather it not come up in a google search of my username, which I wasn't considering when I posted it.

[Acrophobe]

I'll just pop in here to say good luck, if you decide to go. Washington can be, if it decides to be, quite an enjoyable little mountain. I'm actually planning to go up myself, either this Saturday or two weeks from then.

Coincidentally, I'm reading Not Without Peril myself now. Good book, it is.