Fairweather

I've never heard of the Queets approach to the Valhallas being used. The valley bottom looks broader and easier than the S Fork Hoh, though. I'm looking at the TOPO.... Did you climb up Kilkelly Creek drainage? Right fork higher up? Not that I'd actually do it, but was the Queets trail suitable for a mountain bike? Now you've got me thinking.....

What do you think the brush crash from the top of Mount Tom, down the White Glacier, and out to Elk Lake would be like? It looks doable on the map. Also; ever been up/down Tom Creek from the alp below Mount Tom? I hope you'll post pics of your Valhallas trip!! Wouldn't out-and-back from Olympus be easier than the trip up the south fork? ...Or am I missing the point? Has anyone climbed Olympus from this approach via Hubert Glacier/and scramble? Hmmmm...

I would bet you could climb Mount Queets from Dodwell-Rixon Pass (or via Queets Glacier from the Basin) and traverse Noyes, Meany, Seattle and drop down to the Skyline trail. Never been in this area, but Olympic Climbers Guide describes traversing/climbing these peaks from the Mount Seattle/Low divide area all the way out to Mt Queets. Here is my summer plan with my son: Traverse of Olympus Range... Day 1: Hike from N Fk Quinalt TH to Twelvemile/Trapper Shelter. Day 2: Hike over Low Divide and down to Chicago Camp. Continue up to Elwha Basin. Day 3: Climb Elwha Snowfinger, cross DW Pass, traverse Queets Basin and climb Humes Glacier. Descend Blizzard Pass to Camp Pan. Day 4: Carry all gear...Climb Athena, East, Middle, West Peaks of Olympus. Drop to Snowdome and camp at Panic Peak Saddle. Day 5: Climb Mount Tom from Snowdome and return. Pick up camp and drop down to Glacier Meadows or Elk Lake. Day 6: Hike out to Hoh RS. Any thoughts? Too optimistic?

Here's looking over the Sawtooth Range toward Olympus.... Check out how bare the upper meadow is.....

Correct. And in the distance are West Peak (the long ridge above Linsley's Glacier), Echo rock, and Mount Anderson.

Sorry! The register is gone. It was there last June, if I recall.

Climbed Mount Washington today. We were able to drive all the way to the summer trailhead at 3100 feet! Unbelievable. Just a bit of snow on the road at the lower Ellinor trailhead and beyond, then mostly dry/muddy roadbed. Passable in an ordianry car. The trail is about 50% snow and 50% dry to the first meadow. Mostly dry up the talus field above. The upper meadow is mostly covered with snow, but it is very thin and will vanish soon without replenishment. The climb does not go up the main gully as this is mostly dry and rock-banded. Instead, it goes up the first gully east and up a short 4th class rock step to the left of the summer route. The traverse across the ledge leading up to the summit ridge is covered with snow that is downsloping at a 45 degree angle just above a long drop. A fall here would not be good. The summit ridge is mostly snow covered, but not corniced. The summit block ledge is dry, but the gully above is snow-filled and icy in a couple spots. Nice views of all the Olympic peaks! The interior summits appear to have more snow cover than the eastern side of the range. Olympus, Anderson, were very white. Constance, Brothers, Royal Basin peaks looked very dry.

My quiver consists of: Scarpa Alpha's for winter. La Sportiva Nepal Extremes for summer cascades mountaineering. Technica BioFlex leathers for hiking and climbs long approaches ie: North Cascades or Olympics

What makes the orcas that inhabit the Puget Sound/San Juan Island area genetically distinct from, say, resident populations in Southeast Alaska? What sacrifices/compromises will Puget Sound residents be asked to make to protect orca habitat in Puget Sound? Specifics help people make informed decisions, would you not agree?

True. It never showed up on my WA State driving record or affected my insurance. Good thing too, since I believe I was going aboot 90 in a 62 just outside of Whitehorse.

Rafael, I received a speeding ticket in Yukon Territory in 1998 for $300cd. I didn't paid the ticket when I returned home to the US. Over two years later I received a letter from the RCMP asking me to pay up and extending a "generous one-time offer" to settle the matter without interest or penalties. It went on to politely state that I would likely be denied entry into Canada or possibly detained pending payment w/interest and late fees upon my next attempt to visit. I mailed off the $230something USD and have had no problem visiting The Great White North since. I thought their offer was generous. I should have done the right thing to begin with since I was, in fact, guilty.

We went over to Illumination Saddle and checked it out at about 7:15. With the loose snow encountered from the top of the Palmer and the hissing sound of pebbles and frost coming down that side, we instead headed up the west side of Crater Rock and then up the west side of the crater wall with Pandora doin' most of the hard work through shin-deep snow. We were on top about 10:30 or 10:45. I was sure wishing we would have taken skis like someone else in our party had suggested. That snow would have been perfect. Congrats to your girlfriend!

We were the party of three that came up the west side of Crater Rock (after bailing on Leuthold) and on up the left side of the crater wall. Were you the solo guy with the snowboard and MSR snowshoes? BTW; while the schrund is closed, coming down the Hog's Back I noticed that someone had recently punched their foot through.

Unfortunately, OW doesn't realize that it is Islam that forbids charging interest. I've never heard this about Christianty. As far as turning the other cheek, well, it seems that Bush made the correct, secular decision, and does still. Now, DoubleE, when you're done sucking Off-White's cock, maybe you can do a little research of your own on the matter and stop acting like just another ass-licking liberal parrot.

