Bronco

I was rear-ended by a kid driving a chevy s-10 blazer at about 45 mph while I was at a stop light. I suffered some whiplash, my daughter, who was 17 months old at the time, was uninjured. The reason? We were sitting in a big old Ford F-250 with a solid frame. The kid in the blazer was taken away on a stretcher. Had I been driving a Geo Metro or something "environmentally approved" or with "crumple zones" we would have been propelled into cross traffic (also traveling 45 mph) and at a minimum, seriously injured. I don't know what kind of "truck" you have that wouldn't come out of a 5 mph "collision" unscathed, but, I suggest you invest a little money in a real bumper. I back into stumps and hybrid cars all the time and there's no problems.

I'm scared!

Heh heh.. Jay said "animus".

What size is the bod?

Nice job will! Mixed buildering is the future!

I've found blasting a couple rounds in their general direction will achieve a much more polite attitude from aggressive drivers. And it's good target practice so it's really a "double bonus".

Keith: If you have them on a webpage already, click the "Image" link in the "Instant UBB Code" menu (found on the "Reply" page) and cut and paste the link to your photo. If you need to upload it, just click the "reply" button, add comments, select "preview post and or attach a file" and on the next screen, select "attach a file" and attach the file with the photo in it. Let see those pictures!

Don't take this personally, but, I call Bullshit. It's not as windproof as a full on 3 layer GTX bib but, I have two year old Schoeller Dynamic pants, which are reputadly the least weather resistant of the Schoeller fabrics, and took a break on the Muir Snow field last week in 50-60 mph winds and never felt a thing. I was wearing light weight wool base layer under the pants. That being said, I think Denali may be worthy of bringing Goretex pants and jacket for backup.

There's three articles on www.seattletimes.com covering the survivors stories of the avalanche at Mt. Baker Ski area on December 12. Interesting reading. Two survivors burried for over 22 hours.

yep.

nupe. oh, wait, do you mean this stuff? Warning: mysql_pconnect(): User ccthredz2 has already more than 'max_user_connections' active connections in /home/.gumnut/climb/cascadeclimbers.com/threadz/mysql.inc.php on line 38 SQL ERROR: Database error only visible to forum administrators

Psst! It's in your backyard!

it's still the "NEW" Rock Scaling Forum?

keep getting this today: Warning: mysql_pconnect(): User ccthredz2 has already more than 'max_user_connections' active connections in /home/.gumnut/climb/cascadeclimbers.com/threadz/mysql.inc.php on line 38 SQL ERROR: Database error only visible to forum administrators

The weather don't get no better than it was this weekend. Consequently, I repainted the trim on my house and did yardwork while daydreaming about dry granite and mountains. Next weekend, the weather's looking good too. I'll probably do my taxes and paint the shed. Anyone get to Index? How about Triple Coolers? How many ascents did the N. Face of Chair get this weekend? How was the skiing?

here: http://maddox.xmission.com/ I'm a pirate!

trask is so imature. I'm glad he's gone. I think that if he were to promise to post at an 8th grade level instead of grade 6 or 7 we could get along, but otherwise, no dice pole-smoker!

"We're not off route!"

The Ruskies were still there Tuesday afternoon talking about going for the summit. Hardcore! The wind also swung around on us when we turned around to make sure we had a headwind coming and going.

Me and JayB headed up toward Muir on Tuesday. Ran into one team below Panorama point who camped there because of bad visability the day before. Another group was camped on top of Pan point. We made it to the toe of the snow field before turning around in high winds and low visability compounded by the freezing mist on our goggles and clothing. Heres a photo: Snow conditions were varried windslabs and scoured out stratagusi/ice. Good times!

2 years ago, I was anxious to get some more leading experience and found myself speeding out to Index trying to stay out in front of the rain in Monroe. Me and my buddies Gene and Brian hiked up to Private Idaho and I set my sights on Senior Citizens in Space, a pretty sweet looking 5.8 crack in a dihedral that appeared damp. As I racked up, the drizzle set in so I took one last look at the crack and decided there was no need for any cams smaller than a #2, it was all hand jams. As I scampered up to the first ledge, I placed my smallest cam and started jammin as the drizzle turned into a steady rain. I slowly came to the realization that what appeared to be a hand crack from the ground was really a great finger crack and it was now pouring rain. I figured I would be able to protect the route with the single set of nuts on my harness. As I made my way up, the crack was filled with pine needles and mud and gushing water making any nut placements suck, despite my attempts to garden out a slot. With hands completely numb, I lurched for the top with one rattley nut placed between me and the first cam I placed 40' below. As the rain turned to hail and my hands slowly lost the battle with gravity, I contemplated defeat and prepared to whip. I glanced down to the ledge I would impact when I fell, then glanced up to the wall of mud, moss and water I was slowly sliding off and realized I was only about 8' from the top. With one last surge of adrenaline I clawed through the mud to find a couple of holds and hauled my soggy butt onto the ledge at the top of the route. I peered triumphantly down to my partners slowly shaking their heads at me through the pouring rain. Good times!

During the first overnight tour I took my Dynafit "Comfort" bindings on I managed to break the front binding riser plate, the red heel elevator and pop a pin out of one brake. I had skied them inbounds and on some daytours previously. I swiped one of my wife's bindings to go ski yesterday and didn't break anything. I'm small and weak but all breakage happend while carrying a heavy pack. The jury's still out on if I think they are reliable.

How the heck didja do that?

good read on beacons and avvy courses here: http://www.adventureplus.org/avalanche.htm

I have a friend in Montana who gets by with just a small wind turbine (maybe 3' propeller) and 4'x8' of solar panel. Makes me wish I'd gone that route.