Fairweather

How 'bout those Mesopotamian hotties, eh? 8D

That's true. And it's what McCain was saying from the start too.

That's because the Dems promoted defeat from the start. Even Obama has changed his tune about the surge and is now busy trying to erase what he said last year.

I can only gutter-dive that deep when addressing GGK, TTK. Sorry I failed you Minx. I must now lock myself in the study and read poetry.

Holy shit, that guy is good.

What's the matter Rudolph? Wouldn't the other kids play with you when you were a 130 lb 10th grader?

The skis have gotten wider The boots have gotten taller The bindings have gotten beefier The gear is now heavier than rondo ...all that's left to do is secure the heel!

Arrogant, holier-than-thou, cult-like pricks clinging to a dying sport?

I think what some scientists are saying is that other scientists are jumping to conclusions that haven't yet been proven to a given degree of certainty. Some are even daring to claim that warming is overwhelmingly the result of natural astrophysical and climatological cycles. Still others are saying that effects of any anthropogenic warming are not as dire as others are stating. And then there are those like you, who throw their self-professed ability to think critically out the window and jump into their new belief with an almost religious zeal simply because a UN agency with an agenda of its own has proclaimed itself the final word.

Was "the glowing green orb" visible to the naked eye? Or just an artifact of the digital image?

John McCain - with a defibrillator.

Nice trip. I've always wondered about that peak.

"Texas is bound not by the World Court, but by the US Supreme Court, which reviewed this matter and determined that the convicted murderer's execution shall proceed," the statement said. "Today's development in a foreign tribunal comes just months after this nation's highest court plainly rejected both Medellin's legal claims - and the World Court's earlier attempts to bind our justice system." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7510073.stm

Forget about that lethargic 250 pound camper. I want you bitch.

I am the most tought in the morning. RumR is threatening me with a bolt gun. Mods!!

WHO IS RING??? AND WHY IS HE BEING RUMR's HUCKLEBERRY?

I must warn you: I lead 5.5...But I thought we were gonna settle this one in the ring. ::

Who is this Ring Angle? And if RumR's such a Bend Oregon tough-guy, then why is he hiring a proxy only 2 minutes post-challenge? If he's just a 130lb baggie of hot air like RumR--no problem.

That's what I thought.

Kick your fairy-ass...

I seriously don't want this to turn into a spray fest, but paranoia aside, the questions do seem to be pointing in a certain direction, and the survey is sanctioned by MRNP.

On cursory review, there is some good information there. It won't matter to those who have chosen 'Global Warming' as their religion, and Algore as their corpulent priest.

