Jim

Seems like I've been keeping these for varied conditions and touring but I really only use one pair so I'd like to sell these. Black Diamond Valmonte 205cm w/Riva cable bindings. These have a scale pattern that will get you up some moderate slopes. Decent touring ski. You can have the climbing skins that match these. $100 Karhu Outbound 192cm w/Rainey superloop bindings. Great ski in the powder, so-so on the hardpack. Skied these down Glacier Peak. $135 Or make an offer.

I would just go to the plastic. I poo-pooed the plastic for years (for wimps!) but when I went to the dark side it made a difference. Ya stay dry and warm with just a liner sock, much better control, and as an upper intermediate I can manage the double diamonds (in good snow). My choice would be the Scarpa T2. I've toured and hiked in with these a long way w/o any foot problems. Good luck.

You are a hardy soul. I exchange the flyrod for skis this time of year.

Hey - There's some good groomed trails atop the Snoqualmie ski areas. Go to Hyak XC center and pick up a pass for the "upper trails". You can ski up on low gradient trails or take the lift (good for two rides. Once up there head for Grand Junction and lots of options. If you go towards Ollalie Meadows there is a litte warming hut for lunch. You can explore the trails towards Silver Peak and run some of the clearcuts if you want to, and/or do the Mt. Catherine Loop. I've taken beginners up there and it's fun. Many miles of groomed trails and lots of options.

Or..... http://www.bushin30seconds.org/view/1024_large.shtml

I get Hellerworks done occassionally, which is an off-shoot of Ida Rolf's techniques, most often done by a physical therapist. I have some chronic back issues and it does seem to help me. Very intense. A lot of it is muscle-facia release done slowly, a lot of the time with pressure from the elbow!!! My job is to not flinch while this is going on. If a PT does it it's covered under medical insurance.

I worked on the USFWS Management Plan for the Washington Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Don't plan on Tatoosh, it's a sensitive resource for seabirds and for the Tribes. As far as the point, what I've seen was might chossy. Pretty but chossy. It's also on the Makah Reservation.

should be ranting over this: http://http.dvlabs.com/greenwald/UNCOVERED_Trailer_270K_MP4.mov

This is your opinion, don't play it off as fact or common knowledge. I love how you anti-freedom, -- Patriot Act socialist --- big business subsidies big government -- largest budget decifict, greatest increase in government spending over 3 year period fucks all say, "All must do this and agree with me 'cause I think so." Fuck all you guys, make up your own political mind and act for yourself. Hmmmmm

I'm not sure PBS, which is where Frontline airs, is quite the mainstream. You're not going to see this reporting on CNN.

I did see this on Frontline. They have some great programs, actual investigative reporting - what a concept! Rather than just repeating the Pentagon press briefings.

1) It's an election year 2) We ran out of military forces to invade another country 3) We now have lots of federal money to burn 4) Bush was watching "My Favorite Martian" yesterday. 5) Because Karl Rove says so (see #1)

Very good article.

Yea. Unfortunately the main-stream conservative media did not pick up on much of this early on. Rummey and his neo-con buddies had prepared a number of planning documents under Bush I that they dusted off. These became Priority One from the Bushie's first day - they were going to look for any excuse to go with this. My favorite quote was when Bush, in a meeting of the economic strategy group, said "So why are we giving a second round of tax cuts to the wealthy?" And then Carl Rove stepped in to tell him what to think. What a dumb-ass puppet.

I'd have to say that the mentality that the rocks are just an extension of the gym playground is more pervasive than it was 30 years ago. I guess it just may have something to do with the numbers of people now involved. It's not a fringe activity like it used to be. From my observations in Bishop it's not just a few paths to the rocks - looks more like a herd of elephants goes through regularly. Likely BLM will just have to acknowledge that this area will get trompped and do the best they can to limit impacts - AND keep climbers out of the areas that still have some integrity now.

Is this Karl Rove?

