HST Update!

HST is in the middle of peak season, and loving every minute of it! After a successful Shuksan climb and some craggin' in Leavenworth, our members had an absolute blast participating in the HST -WWP North Cascades Multi-Sport Trip (Thanks to Heather Timins for organizing a great event) and the WWP Summit Challenge down in Utah. One of our climbers was able to spend two extra days training and craggin' in the Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons near Salt Lake as well. 

On labor Day weekend, several of our climbers will be climbing on Glacier Peak in the North Cascades Range.

Later this week, we're tentatively looking at climbing the Outer Space Route on the Snow Creek Wall near Leavenworth, and we're really looking forward to the AAC Craggin' Classic down in Oregon (14th-16th). Rumor has it their might be a diversion to to the Sounders-Timbers away game as well. As always, all are welcome at our weekly climbing / bouldering at Edgeworks in Tacoma (Graciously sponsored by the WWP). Finally, we're super stoked for our Mt. Stewart climb the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd. October is wide open at this point, and we're really basing our schedule around pickup climbs and the weather. 

If you'd like to participate in any of these events, drop us a line here.

Please check out what are friends are doing at AAC , NWMS, VetEx and High Ground.

Enjoy some sweet shots, stories to follow:

JB Craggin' in Leavenworth

Approaching Shuksan's Pyramid

Grady on the Summit!

North Cascades trip with WWP

Dan and JB showing off their sweet outfits at the WWP Summit Challenge

Mount Olympus Change

Due to injuries and work schedules, we will be changing this weekend's climb to Mount Shuksan in the North Cascades. Shuksan is a classic climb in some of the most beautiful scenery in Washington. It has a mix of glacier and alpine rock sections with spectacular views and just enough exposure to make it fun.

On Thursday and Friday, several of our climbers will be doing single and multi-pitch climbs on the Icicle near Leavenworth, and then we will climb on Shuksan on Saturday and Sunday.

Please let us know by Tuesday if you want to drop in on the rock climbing and Wednesday for Shuksan. Right now we have 4 confirmed for Leavenworth and 7 confirmed for Shuksan.

Best Ranger Competition Report (TJ Laynor)

Best Ranger Competition Report (TJ Laynor)


I must say I haven't had this much fun in a long time.  It is fun to attempt these events without someone yelling at you or various simulations going off to peak my PTSD.  MAJ Moore was also a blast to have as a partner.  He is still the same old guy always trying to show up the younger guys.  


The competition started early Wednesday morning as we split up into two groups to either start at the shooting range or Grenade range. Tobin and I started with the grenade range.  Good thing we don't throw too many grenades in combat. For some reason all of mine liked to bounce to the left and always out of bounce. Tobin either fell really short or too long.  It was safe to say that although we didn't score perfect, none else did either.  The next event was a race to the top of the tower and repel down.  We both accomplished this task, but I'm told they had to literally throw Tobin off the tower.  After coming off the tower we each had to throw 5 tomahawks.  We were the only team that received a perfect score.  Good to know that although we will miss them with our grenades, we can always kill them with our tomahawks.


After a quick MRE snack we traveled to the range to compete in the M4 shoot off.  Each team was given 30 rounds and had to fire 10 in the prone, kneeling and standing positions. Team OR received a 99%. I'm sure it was my blind eye that missed something.  After completing the M4 shoot off we had to race our way to the Malvesti Obstacle Course. The obstacle course consisted of 5 pull ups, a rope climb, the log climb, monkey bars, the low crawl in the worm pit, and finally the 150 meter run to the finish.  It seems easy, but when you have to finish as a team it can take a toll.  The rope and the logs were the crux of the course, but in the end we had a finish time in the top 3.


The event was a blast and I could not have asked for a better partner.  Tobin Moore made the event a challenging one. This Saturday we should find out how we did over all.  The winning team gets a replicate trophy (minus the 45 cal pistols) of the one given to the winners of the actual Best Ranger Competition.


Follow Up: TJ and Tobin took second place! Rock on Fellas!

Team OR (TJ Laynor Left, Tobin Moore Right)

Getting ready to fight the natives.

Adorable personalized ACUS.

Finish Line!