klenke

Saw this just now over on summitpost: Gran Paradiso. How about that face for an ice climb?

Then I will be serious: there was a time when Muhammed Ali was The Greatest. Now that he's old and suffering from Parkinson's, this means that I am now The Greatest. End of Discussion. Everybody kowtow now.

Attached is a slimy topo of Round Lake and Breccia Peak (it is "slimy" because I had to reduce the resolution to fit it into cc.com's 100kB limit). "Encircle" is obviously not exact, for there is one side open for the outflow. What word would be a better descriptor? "Surrounded" maybe. At any rate, here is what Beckey has to say about the area (on his Lost Creek Ridge route description): "Round Lake (5,040+ ft), surrounded by colorful volcanic cliffs, is reached by a short spur path;...The water fills a large breccia pipe and volcanic conduit." Heck, it's only 3 miles to Bingley Gap and then another one mile east to the spur trail. Easy day trip. I might have to go and check it out from up close this month. I believe access to the trailhead is still possible.

Okay, I realize no one gives a rip about this cuz no one made a guess, but I care. So here is your answer.

Gee, all this activity for one person's birthday. So I see how it is now. Well, my birthday is on May 24. I'll be ready, ready for all those you all are gonna buy me.

Another Washouts Article in The Seattle Times. Noteworthy info given. I'm mad that White Chuck River Road is so badly damaged and that I didn't get into Glacier Peak earlier. Now what am I going to do? Wait 4 years? Go in by some way longer route? Also, it appears access to Dome Peak is now a major problem because of washouts on the Suiattle River Road. THE ARTICLE Storm ravaged the mountains By Diane Brooks Times Snohomish County bureau DARRINGTON, Snohomish County--She knew it was gone, ravaged 11 days ago by the swirling White Chuck River. But Donna Westom, the "mushroom lady" of the University District Farmers Market, had to see it herself. "This is just a nightmare," said Westom, staring into the 25-foot-deep pit that has replaced a stretch of White Chuck Road, a major access for the Pacific Crest Trail and other regional hiking attractions. "Now I'm going to have to get a real job." Torrential river and stream flows, fed by record-breaking rains, ripped through the state's national forests and parks Oct. 20 and 21, inflicting millions of dollars in damage upon bridges, roads and trails. Snohomish and Skagit counties suffered the worst damage, federal officials said. Trails closed within the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest due to washed-out roads, bridges or trails include: >>Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. About 30 miles of trail are impassable due to washed-out bridges between Red Pass and Miners Creek. >>White Chuck Trail, which leads to Kennedy Hot Springs and the Pacific Crest Trail. White Chuck Road and the trail suffered major damage. The hot springs are buried. >>Fire Mountain, accessed off the closed White Chuck Road. >>Meadow Lake and Meadow Mountain, accessed off the closed White Chuck Road. >>White Chuck Bench, accessed off the closed White Chuck Road. >>Elliott Creek and Goat Lake, accessed off a closed section of Mountain Loop Highway >>Suiattle River Trail, due to major trail and road washouts. >>Milk Creek Trail, due to a major bridge washout and washouts on Suiattle River Road. >>Green Mountain Trail, due to washouts on Suiattle River Road. >>Sulphur Mountain, due to washouts on Suiattle River Road. >>Buck Creek, due to washouts on Suiattle River Road. >>Monte Cristo, Glacier Basin and Poodle Dog Pass, open but accessed via Monte Cristo Road, which suffered several washouts. Some intrepid hikers are navigating the road breaks. For additional information on road and trail closures: www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs. >>The North Cascades Highway is closed near Newhalem, Whatcom County. >>The upper Stehekin River Valley was devastated. >>The Kennedy Hot Springs--accessed from White Chuck Road off the Mountain Loop Highway in Snohomish County--are buried beneath tons of rock. >>The Mountain Loop is closed in two places, just north of Barlow Pass, but only two major trails lie within the inaccessible two-mile stretch. >>To the north, the Suiattle River washed out its namesake road and trail, cutting off access to numerous trails and campgrounds. Everett has a popular day-hike program