Fairweather

Lets go sledding!! 50 points each for mowin' down the green-jacketed monitors at the bottom of the hill!

I should have said..."If" you graduate! Any fitness advantage you gain over me will simply be met with additional weight in your pack. 18 years=18 extra pounds on your back! Shit, I might not even have to carry my own sleeping bag.

Erock, The very premise of this thread; "I hope this mall burns to the ground", lends credence to the notion that it is lefties like you that are paranoid....and even dangerous. And the answer to your question is "yes".

Wow!! That was one of the best trip reports I've yet seen. Were the still pictures taken w/digital camera or film? My little bro is graduating from college this June, and we're planning to celebrate with a trip up Liberty Ridge or Mowich Face. I've had one unsuccessful try at LR but your pictures make the choice a little clearer. Any rockfall at Thumb Rock overnight? Nice TR.

Actually, they decided several years ago to open the road to a shuttle service. They have not looked for, proposed specifics regarding, or opened the process up for bid as far as I can tell. Their inaction regarding this matter is what really gores me. Now they plan to "decomission" Carbon River road this year. MRNP is not a preserve only for the very fit, geologists, bioligists, and those who can prove they "deserve" to be there. The park belongs to all. Letter writing campaigns have been effective in ONP re: East Fork Quinalt repairs. Too bad MRNP officials don't "get it".

How about a story on Mount Rainier National Park's refusal to reopen Westside Road, and their unfulfilled promises to provide access with a shuttle bus program.

Snowing in Enumclaw today while I was up there. Not sticking, but a good dusting of snow on the trees about half way up Mount Peak.

One thing I do find ironic is the fact that the mountain environment (climbing/hiking) is less regulated in Canada and western europe than it is in the USA. No permits/fees/helicopter access/etc, in most areas. Nice huts too. I guess in this one case, Canada is less regulatory than we are. Strange.

Agreed. We all end up paying for the uninsured...at emergency room rates! But Canada's system is far from "free". Taxpayers are bled severely. Even ultra-liberal Oregon shot down a Canada-style health system last November. 70% no vote? So what about all Canada's other problems? Not exactly the pristine paradise they would have us Yanks believe eh?

Marmot in Tacoma has last years Arcteryx Khamsin62 (one only?) for $199. (reg$240) Size Med. 4.0lbs. 4100cid. Blue. I saw it there today. I thought about buying it myself, but I'm going to get a smaller sleeping bag and see if I can fit a 5 day trip into my current Bora40. So, any suggestions for a sleeping bag: 25-30 degrees, down, under 2 lbs? I've been looking at Western Mountaineering bags, but they are $$$$$.

Too Late SC! We all know now that you support GW and his effort to liberate the people of Iraq. Welcome aboard the freedom train! WoooooWooooo.

Regardless of one's war views, I get the sense that we are living at a pivotal point in history. GW's press conference was quite uninspiring. Did he get enough sleep last night? Should have had Rumsfeld up there. Now that guy can give a press conference!

Most likely. And since they're subsequently too damn stupid to get into college anyway, what better place to send them? 'Cause sooner or later, some other world power will realize we're a nation of morons and they'll try to take us over, so we'll need a strong military of uniformly unintelligent and expendable young persons to fight off the invading horde. BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BE! Very revealing, Dr Unamazing. I'm sure those Americans in uniform would love to hear your thoughts regarding their intellectual capabilities....versus (how you perceive) your own. What a loser you are.

How long would I have to wait for ACL surgery in Canada? Answer: about 2 years. How about some other "elective" procedures like cataracts removal? Great socialized medical system y'all got up there. Cheap drugs, for sure...but who's really paying the bill? I hear some good Canadian Doc's are moving to the USA so they can be properly compensated for their hard work under a (almost) free market system. Tell me about Canada's Endangered Species Act; Wilderness Act; Canadians with Disabilities Act. What? No such things? By the way, nice chunk of tundra you ceded to you indiginous population. Hope they enjoy it! "Seperate-but-equal"? You hosers like to lecture Americans, but from what I've seen, your environment is getting a good trashing. Too bad the average Canadian has almost NO voice in govt. policies. A lot of Frenchies up there....might explain the arrogance. By the way...thanks for the raw sewage, Victoria. A real gem of a city! Nice gardens, I hear. Cheers!

So if I park my car at a local college campus, or say, in Freemont....with an "I support George W Bush" bumper sticker affixed, my free speech rights will be respected? I propose that it is highly likely my vehicle would be vandalized by the local "peace-loving" people there. Is the "mall story" complete? Perhaps similarly clad individuals had participated in a not-so-peaceful protest earlier??

So are trips like the Ptarmigan Traverse and the Bailey Range climbs or hikes? Don't forget about this third "High Alpine Traverse" category. From a personal standpoint, I think it may surpass both hiking and climbing as the "ultimate" mountain experience.

I've seen pictures of these naked female protesters up in Vancouver. Their personal grooming habits (the lack thereof) lead me to believe they are actually pro Bush.

Nice post/pics AK. Shit, who'd believe you could drive to mp20 up Cascade River Road in late Feb/early March!

I've seen this video before in its entirety. The portion shown here is only about one-fourth of the total fall. It gets worse. We're all so sure it "won't happen to me". But it does...and it might. I think of this video occasionally when climbing. It enhances my vigilance.

There is an A&E Biography on Saddam tonight. (ch 52 in Tacoma Seattle area ATT) I saw part of it when it aired a couple months ago. The guy's a murderous pig. Should change a few minds about this war ???

FOR SALE on eBay: One french-made rifle. Never been fired. Dropped once.

www.seattlesucks.com

OH Yeah! Liberals pretend that their free speech rights are under attack. (This is obviously NOT the case in the USA.) Then, in the next breath, they'll tell you that "talk radio" should be regulated/banned. I believe the lefties/liberals are the real enemies of free speech/press.

How are the French doing in Ivory Coast these days? ...Gettin their asses kicked once again after years of meddling.

Uh, US Sanctions are totally f'ed up. And they would end if Saddam could release his grasp on power. But he won't. So what options are there? Peace marches? Uh, actually, those are UN sanctions. Q: How many new palaces has Saddam built while his people suffered under UN sanctions?