Beck

Parker- you, me, and the Fitz should go do some early season skiing up there these next couple of weeks- great heather up there for the snow to coat for early season, ya?

8' s right about the prime piece/marine climate, also, shred maximus is correct, soft shells market selling price point is expected to drop significantly in the next 18 months (three buying cycles) due to "dumping" by fabric manufacturers, akin to the goretex debacle in the last 3 years brought on by TNF's blanketed, aggressive pursuit of a market they didn't deserve to dominate. exciting new technology in soft shells this season, LOTS of options, still becomes the piece you will wear 75-90% of the time, even in this climate. [ 11-04-2002, 10:59 PM: Message edited by: Beck ]

...so I'm anwsering questions about the various softshells, and softshell vs. hard, at work the other day, letting him know what his options were with the different fabrics. I'm trying to get the guy into a new softshell coat for the winter. He's all ears, and after a few minutes he breaks in with something like, "man, you have just given THE BEST presentation on shell technology I have ever seen! Consise, accurate, all the options presented objectively, right on the money! If there were guys like you in every store... do you mind if I mention you in an upcoming meeting?" Dude was a Gore spy, checking up on the shops. So I don't know it all, but I'll try not to give you any bad beta on non-technical gear issues, promise. [ 11-04-2002, 05:29 PM: Message edited by: Beck ]

eastlake zoo- a great dirtbaggers'choice..plenty of room for illmannered climbers,no food or hard drinks,though so perhaps the club may want to choose a more full featured establishment, the zoo's fine with me.

funny pindude, you're not my type- dude, the alphacomp sv doesn't even have HOOD so if you're considering this as you're ALL AROUND jacket you're seriously misinformed, and you don't want to go talk to a gear head in an outdoor shop about it. whatever.

pinduder, there's lots more to it than sucking on fleece.- for a detailed comparision of all your options, stop by and see me at work-

this is a hilarous resurfacing of a shitty topic. fourth class is probably the most dangerous rating in climbing due to its' ambiguity in protection- but, that's chosspiles for you!

I watched a snafflehound descent from 10,000 feet on Glacier Peak down the standard route all the way down to boulder camp in like fifteen minutes- I had the glass on him all the way once I saw some movement on the top portion of the route above where the sitkum/Scimitar edge up to the ridge- man, he was booking! It was almost as if a pissed off climber had ambushed the snaffle, tossed the varmit in a pack and brought hi up to drop off at the summit in a vain attempt at revenge!

you are right Matt, I should ove clarified in first post- McHale packs offers the MOST options in any fabric you want and offers such bombproof durability and heavy load handling in a CUSTOMMADE pack, the consumer that's already looking in this direction should just go out and get one. you want a big pack, a small pack.. Mchale probably gives a consumer 7,500 individual component variations in a backpack that's custom fitted to the consimer...and you're right , I don't own one...I think his harness system is kinda manky

um, if you're considering getting a McHale pack CUSTOMBUILT to your absolute specs, to your back size, and every littlefeature you want, any option you want, and nothing you don't, in just the fabric you prefer, i kinda think it's a nobrainer, dude!!!

Roger, Dwayner...CC.com misses your erudition on this site!!! enjoy the wahines and the waves, by the way, how's the Hawaii tuft for bouldering? we hear you've been training for the Ironman ;)your extended stay on the islands this doesn't, by any chance, involve you making boats of straw and groundbreaking new theories in ethnolingustics,does it?

I think Tex is secretly jealous of those of us who will actually be enjoying all the snow the mountains have to offer, schussing the hinterlands in great carving arcs, whooping with joy as we have a BLAST for the next 6 months as he wallows on snoeshoes for not nearly as many summit trips as some of the "impure" climbers cluttering up CC.com with a topic obviously enjoyed by a great many NW climbers. So we'll post , and post, and keep on posting about freshies, nand tex will posthole, and posthole,and Tex's little jealousy complex will bother him even more while we go have fun.

i don't think old navy's making many 100 weight smooth face stretch hoodys with thumbloops, but then again, it sounds like RobBob's aready got the right idea

dwayner's pissed at our banality, but then again he's curmudgeonly...also, he posted a legitimate series of argulably justifiable ??? about CC.com and how the "serious" climber doesn't waste his time in a site like this... [ 11-01-2002, 12:30 AM: Message edited by: Beck ]

yup, rodeo. I'm down in the dungeon, pushing the latest in snafflefur,helping outfit our fellow backountry brethren...

i think the next eastside meeting is Nov. 12th-not that people can't go drink before then... but yeah, Pub Club east of the lake Nov.12th sounds like a stellar plan

Sorry, Rodeo, I was working and didn't catch this thread...I'm now working Bellevue way and NE8th so can get drinks eastside more often now...you'll find me slinging gear to shoppers down in the basement

actually, a mid weight fleece made of stitched snafflefur might be a better performer for RobBob. RB- iguess the question is, what are you going to use it for? If it's stepping out of the 4x4 to run into the local latte lay, get a nice, nappy, thick fleece. With large, colorblocked label the chicas can read from twenty feet away. Or, are you're going to be wallowing out in snowsville,a living iceworn out in frozen wasteland? plus how cheap ARE you? can you spend 100 bucks? stretch fleece, tight to body, preferably with a smooth face. or for a bit more $$$ Think ...Powertec Powershield or Patagonia coreskin... those are fleeces you can really get some value out of cheapest sources of good gear... your local independants closeout racks or a secondhander

Bill, the Suunto sets the standard for altimeter watches.Easiest to program, most intuitive to use/ battery replacement. Some consumers may not like as large of a watch (they are a bit big) can try one of the Casios (which are a solid reliable watch, but many come with an auto-tilt light mechanism that may drain too much use in an activity driven sport. Avocet's are easier to use with gloves on but definetly aren't as durable as the afor mentioned ones. Stay away from Swiss army brand, too much engineering... as for the other, new ones just hitting the market I don't know...come on in and talk to me at Marmot if you want some more info about altimeter watches.Bill, I know watches from old job,have helped Seth [ 10-31-2002, 11:26 PM: Message edited by: Beck ]

the only rocks you'll see in ensenada are the ones in the icebucket with your pacificos collin therin. Maybe up on the hill between there and tijuana

Thanks, TLG! I was looking forward to swinging picks with you foos this weekend, looks like it shoul be great weather. I'll cook you and the Col. vonspanker some haute cuisine at some other haute outing,enjoy some vin blanc and vistas manifique, comiserate about being underpaid gear slingers

wool union suit with a 60/40 parka and some Joffe skipants, with the contour stitching

remember, DFA-fleece sux-the less fleece the better. a softshell with out a waterproof breathable barrier can be either shell like or a bicomponent weave like Scholler Dryskin. come down and see me at the shop if you need a full dissertation on the subject

in the morning when they clipped in to generally terrorize the clients with their skiing skills, first turn, POP! and they're headers in the powpow, but did Teddy get a kick out of his days on the haute route... oh that's right, Tex. Skis and mountains don't go togther.

it's selling gear for an independant, so I'm actually quite happy about it