bobinc

Either site you've suggested is great; what time?

Todd -- just thought of an actual experience. When we did the Overhang on Intersection, we noticed there was a leashed dog at the base of OH Bypass. We didn't sense the owners were on the lookout for the heat. I agree somewhat with the guys quoting the rules on dogs in NParks, but I also like dogs, so... I understand your position. It IS kind of a drag when your dog tears off into the underbrush after a rabbit and even more of a drag when it ends up with cholla spines in its pads. But many dogs do stay very close to their owner, even unleashed.

I haven't seen much of a ranger presence at JTree, even at the main campground, so I kinda doubt there is much of a problem. But then, I'm not a dog owner so haven't had to deal with the issue close-up. I must say I haven't seen any dogs there except the ones kept in the tourists' rental cars...

Peter -- take them to ProSki at 90th and Aurora. That's Martin Volken's shop. They're fast and reasonably priced.

don't see how SG can be in there without textured walls...

According to Rowland Tabor, it is Eldo Orthogneiss. I haven't been over that route, though, so don't have any on-the-ground info to offer.

Wild Turkey was Hunter Thompson's drink, too (may still be) but that was before Knob Creek et al. came along.

Thanks for the tip on the Booker's. I can understand leaving the lime home for weight reasons, but the out-and-out hostility to having it with bourbon puzzles me.

This is a very good question, especially when entire ropes are under consideration. I've been skeptical that it would be necessary to retire a rope after 3-5 yrs even if it had been stored well and not fallen on, but people who should know this, like Jim Nelson, have told me I should replace that rope. Of course, Jim sells ropes for a living, but he's also about the lowest key salesman I've ever run across.

I've been pleased with the Lafuma 32 liter model in terms of comfort and versatility. However, I'm a little worried about the gear loops, as one of them pulled out when snagged on unaggressive brush. I don't know if this is a problem of other packs but it's something to keep in mind. I've heard lots of good reports on the Khamsin.

Sayjay captured it well except he left out the SO in the tent along with the scotch. (Or perhaps the scotch and SO are one and the same.)

I was with John Sharp's group that day and can say that, whatever it's called, it's a great line and Phil and Greg acquitted themselves well on the descent (from what I could see of it). I sense your frustration, Phil. You were just out to ski and now have been sideswiped by a bunch of extraneous protocol.

Well said. I never wanted to suggest there aren't any bad, rude skiers out there, but the bozoism quotient is jus' plain higher for the ridin' group. That being said, I've had the pleasure of spending time with good boarders in the backcountry and indeed they can do amazing things on difficult terrain.

The SMC rigid crampons are impossible to kill, as are the original wired hexes. I think Forrest Mtneering made the Titons. They also had these funky oversized 'biners called PinBins that didn't sell very well.

The truly frustrating thing about snowboarders is that even with all the stupid, ignore-self-preservation-instinct stunts they pull, their mortality rate is still many orders of magnitude below the rate of entry of new snowboarders into the mix. Unless we take action, this trend will continue and with it will come the final depredation of all that is decent and good about sliding downhill on steel edges.

Point taken, Phil, but there's so much beta on that route that even a complete beginner should be able to determine they would be fine with a modest amount of gear. The leader of the trip I saw had a double set of cams, quite a few nuts, and at least 20 runners. This despite the Mtneers sending at least two trips up there almost every weekend from late spring to early fall. Who knows, though... perhaps she was practicing up for The Nose.

Re Mtneers on SEWS: It's remarkable to see someone with what looks like a big wall rack heading up a climb that only has one or two Class 5 moves. Of course, with that much weight holding you back, you've just made most of the climb Class 5.

I'm curious why you scheduled a climb of Hood so far in advance for this time of year. The weather is usually highly mutable at all levels on the mountain and (assuming you are using the lift to get up some of the route) the high lift is often closed due to high winds. Were you going to use skis for some of the ascent? A more sheltered (and less crowded) option would be to take the tour up from Cooper Spur ski area to Tilly Jane cabin or Cloud Cap on the north side. This isn't a summit attempt but it is more sheltered and if the weather does break, you will get an outstanding view of the Eliot Glacier.

Yes, Wild Things still seems pure at heart and their equipment is definitely heavily weighted toward function. Still, paying $45 for a windshirt (even though it's the cheapest of the genre) raises my eyebrow a bit.

You must be extremely bored or perhaps posting as a result of a dare.

Hard to beat the single malt with miniature iceberg, but Knob Creek is also pretty good, especially if you can handle the extra weight of a lime.

There are many books available on this. The historic texts are useful for nuts, such as both of Royal Robbins' Rockcraft books or the older versions of Freedom of the Hills. Now that clean protection devices have multiplied, it is a bit harder to find a one size fits all guide, but the newer books in the "How to Rock Climb" series are pretty good. John Long's stuff ("Climbing Anchors") is very helpful, as well. Once your head is full of all the text, you should get out there and place a lot of gear, preferably whilst accompanying an experienced trad partner.

I nominate JayB for the Best Edited and Most Ironic message yet posted on CC this year. If only a few more denizens of the e-world would follow his lead...

I just got one, too. I had an E'weiss yrs ago and no probs. It was very easy to order via a simple e-mail.

Got in some pitches at Tieton on Saturday, lost some skin but didn't feel it because of the cold, felt lucky it was only cold and not also windy, exulted in total darkness at 5 pm, then drove back to the big city.