Fairweather

I think we're on the same page regarding trailhead access. Unfortunately, you are still a liberal hippie.

"East-coast John" continues his uneducated rants about wilderness preservation here in the PNW.

Oly, My desire for maintaining the access status quo is two-fold: 1) Personal. I do not believe maintaining current access is in any way damaging to the overall environmental picture. Additionally, I want to take my children, and eventually, grandchildren to the areas I have visited and loved so much. Eventually, unrepaired road washouts will make this difficult to impossible in this ever-busier world. Which leads me to an even more important reason... 2) If existing roads fall into disrepair, so too eventually will the trails. An apathetic public, not having experienced first-hand the beauty of places like ONP, will not likely be stirred to action when these areas are threatened again at some future time, the roads and trails having been long forgotten. Ira Spring also makes a similar compelling argument in the link provided by Sailboi: http://brinnonprosperity.org/letters/ira_spring_letter_dose-repair.gif I do not support ANY new road construction/incursions into wild areas, I just want existing access maintained. I know that although you and I have divergent views politically, we share a love of the Olympic backcountry. Mountains are a powerful bridge.

CJ, This has nothing to do with the national park directly. The road repair in on national forest land. Non-wilderness designated, no less. Granted, still public owned, but who the hell is this guy who flies out here every 3 or 4 years....and tells me I should just 'let nature take over' re: road washouts? I guarantee you I spend more time in Olympic, and appreciate it at least as much as this pompous enviro-speak drone from New Jersey! Now he's going to pull this 'father knew best' east coast natter regarding the creation of North Cascades National Park?? WTF?? The guy should just go back to doing what New Jersey does best....making salsa.

I've hiked and climbed throughout the Olympic Mountains for virtually all of my 42 years. I was born and raised here. I've lived through the Washington Wilderness Act, the establishment of over a dozen new wilderness areas in the state, the Spotted Owl controversy, dozens of road washouts...and repairs, the enviro-sanctioned burning of public shelters, and on, and on. My children are now enjoying the beauty of this state, and The Olympic Range in particular. Your premise that the creation of NCNP in 1968 was opposed almost "unanimously" by state residents demonstrates how little you know about this region. I am considerably annoyed that someone who resides on the east coast (New Jersey, no less!!) of this great country has the kahones to lecture those who live and breathe here about the ethics of wilderness access. We're not talking about an open pit mine here, John. And contrary to your idiotic theory about some evil real estate cabal, reopening this road really is about restoring traditional access.

You live on the east coast and presume to tell us how to live and what wilderness values are? Then you have the audacity to ask for info regarding the Stone Ponds Traverse on another thread? I'll tell you what....The road has been decomissioned. Environmental lawyers will not allow a repair to be completed. Wilderness values 'n all, ya know. Stay home.

John, I suspect your post is facetious, so I will propose that it is you that is the elitist. I'm sure you have lots of extra time to spend weeks upon weeks in the mountains, but many of us who work for a living don't. Additionally, I don't consider walking down an abandoned road for a full day "hiking" per se. I too support the eastern Olympic wilderness areas that were set aside in the 70's and 80's....which is why I would like to see access maintained for all. Not just a few elitists who talk much and work very little - and would have our wilderness areas become their private country club by excluding as many people as they can vis a vis the decommissioning of roads.

...Olympus? I think you have your posters mixed up. As far as your comments, I would not bring two sets of footwear to Olympus, but would likely wear my midweight Technica Bioflex boots with some lightweight Stubai crampons. A situation where I would wear trailrunners and carry full boots (like the Nepal Extremes) would be something with a four to six mile approach like Baker or the Emmons Glacier on Rainier. Additionally, I would never wear trailrunners down a very steep or rocky trail while carrying a climbing pack. Thanks for your 'advice' though.

I have owned a pair of these for about 4 years now. They are great summer mountaineering boots, but I have had very cold feet on winter climbs including two numb toes on Leuthold that took a couple months to wake up! While I like the stiffness of the soles, the lateral and back-leaning support in the ankles is very soft, especially compared to plastics, so they are not as fast on the downhill side of a climb, but they are fantastic for climbing 'uphill' on snow/ice. They are about one pound lighter than plastics and are great for 'packing' along on an approach where trail runners are worn. My .02

I have to agree with JoshK on this one. Islam, as it is practiced in many countries, is tantamount to the enslavement of women. I can think of few Christian brand-names that are as repressive, with the possible exception of The LDS Church. I think this mantra, "we MUST respect the cultures of others" is a load of crap. How about the Myans, Toltecs, Aztecs that practiced human sacrifice? Were those "cultures" just as valid and worthy of respect as ours? I say no. Ditto, Islam and a few others. I will put western culture above that of most, but not necessarily all others. Don't like that? Too bad. This whole 'moral equivalency' shit has got to stop. What kind of Islamo-male bastard wants a fully gowned, forbidden to drive, can't vote, uneducated, automaton for a bride? I'm glad you think many Islamic women are as happy as caged birds, but you clearly need to pull your head out just a bit.

Of course, Catbird, I don't support unbridled corporate greed at the expense of the environment and I agree that without government oversight corporations would have no incentive...economic or otherwise...to act in a reasonable manner. I just take exception to those who feel a one-sided government equation is some sort of cure-all. You, and I. We are the government!....and the corporation.

