Fairweather

...and on the opposite side of the coin is a scourge you forgot to mention - secular collectivism - a far bigger oppressor of mankind in modern times than the two you list. I'll take a good old fashioned Protestant/Capitalist leader over someone claiming to deliver utopia (on government terms, of course) any day. And after almost 500 years separate from catholicism I think most protestant practitioners can rightly detach themselves from any spiritual liability vis a vis The Crusades. Why do liberals keep digging up that 900 year old boondoggle?

http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=macs_cant

White River/Lake Wenatchee, I believe. The Pargeter's Central Cascades Map oblique gives a good overview of the area. Actually looks like a good approach over White Pass/Indian Peak area?

Will they be making repairs anytime soon? Please tell me this isn't yet another permanent closure! Also, what's the latest on White Chuck repairs? What's it been....5 years now?

Funniest thing you've ever posted, Matt. Of course you realize that both of our senators here are Democrats?? No matter, though. The Dems will screw us on behalf of anti-recreation environmental groups, and the Republicans will screw us by cutting the NP/NF maintenance budget based on the perception that most hikers and climbers are "D" votes anyway. Sad, but likely.

I piss on your Darrington routes. In fact, I just did piss on some of them. TR to follow. We did Silent Running car to car in just under 3 days; a new record. Look for it under the "Fat Fucks on Slab" title. Have you learned how to flake the rope yet? Geez, man. At least drape it over your belly, or something. Based on two recent TR's of yours, I would classify you as both a pussy, and a danger to your second. Thank God you didn't post any pictures of your anchor set ups!

Fair points, Matt. But the 'squeakiest wheels' these past 30 or so years have been organized environmental exclusionists who seem to have the only seat at the NCNP table. And now that one of their primary agitators has passed on, I believe an opportunity to return some sanity exists. Unless NCNP management hears from average pro-access, pro-recreation, pro-responsible use folks, and hears the undercurrent developing against their let nature take over strategy, roads and trails will be a thing of the past - and very soon. I don't know anyone who wants new roads in wilderness areas, but I truly believe that the vast majority of hikers and climbers want the status quo of, say, 1990, maintained in this regard.

Pussy, me? ...The North Face of Shuksan is a Day Trip, chubby. Before you go callin' folks pussies, pea brains, cockroaches, and rabid dogs, you should make sure you can look after yourself properly if you ever happen to "run into" one of them up there. And I can guarantee you that taking three days (!) to hump up NF Shuksan does not qualify you to be talking that degree of shit. Now run along you fat fuck.

Sooner or later you have to hold the "host" country responsible, and that involves killing a lot of innocent people. There really is no other way...except preemption. I guess MAD would work if we held the country of the weapon's origin responsible and publicized this doctrine in advance. This whole missile defense shit seems valid over the Pacific, but placing these batteries in former Soviet Bloc nations is unnecessarily provocative and, frankly, insulting to a Russian nation that not too long ago threw off the yoke of communism in the hopes it would be treated with respect. Besides, if a nuke attack ever comes from the middle east it seems more likely it will arrive in a shipping container.

Zacktley.

You're comparing Binladen to Falwell? A classic example of liberal moral equivalence doctrine - and 100% wrong. Gimme a fucking break. Falwell - judgmental, hypocrite, annoying Binladen - mass murderer, enslaver of women Hmmm. Yes, I will celebrate when he dies - but I suspect that he's already gone.

Do you hate me? If so, yeah, I guess you should celebrate. I'm curious though, if you hate me, do you hate me because I hate this hater (falwell)? It's not like I celebrate every time a christian dies; just the hypocritical, evangelical, bigoted, powerful ones who have made it their mission in life to oppress others. Refer to my previous post. I was asking the death-celebration question rhetorically - but you already know that. Is it appropriate to hate an individual and dance on their unburied corpse just because you disagreed with their politics...or because they dared to judge your choices? And does the fact that you so often judge others render you hate-worthy? I've got no problem with the concept of hate, but is simple disagreement or benign judgement a valid threshold?

Did you recently see a bright light at the end of a long tunnel?

Since I had already used "whom" in the first sentence, I thought who more appropriate in the later. This is all very important, you know.

It should be whom do you hate. I believe you are incorrect. I'll check my style guide. Who is appropriately used after my listed choices. "Which" would have been better.

of course! wtf's the point of living if you can't piss on the graves of your enemies? about the only reason i go to the gym... "for every one of us - living in this world means waiting for our end - let he who can achieve glory before death - when a warrior is gone that will be his best and only bulwark" 1. 100 years from now Dr Falwell will live on as a somewhat obscure footnote in history books. You (and I) will be forgotten. Your mountain exploits amount to dust. 2. I don't consider any of you my "enemies". Just hypocrites.

This is really fucked up. I understand why the Rooskies are pissed. Too bad, because we could have been allies. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6658633.stm

Whom do you blame? Muslims? Arabs? America? Western Values? Religion in general? Who do you hate? And should I celebrate when you and Alpinfox one day both fall to your deaths?

A great demonstration of liberal love and tolerance. All the usual suspects have come out for eulogies. Revealing. You all have much in common with the good reverend.

Foes. Unless you climb only Cougar, Tiger, Si, Bandera, Mailbox, and, just maybe, Granite Mountain. Also, hikes to Lake 22 are da shit.

I attended the early meetings in North Bend - and I even behaved! Despite my best efforts, I was never placed on the USFS mailing list re this issue. Strange, eh? I believe the outcome was decided by Lord Harvey long before last November. You're right though; the meetings were loaded with MidForc supporters and greens who had their shit together. And dumbasses who regularly shot up the (lower) valley, dumped derelict cars, TV sets, and garbage gave the road-closer cadre all the ammo they needed. Sad. But opening the Middle Fork trail to mountain bikes was a good call.

You should understand that budget is the secondary reason for NCNP's decision re this road closure. The primary reason is that the management of this particular National Park unit happily does the bidding of environmental groups like the somewhat radical North Cascades Conservation Council and the late Harvey Manning. Just read Harvey's rantings in his 100Hikes in the North Cascades. This is also the place where local rangers are reported to be busy tossing summit register boxes down the sides of mountains and other personnel are busy slandering local climbers in a Bellingham newspaper. Their "wilderness for the fit and educated only" plan has been clearly spelled out for years. It is not a secret. And yes, the eventual closure of Cascade River Road is among their many goals. http://www.northcascades.org/public_html/summer03.pdf See pages 6 and 7. Just stay home and watch TV. NCNP is a country club for a very select few.

I believe the Yakima Nation does not allow access to that area until July 1. Don't forget to procure a permit down in Glenwood.