willstrickland

First, gas in not at an "all time high". Prices in constant dollars were much higher in 1981. Second, if you want to bring water into the equation, you better include Las Vegas, LA, and Phoenix in the discussion. Third, $3 gallon is not unreasonable, look at prices in Europe. Attaining that price level might be one of the best things to happen to us in a long time. The repercussions of $3 gas would be a net positive.

Das Toofless

Are you willing to clean a little moss, bushwhack for less than a mile, and possibly find some decent FAs? Here's the beta: FS Road gets you close. Less than a mile bushwhack. Road ends at a creek crossing. Cross the creek, immediately head up and slightly left to gain a broad bench/ridge that was previously clearcut. You will be on the left side (looking up-valley)of a broad valley bordered on the opposite side by Cathedral Ridge and the heavily used trail there. Look over at Cathedral...there are a couple of interesting looking pinnacle type features right by the trail over there...might check those out sometime too. You can almost see the trail itself...it's maybe 1/2 mile to a mile away. But back to the issue at hand. Continue "up" valley with Cathedral to your right. After about 1/3 mile drop down so you can countour along the hillside. Soon you will cross a section of talus boulders cascading down the hillside. Shortly after this you'll come to the beginning of the rock. It's broken and vegetated, but a keen eye will find routes. Do yourself a favor and walk the whole cliff line. When I was there we only were able to check out the first maybe 100 yards or so. Who knows what is farther along? 45.436 N, 121.669 W. I don't guarantee these coordinates, I'm trying to work backwards from my memory of 3 years ago and place it on a topo. If the FS road (one of those 4 digit ones, that turns off of a similar numbered one - the first one being accessed near the lake where the yahoos hang out...Bull Run? Lost Lake?)...if this FS road dead ends into a creek, you're in the right place. You'll know for sure because Cathedral will be clearly visible and the Pinnacles near the trailhead for Cathedral will be clearly visible (take some 10x binocs and scope those).

Yeah, I'm not making sense. My point is that the CPI is the basis of inflation adjustment to express wages in a standard year. The CPI, as computed by the BLS, is the typical yardstick, but it is only one of any number of possible yardsticks of inflation. I don't feel that the basket is well suited for wage comparison because it includes things that you don't typically purchase on a recurring basis...bedroom furniture for example. The intent is to express wages in purchasing power by relating it to goods, but I don't think it should include things that could be reasonably considered non recurring capital expenditures or non-necessities. A more meaningful sample to me would be bare staples...electricity rates, loaf of generic bread, dozen eggs, gallon of gas, average rent, etc and nothing else, basically those things we consider commodities.

Even so j_b, the numbers are meaningless without inclusion of a standard CPI adjusted for inflation. I'm not arguing that it happened, but a 7% drop in "real income" could be easily offset by >7% drop in the CPI or better yet a more representative basket of staple goods (I don't think the CPI basket is particularly good as far as being representative).

I have one of these that someone gave me for free when I bought his cams. I don't like it all that much. I mostly end up using my regular style one. I like to be able to swing all the gear around behind me occasionally and that's hard to do with these. I'll also occasionally switch the rack to my opposite side mid-pitch and if you're using the second piece under the opposite arm it's impossible. The padding is nicer (die cut) and if I won't be taking alot of gear up a pitch, or I know the order I want it racked (placement order rather than by size) I like it, otherwise it's like Erik says, if you're carrying doubles from TCU to #3 it shifts to a non-ideal position.

Get one of those real dolls and put in the passenger seat. Problem solved. And maybe you get a nodder on the way to work too.

Not that I agree with the distribution of wealth in our country, BUT: The period you're talking about encompassed one of the greatest bull markets in history. Of course those in the top bracket made alot of money. The average wage adjusted for inflation is about the same, but staple goods are cheaper when adjusted. Even right now, with seemingly sky-high gas prices, we're paying 25-30% LESS on an adjusted basis than in 1981. You can buy a DVD player for 1/4 what a VCR would have cost you in 1980 on an adjusted basis. The other side is that the tax structure has changed pretty dramatically in favor of high earners. This is IMO, a much bigger issue than the simple income discrepancy. As an isolationist, less govt type, I tend to agree with Jon's sentiment that we need to take care of our own before spending on foreign aid. But at the same time I recognize that the return our country may receive on well placed foreign aid or even military intervention can often outperform the return from simply keeping the money at home. A million invested in keeping the Saudi monarchy propped up may easily yield a billion in returns to our country through favorable OPEC influences/pricing. That's a grossly simplistic example, but I trust you get my point.

