Fairweather

With an 85% approval rating for pres Bush, I guess that puts a lot of you guys in the minority. Oh well, at least you all can still watch "The West Wing" on NBC and fantasize about what it would be like if "your guy" was running the show. ...Now go turn on the TV...and try to calm down.

[ 02-18-2002: Message edited by: Fairweather ]

Apparently these rebels are patterned after the "Shining Path" that plauged Peru for so many years. No doubt they will eventually see tourism (and therefore tourists) as a vital source of cash for the government which they feel oppresses them. Like Shining Path and the FARC in Columbia, they will eventually start abducting foreigners for ransom or political purposes. I've also read suggestions that the People's Republic of China may be instigators here. Given their history in Tibet, that would be no big surprise. Like Shining Path they will no doubt have to be met with govt' brutality at least as horrific as their own. In the process the Nepalese citizenry caught in the middle will probably end up screwed by both sides. If history is any guide, this situation will get worse before it gets better.

What's the difference between Bill Clinton and The Titanic? Not everyone went down on The Titanic.

Hey Chleester, How do you think your Taliban brothers would view climbing? ...Probably the same way they looked upon flying kites! "Not for the glory of Allah", therefore, .....banned. Your anarchist views are amusing. Aren't you afraid that "they" are monitoring your posts here?Actually,as near as I can tell you sound more Kmher Rouge than anarchist. By the way Specialized; the Sandanistas ruled Nicaragua, not El Salvador. Also; to whom it may concern, Enron is a natural gas company, not an "oil giant".

......."full".

What do you call a hooker with a runny nose?

Right on Dwayner!! Hey Cleesterfleshester; your "Osama should have hit Bush and Cheyney on Sept 11" comment demonstrates why your position is bankrupt. As much as I disliked Clinton, I never wished any harm to come to him. You're a real winner.

Winthrop, WA

quote: Originally posted by Chickenhead: Just for clarification, is Olympus generally considered a 4-5 day trip in the winter? Olympus has rarely been climbed in winter. The route above Elk Lake crosses several VERY steep avalanche chutes that would require belayed climbing. As of 1989 it was uncertain if Olympus had EVER been climbed in winter.(with the exception of the helicopter supported researchers at the IGY station) I'm sure it is possible, but the level of hardship required goes beyond what the "average" climber is interested in. I'd love to hear if anyone here has done it or has any info about successful winter ascents. I have often wondered if a route up Tom Creek would be the way to do Olympus in winter.

quote: Originally posted by AlpineK: I wanna hear what Fairweather has to say about George W's, " Axis of Evil ." I mean what the fuck is up with that. I think its embarrassing to have a president who comes out with that kind of crap. I have way more respect for one that chases white house interns. OK....who dug up this thread? I'll second Dwayner's and Peter's comments. When our country went to war with Germany and Japan we TARGETED civilians. (140,000 dead in Dresden in TWO nights!; 100,000 dead in Tokyo; dozens of other cities in Germany, Japan, Italy, France, the Balkans; and of course, Hiroshima and Nagasaki) We did not go after only NAZI/Imperial military and political targets. While I DO question the necessity of some of those actions I must point out the contrast between then and now. It seems to me that we have come a long way in a relatively short span of history, and while the civilian death in Afghanistan is regretable it does seem that our military is sincerely trying to avoid these mishaps and kill only those who truly deserve it.....and yes they DO deserve it. As for the "Axis of Evil" speech: North Korea is developing weapons that threaten Alaska and our west coast and they have demonstrated that they will persue this expensive program while perhaps one million of their own starve to death. Iraq and Saddam spend their oil-for-food money on huge palaces and, of course weapons programs while they complain about not being able to provide that same food and medicine for their children. Invade Iraq? No. Just assinate Saddam! (and then deny it) Iran: I'll have to disagree with GW on this one...It seems to me he has given ammo to the hard-liners within that country just as they were starting to lose their grip on power. Kathami is popularly elected and moving toward more political freedom. His job is now more difficult. [ 02-12-2002: Message edited by: Fairweather ]

I like the way I can tune in to NBC and watch a "live!" broadcast of an Olympic event I watched on Canadian TV (CNBC)several hours earlier. NBC sucks.

Not really related to this strand, but along the vein of "they'll believe anything".... A climbing friend of mine once brought his girlfriend up to Paradise for some snowshoeing. From the road he pointed out to her the gendarme at about 11'500 feet on Success Cleaver. He told her that it was a huge snowman that he and I had built when we attempted the route a month earlier. "...Wow! That's really cool!" she unquestioningly replied.

I support mountain freedom.....BUT I think optional "rescue insurance" is a good idea. (NOT some policy that would obligate anyone to come rescue your butt) I think they do something like this in The Alps....No insurance??? Go ahead and climb! But if you get into trouble, it's gonna' cost you if a professional rescue is required. Also, I was originally against the $150 fee implemented for Mckinley/Denali climbers....but it sounds like they are using the $$$ to support climbers and cover lagitimate programs. The $15 fee at Rainier is also reasonable for Muir and Schurman to cover the cost of waste removal. But why do climbers on other routes have to pay this fee?

quote: Originally posted by JayB: Colorado nowless than a month is the dateWashington my state [ 02-08-2002: Message edited by: JayB ] dry Coloradohigh altitude tumbleweedswhere are the glaciers?

