Bronco

I like and have used Mattp's "discretionary" system in the rain at Index. Actually I think he got me started roped soloing at the only pube club ever held in Monroe. Bomber multidirectoinal pro below a "cruxy move" gets a knot. Not so bomber on easy terrain just a standard clip and go. Dru, why don't you see how hard it is to try to find a partner who wants to go climb for an hour after work when it's raining, dark and 34 degrees. Gene Pires and I think it's time for another Monroe Pube club. How's next week for everybody? Breaker breaker any takers?

Dave: I don't know who's SUPERBOWL parties you've been attending, but some of the funnest parties and family get together's I've experienced have been centered on the SUPERBOWL! I'm probably going to miss it this year, but, if for some strange reason, I do make it home in time, we're headed to a party that will include drinking, greasy fat food eating, visiting old friends and probably some halftime tackle football for those of us who haven't gotten too soft or slow (or drunk). Have a good weekend!

three days? What a bunch of pussies.

For sale or trade for hand sized cams of fair trade value: 2 Motorolla talkabout 101 FMS radios. $25.00 Good shape, used once. Dewalt 14.4v cordless drill w/hammer drill feature. 1/2" keyless chuck, 2 batteries, charger and case. Also have a Matching Dewalt Jobsite Radio that runs off of the same batteries, charging function does not work on the radio. Craftsman cordless saw thinger with 2 batteries, case and charger. Takes a standard scrollsaw blade. All tools used but in good condition. $100 takes the set. Send a Private Message if interested.

I er, he will let you know about that Monday.

uh, my "friend" has picked up AT skiing this season and seems to have developed an irrational fear of using snowshoes. Is this normal? Will pass with time or can we expect the condition to worsen?

I believe this guy is in Vancouver BC and the prices are Canadian.

I have some scarpa mountaineering boots (matterhorn) and endured a couple of heel blisters until they broke in. I think it's pretty common problem with a rigid sole leather boot. I have found that wearing a liner sock under my woolie will reduce friction. And get some superfeet insoles, those stock guys are so suck! After many miles, mine are fine now.

Thanks dude, I handn't looked at the good old USPS that's much more reasonable. UPS was the $120 quote though.

I need to ship a pair of boots to the UK. I've found a sources from $120 to $60. Seems a little expensive. Anyone have any suggestions?

Sounds AWESOME!

I spent a gift card on the AC/DC '91 live album this morning. Rock your socks off! Someone gave me Hank Williams Jr.s newest CD recently and it's actually ok. Some of his recent work has been blah but he's got a great rendition of Jerry Reed's "Amos Moses" and a remake of "Devil in the Bottle" ironically right after "Can't we all get a longneck".

I saw the subject line and thought you were going to be taunting the sprayers who've recently departed.

This fall I was hiking up at Evergreen Mountain and heard a bunch of shootin. We came down to the trailhead to find a nice yuppie looking family shooting all types of guns at a paper target suspended from a little alder tree on the point of the hill. That is, they were spraying the entire valley below with bullets. Now being a "responsible" gun owner, I thought I'd better stop and talk to these folks. I mentioned that they were launching bullets all over the valley below which was probably crawling with hikers, hunters and campers, they just looked at me like I was crazy. I informed them I had grown up shooting guns and had taken some safty courses and was trying to help. I noticed most of thier guns were new looking old fashioned shotguns, lever action rifles and six shooters. I realized they were planning to just wait until I left to resume shooting so, I pointed out that there was a perfect hillside to safely shoot into just across the road. At this point, the father became somewhat indignant and said "those guys on TV dont shoot into hillsides" and muttered about potential ricochets. I requested some clarification and he divulged that his family has been watching "cowboy shooting competitions" on TV for a while and decided to get into the sport. They purchased some guns that week and drove from Seattle to have some fun and he wasn't going to let me ruin it. I told him that was fine, but those guys on TV were pro's and he might consider taking a basic gun course. I think at that point he mentioned that the guy at the gun store had shown him how to shoot the guns, what else could there possibly be to learn? Blah blah blah, I said I was heading out and calling the sheriff when I got some cel reception. He said go ahead they were leaving and thanks for being a jerk. I've also talked with a lot of guys shooting out near Sultan Basin (that's one of many places I've seen around East Snohomish County that look that bad) and most are from Kent, Renton, Bellevue, Tukwilla and Federal Way even. I don't know why they all drive out there, but, I get the impression MOST of the people who mess that place up are not "local". I know locals like HRoark use it occasionally, but the hardcores who rip it up are usually from the metro area. Kinda wierd. "They" should open a free shooting range in King county even though the reason most of those guys come out to the woods is because they can dump a refridgerator, washing machine or propane tank and shoot it up without any supervision. The other big deal greenies would be appalled at is the ORV's tearing it up there and in Reiter Pit. It's crazy enough that I don't go up to those places on sunny weekends. Contrary to what HRoark said, I have felt very unsafe out there several times. I don't really have a point, I just like telling stories.