already hit by the closures. Tomorrow, the city was to take a van of hikers to the Suiattle River Trail for an eight-mile hike. The hikers will instead visit the North Fork of Sauk River. In Olympic National Park, shore roads are closed on both sides of Lake Quinault. So is Hoh River Road, the main approach used for climbing Mount Olympus. The Nisqually River washed away a footbridge on the Wonderland Trail in Mount Rainier National Park, in the area between Cougar Rock and Carter Falls. Overall damage estimates haven't been tallied, and federal officials don't know how long it will take to repair the damage or reopen dozens of trails in the Mount Baker and Mountain Loop Highway areas. "I would guess that in three, four, five years, we'll still be fixing things," said Terry Skorheim, head of the Darrington Ranger District. The North Cascades National Park yesterday announced it suffered about $1.7 million in road damages, and repairs to trails and other structures will cost an additional $1 million. The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie Forest, which includes the Mountain Loop and Suiattle River areas, guesses its road and bridge damages total several million dollars. Trails and trail bridges could add several additional millions to the bill. Two pots of federal money might be available for repairs, said Tim Manns, North Cascades Park spokesman. The National Park Service has a storm-damage fund, and the Federal Highway Association has an emergency-repair budget for federally owned roads. Repairs could drag out for years unless Congress steps in and allocates extra money to rebuild the roads, bridges and trails, said Elizabeth Lunney, executive director of the Washington Trails Association. The losses are traumatic because so much work has been invested in the national trail system to repair damage from floods in 1990 and 1995, she said. "People I've talked to (from federal agencies) looked pretty shell-shocked." Lunney said the biggest losses, from a hikers' perspective, include the Thunder Creek Trail in the North Cascades National Park. "That is a great trail because it's through old growth, it's through lower elevation and it's relatively easy." White Chuck Road is quite valuable, too, she said. That 10-mile road, accessed off the Mountain Loop south of Darrington, suffered several major breaks. The White Chuck Trail is "in pieces," said Adrienne Hall, a federal wilderness specialist. In some spots, the White Chuck River traces new routes through its gravel beds. At the first break on White Chuck Road, the river overshot a large bend and carved out a huge section of hillside about 200 feet from its normal route. The road ends abruptly, with a clifflike drop. The only way around is to climb up the steep hillside. Richard Laemmle, a Lynnwood nurse, tried that Thursday. He carried his mountain bike up and around and logged about 10 miles trying unsuccessfully to find another way to the Mountain Loop Highway. Along the way, he found the second break in White Chuck Road. "It's about four times more washed-out than this," he said, after carrying his bike back around the first divide. It couldn't be worse, said Westom, who collects mushrooms she sells at the University District market. She estimates she collects mushrooms from 25 forest locations. Now she can't reach any of them, she said. "I've lived here all my life--52 years--and this is the worst I've ever seen," she said.

No, show ME the jobs.

Colonial Creek Campground (which is now gone, by the way; devestated by its namesake watercourse on Oct. 20) is at 1,600 feet. Not that high but it is in the mountains so more prone to snowstorms. Thunder Arm surface elevation is at 1,200 ft. Pyramid Lake Trail starts at a measly 1,100 ft, which is interesting because I did not realize it was lower than Diablo Lake (which is the same as Thunder Arm's elevation). Pyramid Lake itself is at about 2,700 ft. I agree, though, better to start fixing the washouts now that later, but later (as in springtime) they probably won't be snowcovered. If so, it won't be too deep.

It's no wonder I don't watch much TV anymore--but especially those reality shows. Uhmmmph! Need puking graemlin.

This Mt. Baker/Snoqulmie NF Road Report seems to be up-to-date regarding conditions (i.e., an updated report appears for those roads that were damaged; some damaged roads are not yet investigated by personnel). Could it be the FS is on the ball on this one?

