Catching Up With the Smileys

Liberty Ridge, Mount Ranier | The Smiley’s Project: Committed, continues with a successful climb of Liberty Ridge on Mt Rainier. The climb was amazing, all 10,000 vertical feet of it. Justin H. and Matt M. joined us for the climb. All told it took three days to get up and back down. Starting at the White River Campground we hiked into the Winthrop Glacier. Day two we advanced to Thumb Rock. Day three we went to the top and all the way down and out…it was a 16 hour day! Read the full story »

Liberty Bell Mountain, Liberty Crack | We thought it would be a great idea to climb Liberty Bell on Independence Day. July 4th dawned a cloudy day, but we went for the crack regardless, hoping it would clear. They climbed the first pitch and the clouds rose up from below us and the temperatures dropped. It was not the best day for a 1200 foot tower. So we rappelled down and went to Winthrop to get some ice-cream… Read the full story »

Price Glacier, Mount Shuksan | The climbers of the Pacific NW are a hearty bunch. Huge vertical relief, dense underbrush, long approaches and crappy weather are the ingredients that toughen their skin to the Dirty Harry level.

While doing our homework prior to attempting the Price Glacier route on Mt Shuksan we read, “follow the trail that parallels the Price Creek leading to Price Lake.” In Colorado, when the guide books use the word trail, that naturally implies a 4 foot wide space, clear of all vegetation, well signed at any conceivable intersection where one might be required to make a route finding decision. If there is ever a section of trail that the rise-over-run ratio is out of code with OSHA standards, college “interns” are quickly recruited to make rock steps that bring it back into compliance. Not the case in the North Cascades… Read the full story »

Videos by Mark Smiley.

JANELLE SMILEY is a mountaineering guide with Salt Mountaineering, a company she started with her husband in Crested Butte, Colorado. A 5.11 traditional multi-pitch lead climber, Janelle has been all over the world guiding, exploring, climbing and skiing… {more}