Don_Serl

I love some of those names - so appropriate, right above the traffic circle. "Turn-Style". "Circle Jerk". Still missing "The Runaround"; "Dizzy", etc, etc...

well done Wayne and Jenn. I can well understand the time pressure; there is a LOT of terrain, and while not much of it is 'hard', it's really serious, eh? btw, the South Peak it pretty quick, from more-or-less its upper saddle. I recall maybe 2 pitches? and quick rap back down... but that's for next time...

Does anyone have a copy of Gripped magazine Vol 15 / issue 3: 6/7 ( i.e. June/July 2013) lying around, that they could part with. I have a hole that I'm trying to fill, and the Gripped people don't have that back issue available. Message me, or ( better yet) email at dserl@telus.net . Thanx. Don.

as an fyi, I've had a conversation with Mike King, who as most of you will know, is the pilot at White Saddle Air Services, who fly most climbers in and out of the Range (and who flew Laurel). from what he tells me, special commendations must go to both the BC SAR officials and to the BC Forest Service regarding their responses to this unfortunate accident. in the former case, first, no effort was spared in the actual search, even with a dog team and special handlers from Alberta being long-lined into a very dangerous field of operation; and secondly because they covered the helicopter costs for the family and partner to visit the scene to help 'make peace' with the outcome and bring closure. and to the BCFS, in the midst of fighting an intense nearby forest fire ( at Dumbbell Lake), with a hundred man camp in operation and every available resource ( including the White Saddle helicopters) in action, they said " take a couple hours; you go do what you have to do; we'll fight the fire afterwards". Laurel's death rends my heart, but responses such as these gladden my soul.

The Request: Twenty five years ago the world of outdoor apparel was about to undergo a revolution, and Mountain Equipment Co-op was at the forefront. YKK, which supplied the zippers for MEC apparel (and still does) is looking for examples of I) the Couloir Jacket ( Fall/Winter 1993); II) the Couloir 2 Jacket (1994 onwards); and III) the Super Couloir Jacket (1999 onwards). If you have an old Couloir, Couloir 2, or Super Couloir sitting in your basement, a few years beyond its days of being your stalwart for the outdoors, they'd like to add it to their collection. How does this work? Well, YKK doesn't want ALL the old Couloirs, just one or two examples in reasonably presentable condition. The Couloir and Couloir 2 ran for half a dozen years virtually unchanged ( 3-ply construction, chest pockets, removable hood) and went thru a variety of two-tone colour combinations, but they can be distinguished from the later Super Couloir by a sewn-on label on the chest - the Super Couloir evolved to a logo embroidered directly to the chest fabric. What to do? The contact at YKK is Masaki Ichimura. Email a 'full frontal' photo of your jacket ( phone is fine) to Mr. Ichimura at masakiichimura@ykk-usa.com. If your jacket is 'of interest' YKK will contact you and will provide you with shipping details. If your jacket is kept, then YKK will reimburse you for the purchase of a new jacket, with a value up to $800 Canadian ( $600 US) - any size, any colour, any brand, any style - completely your choice. Simply pass along the receipt for reimbursement. If your jacket is not kept, YKK will ship it back to you prepaid, together with payment to cover your outbound shipping costs and a $50 'thank you' gratuity.

The Preamble: The early 90s were an exciting time in the outdoor industry, with expansion and innovation taking place with great vigour. At that time, I was the buyer for outerwear at MEC, and I had the privilege of working with the brilliant designer, Mike Blenkarn, later to go on to achieve even more wondrous things at Arc'teryx. We both had a role in the introduction of reversed-coil, exposed, polyurethane-coated, water-resistant zippers in Gore-Tex jackets, and I'm pleased to be able to help YKK in their quest to recover some 'artefacts' from that time. Details follow...

I'm trying to post some info about a quest by YKK for old MEC Couloir Jackets, and I'm having trouble. Content to follow when I get things sorted...

The precision of the toe bail type system is unbeatable. Also, they're warmer in really cold conditions. As for the welt wear issue, it's for sure an issue, but judicious use of a rat-tail file will keep the attachment groove plenty secure for years... And don't be afraid to bend the toe bails a bit to improve the mating between your boots and the crampons.

SOLD

bump. still available. Denali season is coming...

Summer 2103 I stayed in Bozeman at the Royal 7, which was clean, cheap, and local. Dinner at the nearby Fresco Café was really good.

I sense a story... cheers, Don

That took half a day! Alpinists to John Frieh; Mtn Review to Duncan; and the rest to Jerry Johnson, at the Uni of Montana Outdoor Ed program in Bozeman. Great homes for all. i'm so happy i didn't just toss them all in the recycling.

I'm very happy to say these have gone to one of the keenest members of this forum, John Frieh. Happy they have a home where they'll be used and appreciated!

I've got a buyer...