My god! If we're now exporting the exporters, who will be left to export the exports?!

Bastards left "Run Through The Jungle" off the CD. Unforgivable.

Just curious what most here use/keep on hand during mountain trips or for prolonged strenuous activities. I'm not a big fan of Tylenol and have always had success with Bayer Aspirin, but I recently tried Motrin and noticed it really knocks out joint pain and headaches effectively. Any thoughts on pro/cons of each? I've read Motrin can be hard on the kidneys when used in high doses, but is there any kindey danger using this in normal doses while dehydrated? Is Motrin a better anti-inflamatory drug than aspirin?

UN-FUCKING-REAL! Oh well, it's not like Seattle has any real fans anyhow.

Good call. I forgot about that one.

Those state roads Seattleites help pay for are the very arteries they use to bleed the rest of the state.

Lenny Kravitz. Can't think of any others. I usually like to listen to an album/cd in it's original entirety.

Likewise, if you want to get Greeners all riled up, all you have to say is Ed Abbey was a terrorist. Regardless, your analogy is way off. I believe Jesus actively discouraged armed revolt against the occupying Roman authority. "Render unto Ceasar", and all that....

The New Tacoma Narrows project will cost $800 million. Those who use it will be paying 100% of its construction cost (and bond-debt retirement) through tolls. Is it wrong to ask Seattle residents and others who will use this proposed $4 Billion tunnel to do the same? BTW, AK; this reply was only a hit. I have not firmly bitten down on this troll and am now swimming off to look for better bait.

FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director TO: All Employees DATE:November 14th 2004 RE: Christmas Party I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will takeplace on December 23, starting at noon in the private function room at the Grill House. There will be a cash bar and plenty of drinks! We'll have a small band playing traditional carols...feel free to sing along. A Christmas tree will be lit at 1:00 pm. And don't be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed as Santa Claus! Exchange of gifts among employees can be done at that time; however, no gift should be over $10.00 to make the giving of gifts easy for everyone's pockets. This gathering is only for employees! Our CEO will make a special announcement at that time! Merry Christmas to you and your family. Patty ================================================================ FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director TO: All Employees DATE: November 15, 2004 RE: Holiday Party In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize that Chanukah is an important holiday, which often coincides with Christmas, though unfortunately not this year. However, from now on we're calling it our "Holiday Party." The same policy applies to any other employees who are not Christians or those still celebrating Reconciliation Day. There will be no Christmas tree present. No Christmas carols sung. We will have other types of music for your enjoyment. Happy now? Happy Holidays to you and your family. Patty ================================================================ FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director TO: All Employees DATE: November..?? 2004 RE: Holiday Party Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table ... you didn't sign your name. I'm happy to accommodate this request, but if I put a sign on a table that reads, "AA Only"; you wouldn't be anonymous anymore. How am I supposed to handle this? Help Somebody????? Forget about the gifts exchange, no gifts exchange are allowed since the union members feel that $10.00 is too much money and the executives believe $10.00 is a little chintzy. NO GIFTS EXCHANGE WILL BE ALLOWED. ================================================================ FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director To: All Employees DATE: I Forget.. RE: Holiday Party What a diverse group we are! I had no idea that December 20 begins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating and drinking during daylight hours. There goes the party! Seriously, we can appreciate how a luncheon at this time of year does not accommodate our Muslim employees' beliefs. Perhaps the Grill House can hold off on serving your meal until the end of the party or else package everything for you to take it home in little foil doggy baggy. Will that work? Meanwhile, I've arranged for members of Weight Watchers to sit farthest from the dessert buffet and pregnant women will get the table closest to the restrooms. Gays are allowed to sit with each other. Lesbians do not have to sit with Gay men, each will have their own table. Yes, there will be a flower arrangement for the Gay men's table. To the person asking permission to cross dress,no cross-dressing will be allowed. We will have booster seats for short people. Low-fat food will be available for those on a diet. We cannot control the salt used in the food we suggest for those people with high blood pressure to taste first. There will be fresh fruits as dessert for Diabetics, - I am sorry the restaurant cannot supply "No Sugar" desserts. Did I miss anything?!?!? Patty ================================================================ FROM: Patty Lewis, Human Resources Director TO: All Fucking Employees DATE: Who cares... RE: The Fucking Holiday Party Vegetarian pricks, I've had it with you people!!! We're going to keep this party at the Grill House whether you like it or not, so you can sit quietly at the table furthest from the "grill of death," as you so quaintly put it,and you'll get your fucking salad bar, including organic tomatoes. But you know, tomatoes have feelings, too. They scream when you slice them. I've heard them scream. I'm hearing them scream right NOW! I hope you all have a rotten holiday! The Bitch from HELL!!!!!!! ================================================================ FROM: Joan Bishop, Acting Human Resources Director DATE: November 18, 2004 RE: Patty Lewis and Holiday Party I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Patty Lewis a speedy recovery and I'll continue to forward your cards to her. In the meantime, management has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd off with full pay. Happy Holidays

That sounds like if somebody went into a "club" in Utah for a drink and all they were served was weak beer that you would blame the drinker for the bar's rules. Hopefully a question of morals would be over something more substantial than that. Another classic example of how the left will give an unlimited pass to a fellow liberal politician. She knowingly joined. Her participation was uncoerced and lasted many years.