Steve: I'm 5'8" (and a half!) and have the Short size. It fits good. I think my 3/4 ridge rest is 9 oz, so the weight savings are down to only about 1/2 pound. Hmmmm... To the original poster on this thread, you should do a search in the "gear critic" for sleeping bags. You'll get more info than you want.

I checked Pro Mountian Sports website (I think they actually weigh the merchandise on their scale) and it shows the short Khamsin 38 as being 2 lbs 9 oz so it looks like Arcteryx is off by half a pound. I wonder what the actual weight of the Ice Pack is?

Steven: My 44l BD Ice Pack is listed at 3lbs 9 oz and my 38l Khamsin is listed right at 2 lbs 1 oz. My pack with food and water was around 38 pounds.

I'd definetly consider the MEC bags, www.mec.ca and the REI bags www.rei.com I've heard a lot of good stuff about the REI sub kilo. I prefer a 20 degree down bag because not only do you save weight on the bag, you save room in your pack allowing for a smaller and lighter backpack to be used (down is more compressable than synthetic). I was able to fit 3 days of crap into my 38 litre pack the last trip up "Raindawg" and trim an additional 1.5 pounds by not carrying my 45 litre pack. I also use a compression sack for my sleeping bag which helps immensly.

I'm just looking forward to the debates.

Try cutting a mature (20"+) alder out of a hillside for some real excitement. I had one launch like it was spring loaded and touch down 25' downhill. Nearly got ma truck! Lessons learned to date: Have an escape route. Have another escape route to use when the tree falls on your primary escape route. Run fast and far. Have another chainsaw available to finish cutting the tree down when the tree comes back and pinches your saw. Don't use metal wedges to try to free your stuck saw. Don't bring your young kids or dog when you are falling trees. Use a couple of wedges to finish dropping the tree instead of just cutting all the way through. Don't intentionally fall a tree into the road, a car will magically appear (everytime). If cutting in an urban setting, ignore hippies who oppose cutting trees. Arguing with them wastes daylight. Wear a hard hat because there is stuff in the tree (and other trees close by) that will fall out when it starts moving around. Eye and ear protection are good. Shorts and sandles are bad. Park your truck farther away than necesary. Drunk people are not much help falling trees. Even though a 44" bar is cool, it isn't really necesary. If you aren't sure, hire a pro or rent a big crane. I've been an amateur tree cutter for several years now mostly cutting in the woods but, I've done some "close proximity" tree removal that should have been done by a pro, but cheap friends and family talk me into it. It's a lot of fun, but if there is a way you don't want the tree to fall, it's generally going to go that way. I will climb up 3/4 of the way up and tie a long rope to the tree with the other end to the truck so I can pull it away from whatever it is I don't want crushed. People are not optional, they must always be far away from the trees, even inside the house.

They smell like ROSES!!! And for less than 1/3 of retail price, I'd say it's a pretty good deal for someone.

Final bump before these go to the 2nd hand store.

final bump before this goes to the 2nd Hand Store.

Final bump before these go to the 2nd hand store.

A man is showering up in a locker room with his buddy when he notices his friend is very well endowed. "Damn Bob, you're hung!" Jim exclaims. "I wasn't always this impressive, I had to work for it." "What do you mean?" Jim asked. "Well, everyday for the past two years I've spent an hour each night rubbing it with butter. I know it sounds crazy but it actually made it grow 4 inches! You should try it." Jim agrees and the two say good bye. A few months later the two are in the same locker room and Bob asks Jim how his situation was. Jim replied, " I did what you said, Bob, but I've actually gotten smaller! I lost two inches already!" "Did you do everything I told you? An hour each day with butter?" "Well, I was out of butter, so I've been using Crisco." "Crisco?!?" Bob exclaimed, "Dammit Jim, Crisco's shortening!!!..."