mattp

I spent the entire day of earth day on cascadeclimbers.com. If Al Gore was a climber, that's what he would do.

I agree. 50m is plenty long for pitch length and a coil of rope that is 50m long is a little easier to handle - fits in my hand better - than a 60m.

There are a number of nice peaks accessible from Snoqualmie Pass. Granite Mountain and Snoqualmie Mountain both offer relatively easy climbs to a summit with views, albeit views that include the Interstate (from Granite you might not be able to actually see it but you’ll hear it during a calm night). Along highway 2, Rock Mountain on Nason Ridge might be a possibility, but I’m not sure about parking. Skyline (often called “Heather”) Ridge across the highway from Stevens’ Pass ski area is not a bad place to go either but it sounds as if you may be looking for a little more of a hike and a little more of a "mountain" than that. If you don't mind a little bit of road hiking, the North Peak of Canon Mountain and Mt. Cashmere, above Icicle Creek near Leavenworth, would be good choices. None of these peaks can be called “alpine,” but they’ll get you up high enough to feel you’re on something, they offer views and they don't require you to drive hundreds of miles from E'burg to get there.

That's gotta be the ignorant statement of the year, or at least the day. There are a lot of obnoxious and a few even criminal trial lawyers out there, but our legal system is built on the idea that the private citizens can bring their issues before a court and there are generally two (sometimes more) distinct sides to any question. Trial lawyers are essential for civil society unless you want to have some centralized top-down structure for the resolution of all disputes and claims.

In the past, folks have brought kids to the picnic. Is Ulee coming?

Find a Map of the Park here: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/_images/maps/picnics/Woodland4-7.pdf

Don't forget to rifle through your closet.

We're looking forward to meeting some of you mugs.

A few years back Cliff Mass, the local weather expert who pontificates on KUOW on Fridays, gave a little talk about how "wet cold" is really no more penetrating than "dry cold." I was aghast. Maybe there is no difference if you take a thermometer and place it in a specific amount of insulation in a "wet cold" lab and a "dry cold" one, but all of us know that there is a difference. Might it be that your wet clothing stays wet - the moisture coming off your body doesn't pass through and away so you insulation is less efficient when it is wet outside? Assuming there is a basis for Mr. Mass' pronouncement, what is the mechanism that we all experience?

Most recently in Paris 2 years ago. What's your question?

I just got back from putting fliers up down on First Avenue, announcing "FREE FOOD" You better stock up. Well, not on First Avenue, but at Feathered Friends, Second Base, and Stone Gardens. In the past such fliers have brought a few new folks to the picnic though never an overwhelming hoard but I can guarantee you're going to need more than 5 weiners.

I have a totally seized cam I can set you up with. I also have an extra huge McHale pack that I almost never use because it is just TOO big and if I fill it I can barely stand up. That gem is gonna require some cash, though. It comes in handy when I want to pack picnic supplies to the beach and stuff like that. Who else has some good stuff for sale?

For starters, I'll have a bunch of old cams and stuff for gear swap. What about you?

Can someone do better than this? Does it get any better than this? I'm still looking for digital projection and somebody who wants to set up slackline or show up early to chase the bums out or ... Let's do it, folks!

Like I said: sad.

It is a sad commentary on American politics when the righties, including the President, want to dismiss what may be or may lead to a breakthrough in Israel-Palestine peace negotiations. Even if they think Carter's meeting was not "substantive," rather than nudge it and see if it might lead to something forward they feel the need to negate and dismiss.

ALLRIGHT: We've got some support for the gear raffle idea, but no takers on the Iron Chef. Now I'll need to line up a diggy projector, and we need a snazzy graphic like TVash made last year. I got a private message asking if kids were welcome and I said that yes they are. We've had families there every year so far, and it is a nice park fully of bunnies (no kidding!). Let's see you all out there. And who has awesome pictures for us this year?

I think they used to be a little stronger than they are now. Perhaps the first generation lexan bottles had a slightly larger collar/rim around the neck, or perhaps the lid and loop were a slightly different material. On my older bottles, the strap completely broke before the whole think pulled off the bottle.

There have been some good points made here but don't assume this discussion reflects any fair sampling of opinions on the matter or that younger climbers are less likely to accept it if you were to go out and move or add a bolt on Cocaine Connection.

I've often found that using a sweater or down sweater as a baffle around the neck increases warmth more than wearing it. This is especially true if you are zipping two bags together with your sweetheart.

I got a couple of replies, but still no dice. I actually know how to climb, and I've got a rope and a rack.

Muja is not far off. There have been a couple of climbs done up there but there are access issues and I think they include both private property concerns and nesting raptors and perhaps other management issues as well. The rock is reported to be bad by one individual with a stomach for bad rock and I think I remember some discussion about how it wouldn't be safe to suggest a bunch of climbers go up there and start pushing rocks off. The bottom line is that, while the formation is attractive when viewed from your car, it is probably better to fantasize about what might exist up there than to actually go climb it.

I'm working on some physical therapy from recent foot and back issues, but I figure I could use a day on the rock if there isn't much walking or pulling involved. Anybody want to go climb some beginners routes in LTown tomorrow? Send me a p.m.

Recreational users are certainly a significant part of their market and the owners of the store have stocked goods of interest to a variety of shoppers including climbers, fisherman, or the sodom and gomorrah campground that used to be up there. I'm not sure whether formal Wilderness status will increase or decrease their bottom line, but certainly bringing attention to the area might help and long-term preservation is something that most of us here will appreciate. I wonder what the locals would say if you took a survey?