Jedi

Westman, House and Donini slide shows......Damn it, I wish lived in the PNW! Ohhhh if plane tickets were cheaper....I'd be there for all 3 shows Jedi

While building my house, I used a foil backed insulation foam product. I layed down on a piece one evening (in Feb) while taking a break and it felt warm very quickly. I could feel the heat being reflected back. The nice thing about a ridgerest pad is that it has "grooves" for moisture to collect in. I think that keeps the insulation in your bag a little drier. If you have a an emergency blacket stretched across it, you not longer have that feature. If the blanket is adheared to the contours of the ridgerest, then it would help. But then you have the added weight of the glue (whatever it might be). A good test would be to cover one half of the pad with the blanket and see if if that side feels warmer while you sleep. I wonder if there is an aluminum based paint that would work. It would wear off on the high ridges but is would remain on the rest of the pad. Yeah, it's not like redesigning cams but it an interesting concept.

I just watched the "nasty girls" video in the WOD video section. Now, I don't even want to work out. My little pansy ass workout is shit compared to those girls. I have just started reading about crossfit. Looks interesting. I can see where gains could be made. Trying to put a better workout together looks challenging. Start new job in 2 weeks: Another construction job. Some days, it feels like a tough WOD. Daily commute, to work, on bike (14 miles round trip). 4 days out of the week. Long ride on the weekend. would like to work in "stair work" one day out of the week. Need to increase endurance in the mountains. Now to work in a crossfit, WOD plan without just feeling whipped. Sould be fun to try to figure out.

Davis, what is a gear whore? I have never heard of such a person and I don't think there are any here on this site. You must feel out of place, eh? Anyway, I must go. I have another gear closet to build. Yeah, maybe some more shelves this time. Ooooo and some of those plastic baskets to hold all my gloves and mitts. Hey, how about that Patagonia Spectra jacket at 8.5oz. I gotta get a better paying job. Congrats on the spectra pack. I hope my 54oz 1996 Andinista lasts a couple more trips. I would hate, to be forced, to buy the Spectra model. Why not McHale?

It appears that Alpinist has reprinted #0 and #1. They are available on their website. I just ordered mine so my collection is complete. Jedi

Many people are recommending a -15 to -20 degree bag. Looking at down fill weights; WM Puma -20 has 35oz of fill (52oz total). WM Big Horn -25 38oz of fill (55oz total). FF Tern -10 at 25oz of fill (49oz total). *Marmot Lithium is rated 0, has 27oz of down (40oz total). FF Ptarmigan -25 at 35oz of fill (60oz total). Marmot Col EQ -20 at 37oz of fill (68oz total). Looks like the Puma is one of the lighter bags, in the down fill range, that you might be interested in. The bags I listed were in a regular length. I would pick more breathable shell fabrics so the down stay as dry as possible. If you were going to go with a zero degree bag. Sleep with your parka on top of your sleeping bag (not in your bag). Maybe take a ultra lightweight pair of down booties to sleep in that can also be used as a pair of emergency mittens. Sleep on your shells, ropes and packs to help insulate you from the snow. Remember that having your parka as part of your sleep system means that it will aborb some moisture every night you use it so use it only when really needed.

the label on my EV2 says "Made in Taiwan, sewn in China" OHHH it figures! There's no getting away from it, eh? In the future, there will be very few choices, on where things will be made.

What's wrong with buying from China? How in the hell will China own the US without our continue support? Lets all rally and shop at Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, Target and the like. IS EVERYONE WITH ME? Comeon!!! Sorry, I'm just bummed about China now owning both ends of the Panama Canal. Bastards will have us in a serious economic choke hold before it's overwith. Boycot China!!! buy the MK1 or EV2

Alpinfox nailed it

I have stick and want to join club matt. MattJediAlpineDruBugSeat

Hey John, I am hoping to make it up to AK for a shot at the Cassin or I Spur, if I can find a partner. I am thinking mid May through June. Temps could be pretty cool. Liked the "light" weight of my Salopette pants I have now (27oz). This includes the insulation. Something like the Dimension (24/25oz). I just got a new catalog yesterday and I see they make a R.5 superfly tight (6oz) which has the bombay fly. I little bit heavier sytem and not as warm. Maybe (hopefully) not as bulky in the lower leg area as the pants I have. The Gamma Bibs sounds like a great. Too bad they not longer make it. Did they have the knee pads? I am looking at the Bozeman Mountain Works insulated pants (7/8oz) the coldest days.

