wdietsch

Hey TG, What ya puttin' in that "zip lock bag"?

This is mostly for the administrators of this site. Gents, anyway that you could set up the personal message program to allow "forwarding" and "carbon copy" functions

Man, I knew I would catch some shit sooner or later for my Seattle Sombero but I didn't think it would be from you Will. I would admit that the "wing-nut" mode is stupid and I never use it that way but I tell you hiking, fishing, livin' on the west side of the hills it does a pretty decent job. I'll be sure to wear it just for you at the next Portland Pub Club gathering. A couple of TG's barley wines and I'll put it up in "wing-nut" mode for a table dance I should clarify my commnet about "tube chocks" I was refering to the old fixed length units Chouinard made for a couple of years way back when not "Big Bro's"

philfort, As far as being "old skool" I'am probally somewhere around 3) webbing swamis and Terrordactyls. 4) White canvas painters pants and whillans harnesses i never owned a pair of stripped socks smokem' if you got'em, Dan Larson sucks........

Nalgene bottles... like most petroleum based products over time and exposure to UV rays will deteriorate.. On a winter climb several years ago air temp around 10F I tapped the bottle with the back side of my hand to knock the ice loose on the inside and put my knuckle thru the @#$%&* thing [ 12-14-2001: Message edited by: wdietsch ]

The worst piece of gear I own is an old #7 SMC Camlock, ranks right up there with tube chocks. Hangs in the back of the closet collecting dust. The thermarest thing.... I'm with Dru, much warmer in the snow, I never carry it in the summer. As for bulkier foam pads cathing on shit when strapped to the outside of your pack, use them as a liner/frame around the inside circumferance of your pack, works like a champ. RP... I own a Seattle Sombrero and OR Croc's suck the big one.....

Jarred, Unless you are prepared for a serious ski or snowshoe approach for St Helens make the most of your time and head to Hood. Lots of snow and avy danger is high at the moment

Kevin, To both Texplorer's and RP's point it can be a very dangeous route if avy conditions are high. It is also a great winter climb with a group or solo if you are up to it. Most people that fall off the Spur do so while decending the upper gulleys. The approach is straight forward, not very difficult and most of it can be done on skis as well as the lower portion of the route. A few years back a friend and I did it in a long day car to car in late March. To one of RP's other points in the right conditions every route on Hood can be done in winter. It justdepends whatyou are up to. Wes [ 12-12-2001: Message edited by: wdietsch ]

Hey Cavey, If I remember right didn't you say something a while back about buying the DMM Flys?

Aidan, I also suggest you check with Marmot in Bellevue, they have been really good at stock pile'ng spare parts for all sorts of tools. I picked up a spare BP Adze there last year for $12. Wes

Carolyn, Before sounds like you have a pretty small grip. You might want to check out the Simond Naja and Piranha. Several shaft configurations (bent, clearance, straight). Not that BD doesn't make good gear, I myself own 2 BP's and 2 X-15's and love them but I have big hands and BD historically has had "bigger than your average bear" size grips. The Rage is really the first tool they have made that fits smaller hands well. http://www.simond.com/pagesa/piolcascA.html my $0.02, wes

I guess you could call it the first official meeting of Portland Pub Club, everything went well. Texplorer, Terminal Gravity, Willstrickland, Anne, Dave and myself had a great time. Conversation ran the full gamit from guides and guide services, Aconcagua to Red Rocks, Ice tools, sandstone, basalt, you name it and of course good beer. God's speed and safe travels to you Texplorer on your upcoming roadtrip. TG hope you make it back to Enterprise safe as well. Let us know how things are forming. Best Wishes, Wes

Shawn, I don't know anything about a festival in Nipigon but there is the Michigan Ice Fest held the first weekend every February at the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore located on the Upper Pennisula between Munising and Marquette, in particular near the Sand Point/Two Lakes area off of H-58. This year the fest is Jan 31- Feb 3. If you are interested you can contact the fellas at Down Wind Sports in Marquette MI http://www.downwindsports.com/)or the National Park Service. Shoot me a fax number and I can fax you all the info that you would get from the Park Service to save you the hassle. Go to Down Wind's website and look at their fall newsletter for more details. I have never been to this Fest but I am planning to go this year if I can coordinate it with a trip back to my company's headquarters located in Kalamazoo. Yes, there really is a Kalamazoo.Not that it means a whole lot but in the past they've had likes of Pete Takada and Barry Blanchard Hope this helps, Wes [ 12-04-2001: Message edited by: wdietsch ]

