Bronco

The avalanche center has started posting the avalanche conditions for the season. http://www.seawfo.noaa.gov/products/SABWA Check yourself before you wreck yourself.

More info Terminal Gooseberry: You probably already know this stuff, but I thought I would put it out there for the benefit of other gumbies. There are some diagrams on page 490 in Freedom of the Hills relating to judging fracture lines based on how "mature" the cornice is. Seems that the older and more snow that is built up, the fracture line grows more verticle in realtion to the upper surface of the snow, and the cornice becomes more unstable, obviously. Personally - cornices are really intimidating , it's not a matter of if they will come down, but when and where do you want to be when they do? (probably not inside them thinking, "oops") However, if a very experienced climber is totally in tune with the stability of the snowpack the tunneling can probably be performed with some degree of safty. But not by me!

Page 18!? Wow, this is way too much! All together now, "let's get a life"

After successfully hunting and baggin a nice little noble fir x-mas tree in the N. Fork Skykomish drainage the family and I were headed down HWY 2 to Zekes Drive in for some lunch and HOLY CRAPOLA I SAW ZEKES BOULDER!!!! I swerved onto the shoulder and slamed on the brakes much to Mrs. Bronco's astonishment. It is huge and right next to HWY 2!! I mean you could spit your gum or flick a cigar butt out the window of your truck and hit that thing. I don't know how I missed it when I went looking for it, but, geeze I must have walked right over it.

down boy, I think that's taking it a little too far, I don't want to climb that bad.

erik: If you suck then there is no hope for me. I am going to hang up my eddie bauer chalk bag and quit before I become "suckie".

Some day I will be as good of a climber as dan-e-boy and not have to put up with newbies either. Bronco Gumbinski

I am finally able to see these retail evolutions with some degree of humor. My wife has worked for Eddie Bauer for over 11 years now. Even 10 years ago a guy could hide out in an Eddie Bauer while the significant other went shopping. Down sleeping bags, backpacks for backpacking, tents, hiking boots, rain gear, hunting/fishing equipment etc.... Last year was pretty dismal with the only "outdoor" related stuff limited to a couple of goretex jackets and golfing wind shirts . This year I am displeased to announce, they are just another GAP or Abergumbie & Flinch, they don't have a single piece of quality outdoor gear, it's all CRAP you would wear to work. Very Disapointing!! Fortunatly, over the years I was able to secure some decent gear from Eddie's store and take advantage when they closed out a particular department. When they closed the fly fishin shop, I think I bought about 50 flies for like a nickel each. REI is headed that way, I say good riddance. Just dont close the online outlet

from Freedom of the Hills Pg 320 "Climbers sometimes even push directly through a cornince to force their way to a ridge crest or pass. Its easiest to penetrate an overhang at a rocky spur or where the cornice already has partially collapsed. The leader cuts straight uphill at the point of least overhang, undermining as little of the mass as possible. Generally, though, the safest bet with cornices is to avoid traveling on them, under them or through them." Hope that helps.

Free Fallin' - Tom Petty (for craggin with me) Last Dance with Mary Jane - Tom Petty (for all you potheads out there) Country Boy Can Survive - Hank Williams Jr. (for those "4th class gullies" on the approach)

I spied a great deal on some Sierra Designs Bibs made from this Genises 3.0 fabric which claims to be a 3-ply waterproof/breathable product lighter than most other w/b materials. However, on the SD website, they also sell Goretex XCR stuff which makes me wonder if the Genises material is all that great. Anyone have any advice on the Genises 3.0 (also known as the G3 material) fabric on how waterproof and breathable it really is? I know SD has a pretty good reputation in the climbing realm, but, want to know a little more about this particular fabric.

how 'bout a baby ruth?

thanks skippy

party in the chatroom, thought I would let you know [ 11-21-2001: Message edited by: Bronco ]

dude (v,n,adj), dood. 1) a person of poor or excellent character. 2) depending on pronuciation can be used in place of entire sentances, ie: dude? - are you gonna peel? DUDE!! - that was a sweet ass whipper!! duuuuuuude? - is that cam gonna hold you??Dude,dude,dude, - you better glom onto somethin, your last peice just fell out. also see F@CK, Spondonicle. [ 11-21-2001: Message edited by: Bronco ]

whatever man. Actually you're right and I think that's what I meant.

I take back what I said about dogs lastnight. Aparently dog karma caught up with me as I had a garage covered in dog puke to clean up when I got home. My dog thinks it's funny to eat some decaying ear of corn out of our compost pile and barf it up in our garage. *@#$%!! Maybe she wants to go climbing. I am tenantivly planning to go shoot up some black tar heroin in the outhouse at the Index/Lake Serene trail head this weekend. The muir hut is too far.

gotit. Thanks carolyn. I'm still going to look for a AAJ from 1988. [ 11-20-2001: Message edited by: Bronco ]

Nice pic lambone: Is that some special moondancing move?

no go philfart

It's ironic we poke fun at people who are under prepared (see sweatshirt torches) or over prepared like plastic boots on Mt. Si (was it JERRY SANCHEZ?). I had to laugh when I read your post though. Maybe they are training for Denali. The dogs at the Index Town wall were about to be sufficiently crushed by big rocks when they ran away. I would have skinned them and had them roasting over a fire by the time the owners got there had they not eluded me. I have a dog at HOME where it belongs. Of course I live on a couple acres and my dog gets all the exercise she wants so easy for me to say.

Do a search for this guy named Dan Larson, he is pretty hard core too. You guys might be good partners.

In case you are feeling a little "picked on" by now, read any other thread on the board. go ahead and pick one, any of them will do. We actually went pretty easy on you.

right Phil - that's the same conclusion I came to. I searched on potterfield and came up with 20 threads to read with regards to mountainzone.com, potterfield presentations at rei, and several references to the nelson/potterfield guidbook but no accident report or discussion of his belay failing. I wonder if the AAJ would have a record of it? Anyone have the American Alpine Journal from 1988?

You're kinda new around here aintcha'