mattp

CJF is right. Isolationism, protectionism, and more state intervention have become "Right" values more than "Left." Remember GW's campaign speaches about how he was not interested in "nation-building?" Remember five years' rhetoric about how homeland security is going to make you safer? Remember how "no-bid contracts" and changes in the law to favor oil development - were going to promote ecomoic growth --- this month?

Fairweather is vying for second place in the "whopppers" awards. Clearly, Bush with his "I'm a centrist and I will reach across the aisle" was the ultimate manipulator (liar) here... Go Fairweather!!!!

Right now, east slope peaks or those further south appear to be better choices. Silver Star Mountain or Mt. Adams might be better than Baker or Shuksan, and the Three Sisters in Oregon might even be better. (Steens Mountain might be even better if you don't want a bunch of new snow.) Of course, if the North Cascades is your target zone, you might pick an objective that does not involve so much high elevation struggle. This weekend the freezing level is 3000' but it is bound to go higher next week. (By the way, the "north ridge" on Mt. Shuksan may not be a route. There is the "North Face" route, which is really the North-Northeast Face, and perhaps the right perimeter of it might be said to be the "North Ridge," but I'm not sure.) In general, November and December are probably the worst months of the year for North Cascade climbing.

I don't know if "Leftists" is the lable I would ascribe to, but I would be very happy to see a party to the left of Atilla the hun (and George Bush) that could espouse some actual vision. Perhaps the current liberal political model of striving to offend nobody while saying nothing is "viable" in the sense of how it plays in the polls (maybe it gets the "threshold percentage every time), but I don't think it gives anybody (me at least) anything to really fight for.

I'm sorry, but what was PP's last "rejoinder" -- a bunch of nonsense or was it supposed to mean something? I'm trying here .. really!

Keep on swinging, KK. Liberals spinmiesters outdo the rightwing talk show crowd? “My side” is losing? Well there you may have me. For now at least. There is no viable liberal party – I’ll give you that. All the Dems do is wait and hope that the Repubs fall apart on their own. That does not a liberal party make. (Of course, at the momemnt they seem to be well-founded in thinking the Repubs might fall apart on their own...) (Meanwhile, if you want to google the examples of hypocritical wordsmithing that we exchanged above, I'm waiting for your comment...)

What kind of nonsense are you speaking here, PP? They clearly said that Iraq had nukes or was seeking to obtain them and that that we might see a mushroom cloud over Manhattan before any arms inspectors could do their work. By the way: what is a canard? Is that some kind of duck? The "gathering" vs "imminent" business was just a BS dodge to try to divert attention from the fact that they lied or at least distored so that others would spread a lie that would frighten the American public (and Congress) into going along with their deception.

KK, you're just still smarting because they were right about the fact that Saddam wasn't a threat to us, he had no WMD's, an invasion in Iraq was not a part of any war on terror, and it might in fact lead to an increase in terrorism. Why don't you save your scorn for the guys responsible for igoring their own intelligence and getting us into this mess?

Well, I just thought he really hit the ball out of the park with that one. I mean, that is why the right wingers are so proud of this bunch: they have mastered the art of spin unparalleled in American politics and the manipulation of the supposed free press.

Have you read the actual sources for this mis-quoted and distorted representation of what he said? I was just about willing to say "you got me there," except I just ran a quick google search and I found that the distinction may have been (I say may, because I'm not wasting time researching any further) whether the word "is" includes the past tense "was." Thus, it may not have been as trivial a distinction as all the right wing talk show hosts have been maintaining. (Though, I'm still inclined to say "maybe you got me there" because, clearly, it was a manipulative dodge.) Bottom line, though: your stratospherically silly statement about how it is the liberals who distort things remains the nuttiest joke we've seen on this site in years.

"You're doin' a heckuva job, Brownie!" HAVE you read a newspaperin the last five years?

