Mount Erie

SIG Conditioner as well as checking out the suitability of the old 'Grand Central' area (now known as 'Skyline Arete' area) for basic SIG training. Had good weather, but prior rains made the lower Skyline Arete Slabs too wet to use (water flowing down rock). Even getting to the area via the Skyline 'trail' required use of top ropes (1st person scrambled up) to negotiate some very wet and slimey/mossy rock. Did a mud/wet rock lead to the left of lower Skyline Arete Slab (as well as a fixed line to just get to the start of this pitch) to reach the bench/madrona trees at its top. After bringing everyone up we used fixed lines and scrambling to continue up towards Lumpy Crag and finally, to hiking trails to the summit. FYI: A monster fir tree that used to be below the black lichen slab route has come down, at it is a major hassle/bush wack just getting to this lower slab area. When things have dried up such that we no longer have water running over the rock I fully expect the ticks to be out in full force.