Jim

One word - scree.

...regardless of the facts. This is where the ignorant factor comes in.

With this recent weather?

The Bushies legacy is going to take a long time and energy to un-do. They are very good at what they do, which is consistently underhanded, and sneaky.

Sorry for the confusion over not being precise. Sobo is correct they are not exempt from NEPA but from doing an EA or EIS. Sorry to turn this into a NEPA seminar but here is what the FS is proposing. They want to have Forest Plan updates included in a list of Categorical Exemptions (CE). These are usually applied to routine work that has little or no impact, so it is a paperwork saver. Once a project type is listed as CE they only have to fill a short CE form to comply with NEPA. No public notice is needed and there is no avenue for public input - unless you specifically ask for information on recent CE actions, and there is little recouse but court. The FS is proposing to classify Forest Plan updates as CE, will get public comments and agency comments, and then initiate the rule making. Once that happens then Forest Plan updates will be in their list of CE activities. They can work on them in house with no public input. I have several CE projects on my desk right now in the Skagit and Sauk River drainages. The only reason I'm working on them is because there are endangered fish issues, under the Endangered Species Act. All the federal agency has to do is fill out a one page CE checklist to meet NEPA needs. No public input, no review of alternatives. This is what the Bushies want, and unless the attempt to list Forest Plan updates under CE is derailed, that's what will happen. Luna is correct -it will definately signficantly reduce public input on Forest Plans.

With little fanfare, as usual, the Bushies have instituted a new rule regarding the update of Forest Management Plans. They now consider these updates Categorically Excludedfrom the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Basically this means they do not have to go through a NEPA process when they update their Forest Plans. What does this mean to you as a climber or other National Forest user? It means you now have little voice in how Forest Plans are updated. The U.S. Forest Service will not have to have any public meetings, will not have to make drafts of the Plans available for the public, and does not have to "show their work" on how alternatives were weighed against one another. They can do the work in-house with no public input. This goes for any amendments to the plans. So changes in climbing access, closures for cultural or environmental reasons, or because of policy changes can be completed without any public notice that a changes is being considered. WTF? Public dicourse is not on the menu.

I have the Cicerone two volume guide. Very nice, put together by some English folks. I heard that the old one, which was a translation from German was not so accurate. The Tabacco map series also help.

Thanks all. I may bug you in the near future with a PM, phone call, or at Pub Club for some details. I'll have 4 weeks and some flexibility about a car rental for some of that. Looking forward to it except the dollar vs Euro thing.

Another historical route I haven't heard about. This sounds fun, thanks.

I haven't been climbing in Europe for 15 yrs, and never in Italy. I'm planning a month-long trip for July and trying to mix some Refuge hiking, Via Ferrate, and some climbing. I'd rather avoing lugging all my gear and may opt for a few days of guided climbing. The Via Ferrate hookups and hiking will be done with my wife, who has no problem up to 5.8 and doesn't mind the exposure, but doesn't like steep snow. May likely start in Arraba, with nothing yet planned. I've got the new Via Ferrate guides and I'm looking for suggestions from your personal experince on: Favorite Via Ferrate routes Places to stay Is it necessary to have a car or is public transport ok? Suggestions for climbing objectives (10c max) & guides Anything you think useful. Thanks.

Stunning before, during, and after sattelite images of Sri Lanka. http://www.digitalglobe.com/sample_imagery.shtml

That was it! Thanks Fern.

A while ago someone posted a link to an interesting cross-training site. It was not Courtney's but had weight and core workout items I incorporated into my inside days. There were variations on squat-thrust, two-handed barbell swings, box jumping and such that I liked. Unfortunately I lost the link! Anyone?

Oh- hot of the press eh? I'm glad to see that this will take my Nikon film camera lenes (most). Still haven't made the jump to digital (except for work).

Very nice light on the wetland - what are you shooting with?

I think my wool knickers are up in the attic packed away with the cagoule and such.

I don't always agree with your opinions, but they are clearly stated and offered with intelligence and a grasp of more than current headlines.

Well here's about as plain as I can make it. The Bushies screwed up big time. They lied about the reasons for going. They understimated the complexities and the costs. The disbanded the military and police, didn't watch known weapons caches, and made other strategic mistakes. The place is generally in chaos and we have no exit strategy. 30,000 Iraqi civilians have died and over 1,200 US military. Careful planning and economics at home have been sacrificed for politics and a neoconservative agenda. We are not safer because of this war. The US can fund the things you talk about through USAID and other programs, but choose not to, likely because the military and our budget is stretched so much. What I would like us to do is take a global strategy that meshes with some common sense economics, without expecting to pass around the tin cup to the public. I think this travesty is a terrible mistake and will continue to support the charities that I regularly give to, but not this effort. I will continue to bager my legislators about the need for a major reassessment of our empire strategy.

While I appreciate the constructive comments I think one of the points here is that rather than spend billions deploying a missle defense system that does not work just as a payout to the areospace industry, maybe that money would be better spent supplying what is needed to rebuild Iraq now that we've plowed in there. Instead the guys on the ground have to appeal for charity to get what they need for body armor and the items you list. I've said it before: If Bush had said - look, we're going to war, this is going to cost quite a bit and everyone needs to pitch in a bit, so I'm going to raise taxes a bit to pay for this, redistribute some of the military spending out of wasteful programs, and do this right, without making your kids pay for this - I would have still disagreed with going to war for no reason - but would have some measure of respect for the guy. As far as "giving" I try to do my share by giving my time an money I can manage. If your intention was to toss out a good idea for others to pick up then cool. If it was to discount criticism and say STFU and help out, that's not a fair assessment.

I imagine it is a sensitive topic to someone who has lost a loved one. But I can't speak from experience. Rummy does not seem like the most aware guy.

All non-natives in the city. Have at it.

Great example for the kis eh?

Arch Bishop Von Bushy - wow, anyone need to get married or have last rites administered?

Krugman is an economist and is at his best in this arena. He can stray sometimes into subjects that he shouldn't. On SS he is right on and consistent, he gave the Clinton admin grief on their lack of attention to SS. What Bush is proposing will not help the SS finanial system and will borrrow Trillions (yes-with a T) The primary intent is to kill the SS system period. This is nothing but fiscal irresponsibility. Your kids and grandkids will be paying for the lack of the Republicans fiscal will. They own Congress and the White House. With minor tweaks the SS system could be solvent for another 75 years. No matter who says it, if you look at the numbers the neocon plan makes no sense.