Go watch a left-lane exit gore point from an overpass sometime. Entertaining shenanigans and frequent ambulances. Why? Cell phones, kids, people thinking "I can make it" instead of driving to the next exit and coming back, rain, inconsiderate fux in the right lane who won't let them over to the exit lane, etc, etc.

Weatherby .300 mag bolt action? that or something from Vicky's Secret to wrap herself in

...Have one thing in common: You ain't in the Final Four

Well said colt45

It's http://www.danalco.com ...unless you're looking for industrial fireproofing.

Ya'll breed that dog? I could use a ropegun puppy that can also ski-jour and flush/retrieve quail.

MisterE, not tri-cams...the original SLCD design was by Lowe, not Jardine. Greg Lowe invented the first SLCD...he patented it. He showed it to Jardine, who ripped off the idea, tweaked it (substantially, by adding the trigger among other refinements) and sold it to Wild Country. Lowe sued, and they settled out of court. Ref: "Wizards of Rock"

I think your subject line - "most influential", and your opening post - "has done the most for" are at odds. I'd probably agree with RuMR that "most influential" is Watts. Look at what the sport climbing revolution has wrought. On the other hand, "done the most for" - you could argue for many. However, Jardine is not one of them. If you think cams are that important fine, but give credit where it's due..to LOWE the originator of the concept of using camming devices as climbing pro. Chipping the Nose was then, and will always be, bullshit. Salathe had the vision and a revolution in equipment. So did Chouinard. Robbins had vision and so did Harding, Pratt, Frost. My choice? Jim Bridwell, easily. Crack master in the 60s, big wall visionary in the 70s rivaled only by Porter, took the skills to the hills in the 70s, 80s, 90s and was a big mentor to the Cali crew that produced such fine talent as Bard, Kauk, Long, Bachar, Hill, etc etc. And JB has was still putting up hard ass shit in the 90s. For perspective, here's what John Long had to say about him: "When I started climbing seriously in the early 70's, Jim Bridwell was the biggest name in rock climbing. From Yosemite to Crag Dru, from Patagonia, to the Canadian Rockies, Bridwell was the man. Now, over twenty years later, he is even more the man. He redefined the sport. He's done more than anyone else. He's been everywhere. And somehow he is still alive. But then, Jim Bridwell is the man. The rest of us are just climbers." With over 100 First Ascents to Jim's credit in the Valley, it's easy to see that Yosemite National Park was his training ground. His "wild man" reputation went hand-in-hand with his accomplishments. He founded Yosemite National Park's Rescue Team, and spearheaded many famous rescues that became textbook for Search and Resue operations. He was a leading force in the changing techniques of climbing and an innovator/inventor of widely used and copied climbing gear. 1962 Yosemite: Higher Cathedral Spire 1963 Yosemite: Higher Cathedral Rock, N.E. Buttress 1964 Yosemite: Middle Cathedral Rock, First Free Ascent Grade V Yosemite: Washington Column, E.Face Grade VI Yosemite: Washington Column, South Face Grade V Numerous First Ascents in Yosemite National Park and Pinnacles National Monument 1965 Yosemite: Higher Cathedral Spire, N.W.Face-Grade VI (Third Ascent) Yosemite: Half Dome: Regular Route Numerous first Ascents in Yosemite National Park and Pinnacles National Monument 1966 Yosemite: Direct Route on Half Dome (Second Ascent) Sierras: The Yawn, High Sierra, California (First Free Ascent) 1967 Yosemite: Higher Cathedral Rock, East Face (First Ascent) Grade VI Yosemite: Quarter Dome, First one day ascent, Grade V Yosemite: Leaning Tower (Second one-day ascent) Grade VI Yosemite: Washington Column, South Central (First Ascent) Grade V 1968 Yosemite: El Captain, The Nose (First free ascent of stove leg cracks) first 2-day ascent, Grade VI 1969 Yosemite: El Captain, Intragral (First Ascent) Grade VI Yosemite: El Captain, Salathe Wall (First Three day ascent) 1970 Numerous first ascents of difficult free climbs including: Yosemite: New Dimensions: the first climb of 5.11 rating. Yosemite: Ribbon Falls, Vain Hope (First Ascent) Grade VI 1971 Yosemite: