Stefan

wow. looking good! that is a good trip to have a memory of!

The last word in REI is "Incorporated". It has been that way since about 1954. I used to work there. I still shop there once in a while. If you don't like how they run the operation or private issues, then you can always get a refund on your membership. REI is doing well becuase people continuously purchase from there. In regards to that average annual pay thing I don't buy it. REI seems to have more turnover of employees at the retail level than Costco...and Walmart has even a higher turnover of employees than REI.

wow. great job! snow conditions are making for excellent winter ascents! nice pics too!

daylward. Show your date this webpage. You might score some points showing how much you were thinking of her in your trip report. as usual I don't like it when you guys post stuff like this--I do not like feeling jealous. But, thank you for sharing!

This is a nice picture: http://www.pbase.com/nolock/image/40165979

I know this sounds a little off, but try bicycling for straight for about 4 hours on a road. This way you could see if it is the pounding on your joints. It could be a slight tendon/ligament tear versus miniscus.

Any guesses on opening day? I think it will be March 11. March 22 was the most recent earliest opening in Spring of 2001....and that year was when the snowpack was 60% of normal. This year I am guessing the snowpack in the Washington Pass area is 30% of normal.

I notice that after George Bush took office the numbers of visitors has declined? Was that becuase he sold several of the properties to his oil buddies?

I don't know if it was my most embareassing....maybe it was hers? I was walking along a trail coming back from a climb rounding a corner when all of a sudden this women was squat pissing on the trail pointing the other way with her ass out towards me. She heard me, she turned around to see me and I just kept going past her. She and I both smiled becuase we knew it was an embareassing moment. When I wasn't too far away on my merrily way she said, "Don't laugh, I haven't shaved in three days becuase my razor broke."

...be a time counter for <name deleted> ...and you could only leave your post when he showed up.

I would like to ask those same Christians you speak of who voted for Bush basing their decision on religion. I would like to ask them this question: "When did Jesus Christ accept the validity of war?" P.S. My sister is one of them...and I am just waiting for the right timing...

Nice report. I can't believe Bear was basically snow free at the time of the picture taking. Wow.

Daniels. Man, that would be one long walk. The road must be blocked way back from the trailhead due to some snow. Expect rain showers below 3000 feet and snow above that this weekend. Go east if you want to have a nice hike. I recommend this book for eastern Washington. You would be surprised at how nice the places are. http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductD...vcat=REI_SEARCH

Not sure if what I heard was correct, but interest on the national debt is the third highest item on the budget proposal. Something almost like $400 billion. That's pretty close to the proposed budget of the military. That's not a program folks. That's just interest.

You can say that this was probably the worst descent for these two guys over the past couple of days. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplo...e&dpfrom=th

Thanks Mike for the info. I did not know the park staff was fixed regardless of visitors. Glad the rescue had a positive ending and it sounded like there was constant communication.

Good read. Instead of one publication, make it two publications. Try to sell each individually. It would be easier to cut it down.... Or try to sell it as part 1 of a two part series. That way you can tell the magazine editors people will want to buy the next issue....

Zorro! http://www.pbase.com/nolock/image/37117149

What are you trying to hide? Here it is: http://www.pbase.com/nolock/image/35638076 and another angle: http://www.pbase.com/nolock/image/37116958 and another one. http://www.pbase.com/nolock/image/38017386

Good write up with the pictures!

Interesting trend on number of climbers registered. It notes a decreasing trend. I wonder if this has to do with fees imposed on the mountain. I am not familiar with the climbing staff, but has the Park Service decreased the climbing staff due to amount of less people registering? Or will the Park Service maintain the same amount of staff with 20,000 registered climbers versus 8,000 registered climbers?

What about the north face of South Hozomeen? Anybody done that one? Looks like about 1500feet.

Road 38 is closed right now due to small boulders and a minor creek washout across the road about 2 miles before the seasonal gate closure. This puts you almost 4 miles from from the trailhead. I expect them to clear this road by the time the gate is open.

Here is a condition report of someone who biked up the North Cascades Highway on Sunday 1/30 from Ross Lake gate: "The gate was locked at Ross Lake Trailhead, Mile Post 134, but I was able to bicycle 16 miles to Mile Post 150 (3600ft) That's a mile short of Easy Pass trailhead and 3 miles short of Mt Hardy approach. Easy walking ice and snow from 150 on (compacted by snowmobiles). I dropped back down the Highway to 2500ft and walked up East Creek Valley. All the south and west facing slopes are free of snow to 5000ft." Just thought you all would like to know.