Mr. Catbird writes: I take it he's ready to spring for a pitcher. fixed Catbird's name in title

I'm not so sure about the aplomb, catbird. In the public sphere as well as on this board, the swaggering conservatives most often either blow a gasket and start name-calling or flame-throwing, thye pronounce the discussion "boring" or "naive" or they simply change the topic if somebody checks their facts. It is more like bravado than aplomb.

I have experienced -20f at mid-elevations in the Cascades, but I think most people would consider a 0f to 15f rated bag adequate for Cascade conditions.

It is not worth arguing with him, catbird. The guy obviously hasn't read a newspaper in five years. "debate over global warming" ring a bell? "imminent" or "gathering" threat? "tax credits" for the poor? "social security crisis?" "the death tax causes closure of family farms" (hint: they could not come up with a single example) the party of "small goverment" sound familiar? "leave all children behind" "enemy noncombatants" "the nominee deserves an up or down vote" "healthy forest program" "clear skies initiative" "support the troops" but cut services, pensions, even burial benefits? they are not "private savings accounts" but "personal savings accounts"

That's the biggest joke we've seen on this site in a LONG time.

It is kind of a mess but it really isn't hard. Take the glue off with paper and an iron, as described, or use a heat gun or a propane torch and a broad knife (I hang them on a post in the basement where they can lie against a flat surface and work from the top down; it takes minimal care not to get glue on the front surface and of course you don't want to burn your skins). You can get everything off your skins in fifteen minutes.

I believe it is very hard to argue that these guys are loyal to America, even if you agree with their basic positions on social issues or even the war. Seriously. Do even the right wing loyalists think they didn't out a CIA operative for political reasons? Isn't it clear that Rove and Cheney were involved at least at some level? Isn't this treasonous even if you can make some legal argument how they didn't break the law? It might be different if they were saying that Valerie Plame was a rogue operative or was somehow acting against our national interest but we have not seen a hint of that. In fact, we've seen no attempt to justify what they did, and they are not denying they outted her for political payback against her husband or to deflect criticism based on what he was saying. At first, the President's spokesman denied any high level involvment - saying he'd been assured by Rove and Libby they weren't involved. Then, Bush said "we'll never know, but it is up to Ascroft to investigate." Since then, silence except to say "Libby is a good man and I can't comment on an ongoing investigation." Isn't Bush at some level responsible, whether he knew or not?

He also tried the "I'm going to run a clean administration where we ask not only "is it legal, but is it right." I don't think you can blame either failing on the Democrats - do you? Seriously? Where have you seen an effort to be honest and to be "moderate" in his administration's efforts with regard the environment, taxes, the war, oil development, social security, you name it? He chose a nominee that he hopes will stimulate his base in the far wing of his party, and he's counting on party loyalty to keep the moderates in line. If it works, as it has worked for him in the past, it is a good strategy. However, we may see that his fortunes are running out. Either way, hold on for the ride.

If it won't rain - as in the forecast says high pressure and clear for the next five days - leave the bivvy at home. The amount of moisture you get from dew doesn't justify the weight of the bivvy, in my opinion. I often bring a mosquito-net dome, which weighs almost nothing but makes life MUCH nicer if bugs are out, but I either bring a tent or tarp or not. If you are camping (not actually bivvying on some ledge somewhere) the bivvy doesn't add much but weight. In marginal weather? A light tent or tarp weighs little or no more than (most) two bivvy bags.

Lowell, Thank you for posting here. I have studiously avoided these "memoriam" threads where I don't actually know the individuals involved, but here I find a tribute to someone I knew. Carl rocked! He held an enthusiasm for climbing and skiing that most of us can only imagine -- and he shared it willingly. I can honestly say: he will be missed.

Sounds like the "full on" Darrington experience. Those who've only been up there to bake in the sun don't know what they've missed.

Here's a shot of Whipsaw, from Kevin Pogue's collection. Pony Keg is the crack immediately to the climber's left.

Its definitely true that some partners are better than ohers when it comes to taking care of/returning your gear. But that is only one quality in a larger matrix.