So did I once. 'Cept I was skiing. My "tree" was a young one not more than three feet tall. It was the last tree before the edge. This was above Powder Bowl at Crystal Mountain. Cliff was about 50 feet high and rocky at its base. Woulda been real bad news. Probably the closest I ever came to dying or maiming myself in the mountains.

I was once doing this climb of Twin Peaks with some old man named Brian. After we were done rappeling from the summit block, I proceeded to pull the rope. When the rope came free, I yelled out "rope!" and then caught it within two feet of the end. Old man said if you catch the rope that close to the end then you are owed a beer by the others in the climbing party. I never did get that beer, Brian.

NE Ridge of Goode. I'm leading up near the 8,800-ft level. I'm busy trying to get a piece in when I drop a 'biner. Strangely, I don't hear it clink when it hits rock. I look down and can't see it at my feet (the terrain is not vertical). Not finding it, I give up on it and use a different 'biner. Anyway, when I start off again and take one step I notice something is in my boot... ...the 'biner had fallen into my knee-high gator and down into my boot! A gear save and I didn't even have to try. -------------------- Once I was playing metal-tip darts with a pal. I was standing near the board when he subsequently won the game (Cricket, I believe) with one dart remaining of his three. Since he had won, I proceeded to move to the board to take out the first two darts. I put my hand up to the board but before I could get it there, the third dart came in (he had thrown it not knowing I would quickly move to the board) and I literally caught it without knowing it was coming. The dart only stuck slightly in the side of my pinky. ---------------------------- I'm with a friend at his house when I was in high school. A bunch of us were in the room goofing off/talking/normal stuff teenagers do. Anyway, my friend (Bill) smokes, so he requested a cigarette. Since the cigarette pack happened to be near to me, I took one out while he continued to yap. I tossed it across the room (about fifteen feet) and it landed perfectly between his flapping lips as if it had been there all along the way smokers dangle cigarettes out of their mouths.

Hey, I just listened to this KC album yesterday and I'll be damned if the disc aint got a heinous skipping scratch about 3 minutes into Epitaph. I hate it when that happens. Of course the scratch has to be right during the second verse instead of the repeated chorus. Note that the current Crimson incarnation is 3/4 comprised of Americans, so it could reasonably be called an American band now, but the music is still decidedly British in feel (and of course Fripp is still there). The ProjeKcts albums !

Happened along this link: Closures. Kennedy Hot Springs is apparently buried in debris now! Also, Colonial Creek decided to relocate the Colonial Creek Campground into Thunder Arm! Also, the Forest Service Report has some useful information. It's really gonna suck next year getting to where we'll all want to go. This thread will be very important come next year. Thanks for creating it, Ryan.

If we did have that forum, Dru, you'd be the one sucking in and spraying out in it all the time. You can't sneak into it either. We'll be watching your every move in the "Who's Online" window.

"And the astronaut Dullea plays is sometimes indistinguishable from the crazed computer, HAL -- which I find in Clark's smug, computerized vocal delivery..." This characteristic of Clark's sort of describes Al Gore--especially when compared to the obviously more outgoing GWB. This was one of the factors that led to Gore not attaining the Presidency. Mainstream America simply identified more with easy-natured Bush than with stiff-robot-necked Gore. Gore was/is the more polished politician, but this came at a time when the American citizenry was having a hard time connecting with those politicians above the so-called D.C. glass ceiling {heck, aren't they STILL?}. In Presidential debates, the vast differences between Gore and Bush shone through. And people identified with someone like themselves--someone who was a D.C. outsider (Bush as opposed to insider Gore). {The foregoing is paraphrased from an article I read not too long ago. Sorry, can't remember the source. There was more than the above in the article in which I speak, but since I was trying to correlate Clark with Gore...}

Phew! That was a close one. For a sec there I thought this Stanley avatar was one of my ex-girlfriends posting and coming to ruin my life (under her last name, not her first name, you dolts!). But then I read the word "wanker" and realized I was safe. Couldn't be her, thank God. Sincerely, Volcano Bigot

