I've always found the idea of multi-peak linkups intriguing - it appeals
to my relentless persuit of efficiency.  Since I only get a few climbing
weekends a year, I might as well make the most of the weekends I DO get!
Plus, a multi-goal trip almost guarantees a modicum of success on any
trip, barring a total weather collapse - "well, we never found the route
on Stuart, but at least we got a quick run up Ingalls"...  For example, Sisters
Marathon continues to be a personal goal - once I get up N. Sister.

In 2000 I attended a talk by Steve Boyer about light climbing, and got
really inspired about the possibilities for covering large amounts of
ground fast.  I started really paring my equipment weight for summer
climbs, and learning about simulclimbing.  Then Mike Schoen wrote a great
article for the 2001 Mazama Annual about his philosophy on adventure climbing
 - the pursuit of obscure rock climbs that are about creative exploring, 
not about chasing grade numbers in a controlled environment.

In 2001 I signed on for a
linkup of Colchuck, Dragontail, and Prusik Peak with Gary Abraham
(http://www.swiftsend.com/~glennw/climbs/colchuck-drag-prusik_jun01_690/index.htm)
It was a great trip, not difficult at all, but lots of enjoyable climbing
in fantastic terrain, and really got me pumped to try more.

Then the pot boiled over after reading about Peter Croft's recent focus on
long, moderate (for Peter Croft!) solo alpine ridge linkups.  I recalled
Gary talking about Peter's classic solo linkup of the entire Stuart range
in a continuous, campless push, starting with the 5.8 Stuart N. Ridge
direct.  OK, take it down a couple of grades, take along a friend or three
- now this is what I want to be doing!

So on the way back from my second Stuart-cum-Ingalls trip in July 2002
(http://www.swiftsend.com/~glennw/climbs/ingalls_no_stuart_690/index.htm),
I was looking at the map and noticed an area NE of Snoqualmie Pass replete
with small rock peaks: 3 Queens, 4 Brothers, Chickamin Peak, 5 Lemah
peaks, and Cathedral Rock - all interconnected with a relatively
continuous high ridgline.  That makes 14, and let's see, count up the
unnamed, numbered peaks, 7 more makes 21.  Hmm, that's a nice number!

Thus, the "21 Peak Salute" was born in my feverish mind.

It's kind of cool because if you go clockwise, you mostly rap the steep stuff,
reverse to climb the steep stuff.  There are two lakes in the two low points
on the ridge line that make good camps, with only about 1000 and 1600 feet
of descent from the summits.  Somehow the idea of actually bagging 21 high
points (more if you count a few unnamed, mostly eleveation-numbered pinnacles
along the ridges) in a single trip appeals to my efficiency bent!