Patagonia? or Arc'teryx? They don't seem to exist on the Patagonia site. I bought them about 4 years ago. They don't make them anymore. They matched the jacket the preceeded the Mixmaster jacket. I found the matching jacket to be too warm but for the coldest of conditions. I plan to use them for my next trip to AK and possibly ice climbing.

I have been using Patagonia's Salopette pants (soft shell type) for a while and I love them. Very versatile. Wind resistant (but I have not used in brutal winds). Dry quickly. Suspenders. High waist. Pocket on the thigh. Warm (R2 insulation down to the knees and then R1). They have a little stretch. Breathable, so they don't wet out. The problem: Lack of zipper though the crotch. The Patagonia Dimension pant is probably very close to the same pant without the r2/R1 insulation. Anyone know of a similar pant but lighter? Or just a great pant. Anyone have experience with the Arc'teryx Gamma Salopette? Thanks, Jedi

SW Ridge, If you talk to the rangers about the SW Ridge, they will not highly recommend it due to avy danger. The 1st ascent party rode an avalanche on the descent. I'm not saying not to give it a go. Just make sure conditions are good and if you get a dump while higher on the route and be willing to wait for "better conditions" on the descent. The NW Basin var. of the West Ridge is popular but can be active also so be careful and wait for good condtions. I am not speaking from experience. This is just 2nd hand info that has been passed on to me from the likes of Mark, Joe (walking encyclopedias of the AK Range) and others that have been on Hunter. Now if someone is interested in the 01 route, that Mark mentioned, let me know. I talked to Rick Taylor about it and it sounds like "fun". 2007! Let's go Of course, I will settle for the Cassin or I-Spur. VW, did you notice that the only word that Mark used to describe the route was "horror show" . I bet it was funner than that! Jedi

VW: Go for it! Like Joe said, if one route does not work out, you have more options all around you. I wish I was going up this coming season. 07 is too far off, boo hoo for me! Jedi

May sound silly but you could take 2 tents (I-Tent type of tents). You would have room for gear in the other tent or you could sleep in your own tents. Then just take one up on a ridge. Two of these tents roughly weigh what a nice roomy "West Buttress tent" weighes.

I've climbed the bottom half 3 times and been to the summit. The route description is in Colby's book is not very good or accurate. I also have a picture of Peak 11,300 from the summit on Mt Huntington. Email me if you want more info and/or more pic's. Also check out my route description on North American Classic Climbs.com There are a couple ways to start the ridge. The route finding is part of the fun on this route and can be a little challenging. Joe Puryear has a couple great pictures while climbing the SW Ridge & descending. Check his website. A link can be found in his TR on the Kichatna's. If you know Mark Westman, he has climbed it also. It's a fantastic route with lots of rock steps. What time in May are you thinking of trying it? The past 4 or 5 years have had pretty WARM temp's by mid to late May making southern facing routes challenging with unfortunate snow conditions. Flying in by the middle of April has worked pretty good for me. Jedi

about $269 a tool (from what I was quoted).

I was lined up for a pair but the lack of a hammer has been leaning towards a used pair of Ergo's and a pair of Vipers or Quarks. Anyone have any for sale?? The Nomics are sexy without a doubt. Jedi

The exterior fabric of a down jacket is important. I have stood around camp, in my DAS (syn fill)), in below freezing temps, while it is snowing all day. The heat from my body warms the jacket enough that the snow constantly melted on my shoulders. The wrong shell on a down jacket would have left the jacket damp for days.

I have not used the XGK with a flexible line. I have used other MSR stoves with a flexible line. I think the idea is to make the XGK more "packable". It's nice when your stove fits in your pot which is not usually the case with the older XGK. The downside might be the stove being less stable on some terrain (if you don't have the stove stand). Jedi

Does anyone have a picture of the Nomic? I hear they are shipping a limited number to the US (100 sets). I was told it was basically a new and improved Ergo. NOLSe: What makes it more of a "mixed" tool than the Ergo? I was thinking of trying leashless waterfall ice this winter and thought about getting a set of Nomics. The 1st available mail order (on the east coast) are due in around the 1st of Nov. Jedi

I like my G-14's (mono) for waterfall and my Sarkens on alpine routes.

The picture in Rock & Ice (issue 145) does not show the same leash attachment on the Rebel. It is a soild eyelet instead of a "built in" wiregate. How are the DMM picks? Do hey stick and clean as well as the picks on the Quarks??

Squid: Aren't we all porn stars in one way or another? No, I'm not really a Jedi, it's just a nickanme. I'm glad that's finally all cleared up.