Fairweather

Uhh, this is a first. Heretofore, you've always peddled the notion that it's evil Republicans who bear all the blame for our nation's racial injustices.

And who's been running Milwaukee--for the last hundred years? Democrats and Socialists. Wiki

Your short-legged companions are exactly the reason West Side needs to be reopened. Fantastic day hikes that offer a great introduction to the outdoors. It's always ironic to hear NPS officials and staff complaining about crowds on trails out of Paradise and Sunrise--since some of this pressure could be relieved by restoring access to the Carbon and West Side. That said, MRNP doesn't hold a friggin candle to the let's-lock-out-the-public agenda of management and staff up at North Cascades National Park.

Yep, and Wisconsin is a great example. Walker landslide. Home of Muir, Leopold, and, of course, University of Wisconsin Madison. Can't wait until we get Walker version WA. We took a small step in the state Senate this past Tuesday.

Respectfully, Jim, Rainier Park officials found enough money to acquire, restore, and staff the new ranger station on the old Carbon Ranch site. Meanwhile, the WSRoad is 99% intact. It would cost next to nothing to open it to the public--just as it is now for NPS vehicles. No, it's not about money. Still, if park officials would simply uphold their promises, folks like me would support their needed fee increase.

Sorry, I guess I just assumed you understood the historical roots and context of our republican system of government. My bad.

My comments: Increasing fees while limiting access will not build long-term support for national parks--particularly at MORA. Foremost, I'm referring to the closure of the Carbon River Road and the failure of Rainier Park officials to follow through on their own Environmental Assessment's commitment--a promise to allow cars one mile up the road to a turn-around/parking area just beyond the Old Mine Trail. Arbitrarily applying back-country/wilderness rules to Ipsut Creek Campground has also been a betrayal of promises made along the Carbon. Secondly, I take issue with park official's failure to reassess the status of West Side Road twenty years after the Environmental Assessment that temporarily closed it. This was supposed to be done in 2012 per your original 1992 Environmental Assessment. More money for MORA? Only if we can enjoy it in ways we were promised.

I have no real gripe with the initiative process. On one hand, it is a bit "mob-rules," and has the potential to trample on minority rights/points of view if not buffered by the courts. On the other hand, it sends messages to entrenched representatives. Still, for a state to gain admission to the union, it must adopt a "representative form of governance." The initiative process is an after-the-fact end-run around this form of government. (Article IV, Sec 4.1) Anyhow, I like the initiative process--but have some reservations about it.

Damn straight.

Sorry Feck, the peeps aren't belivin your boogeyman anymore. Move along.

I agree. Oregon Measure 88 - failed with 68% against.

[video:youtube]BUSRZo1BE5o

More money, less access. So much for the people's park. No matter, more and more of us are using non-traditional ingress nowadays.

When B-Ho goes all exec-order on the border, the fireworks are gonna fly for sure. When the R's start taking BamaCare apart piece-by-piece the fireworks are gonna fly for sure. When Barry appoints another sycophant to head Justice in the lame duck, the fireworks are gonna fly for sure. When the R's apply Harry Reid's semi-nuclear option simple majority, the fireworks are gonna fly. Popcorn anyone?

Gotta love the way the WA State Senate is going. The tastiest bite of a pretty sweet pie, IMO. The 594 feel good is not a big deal. WA Ceasefire will feel emboldened on their black gun agenda--or cwp--and get smacked down left scratching their collective head next go-round. Harry Reid taken down a big notch. The second best bite of the night. I wonder if he'll be screaming for restoration of the old post cloture rules now?

Just curious, why are some lookouts left unlocked/accessible during the winter months, while others aren't? Of course, I'm thinking of Suntop which is locked up off season. Is it just a matter of finding a group that is willing to take responsibility and perform scheduled check-ups while the snow is falling--and convincing the USFS bona fides?

Wow, I had absolutely no idea. Stunning--and sad too. Thanks for the links, Water.

I'm pretty familiar with Mount Hood having climbed it a bunch over the last 35 years, but I'm not familiar with "Snow Dragon and Pure Imagination." Are these new climbing routes? or ski descents?

I've never thought of Ivan as an industrial-strength abrasive. More like Soft Scrub.

You didn't say how far you are willing to hike, but I agree with the above--Mount Rainier has probably the closest/easiest access glaciers with the shortest drive&hike combo time from Spokane. Mount Adams might be in the running as well if you're holding off until next summer--Mazama Glacier or the lower portion of Adams Glacier. Eliot Glacier on Mount Hood might even be an option. North Cascades Glaciers will probably require some solid hiking time in addition to the long drive.

A mutual acquaintance told me that you are a mechanical genius--but I didn't know you build cool houses too. Very nice work.

Another nice retirement cabin. Not sure about energy inputs related to the use of concrete vs wood, steel, natural stone.

Details. You gotta risk it to get the biscuit.

Knock out the deck railing and it would be a great little shack for an aspiring paraglider.

I appreciate the small house movement as well--just not that particular unit. And there is something kind of "Linden Hills" about its location that wreaks of social hierarchy. Inadvertent, I'm sure. Or maybe subconscious. Either way, the locals are feeling the love, no? Any idea who did this one? or where it is? I like it.