Self_propelled

I-5 to close at border on Sunday By Seattle Times staff If you're headed to Canada, expect long waits at the border Sunday. From noon to 4 p.m., Interstate 5 will be closed at the Peach Arch crossing for Hands Across the Border, an event involving thousands of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from the United States and Canada. Ceremonies will celebrate the 81st anniversary of the Peace Arch. The closure, an annual event, will detour traffic through the nearby truck crossing, Highway 543, said Roger Steinert of the state Department of Transportation (DOT). He said the state decided to stop traffic on I-5 because of safety concerns. "So many kids take part in this the (road) practically closes itself and isn't safe," he said. The DOT will erect detour signs. Northbound I-5 will be closed between Highway 543 and Peach Arch Park, and on the other side of the border, the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation will close the highway's southbound lanes. Hands Across the Border is held the second Sunday of each June and is expected to draw more than 17,000 people.

They are celebrating the anniversary of the Peace Arch. I know you'll want to be there Dru, nothing better to do on a summer Sunday afternoon than celebrate the construction of a Gate.

My wife and I will be living in Kathmandu. She will be teaching at the Lincoln School and I will be a volunteer for Room to Read. My work will likely get me to some of the villages in Mustang, Pokhara, Kathmandu Valley region. We will be there for at least two years during which time we hope to amass many miles trekking through out Nepal. I doubt we will make any attempts on the 8K meter peaks but we will have the time and the proximity to explore some rarified air. School breaks should also allow us to travel to Thailand where I'm told there are climbs which require belay from a boat. I think that's pretty cool. We are going in with very little specific knowledge of the area but with our eyes wide open! A break from Forest Service fees, dog control, over consumption and traffic jams will also be a welcome change. My e-mail address is in my profile. We already have many friends planning trips and, as here in Seattle, we welcome wayward souls as they pass through Kathmandu. Look us up if your planning to visit.

As Dave says, the tailgate is a great feature. When sleeping in the back its nice to have the tailgate down for extra legroom. Its also a great picnic bench, booting up area, and best of all a great spot to drop the pack, and just sit and reminisce about the just completed climb or ski while swigging that semi warm beer left in the car for your return. Again, if I could store the car I would. But we may not return from Nepal anytime soon.

OK, before the Car talk boys continue to bash the asking price, here's a few facts. The retail blue book is $12,500. The engine was completely overhauled (new bottom block) by Toyota at 75K. This was at Firestone's expense because they neglected to replace the oil during a routine oil change. The new engine has less than 65K on it. Well maintained (and this one is) Toyota engines are good for 200K at least. Most of the miles are highway miles, of course some are on rough road but not a ton. Again, if you are interested please PM me or send and e-mail.

I'm moving to Nepal and therefore selling my 4runner. Please e-mail me at schmerto64@hotmail.com if you are interested. Details: 1995 4runner, 4WD SR5 V6, 4 door. Mileage: 140K Dark Blue, Brand new tires, AC, alarm, Power windows, power locks, 6 CD changer, privacy glass, sunroof, running boards. Asking price: $12,000

We were up there this past week and the folks without passports were definitely hassled more than those with passports.

In defense of the 'bilers, the ranger said they were pretty decent guys who were actually quite contrite about the whole thing. The ranger said that they couldn't really see where people were sitting as they crested the ridge and felt real bad about coming so close but that by the time they actually crested the ridge, it was too late to change direction... That's like saying "you know I'm sorry I almost hit that group of school children in the cross walk... I was swerving around someone who was stopped in front of me and couldn't see what was in the other lane!" There is a place for snowmobilers...its somewhere in North Eastern Montana!

The green rock could also be Serpentine.

Anyone know when they intend to open Chinook Pass this year?

I have also been hobbled by ITB. One knee scope and lots of strengthening and stretching laterand I'm starting to round the corner. Here's my 2 cents worth. 1. Posture 2. Mid section strength: Front (crunches) and back (lunges), squats also help tremendously. 3. weight loss 4. Rolfing or some other form of deep soft tissue/miofacia release works very well. Any massage therapist should be able to "release" the IT Band.

This may be the most telling quote of the story. "All I heard was Gore-Tex on ice," Griber said Friday. "He was sliding on his right hip. I can't tell you why he was so calm." The fact that he was calm could suggest many things. I'd like to think that it meant he had reached the summit, something that the article in today's PI suggested had been his goal since viewing the summit from Logan at the age of 16. And further that he knew self arrest on high angle bulletproof ice and therefore saving his life was impossible. This story is tragic for those left behind, but maybe not for those lost.