While I disagree with those who think Rumsfeld should resign, I found the 'coup of 2012' piece facinating albeit far-fetched. While some find Civil War reading facinating, I find the story of events leading up to that terrible chapter in our nation's history even more riveting....a snowball effect of events that 'just got out of control', yet were probably not avoidable. The piece you posted leaves me with that same feeling of, "if only..." I retain my faith in our military's officer corps and do believe they would act responsibly during a constitutional crisis. Frankly, I would prefer temporary military rule to an "elected" communist/Marxist government (that would likely suspend future elections anyway!). The Red Scare of the 1920's/30's demonstrates that this scenario is not a complete impossibility.

Yes, but Matt's point was that "the govenment owned resource is more likely to be better managed".... Hence, my examples.

The Aral Sea is a victim of government central planning in the extreme, and not a victim of corporate greed. Ditto rotting submarine reactors on the Arctic coast. Ditto The Three Gorges Dam Ditto the marshes in southern Iraq etc etc etc

Ever heard of The Aral Sea?

...and I will wrap my skull in aluminum foil to keep lefties like you from intercepting my right-wing playbook. No cell phone?? How will I call you when I get overnighted on the Hogsback?

OK...Duh! I didn't realize I could do that. At 42 years old I am only marginally computer literate. Thanks.

Peter, I agree with your views about 99% of the time, and trust the links you post are solid. You just linked me to the fucking HAMAS WEBSITE! Call me paranoid, but that is one link I don't want my IP Address attached to. I typically only link to sites that are posted in the raw, and will not go to modified links posted by j_b or others on the left. I make exceptions for those posted by you, JayB, GregW and others with whom I usually agree politically. I have no interest in what Hamas butchers have to say about anything. The sooner Israel kills their leadership and demoralizes their members into oblivion, the better. Ditto Hezbollah, and Arafat's Alaxa Martyrs personal militia. Not a slam here PP, just a request...let me know where I'm going when I click on a link.

That is the $$$$ question! She's currently thinking about Sports Rehab, but her direction has changed multiple times. She is also thinking about the Coast Guard. I hope she nails it down by the end of her first year. I do hope she doesn't become a major, but that would be preferable to a left-wing activist. BTW, congratulations on your employment (Sincerely)! I hope 'ol (Global Crossing) Terri McAlluff is paying you well.

That's because most(American)Catholics are liberal. Catholic; she is not. Actually, she is not religious at all, just a hard-core secular conservative like me. My brother, who is a masters candidate at WWU, tells me that there are only about 12 members in the College Republican Club up there. I'm not sure how politically active she'll be. I hope her first priority will be her studies. However, as parents we have taken the liberty of vaccinating her against the liberal/Democratic idealogy she is likely to encounter on campus.

Wow. I hear the Democrat Party is a really hard sell up there on campus. My Republican daughter will be arriving in September to straighten things out at WWU.

....Same snobby New England arrogance that started the Civil War. ...er, ah, I mean The War of Northern Agression.

Zell Miller Blasts John Kerry Saturday, May 15, 2004 Associated Press COLUMBUS, Ga. — Georgia Sen. Zell Miller, the Bush campaign's most famous Democratic attack dog, ripped into John Kerry Saturday as an "out-of-touch, ultraliberal from Taxachusetts" in a speech before Georgia Republicans. Miller, the lone Democratic senator publicly backing Bush, commented in remarks prepared for a Bush-Cheney grassroots event, held in conjunction with the state Republican convention. "I'm afraid that my old Democratic 'ties that bind' have become unraveled," he said. Miller said the nation is more secure with Bush in the White House. "With John Kerry on national security, it's vacillate, retreat and turn over to the U.N.," he said. "With John Kerry on domestic policy, it's tax, spend and redistribute income." He called Kerry's Senate voting record on national defense "shameful," declaring that Kerry voted "against every single major weapons system that won the Cold War." "The man now wants to be the commander in chief of U.S. armed forces? U.S. forces armed with what, spitballs?" Miller said Kerry's handlers are trying to soften the Democratic candidate's image and depict him as an average guy. "Look, John Kerry couldn't find Main Street with both hands," he said. "You can't make a chicken swim and you can't make John Kerry anything but an out-of-touch ultraliberal from Taxachusetts." Miller, a lifelong Democrat, was Georgia's governor from 1991 through 1998 and was lieutenant governor for 16 years before that. In 2000, Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes chose him to succeed the late Sen. Paul Coverdell, a Republican. Miller won election that year to the balance of Coverdell's term but announced last year he will not seek re-election. In 1992, he was a strong, early supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton and delivered a nominating speech for Clinton at the party's national convention. But he has ruffled the feathers of Democratic colleagues since his appointment to the Senate, siding with Republicans on virtually every key issue and writing a best-selling book in which he accuses his party of being out of touch with Southern voters.

I, for one, would like to see all tele skiers banned from the Coleman-Demming. Their turns tend to be less controlled than the A/T skiers, and I am concerned that they are not removing their skis when they descend into fragile exposed meadow areas. Good God man, I have seen this with my own eyes! I would also like to see plastic boots banned. They really tear up trails...and why do so many people wear them before they reach the snow? Another example of a few bad apples ruining it for "the rest of us". Why do climbers wear red or yellow parkas? They are really obtrusive, un-natural colors that have no place in the backcountry..... Harmonicas and banjos....why?

Russ Feingold (D) was against. Don't know who the absent vote was. The congressional elections were still over one year away when this vote was taken. Even farther away for most of these senators. I can't accept that political fear was a factor in a 98-1 vote. I think most members who voted in favor were likely sincere.