Josh, what a bunch of nonsense you spew! Emitting IR signals IS tampering. It really doesn't matter how you affect the action, it is the result that is the point. By your reasoning, it would be okay to shoot out the light with a gun or pull down the whole structure with a wench on the front of a pick up. The result being that you unlawfully tampered with the normal operating procedure of the light. It is okay for law enforcement and ambulances to have such devices but not for ordinary citizens. Just think if it were okay for everyone to have police car lights on their car. Note that it is illegal to impersonate a police officer--this goes for his/her vehicle too. It is illegal for any device to emit a radio signal that has not been made FCC compliant. It is illegal for someone to use such a device. These are active devices. A radar detector is a passive device AND it has been granted compliance by the FCC. A radar jammer is illegal, but it may still have been given compliance by the FCC (I really don't know the truth about that having never seen one to check the certification mark on the product body). Like I said, people are slaves to habit and often "learn" the rhythm of a light and thus stop paying attention to a changing one if they don't expect it to change. They sort of start fiddling with the stereo or recommence the cell phone dialing procedure. They may be looking at the actions of the car in front of them but may not be looking at the light because they assume it'll be green for longer (because that is how it has always been). So, yes, the device in question would initiate the normal light change cycle (green-->yellow-->red) but during a time when it is not normal for it do be doing so (i.e., not when it is a stale green). You are right, though, in that the device would make gridlock worse as a whole (while making it better for the device owner). These things are also illegal for the very reason you make mention of: just think if everyone had one. It'd be chaos at every traffic light. Then road rage would kick in. People would put down their signal change device and go for the pistol under the seat.

Has trasky seen Kill Bill yet, then?

Like Bungler said, just run the red light. I often do this in the middle of the night when there aint no one around. Why sit at the light for a minute waiting for it to turn when you can blast through it with no change whatsoever in the time continuum? Scrambler: it is NOT TRUE that the device emits no radio signals. Unless it communicates with the traffic light by way of acoustic signal (i.e., sound waves), then the signal emitted is radio in nature. Radio covers the whole spectrum of EM radiation (from ultraviolet through the visible spectrum to infrared). All of these are jurisdiction of the FCC. So, in a way, Thinker was not in compliance with the FCC when he created a stroboscopic effect with his headlights back in the Midwest. Also, as Erik said, tampering with traffic safety equipment is a felony. This law initially applied to doing hands-on messin' with the equipment. But hands-off messin' (like with your funky device) would also qualify. Think of someone disconnecting the alternating red lights of a railroad crossing signal and then having a car attempt to cross the tracks when the train arrived simultaneously. This is why it's a felony to tamper with traffic equipment. Because of the significant risk of someone else's life, this cannot be a misdemeanor. In the event of an accident, it would be easy for the prosecution to argue in court that your activation of a light change caused the accident. People are slaves to habit. This device would break that rhythm. If you picture the event in your head, you can see why this would be the case. However, I will say that your chances of winning the case might be at the mercy of the skill of your lawyer.

Gordon Bennet! Those limey's sure are a sorry bunch a sods! Where's the spray forum? That Pub forum, aiblins? If so, they aint got nothin' on us in the spray technique department. There's simply not enough ridicule of other members. And_this_I know cc.com certainly doesn't need. Schieze! What a spectacular sunset down here in Tacoma! Glad I had my camera with me.

You're right, that chap bchaps probably meant the Lower Saddle. I've made that mistake more than once in describing the place as Upper. There is no reason to porter supplies up to the Upper Saddle. Not the best place to camp (though certainly not impossible).

I was on Lookout Mountain SW of Cle Elum yesterday and there was a lady bug colony on the summit rocks on that peak too. That must have been the 10th summit in the last few years where I've come upon a lady bug colony in/on the summit rocks. I wonder if there is a scientific explanation for this. Entomologists: speak up now.

And if anyone calls them retards (they're mentally handicapped people) on this site again then....oh wait, never mind.