Caveman, You're too much,.... tokin' Yoda. Ya crack me up. Keep up the good work

Well I am not sure how much Will weighs but as for myself I'am 6' and about 210 fat lbs. Chances are it'll be raining so I'll be wearing a Red/Black Lowe shell. Wes

here is another Scholler pant by Jack Wolfskin http://www.sierratradingpost.com/product.asp?base%5Fno=46252&str%5Fbase%5Fno=42400%2C42464%2C42542%2C42548%2C42553%2C43270%2C43509%2C43620%2C46102%2C46192%2C46201%2C46205%2C46208%2 C46233%2C46252%2C46253%2C46273%2C46276%2C46277%2C46278%2C&header%5Ftitle=&page%5Fname=prod%5Flist%5Fdisplay%2Easp&search%5Ftype=L2%7E328&size1=&size2=&gender=0&ShowImages=yes&sq=20 &cont=1&intPgNo=2&mscssid=7SA6VM675DS92GGA0G0KN0SFN9C078L8

Getting the lights done tonight. Lucky Lab works for me. How does 7:00 sound?

TG,Not sure yet but it could happen, still gotta put up the Xmas lights for the kids. Myself I prefer a good stout. What did you have in mind? How long does it take you to get to PDX from "the end of the road" Wes

Terminal Gravity,Check out Barrabe's again. Looks like they have done a lot of rearainging. The Simond Super Fox is now listed under "Technical Tools" instead of "Third Tools".For under $62.00 it's a great deal http://www.barrabes.com/barrabes/product.asp?dept_id=232&pf_id=832 Wes

Hairball,Marmot in Bellevue use to carry lots of spare oddball parts Wes

Ibex,Here is a BP w/Adze http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1034628383 And here are some X-15's http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1034451501

There is currently a Brand New pair of CM Black Ice posted on Ebay, last bid I saw was $86.00 with a "Buy Now" set at $115.00

Terminal Gravity,From the sounds of it you were probably looking at the Simond Super Fox. Nice third tool with a replacable pick. Hard to find in the states like most Simond Products which I think is pretty sad. If it does not come back up on Barrabe's I would check with MEC, maybe some of our Canadian friends could help you out. http://www.simond.com/pagesa/english.htm Good Luck, Wes

Bronco - That is a great deal on the Snow Pack, however I am looking for something a little larger. Stone Cold Willy - My CCW Chernobyl has served me well. The construction is bomber, no doubt about it. The one I have, I purchased probably close to 10 years ago when they first came out. Originally they did not have tool tubes and compression was done by a single strap on each side sewn to the bottm, threaded thru a sewn-in "D" ring about halfway up the side of the pack and then connected with a fastex buckle toward the top making a "V" shape. Nice idea but it really doesn't work very well. Things in the pack tend to shift to the bottom of the sack. The suspension works well for the loads it was designed for, however overloaded it sucks (duh)especailly skiing. The original one have "tabs" for adding gear loops to the waist belt like the BD Alpine Bod, but over time they started to fray from the friction. I love the long bivy skirt, it may be a little long for some but having used it from the French Alps to the Goats Rocks and many places in between, it works for me.The new ones do use higher density foam in the shoulder staps, and the tubes along with better compression straps are worthwhile improvments. I am wanting something that is more comfortable particullay for the summer months when your not wearing all the clothing and a "tad" larger (52-55L) for 5-6 days or at least capable of handling an oversize load better. I will continue to use my CCW Chernobyl for 2-3 day winter ascents such as the Elliot Headwall and fast, light summer climbs. I have considered the CCW Chaos however for that money I would go with the Climb High Jackpot and save 1/2 a pound. I'd love to have an Andinista but that's just to many "clams" and I am cheap. The way things are shaping up my leading choices are the Mountain Tools Ice Bash (Tall) and the Granite Gear Alpine Light (on sale now at Snow Leopard Mountain Sports for $127). Both are under 3.2 lbs and have a standard rated volume between 52-58+ liters. Of the two, the Ice Bash has the more substantial suspension.I realize I am being pretty picky. I have looked at 23 different manufatures both domestic and European from Arc'teryx to Wildman. If anyone wants it I have accumulated a spreadsheet anaylizing 75+ packs from the 23 mfg's primarily for volumes and weights along with retail pricing. These packs all range in volume from 40 to 60 liters only, no trail pigs. [ 11-02-2001: Message edited by: wdietsch ]

Does anyone have feedback on these packs. I have been on a 7-8 month misson to find a replacment for my old CCW Chernobyl. I have looked at just about everything out there. The one thing about these that I see as a potential weakness is the durability of the external framesheet/bivy pad. It's seems like a good idea for a sitting belay but I think it would get trashed when the pack gets tossed around not to mention hauling. It is removable.Otherwise the general spec's such as weight and capacity look pretty average and Northern Mountain Supply is currently selling them for $139 which is $100 off standard retail.I've never owned a Dana Design and don't know anyone that does. Looking at the construction everything looks to be "up to snuff". but I would like to hear from some owners how they have faired over time. Wes