Stefan

Put shaving creme on the mirror. Wipe it off. Next time when you take a shower you will be amazed that the mirror area you put shaving creme on will not get fogged up. In case you wanted to know this little trick.

Its called government. Happens all the time. Even in the the U.S. Forest Service offices. The road is "open" during those periods so it is a consistent policy. They have pulled many a vehicle off of that road in the winter and they don't want to spend the time for imbeciles who don't know how to drive under winter conditions during darkness.

Renton granite.

Its political with the wife and too long to discuss.

I knew two people who worked for RMI. One worked for three summers. One worked for 8 years doing miscelleneous guiding for other operations too. Here is what I heard from them. Remember, this is what they told me. I never worked for RMI. RMI likes college students. They are fit, have summers off, usually without any personal family commitments--it just fits well into their business model. They will hire teachers and other sorts of people including EMTs and other people who are not college students too. RMI is a lot more political than what they thought it was going to be. Do not expect at all to make it to be a head/lead guide. The higher ups are there to stay and so there is no room for additional leadership. Be clean cut and shaven. A lot of the clients are professionals. If you are going to a tryout for RMI be knowledgeable about prussiks, ropes, knots, spacing on ropes, weather, glacial movement, crampons...etc. AND know how to explain all that stuff to people. If you are knowledgeable, but do not know how to teach newbies, then you will not get a job. In the teaching arena, remember, you have to do it over and over and over again. Be in shape. In very good shape.

For a man like me who does not have the wife's approval of spending money on this magazine (don't ask, too long of a story), where would one have the opportunity to read these Alpinist magazines?

Do you even a girlfriend? Hold it. Let's back up. Do you even go out on dates?

Snow is consistent around the 2400-2800 foot level to probably 4000 feet with very little snow (under 1 foot probably). I would expect hard icy conditions from people making icy footprints.

It has happened to me....when I have run out of slings.

One little problem. Brush is horrendous in those areas. Access to those peaks with skis is troublesome. You have to want it to ski those places in the winter. Long runnouts not usual except on Whitehorse....but remember the brush??? Can use roads, but they are usually quite a distance back where you can park your car. Get a snowmobile.

This applies to Erden. Where he is starting in Seattle, riding his bike to Miami, rowing his boat to South America, then riding his bike to the base of Aconcagua, then climbing the mountain....only to reverse the whole thing.

Okay, let's say you were climbing Dome Peak in July. Now let's say the same thing happened to the weather as it did in the movie "The Day After Tomorrow". Now would you call that a winter ascent or would you still call it a summer ascent?

I did exactly what you said. Elevation is 4884 meters. I guess that means they measured it from sea level and not plate tectonic level. If it is sea level, then I guess everything underneath sea level doesn't count.

Dru, What is the heighth of Carstenz Pyramid?

You should never ever ever ever go higher than the posted speed limit. It is against the law.

Why does Vancouver Island have the word "Island" in it?

Scienceman: Is New Guinea an Island or a Continent? Yes, it may lay on a continental shelf, but is it an Island or a Continent? BTW: Anvil Island is called an Island becuase it is an ISLAND even though is it on the continental shelf. Besides, I have been there, done that!

Dude. Humans have learned there are seven continents. One of them is Australia. We don't learn Australasia.

This is similar to the Seven Summits. Some do not consider the high point of Australia to be the high point of the continent. Some consider Carstenz Pyramid to be the high point. The problem is, Carstenz Pyramid is not physically located on a continent.

Naches Tavern on Highway 410 for drinks. Muckelshoot Casino. 6 Restaurants open to 1:00a.m. every day.

If you are in the Federal Way area: There's a place north of 320th on Highway 99. Best I have found in my area. Order the Thai Crepe.

Expect these types of reports to continue. NOAA has predicted California will get more precipitation than Washington this year.

If you don't have plane tickets go this website: http://campaign.scandinavian.net/christmas2004/us/ Tickets are $280 round trip from Seattle plus taxes. They have a special every day through Christmas. Today is Amsterdam. Maybe tomorrow is Zurich...don't know.

Well look at this piece in the bill AND WHAT IS SAYS ABOUT IN ALASKA IN THE LAST ONE! (b) LIMITATIONS ON FEES FOR CERTAIN PERSONS, ACTIVITIES, AND LOCATIONS- The Secretary concerned may not charge a basic recreation fee with respect to any of the following: (1) A person under 16 years of age. (2) Outings conducted for noncommercial educational purposes by schools or bonafide academic institutions. (3) The following National Park System units: (A) U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. (B) Independence National Historical Park. © Statue of Liberty National Monument. (D) National Park System units in the District of Columbia. (E) The Arlington House-Robert E. Lee National Memorial. (F) Any National Park System unit covered by section 203 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 410hh-2), other than Denali National Park and Preserve.

So far the snowpack is very low this year. See here: http://www.nwac.us/products/CLISNO Which fits in line with the NOAA forecast. See here: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ AND HERE http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/advfig5.html And fits the long range forecast which is here: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/advfig6.html Bottom line. I think we will 60%-70% average snowpack compared to normal. Somewhat similar to the 2002-2003 year and I think the 2000-2001 year but not quite sure... I sure hope my guess is wrong--I would rather see more snow.