Fairweather

...yea. And it's just amazing how they seem to have exclusives for that roadside bomb or hostage taking footage. Are you fucking serious, Bird??? Re media bias: I've been listening to NPR carry live coverage of the Dem Ntl Convention. Every speaker, in full, and live! I wonder if they'll give the same live, full coverage next month to the RNC? More likely they'll be out covering the demonstrations. We'll see.

Cj, I'll entertain you one last time in the access forum...clearly you are uninformed. Try to educate yourself a little on issues you address.

cj, You don't seem to have a grasp on the Wilderness concept. Areas within NCNP, ONP, and MRNP - such as the parts of Glacier Basin you mention - are excluded from Wilderness designation for the very reasons you state. You seem to be under the impression that simply because land is within a national park boundary, it falls under protection of Wilderness designation. Regardless of what is, the Wilderness Act is fairly clear on what qualifies for wilderness consideration...and clearly large portions of "Wild Sky" don't.

Shit! I am obviously a victim of phonetics. (And poor proofreading.) I need some of that word-rote they teach nowdays! Ah yes! The Jewish conspiracy. I expected more from you, Will. If there is one thing Bush should be praised for it is coming out FOR Israel. Past neutrality has gotten America and the Israeli people nowhere. More bus bombings, more intentional killing of innocent civilians...and Yasser Arafat, a terrorist killer running the coop! I am proud to see our nation take a stand for Israel in their struggle to exist peacefully as a soverign entity within a sea of Islamo-backassed sheikdoms.

Yes in a particulary disgusting, disheartening new way pioneered by the GOP. Those personal attacks, just like the ones against Max Cleland and others takes it all to a whole new level. Apparently one you are proud to be associated with. Your grasp of our nations political history is weak. The political arena is much tamer now than it was between, say, 1860 and 1930. I would even add 1968 and 1972 to the "less civil" column. If you believe the Republicans are more disposed to "dirty politics" than your Democrat friends, you are simply wrong... or wearing some pretty dark blinders..

This is very true! But I find it rather strange the only time "politically neutral" WillStrickland comes out to play is when defense of a left-wing cause or cook is required. Will, please spare us all the anger over John McCain's rough treatment by GW in 2000. It's called politics, my friend. Were McCain back in the spotlight for the Republicans (or as an Independent) there would no doubt be a Democrat onslaught with such skeletons as Keeting Five S&L scandal, Manchurian Candidate dirtbombs, etc. If you wish to maintain your non partisan/Libertarian label you'll have to at least pretend to abhore the lefties now and then.

Careful RobBob! Our local Bush-haters can get pretty grouchy when you try to awaken them from their Moore-induced sleep.

Hey! Using those fast-flex joints is cheating! What's the matter? Did the re-hab center take away all your ABS glue?

Climb: Mt Baker-Coleman Date of Climb: 7/26/2004 Trip Report: The Kid arrives at the pumice ridge...starting to hurt a little: Roman Wall: Ben on the top w/my brother Steve: Winding through some crevasses at 8400ft: Ben and I back at camp: Camped at the top of Heliotrope Ridge (about 5800 feet elev) Sunday night with my son (15 yrs old) and brother, Steve. We began our climb at 2:30am Monday on great cramponing snow...the cooler temps were a welcome surprise. Venus was brighter than I have ever seen it, and the lights of Abbotsford illuminated the landscape to the North. The cowpath had obviously rerouted itself in at least three locations recently as evidenced by dead enders at crevasses now too wide to jump. The route now traverses almost all the way to the Roman Mustache before cutting back to the saddle. Some fairly large crevasses on route, but they present no problems. The sun rose as we reached the 9000ft saddle below Colfax Peak. My son, who had been moving strong until now, began to slow as we climbed the pumice ridge and traversed the Roman Wall rightward toward the top of the Easton Glacier Route. GU packets were administered and the climb continued. We arrived on the summit at 7:50am to 35mph winds and temps slightly below freezing. A thick smoky haze covered Mount Shuksan almost completely. As we descended back across the football field we crossed paths with the two USFS rangers we had earlier seen coming up the Easton. (These guys were fast!) They told us it is still in good shape. The descent was HOT below the saddle, and no crampons were worn from here down. I suspect the route will continue to change rapidly, especially below the saddle...forcing climbers even closer the mustache. Great trip! My son's first Baker climb. Gear Notes: Basic Glacier Gear. Crampons used and needed. (Recommend dull-pointed aluminum lightweights for teenagers or people who can't keep their spikes out of their gaiters! ) No hardware used or needed. Approach Notes: Snow free to top of Heliotrope Ridge.

John, You've made this claim before, and it simply isn't true.

Lame, Arlen. You could have at least used a soldier in an American uniform...and perhaps holding and American issue rifle before you Photo-Shop'ed that American flag onto the helmet.

Religion has done far more total harm than communism. They both suck ass. Thankfully communism is slowly dying off. Religion is only dying off in the progessive areas of the world. To quote once again my oft-quoted grandfather "Communiusm and Christianity, two of the best ideas on paper that turned out to be utter failures." Religion has done much good to offset some of the horrible things done in the name thereof. Communism has no redeeming value whatsoever. Josh, you list only "Christianity" in your quote above. Are you sure your father did not say "religion" generically? Are you saying Christianity has more flaws than Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, etc...? I can name atrocities (by the dozens!) comitted by all of the latter in just the last 30 years. Like I said, there is much good to religion too. (...Although I'm trying hard to find any redeeming qualities within Islam. "Religion of peace"...my ass. )

No, communism is.

