Jim

Maybe we should start grammarians for climbers or something, eh?

There is some great research in journals regarding recreation effects on wildlife and habitat. But you have to be suspect of someone just spraying along on the internet. If Mr. Ph.D. really has something to say then he should get it published in a peer-reviewed journal. Otherwise it's nothing more than speculation and opinion. Not science. On the other hand, it should be considered more than just a playgound out there.

And the Federal Elections Commission, and both houses of Congress through their Admistrative Committee, and the Justice Department throught the Voting Rights Act.

It's usually the privileged men with soft hands that send the real guys into battle.

Given our last track record I was hoping Jimmy Carter and friends would take the lead. Remember Florida - A governor who is brother to the candidate fixes the voter roles with help from the wicked witch of the east (check out "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy" for the details), and a president is placed in power by a Supreme Court margin of one by appointees from the candidate's father's administration. Could be talking about Panama eh?

Did it in early August a couple of years ago, normal snow year. No problem with bergschrund. I didn't like the wet slabs leading to glacier, and there was some zig-zagging on lower glacier, but the rest was straight-forward. Enjoy the 900 ft of loose class 3-4.

Hey Greg - Do the Garmonts have a lip on the front that supports a step-in crampon bail?

I'm also in the market for some new boots - do you think the Rachiles are decent for some steep snow, a little ice on cascade routes. I hate blisters and my Scarpas are not cooperating lately. Also - anything that a cobbler might do to ease heel blisters?

If that is the gauge then it's more accurate to say smart vs moron.

Anyone catch W's masterpiece of a news conference with the minority journalists association on Friday? Abosolutly priceless the way he stumbled over the question of Tribal sovereignty posed by a Native American journalist. Obvious he doesn't know what the word means.

Have you read it!? It is a page turner.

This is the sleaze the GOP is good at. They can't tout the service of their guy so they have to windup the slime machine. The guy served, was decorated, and was praised by his boat mates. Stooping to the the character assignation via innuendo throws more light on the authors of the tactic than their intended target.

Intregal Desings MK3 is a little bigger than the Eldorado, but with the light floor options is about 5lbs, which is less than the Eldorado. Price is comparable. Hmmmm.

Too many choices out there. I did see a Mountain Hardware tent that looked interesting - Airjet - that was a single wall design, under 5 lbs, and only $285. Anyone familiar?

Latest on slimeball GOP ad: The Kerry campaign fired back by saying none of the people quoted and/or interviewed in the ad ever served with Kerry when he was in charge of what is termed a 'swift boat' along the Mekong Delta in 1969. "I deplore this kind of politics," McCain told AP. "I think the ad is dishonest and dishonorable. As it is, none of these individuals served on the boat (Kerry) commanded. Many of his crew have testified to his courage under fire. I think John Kerry served honorably in Vietnam."

While you can go one way or the other, depending on what you thought of Vietnam, on Kerry's position on the war after he served, he at least served. So the guy gets shot up, those who actually served with him say he did well and saved a buddy's life. He got the purple heart. On the other side of the aisle is Bushie, who looks like he dodged and kinda joined the reserves, didn't show up most of the time, and ran a political campaign on the other side of the country while supposedly "serving his country". Yea, let's count websites. That's a logical construct.

She is just a citizen however and not backed by a political party.

And Daddy Bush is sure making a tidy sum off his Saudi connections, as is his buddy James Baker. Influencing our decisions maybe? Oh no.

The Coulter piece is nothing but opinion. Moore states that fact of who was in charge at Fox News to make the call, and in his opinion it was done in an effort to influence the outcome. Hellooo - this is Fox News. I'm shocked, shocked at this revelation. Sorry dude, no facts presented yet to counter those put forth by Moore. Just the conservative spin on the facts.

Seems pretty quite out there.

on that. The site doesn't "disprove" anything.

Well I don't think I'm getting to 8,000 m, maybe 6,500. But I do want to stay warm and dry. I did not know the BD was only water resistent - thank you.

You can interpret his reaction in plenty of different ways. Oh that's rich!

Since I've been climbing for a while most of my stuff is really getting old (like me!). I gotta get a tent. I've been looking at the BD Lighthouse and the Bibler Eldorado. Eldorado is a bit roomier but the BD is so light (2.8 lbs w/o fly) but how sturdy is this thing? Though most of my mountain trips are 3-4 days and I camp above treeline but not up on the glaciers, I do go for the bigger peaks sometimes and have South America and European peak trips in the works. So - go for Bibler with more weight and sturdiness or go cheaper and very lightweight with BD? Any experience with the new BDs?

You've brought up a major point on how the US population percieves the war. They get little information on it! Oh yea, something like "Explosion rocks Baghdad, 4 soilders wonded". With no concept that they just lost arms and legs. Nor do we hear about the more than 700 Iraqis who died - just in Baghdad last month. Ya know, it's just a little messy war that's mostly out of sight. The place is a mess, and we've had the major hand in it.