quote: Originally posted by Mike Gauthier: yeah, a few lackeys have gotten "aggressive” over the issue of tire chains this winter. they’ll claim this is nothing new as far as winter operations are concerned, but the truth is, i've never been so hassled about chains in all of my years of living here. just 2 weeks ago in fact, one guy wearing green pants, jacket and tie (why rangers wear ties while working outside is beyond me), tried to prevent me from getting back to my house in longmire, even though i was driving a 4-wd and the road conditions were just fine... some people just LOVE a little power... anyway, the moral of this story is this, if you want to avoid any hassles from the NPS gate keepers, bring tire chains... even if you don't need them, bring them. otherwise, someone may deny you entrance to the park. i’m sorry to hear you got turned around. they did it to a lot of people...with regard to people making it to muir, the answer is yes. a few teams definitely reached muir last week. i'm not sure if anyone summited though (i don't think so.)now for a weather update. it's snowing big time again. at least a foot dumped here in longmire overnight and it's still coming down hard. additionally, it got rather warm last week, so i'd guess that the ice climbing conditions in the nisqually have fallen out of favor... at least temporarily. Mike, Your candid reports and opinions are refreshing! I hope you don't ever get into any trouble with the suits up there for "tellin' it like it is". It's folks like you that restore my faith in "the system" up there. Thanks for all the info you provide here.Love your book! Any info on the Westside Road shuttle plan?

stair machine rolls on sweat black plastic and metal when will this be real?

quote: Originally posted by erik: winter, now you are the same as fairwether with your comments. so repub vs demo is allworhtless anyways.....[/QB].just like most media....i wonder what ted turner thinks???....hmmmm lets turn on the the tv and find out......the media is as crooked as the most crooked politician.....what can i get for myself??? i think all people have had a valid opinion with this subject, but this is also a subject that has many different correct opinions. you just have to wade through the bullshit and pick up the facts that you believe are important and either hold true to your original opinion or maybe even form a new one.[/QB] Eric, I appreciate your comments. However... I have never questioned anyone else's privelege to post here. I find it amusing that those on the "left" side of the issues are usually the first to call for a poster to be "banned", or to "crawl back into their cave", or to "just go away". Their world - without debate - would be a lonely place. Everyone here assumes that I am Republican. While certainly a conservative (secular!), I would like you to understand I do not necessarily view issues as Dem/Rep. My US Rep is a Democrat (Norm Dicks) and I support him every 2 years. I also like Gary Locke a great deal. (Dem Gov of WA for those outside the Evergreen State) I do not support all conservative positions (ie: "choice") but I do support the current Bush administration on most issues including their response to the attacks of 9/11/01. I enjoy challenging environmentalists on issues that are gray. I detest those who blame "corporate America" for ALL of the world's ills. (Although they ARE responsible for SOME. Like it or not, all of us are part of the "corporation".) I detest the way the "solitude" provisions of The Wilderness Act are interpreted by NPS and some USFS sections and used to limit access. I don't question the beliefs of those who are "pacifists" or their good intentions, I just view them as naieve. (If America is so bad, why do so many want to come live here?) I support individualism over collectivism. I know you did not ask for my manifesto, but I think there is some seriously misguided speculation (hysteria, even!) about my views by a few here and I again would like to point out I have not ever suggested anyone leave this debate and "crawl back into their cave". When the weather gets better I'll be back in the mountains and not spending time in front of this screen debating issues that none of us have a great deal of control over.

It was less than 4 miles. No trail, and I do remember getting a fist full of Devils Club along the way. Beautiful little valley above treeline...Constance' east face on the right and a cool looking spire ahead/left. I'm still not sure what it's called.

Zenolith re: Vietnam and the role of the press....If the press back then had reported on communist atrocities like Hue, with the same zeal that they reported American caused atrocities, an ignorant American public may have been able to make a more informed decision about that war. I'm not saying that the "mini-revolution" we saw here at home during the late 60's and early 70's wasn't justified. Many rightfully "woke up" and questioned our government in a way not seen since the Civil War. The Vietnam War did serve to show the Soviets we would not sit idly by while they spread their ideas via armed revolution throughout the world. It is up to history and those who lived then and fought there to decide if it was justified. It is not a question with a simple yes/no answer. However, the fact that the press now seems intent on portraying our side as purposeful butchers of innocent children leads me to the conclusion that the government is correct in limiting their access to war zones. Additionally, I would naturally question tha source of the "stories" you put forth. (Al Jazzera??)

I've been "nagging" the ONP folks about the High Bridge on the West Fork of the Dose for 4 years now. They rebuilt it once and it collapsed under the weight of winter snow. (must have been an NPS engineer who designed it) Now they say they can't rebuild it because it would disturb nesting Spotted Owls in the area. Call me cynical, but do Spotted Owls nest all freakin' year? May through October? The $$$ have been "appropriated" for this project. It now just boils down to NPS obstinance. As for the Dosewallips; The USFS has a better track record than NPS when it comes to "gettin' things done. (EXCEPT down at Gifford Pinchot!) I have confidence that they will want to meet thier "multiple use" mandate in this case. I did Constance from the North Fork of Tunnel Creek back in the 80's, but I don't know if this road is still accessible.

The Olympus XA I referred to earlier is not really a P&S. It is a rangefinder. I have had great results though. It has exposure compensation under the body in the form of a +1.5 switch. I use this switch in bright afternoon snow or water. Otherwise I let the meter (aperature priority) do the work and don't second guess. I saw a good used one a couple months ago at R&K Photo in Auburn. If you're looking for good used gear I recommend this place.

Matt, No problem here with the Secretary Generals vision. As long as it never interferes or tries to supercede "Life, Liberty, and the persuit of Happiness" right here in the ole USA. Brian

Any problems with the current political situation down there? Transportation delays, hostility toward Americans, miscalculations of $$$$, etc?

I've climbed the gullies Lane Peak a few times but I'm curious if anyone has, or know anyone who has actually skied The Zipper or The Fly. I think The Fly would be straightforward. Lovers Lane would be suicidal. But The Zipper is right on the cusp. I'm no "extreme" skier, but anyone out there have info that would satisfy my curiosity?