Got some Rainy Superloops that are attached to my older skis. Looking to unload the skis and all. Karhu Outbound (pretty sure that's name. Think they're around 192, with minimal sidecut. Great in the deep stuff, so-so on packed. http://www.raineydesigns.com/

This administration has no shame: Bush Proposal Would Ease Mining Waste Rule By J.R. Pegg WASHINGTON, DC, January 8, 2004 (ENS) - The Bush administration has proposed industry friendly revisions to the "buffer zone" rule, which governs permits for coal mining activities that would disturb areas within 100 feet of streams. Currently the regulation prevents federal and state agencies from issuing such permits unless there is confirmation that the activities will not adversely impact water quality, but administration officials say the rule is onerous and confusing. The proposed changes, announced Wednesday by the U.S. Office of Surface Mining (OSM), would strike the existing rule and instead call on coal operators to prevent and minimize damage to streams in the buffer zone "to the extent possible." "These improvements will clarify our program requirements and reduce the confusion that has enveloped the energy producers, regulators and the public," said OSM Director Jeff Jarrett. Critics say the change would allow coal companies to dump mining wastes directly on top of streams and contend the Bush administration is trying to protect a controversial mining practice called mountaintop coal mining. Environmentalists believe the practice of dumping mountaintop coal mining wastes into valley fills violates the stream buffer zone rule and see the proposal as an attempt by the administration to remove a vital environmental protection. Joan Mulhern, senior legislative counsel for the nonprofit environmental law firm Earthjustice, says the claim the proposal is a clarification of a regulation "is a lie and an insult to the people of Appalachia and anyone who cares about the fate of America's environment." Mulhern said the proposal is inconsistent with interpretations of the rule advanced by previous administrations before federal courts - the regulation was adopted by the Reagan administration in 1983. The stream buffer zone proposal was also part of a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) released in May 2003 that assessed the environmental damage of mountaintop coal mining and recommended new actions to protect Appalachian streams from effects associated with the mining technique. The public comment period for the draft EIS, put out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, closed Tuesday. Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition Organizer Vivian Stockman said the timing of the OSM proposal shows the Bush administration is "essentially thumbing its arrogant nose at the over 70,00 people who commented" on the draft EIS. The latest proposal will be open for public comment through March 8, 2004

I'd say the underachievers are paying more of their share than the richest 400. The rate actually paid by the top 400 in 2000 was about the same as that paid by a single person making $123,000 or a married couple with two children earning $226,000, according to Citizens for Tax Justice, a labor-backed group whose calculations are respected by a broad spectrum of tax experts.

By David Cay Johnston The New York Times The 400 wealthiest taxpayers accounted for more than 1 percent of all the income in the United States in the year 2000, more than double their share just eight years earlier, according to new data from the Internal Revenue Service. But their tax burden plummeted over the period. The data, in a report that the IRS released Wednesday night, shows that the average income of the 400 wealthiest taxpayers was almost $174 million in 2000. That was nearly quadruple the $46.8 million average in 1992. The minimum income to qualify for the list was $86.8 million in 2000, more than triple the $24.4 million income of the 400 wealthiest taxpayers in 1992. While the sharp growth in incomes over that period coincided with the stock market bubble, other factors appear to account for much of the increase. A cut in capital gains tax rates in 1997 to 20 percent from 28 percent encouraged long-term holders of assets, such as privately owned businesses, to sell them, and big increases in executive compensation thrust corporate chiefs into the ranks of the nation's aristocracy. This year's tax cut reduced that rate to 15 percent. The rate actually paid by the top 400 in 2000 was about the same as that paid by a single person making $123,000 or a married couple with two children earning $226,000, according to Citizens for Tax Justice, a labor-backed group whose calculations are respected by a broad spectrum of tax experts. --Oh yea, the 400 richest are bleeding to death. Please.

I'm eternally optimistic! Thanks for the advice.

Maybe I would learn to climb 'em w/o thrashing! Hey Peter were you at VW Seattle on Sunday? Or is that another Peter I always see there?

Take a read of Fast Food Nation. That will cure you of any beef craving, from the industrial lot anyway.

Yep same here. Not quite convinced about the digital cameras yet for quality prints above 4x6. Does Rioch still make the GR1? I'd like a 28mm.

You're right Will - I should have been more precise. I used to have a GR21 until I dropped off a peak in Argentina. I should have referred to the standard zoom-lens point and shoots. The difference of the ones you mention are the lens quality. I've been debating about getting another Rioch or a good quality digital. Thoughts?