Jim

Nice trip, thanks for the photos. I learned to climb there. My favorite crag in the US as well. No bolts, a ton of moderate routes, and some great overhangs at moderate grades. Haven't been there in 10 yrs, hmmmm. Next time try out Shockley's Ceiling and Arrow. Classics. Cheers Oh - and North Conway NH for the ice.

Was over there Friday. Pretty grim from LTown to Chelan and especially bad around Cashmere - Wenathchee. Was decent up around the Chewawa River area though we did see a new fire near a ridge where we were on single track. Made for motivation for me to improve my lame downhill technique.

Nofahquingwhey. Anyone who has worked for the Government would realize that they cannot even accomplish the most menial of tasks; let alone covertly. Look at this shithead SEAL who can't even keep his mouth shut for much longer than a year, about the most profound assassination in our time. True that. Money and 15 minutes of fame. On why the Islamic culture went from leading the mathematics and scientific world, to, well, this, I don't know. The embrace of fundamentalism in the mid-east is as if the southern baptists took over the US. Oh, wait a minute. Anyway, I found this interesting: Islam in the Modern World

Oh, but some dogs bite. [video:youtube]

Great photos. Climbed there 25 yrs ago, haven't been back, but those photos make one want to visit again. Have to ask - what are you shooting with. Thanks for posting.

If only... (CNN) – California Gov. Jerry Brown defended his recent fitness challenge against New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Sunday, saying the move was not a swipe at the Republican governor's weight, but a way to show that people his age aren’t over the hill. "(It) essentially says this old retread can beat you any day of the week," Brown said on CNN's "State of the Union." At the Republican National Convention, Christie referred to the California governor as an "old retread." So Brown challenged Christie to a three-mile race, as well as a chin-up and pushup contest. Christie responded Wednesday, telling reporters at a press conference that "Brown can have that contest with himself." The California governor, however, stood by his invitation Sunday, saying he got "warmed up" in the speech where he initially called for the face-off. "I'm old. Yes, well, I'm 74. I'll be 74 and a half next month," Brown said Sunday. "But here I am. You know, there is some experience. Hopefully, there's some wisdom. So I got kind of warmed up."

[video:youtube]

Duck version [video:youtube]

Nice report - thanks. On the list. Do you mind clarifying your descent rap - not clear what you did from the summit - thanks.

Thanks for the chuckle. And the reminder that clusterf**ks are not just some of my trips.

Given the state of Congress - I'll vote for this option. [video:youtube]

Internet thrashing. Modern equivalent of the pillory?

Oh that is bad. I've only been involved with one rescue of my party - a buddy fell on a ledge on a variation of the NRMS 20 years ago. Dislocated a shoulder. Tried to pop it back. He was in such muscle spasams he couldn't crawl. We were mortified we had to have a 'copter rescue and took no pictures. They took him, left me on my own. This one? Not good. The resuce thing is getting too accessible.

Oh that's too bad. Now I can't out-bid the dirtbag yougens'

Actually, it's on an auction basis, not 1st come. You won't be the only one setting up camp waiting for the doors to open I assume you mean lottery, not auction? The 1st come 1st serve quote is from the district website.