I am NOT a Trek fan. But you know...Captain Kirk once free-soloed El Cap even whilst carrying on a conversation with Spock. (who was hovering nearby wearing some kind of jet boots! )

Dukiebird, your posts are the most nauseating tripe I have yet read on this board. A real life flaming eco-nut if ever I've seen. ...And proof that if you give a whiney little liberal a bachelors degree and an internship, he'll think he's God in very short order. I hope we never meet.

Frankly, a large portion of the area doesn't meet the standard set forth in The Wilderness Act 1964 pertaining to establishment thereof. Are we now declaring clearcuts and second growth forest "wild and untrammelled by man"? As for the logging, it will only recommence in earnest if the number of recreationalists declines. This will only happen if a succession of generations find they have been "locked out".

Because radical fringe enviro-lawyers and organizations twist intrpretations of The Wilderness Act (and Roadless Rules) to lock us out too!! Until they can bargain in good faith, I say....Fuck 'em.

I believe my post answered your questions. I've never claimed to be 100% pro Republican platform, or 100% conservative...if that can even be defined. Why do most conservatives oppose gay marriage? Much has to do with the "in your face" message and militancy put forth by the gay fringe. Spreading their message via public schools hasn't helped bring right wingers to their cause much either. Local mayors, county commissioners, and city councils trying to promote gay marriage via authority they do not possess simply antagonizes. And it really boils down to what I believe is a natural disdain posessed by the majority of humans toward the act of homosexuality. Conservativism, by its very nature tries to maintain the current (or a past, real or imagined)) social order...and is often, admittedly, ugly. And I believe I've made my position clear on gay marriage; that is, I do not oppose it. But I have to support the side that best represents what I believe on the preponderance of issues, and I'll take conservatives any day over the creeping socialism that is the liberal. Just so you understand: I know you fear the religious Christian right...so do I. But I think you give them more power than they deserve credit for. Each of them posesses only one vote, just like you and I, and they are not presently a danger to our republic. I suspect that most American conservatives base their politics wholly, or at least mostly, on secular idealism.

Unfortunately (or fortunately) the Civil War changed this idea forever. The Republicans are going about this in a bungling manner, and if this law ever passes the senate (which it won't) and gets GW's signature, it will surely be thrown out by the Supreme Court. The backfire from this tactical blunder will possibly usher in full legalization of gay marriage. I don't see any way conservatives can win this fight long-term on current constitutional grounds, and they don't seem to have the votes necessary to ammend.... ...so here's to you, Adam and Steve... you're probably gunna eventually win this one; and rightfully so. Just remember...tolerance is not acceptance. I still think you are evolutionary dead ends.

Matt, I look forward to hearing more about your efforts here. In spite of your otherwise goofy politics , I think we agree on many access issues. I would warn against following the WTA model as was suggested in another post, however. In spite of the valuable trail maintenance work they do, they are NOT supporters of access for climbers...or even hikers, for that matter! They have swung hard into the wilderness 'ethics' arena of late and their support for the Middle Fork closure demonstrates their true motives. Has a mission statement been developed? Is this group to be centered more around rock climbing/crag access, or will it address issues like road repair and access to popular alpine areas? If this group is to be truly focused on access and stewardship of public land balanced with responsible recreation, then count me in! If it is to become yet another mouthpiece for limiting human presence in our mountain areas, then I'm likely not interested. Keep me posted!

From the KING 5 News website: Wash. lawmakers unite behind Cascades wilderness plan 09:47 PM PDT on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 From KING Staff and Wire Reports EVERETT, Wash. - A majority of Washington’s congressional delegation united Monday behind a proposed new wilderness area in the Cascades. The state’s two U.S. senators and seven of its nine representatives urged the leader of the House Resources Committee to take action on the bill. The only members of the delegation who did not sign the letter were Republican Representatives George Nethercutt, who is running for the U.S. Senate, and Doc Hastings. Nethercutt has said, however, that he supports protecting the Wild Sky acreage, while Hastings says he is neutral. But the chairman of the U.S. House Resources Committee said Tuesday he won't allow a vote on a bipartisan proposal for a new Washington state wilderness area as it is currently written. Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., wrote to Rep. Nethercutt that the latest proposal for a Wild Sky wilderness is flawed because about 16,000 of the approximately 105,000 acres contain roads, bridges or have previously been harvested for timber. The Wild Sky proposal is set for a Thursday hearing in Washington, D.C., before a House Resources subcommittee on forests and forest health. The proposal faces a ticking clock. After Thursday's hearing, Congress has only 19 more work days until its scheduled Oct. 1 adjournment, factoring in the August recess and political conventions.

When wilderness is outlawed, only outlaws.....oh fuck, it's time for a new president. Huh???

I've heard that the Wild Sky Wilderness proposal has been blocked in committee and for this year, at least, it is probably dead. Details to follow....

"If guns are outlawed, can we use swords?"

Bodie says the gnarliest wave is at Belle's Beach, Australia raaaght after the fifty year storm doooood. You callin' Patrick Swayze a liar maan?