El Captain, Aquarian Wall (First Ascent) Grade VI Numerous First Ascents of difficult free climbs 1972 Yosemite: First major El Captain rescue, 2500 ft. lowering with litter Numerous First Ascents of hard free climbs including "The Nabisco Wall" 1973 Numerous First Ascents of difficult free climbs 1974 Yosemite: Yosemite Falls, Geek Towers-Grade V, 5.11+ Many other First Ascents of free climbs 1975 Yosemite: El Captain, The Nose (First one day ascent of El Captain, 15 hours) Yosemite: El Captain, Pacific Ocean Wall (First Ascent) Grade VI, most difficult technical climb in the world at the time 1976 Yosemite: Ribbon Falls, Gold Ribbon - Grade VI Yosemite: El Captain, Mirage (First Ascent) Grade VI Patagonia, Argenina: El Mocho (First Ascent) Grade V Patagonia, Argentina: Mojon Rojo (First Ascent) Grade V 1977 Boliva: Huana Potosi (First Ascent) 20,000 feet Yosemite: Half Dome, Bushido (First Ascent) Grade VI 1978 Yosemite: El Captain, Sea of Dreams (First Ascent) Grade VI Yosemite: Half Dome, Zenith (First Ascent) Grade VI Yosemite: Mount Watkins, Bob Locke Memorial Buttress (First Ascent) Grade VI 1979 Patagonia, Argentina: Cerro Torre Southeast Ridge (First Ascent)Grade VI Alaska: Kichatna Spire Northwest Face (First Ascent) Grade VI 1980 Chamonix, France: Shroud (Grade VI) Chamonix, France: Pitet Capacine - Grade V 1981 Alaska: Mooses Tooth, East Face (First Ascent) First winter Grade VI in Alaska Yosemite: El Captain, Zenyatta Mondatta (First Ascent) Grade VI 1982 Himalayas, Nepal: Pumori South Face, 23,448 feet (First Ascent) First American Ascent and First Winter Ascent Himalayas, Nepal: Khangsi III, 22,723 feet (First Ascent) 1983 Borneo Camel Expedition: Trans Borneo Crossing First coast to coast crossing of the island of Indonesia 1984 Nepal: Tawache East Face, Kumbu Himal, Nepal (Unsuccessful) Numerous ice climbs in Canada, Colorado, and California 1985 Everest: West Ridge Direct, Kumbu Himal, Nepal (Unsuccessful) 800 ft from the summit 1986 Numerous free climbs in California and Nevada 1987 Yosemite: Half Dome, Big Chill (First Ascent) Grade VI Alaska: Mooses Tooth, West Ridge 1988 Cerro Stanhardt (First Ascent) Grade VI Patagonia, Argentina: Des Mochada (First Ascent) Grade VI 1989 Yosemite: El Captain, West Face (Free Ascent) Grade VI - 5.11+ Yosemite: El Captain, The Nose (Guided Ascent) Grade VI 1991 Yosemite: Half Dome, Shadows (First Ascent) Grade VI 1996 New Foundland: 4 First Ascents 1,200 feet, WI6 1997 Yosemite: El Capitan, Wyoming Sheep Ranch Grade VI 5,10 A5+ 1998 Yosemite: El Captain, Plastic Surgery Disaster - 5.9, A5 Grade VI Yosemite: El Captain, Heavy Metal and Tinkertoys (First Ascent) VI, 5.10, A5 1999 Alaska: Bear Tooth (First Ascent) Grade VII - 5.9+, A4, WI4+ France: Grand Capusan (First Ascent) Grade VI - 5.4, A4

single digit fingerlock

Not even a link, lazy fux. E-bay E-bay, go away, e-bay in the yard sale is much too ghey.

If you're talking training your way into climbing "at the V12 level" then no, I think genetics come into play well before that. If you're talking about just finding a single v12 to get up, probably. Surely there's a piece of rock out there that would get "V12" that comes down to nailing a one-in-a-million move not dependent on strength. I think anyone can train their way to V5, most to V7, some to V10, and very very few beyond that. Of course if you go to the Happy Boulders, you too could be climbing V10 without extra training cause they're soft like butter.

Bomb Pak E Stan.

You gutterslut ass monkeys, he's on his cigarette boat in the Med right now with two Brazilian models. I got e-mail last week from him, says he'll be at the Lakers game next week if he can find a new slip for the boat in Portugal...You did know that Trask is Jack Nicholson right?

Counting avatars? Last year.

The last few years I've been reading through the Modern Library's list of 100 best novels. Most of my other reading is modern non-fiction, so the ML list is great...fiction, guaranteed good reading, you can find most of the list in any library.

Because it contains tetrafluoroethane in addition to "air". Greeters are suck, but at least give seniors with no employable skills a way to make some extra cash to pay for the bingo games or heart meds or food or viagra.