We still spend far more per student than any other country. Military spending is a totally different issue. Why do we spend more per student than other countries and do worse in math, science, and well across the board? "Far more" is an exaggeration - but you are correct. Depending on the study we are either number 1, 2, or 3 in dollar expenditure per student while lagging in math and science particularly. That said - we are ranked 37th in the world if you look at spending per student as a percentage of GDP. We are such a big country with strong regional differences and then there's the state's rights thing. Other countries may have an easier time developing and implementing common standards. I don't know. But you are correct again - the cost of administration is too high. The poster child is the District of Columbia where they spend the most per child than any major city and have the worst outcome - and have the highest administrative costs. And Seattle has admin cost issues as well. But when I'm in the public school as a volunteer all I see is the teachers working their butts off all year, including the summer, to do the best for their kids. And taking money out of their pockets for supplies to make sure the kids get what they need. I'd say we annually spent $1200 for school supplies - in addition to kicking in for the auction donations. Never heard about the military having to have an auction. Honesty, I'm not clear how one goes about tweaking a bureacracy to get leaner and put more of an emphasis on math and science. Part of it is our society in general, who, while enamored with technology results - iPads, phones, games - is scared of math and science. it definately needs to start earlier in the education cycle. It also is complicated by poverty, lack of support at home, and yes, religious wackos who don't want science taught but prefer bible thumping. So what's a person to do about their kid's education? What I've seen that works is common sense. Read to you kid a lot and get them to read early, encourage their passions, let them know they are loved and they can do whatever they choose, but that it will take hard work. Don't coddle them. Let them earn things instead of expecting gifts. The larger picture of education reform? It's not clear to me. But - my guess is that if we cut our military budget in half and put some of that towards our debt and the rest in building up our communities - infrastructure, transportation, job training, headstart, daycare - it also would help our education scores.

From my experiece - wife went from scientist to teacher - and my volunteering with the school system - there is a need for some better systems management in the bureacracy and as principals. The SSD needs some tighter mgmt. That said - it pales in comparison to the most miniscule waste in the military consulting and contracting business - it doesn't even amount to pencil dust. Really. And that is not even considering the larger picture of why we find in necessary to spend more than the top 15 countries in the world combined!!! Combined! The biggest thing I hear from teachers that would help is reducing class size and getting more help for the special needs kids. Classes with 32 kids and with a wide range of abilities from advanced to kids with Asbergers makes it quite the challenge. Where would you want your kid in a class of 16 or 32 if you had the choice? Recent cuttbacks have include the administration and the front line teachers. But - teachers aren't expecting any great movement to arise - they know folks only put lip service to how they say they value education. One other thought - pay salaries for the Seattle School Board members. WTF? Who would take this thankless job and how much time can you put into it without pay unless you are rich? A professional board would go a long way to oversight.

Well said. :tup: Seriously dude. Also - and they still have a limited amount of overnight permits available 1st come 1st serve. Just set up camp at the USFS.

Since you're going anyway... Assist long-term pika project in North Cascades National Park The wildlife division of North Cascades National Park, in conjunction with North Cascades Institute, is seeking motivated and responsible individuals to collect data on pika abundance, distribution and habitat use throughout the park. Pikas are a proposed indicator species for climate change and have been petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act. The research will continue a project started in 2009 to document population trends. Volunteers may commit to day trips, multi-day trips or for the entire project, with priority given to those who can commit for extended periods for consistency purposes. The work will be conducted in 2-4 person field crews and can involve extensive backcountry hiking and camping and off-trail travel across rugged terrain. There are also easier one-day frontcountry trips. For more information, join the Yahoo! Group page at: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/pikaproject/ or email Ashley Kvitek at Ashley_Kvitek@ncascades.org.

Hey that sounds like my pre-sleep thoughts before summit day! ......or Woody Allen.

Thanks for the report. You didn't run into Amy in Condoriri did you? Six year resident of La Paz and climber. The burro runners there have got the deal going there- drive up - ready to go! Planning on getting back there next year. If you do go back I'd suggest some more remote ranges of Quimsa Cruz or the Apalomamba. I was climbing for a month and never saw an English speaker, or someone whose first language was Spanish over that period. Awesome place. Nice photos - making me want to jet out now! Escalar tan rapidamente como un viscacha!!

Oh, that's not so bad. Thanks, may have to make this the August turns spot.

Nice Kev - did you do a long day or camp?

Rots of ruck! ..but seriously, he was likely pining for this for a while.

So comparison of modern day Colorado Springs and Seattle in 1885 seems relevant. And it has nothing to do on the personal level - nice dodge though. If a community wants to make choices of living in a fire prone area that is only going to get more susceptible, that's a choice; as is reducing their public safety margin. IMO - that's not wise. I wouldn't vote for that nor would I be living in those hills.