Here's a strange one...Climbers will be asked to complete a survey beginning this weekend that seems, at the very least, like some sort of push-poll leading toward possible restrictions or limitations on alpine climbing in MRNP. That the administration is sanctioning this Texas State University "study" seems a bit odd. In addition to standard questions about race, income, education, and some rather strange questions about experience, there are some downright bizarre inquires that focus on personal opinion and are clearly intended to produce a predetermined answer regarding wilderness/social concerns. Below I have pasted some of the questions that seem the most leading or unusual: "14. Please estimate and list a monetary value as to how much it will cost you for this season’s climbing trip to Mount Rainier. (You can indicate the value below in your native country’s currency dollars, euros, yen, ruble, etc.) Even if you are sponsored by an organization, please list how much you think it will cost you to be on the climbing trip. Include all money spent, even travel, meals and leisure spent to arrive at basecamp." Value______________ Currency You Use________________ 17. (a) "Please classify yourself into the following experience category: (Check only ONE)" _____ Beginner (little or no mountaineering experience) ______ Novice (first major trip on Rainier (above 14,000-ft, 4,267m) but some glacier travel experience and one or two previous shorter climbs to peaks of less than 14,000-ft, 4,267m) ______ Intermediate (two to five extended climbs or expeditions with at least one above 14,000-ft, 4,267m), glacier travel, winter climbing experience) ______ Advanced (over five major extended climbs-expeditions with two or more above 16,000-ft, 5000m, technical challenges, high altitude, arctic-like conditions) (b) "Please classify yourself into the following skill category: (Check only one)" ______ Novice (beginner snow and ice climber) ______ Intermediate (can lead 5.6 rock and ice climbs at grade III under alpine conditions) ______ Advanced (can lead 5.9 rock and ice climbs at grade IV under alpine conditions) Here are the questions that have me concerned: 1. a. "How crowded do you think the area of Rainier basecamp is?" Please circle a number representing how crowded it feels in your opinion. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 not at all slightly moderately extremely crowded crowded crowded crowded b. "If the situation comes up, would you abort or sacrifice your summit bid in order to aid or rescue another climber?" (Circle One): Yes No 2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 not at all slightly moderately extremely feared feared feared feared Rate each of the Following items in regards to levels of fear indicated: "What are your greatest fears in regards to trying to climb this mountain?" Weather Related a. ________Avalanches b. ________High winds c. ________Extremely cold temperatures d. ________Blizzard/whiteout conditions e. ________Sun burn/snow blindness Climbing the Mountain f. ________Falling into a crevasse g. ________Falling off a cliff or face of the mountain h. ________Having to attempt a rescue (and possibly abort your climb) i. ________Having a team member die j. ________Your own death k. ________Crowds (too many people on the routes) l. ________Not making the Summit on this trip m. ________Seeing too much human waste n. ________Seeing too much trash and discarded items o. ________Seeing a dead body along the route Physical and Bodily Aspects p. ________Suffering from frostbite q. ________Losing fingers, toes, arms, or legs from frostbite r. ________Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) s. ________Dehydration t. ________HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) u. ________HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema) v. ________Digestive system ailment or virus (diarrhea, giardia, etc) 3. "How confident are you that you will reach the top of Rainier? (Select only one answer)" _____ Completely confident (100%) _____ Fairly certain (75%) _____ Optimistic either way (50%) _____ Only a small chance (25%) _____ Need a lot of luck and not sure (0%) _____ Not confident at all, hope I live to tell the story (0%) e. "Do you think the current permit system should continue to be a mandatory requirement for climbing Rainier? (Check all that apply)" ____Yes ____No ____Number of climber permits issued should be decreased ____Number of climber permits issued should be increased ____Other opinion (describe)_________________________________________________ 2. a. "How crowded do you think your climb of Mount Rainier was as a whole?" Please circle a number representing how crowded it felt in your opinion. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 not at all slightly moderately extremely crowded crowded crowded crowded b. "Do you think that there are too many people trying to climb Mount Rainier?" Circle One: Yes No "Was the mountain too crowded?" Yes No "Was the number of people you saw within an acceptable limit for you?" Yes No c. "How crowded do you feel the area of the basecamp was?" Please circle a number representing how crowded it felt in your opinion. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 not at all slightly moderately extremely crowded crowded crowded crowded d. "How crowded do you feel the area within 1,000-feet (300m) of the Summit was?" Please circle a number or item representing how crowded it felt in your opinion. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 not at all slightly moderately extremely Not Applicable crowded crowded crowded crowded e2. "Did you have to wait for others to move away in order to ascend or descend any section of the mountain? " Circle One: Yes No e3. If Yes to the previous question, about how long did you have to wait, and please indicate in which direction you were going: ___________minutes total. Circle One: Ascending and/or Descending? f. "If you stood on the summit, how crowded was the experience?" Please circle a number representing how crowded it felt in your opinion. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 not at all slightly moderately extremely crowded crowded crowded crowded g. "Did you have to abort or sacrifice your climb to rescue or help another climber?" (Circle One): Yes No h. "What would be the ideal number of climbers that should be allowed on the route of Mount Rainier you climbed on this trip for each climbing season or each day?" (Please choose only 1 answer for each list below). FOR EACH SEASON FOR EACH DAY ____ 0-499 Climbers ____0-10 Climbers ____500-999 Climbers ____11-20 Climbers ____1000-1499 Climbers ____21-30 Climbers ____1500-1999 Climbers ____31-40 Climbers ____ 2000+ Climbers ____40+ Climbers i. "Given the relatively high climbing frequency of Mount Rainier, please list three of the most obvious environmental concerns that came to mind during your experience here." 1.________________________________________________________________________ 2.________________________________________________________________________ 3.________________________________________________________________________ 3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 not at all a slight a moderate an extreme a problem problem problem problem Rate each of the following items in regards to levels of problem or conflict indicated on the scale: "What were the greatest problems or conflicts you encountered in regards to trying to climb this mountain?" Weather Related a. ________Avalanches b. ________High winds c. ________Extremely cold temperatures d. ________Blizzard/whiteout conditions e. ________Sun burn/snow blindness Climbing the Mountain f. ________Falling into a crevasse g. ________Falling off a cliff or face of the mountain h. ________Having to attempt a rescue (and possibly abort your climb) i. ________Having a team member die j. ________Your own death k. ________Crowds (too many people on the routes) l. ________Not making the Summit on this expedition m. ________Seeing too much human waste n. ________Seeing too much trash and discarded items o. ________Seeing a dead body along the route Physical and Bodily Aspects p. ________Suffering from frostbite q. ________Losing fingers, toes, arms, or legs from frostbite r. ________Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) s. ________Dehydration t. ________HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) u. ________HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema) v. ________Digestive system ailment or virus (diarrhea, giardia, etc) 4. "Do you plan on returning to Mount Rainier in order to climb it ever again?" 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Never A slight chance Maybe 50% Potentially Yes 5. "If you did not make the summit, please list the top 2 reasons why you did not make it." 1.________________________________________________________________________ 2.________________________________________________________________________ 6. "In your opinion, what qualifications and experience should a person have in order to be allowed to come and climb Mount Rainier (Check all that Apply)" ____Only experience of hiking in some lower mountains ____No previous climbs of peaks higher than 4267m (14,000-ft) but perhaps some of 2000m or 3000m ____At least 1 previous climb of a 4267m (14,000-ft) peak ____At least 2 previous climbs of a 4267m (14,000-ft) peak, plus glacier travel climbing experience ____More than 2 previous climbs of a 4267m (14,000-ft) peak, plus glacier travel and climbing on at least one previous peak of higher than 6000m (18,000-ft) ____Certifications in CPR and First Aid Wilderness First Responder ____Alpine mountaineering courses such as crevasse rescue, glacier travel, ice climbing, etc. ____Money to buy their way onto an expedition ____Other (Please Specify)______________________________________________________ 7. "Do you think global warming impacted your climb in any way?" Circle One: Yes No Please explain: __________________________________________ This part is funny:: "Thank you for completing the survey! Warning: Mountaineering is a high-risk and completely voluntary activity. If at any time this survey has induced additional fear or anxiety in regards to your summit attempt of Mt. Rainier, the following resource may be of benefit to you:" Anxiety Panic Attack Resource Site: www.anxietypanic.com P.O. Box 1421 Nampa, ID 83653 PHONE: Toll Free (888) 584-7112 E-mail: help@anxietypanic.com I'm surprised that MRNP would allow this clown with an agenda to bother park visitors. The guy is obviously NOT a climber. I would encourage climbers being asked to complete this survey to politely decline. Just my humble opinion. I have the complete document as a .doc (no link) if anyone wants to see the complete version you can PM me.