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Cheri้ and Mike's Web site! |
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2011 Outdoor Fun and Adventures! |
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Click here to see what we
did in: 2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2012
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In September (took a while to get to the pics!), Mike and Cheri้ joined good buddies Steve and Cindy at the Civil War! No, there was no time machine! Instead they enjoyed a reenactment of the Civil War in Plain, a suburb of Leavenworth! There was a battle (won by the Yankees!), and a tour of the encampments after the battle. And then there was pitch 'n putt golf for the 4 after the battle! Here are the pictures, processed to look like the real thing! |
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In early December, Mike and his buddy Steve, had every intention of climbing Silver Peak, photographing the sunset (it was supposed to be clear!), and descend in the dark. After cutting cross country off the Lake Annette trail, they gained about 700' in over an hour. The snow was unconsolidated, with a crust that broke through ever few steps! They bailed on the Silver Peak plans after an appropriate amount of misery, and hiked to a mostly frozen Lake Annette. The two felt better when, after hiking out, they saw that the summit of Silver Peak was enshrouded in clouds! Another day! |
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On the way back from parents weekend at the University of Montana, Mike stopped off at Kootenai Falls, in northwest Montana, to photograph these beautiful falls. |
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On November 20, Mike joined with buddies Jonathan, Dan and Han, and skied into the Crystal Mountain backcountry, where they found a rare stash of fluffy powder snow, the likes of which are seldom seen around here! |
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On September 24, Mike joined with buddies John, Doug, Cathy and Sarah to scramble Hibox Peak, a rock scramble with about 4000' gain near Rachel Lake. The weather was great, the exercise was better, and the friends and fun the best of all! |
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On September 10, Mike joined with friends John Leigh and John Waldhausen to climb Sahale Peak, Mike's 7th or 8th time up Sahale! A bivy at the trailhead allowed for a 5am start. The day was spectacular for an early September day. The three had Boston Basin and the Quien Sabe Glacier all to themselves. John Leigh expertly led the summit pyramid. Sahale is one of Mike's favorite climbs, which is why he returns year after year! |
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Over Labor Day weekend, Mike and Cheri้ joined with their good friends David and Heike to climb Tomyhoi Peak in the North Cascades. The weather cooperated with a sunny weekend, and the group found a camp with a view. The weekend included wildflowers, exercise, good friends, wine, a summit and even a skinny dip in a snow fed mountain tarn! |
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in Mid August, Mike, Steve and Ian spent 6 days on the Ptarmigan Traverse, a technical and strenuous traverse from Cascase Pass to Suiattle Road, in the North Cascades. The three had spectacular campsites, with views all around, enjoyed mountain goats, steep snow, steep heather (scary!), and 5 glaciers. The plan was to climb Dome Peak on day 5, but the weather did not cooperate. It was a fantastic adventure! |
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In August, Mike led his SIG climbing group up the Mazama Glacier on Mt. Adams on a fabulous weather weekend. The group took 3 days, in part because of the long drive, and in part because it allowed a lunch on the last day at the Hood River brewpub! The climbing group made their basecamp at a spectacular Sunrise Camp, with views of Mt. Hood and Mt. Jefferson, in Oregon. While they had the Glacier to themselves, they met many climbers on the South Spur when they joined that nontechnical route just below the false summit. After summiting, they returned to the glacier side, and solitude and a fun second night in basecamp! |
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On June 19, Mike and Cebe led a Mountaineers climb of Silverstar Mtn., in the North Cascades. The climb was for past and present members of their SIG climbing group. The weather was mixed, and at one time they found themselves on the Silverstar Glacier in a whiteout, with only a general idea of the direction of the peak! But fortune shined on the group, and they found themselves within 30' of the true summit before calling their high point their summit because of sketchy snow on rock slabs. It was a very fun day! |
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On June 4, Mike led a Mountaineers climb of Colchuck Peak, in the Enchantments. The weather was fantastic, there was lots of snow, and all had a fantastic time! |
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On May 21, Mike, Cheri้ and their good friend, Jonathan, enjoyed a soggy and foggy ski tour to Artist's Point, near Mt. Baker. While there was lots of snow, it was of the Cascade concrete variety! But the day was fun, with good friends, and good food afterwards! |
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On Mother's Day weekend, May 7-9, Mike and Cebe and a host of past climbing students climbed Mt. St. Helens with this years climbing group. The weather forecast was mixed, at best, but the decision was to go for it! The group enjoyed snow and little sun on Saturday, and summit day on Sunday started out with foggy snowy conditions. However, the weather turned for the better, and all enjoyed sunburns on the crater (Mike's 10th time on the crater!) Mike was the only hardy soul who skied, and he made quick work of the descent . . . and according to tradition, honored his mother by wearing a dress! |
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The weekend of April 9-10, Mike and Cheri้ traveled to their adopted home town, and hung out with the SIG climbing group. While Cheri้ relaxed and worked on our place, Mike taught and photographed rock climbing. For the 4th year in a row the group rented a large house, potlucked dinner and breakfast, and enjoyed even more climbing on Sunday. Awesome weekend with an awesome group! |
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On April 3, our good friends Jonathan and Ann were married at the summit house at the top of the Crystal Mountain gondola. The weekend started with a fabulous dinner at a house near Greenwater. Many of the wedding party then stayed at the Rokka Lodge, at Crystal Mountain. We arose early, and by 7:15 were on the gondola headed to the summit house. The skies cleared, Mt. Rainier appeared in all of its glory, blessing the wedding couple with a fantastic outdoor wedding ceremony. After the wedding we all skied! A fantastic weekend! |
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On March 19, Mike and Cebe took their SIG climbing group to Mt. Erie for a day of instruction and climbing. Aided by numerous capable assistants, the students had fun climbing on a glorious sunny day, while being watched by soaring eagles! |
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On February 26, Mike joined with buddies Ian and Jonathan for a fantastic ski day on the Muir Snowfield on Mt. Rainier. They were between storms, which generally makes for spectacular photography! The 3 skinned up to about 8400', which gave them about 3000' of Pow! It was a great ski day! |
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On February 12, Mike joined with professional ski photographer extraordinaire Jason Hummel for a backcountry ski & photoshoot in the Alpental valley. The outing was part of the Vertfest celebration and a benefit for the Northwest Avalanche Center. Joining Mike was 4 other students, and Jason's brother, Josh, and his girlfriend, Kristy, both fantastic skiers. It was a fun and learning experience! |
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On February 5, Mike and Cheri้ joined Heike, David, Vlad and Kathryn to celebrate Heike's birthday on the summit of a wet Tiger Mountain! Afterwards, they all ate Pho! Happy Birthday Heike! |
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On January 22, Mike and Cheri้ (part way) snowshoed up Hex Mountain with their sig climbing group and others, in an outing lead by Louise. It was a beautiful January day, and a great day to be out! |
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Mike and Cheri้ started 2011 out right by spending the weekend in Leavenworth, and skiing a cold but beautiful Mission Ridge ski area on New Years Day. Cheri้ had not skied at Mission Ridge for 20+ years, and this was the first time Mike had skied there. The views were beautiful, but the double blacks not quite double! Considering how close the ski area is to Leavenworth, they will return! Happy New Year!! |
