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[pct-l] re : Side Climbs

John,

  Good to see someone thinking of climbing along the PCT, as there is more than
you can shake your ice axe at!!  Mostly I agree with Brian's response to your
request, so I'll just add a couple of things.
  Mt. Thielson, near Crater Lake, has an incredible view from the top, but is
very loose volconic rock, so be careful, especially on the descent.  The same
could be said for Three Finger Jack.  As for the glacier peaks, the Sisters are
the simplest to climb and at least one of them (not sure which) can be soloed
with no problem.  Mt. Jefferson is fairly easy as is Mt. Hood, but I did not
have the weather at Hood for an ascent.  Mt. Adams would be interesting.  Mt.
Ranier I again did not have the weather.  However, when I arrived at Glacier
Peak, I did have the weather; I made an attempt from the north side (I forget
the name of the glacier) before I wisely decided to live to be an old man. 
When you are soloing everything, fear raises its ugly head very quickly.
  I carried my ice axe from Mexico to Canada so I always had that.  I also
picked up my crampons at Timberline Lodge and carried them all the rest of the
way: used a few hours total, so you might wonder if its worth it.  You might
run into someone on the trail interested in climbing but I never did, which
explains my solos.  I did have company for the 3rd class scramble stuff.  The
best bet is to have friends who will meet you on a certain date with all of the
gear but, as Brian mentioned, you might consider it to be a nuisance as it may
not be what you want to do once you get there.
  If I was going to do it all again and some climbing friends were going to
meet my along the way, I'd meet them at Yosemite and go climb Cathedral Peak
and some of the domes above the trail, as the weather is almost always
excellant and early in the summer, the climbs are not very crowded.  The number
one problem with all the big volcanos in the Cascades is the weather.  Friends
would be horribly disappointed to have gone all that way only to sit in the
lodge watching the rain fall and you pacing back and forth because you could be
making miles in the rain.

Hope all goes well for you,

Alan
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