Thanks for the info all!Tamara, I will definitely get in touch with John at HEC as I'm really looking for the right volunteer opportunity. I'm well aware that the guide services would rather hire the cheaper local labor. Heck, I'd rather see a local get a few extra rupees too, they need it far more than I right now! They don't even have potable water in 60% of the homes in the Kathmandu Valley. I asked about Guide Companies because, dog gone it, we may have to come back to the states someday and it might be nice to have some leads. There are also several mountain clean up expeditions just getting started this year and I'd like to get involved with one of those for next season. I'll still be a part of CC.com while over there so if yer headed that way you can always send me a message through this site.

My wife and I will be moving to Nepal in July. She'll be the bread winner, teaching. Does anyone out there know of a guide service/rafting company or volunteer organization looking for help in Kathmandu Valley or Nepal in general? I have no interest in 8K meter climbs, we'll be trekking around base camps mainly, but would certainly enjoy helping out at base camp or doing logistics for arrival/departures in K'du. Send me a PM if you have a lead.

Dr. Larson,Thank you for your comments and your willingness to participate in a decidedly weighted discussion. There is very little room to argue with any of your findings because you did exactly what you said, you "nailed" the research. Your comment about the climber chopping the 1200 year old Juniper was very sad. I would doubt that the climber had any idea it was that old. That is not an excuse but rather an indication that even more education and dissemination of info is needed. You can go a long way in helping the climbing community be more responsible by continuing to stay involved with issue that are important to you and the climbers in your region. The more you know, the more you know!

The L&M study had a incredibly small sample size, namely one small area of southern Ontario. However, the broad generalization that climbing hurts the ecosytem everywhere will be assumed. Unfortunately, scientific tests such as L&M's can usually be counted on to prove whatever the tester wants to prove. It's how the information is distributed that really counts. It's now up to the climbing community to show that climbing is far less harmful to the ecosystem than other uses of the resource.

It sounds like his Subaru bandit has taken quite a haul. They must be unloading it somewhere and my guess would be at Second hand Sporting goods stores. I'd suggest enlisting the help of places like Second Ascent, Second Base, Play it Again and more likely Portland/Bend area stores.If they were given an inventory of stolen goods they could look for specific items and also when they purchase gear the clerks could be looking for some trends like the same guy selling nice pro every couple weeks. my 2 cents

Would that be the DAN Larsen Ice Sheet?

People go to Muir in the Winter? Dang, I've only skied the sweet corn after Memorial Day! With this years snow pack Muir should have 5K' of good corn snow into late July or August. mmmhmmmhhmm Sweet Corn!

I'm gettin' $100 worth of those Toblerone bars they have by the check out line! mmm good!

Where is the road plowed to? Do they plow it right to Marblemount snopark? I've only been there in April.

OK here's an idea,Let Texans have their Independence from The US. Heck they're usually threatening to bolt anyway. Let George Bush be their President or CEO or whatever they want to call him. Kenneth Lay and the rest of the Enron Board can be his cabinet. They can have all their oil, all their nasty coastline, and their Barbie Doll showgirls! We'll just pull our border patrol back into Oklahoma, New Mexico and Lousiana. They will need special visas to ski in the Rockies. They can drill for as much friggin oil as they want within their borders! I won't miss any one of them!

Has anyone been up to the site? I'm curious about what they did up there. Did they tear everything out and leave debris? Is it all gone and site restored to natural? Is the lobster pot really gone?

Bronco,All new Beacons sold today are compatible and operate at a frequency of 457 kHz. There was a time (5 years ago?) when there were two different frequencies. If you buy a used beacon make sure it is 457. That said, not all beacons are operated the same way. That is why practice with your beacon is so important.

You got it Beck! BC skiing sucks! There are no lodges with Sushi bars and what if I have to go the bathroom. Come on out to the lift served areas everyone, give your money away to those faceless saints at Boyne or Intrawest. They'll show you the love, they'll have all the rumpleminze and hot chocolate you want just waiting for you in their cosy warm neo-alpen lodges! Wouldn't you rather pay a days wage to have the comfort of knowing that there are boot warmers just a few turns away? Heck, you'll save money! No need for a probe or beacon when your ripping the edge deep coudoroy on Big Bad Bill's blue square run. Leave that BC stuff to those poor folks who just don't know the meaning of a sniffle station!