payaso

I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV. No really I used to be one of the un-insured masses too so I sympathize. In my injury resume, doctors have been best when the injury requires a cut, paste, stitch, cast kind of deal. When it comes to nerves, and feelings, etc, you're gonna get a different answer from every one you go to. I have 2 recommendations for you: first check into Washington States low-income insurance program and once enrolled make like it just happened. Second, try going to the Bastyr Accupuncture college. For about $30 you get a professional visit with supervised students. I have had some success in the past with them regarding nervy kind of injuries like sprains, and broken bone recovery and the like. They are located in Wallingford on the corner of 45th and Stone Wy. Accupuncture works!

ALWAYS give hitchhikers a ride in these circumstances! I've done so many great trips which were made possible by hitching back to the car! Last Summer I had to do a bunch of crazy hitching to get back to my car up in Glacier NP, about 60 miles worth due to the fires. Who was it picked me up? Grandparents on holiday, a couple with babies in the backseat, etc. These are the people who solve your logistical nightmares for you! If these kind folks could find it in their hearts to give my stinky ass a lift, Nolanr, your Karma will definitely suffer someday

Sounds like a lot of great photographers out there if you are using Velvia (the color can't be beat!) When climbing though, I have usually been focused on the current "problem" and find photography to be something I forget about (also most of my climbing experience has been through the Mountaineers who on almost every climb lead you along at the kind of pace that discourages you from stopping to relieve yourself, let alone stopping to actually take a picture.) Point and shoot folks don't usually care too much but once you know what you'll get with an SLR (and I can only imagine with a Medium format) you won't want to use a disposable. I've seen some people with a kind of funky "chest harness" for their SLR and am interested in trying something like this. When strapped on, it is a real camera bag (PROTECTION!) more or less right under your chin. If I have to take off the pack to get the shot, the shot too often doesn't get taken. I personally use a Canon A2. Anyone out there use a harness-like camera bag, and if so what kind?

Another real good one is Northwest of Las Vegas on the way to Death Valley, called "Pahrump!" What a shithole! Cheap land though and you'd be somewhat close to Red Rocks!?!? [ 01-16-2002: Message edited by: payaso ]

I always liked the combination of "Mexicali" on the Mexican side, and "Calexico" on the US Border. Very clever. [ 01-16-2002: Message edited by: payaso ]

It's quite refreshing that this topic on snowboard mountaineering hasn't drawn the usual suspects out from their cubicles yet. They'll find it but it sure is nice without em!

I've been pondering the same question for a while now so I'm interested as well. I currently ride an original K2 (back when they were made in the good ol USA) Eldo board with clicker bindings and don't want to enter the real backcountry with this system. The boots aren't comfy enough for a lot of climbing, etc. Mostly I would look for a comfortable set of boots that you can comfortably ride in, and wear snowshoes in, and strap on some crampons. A subtle yet important combination. When I get the cash this is on the ever present "to buy list." I too would like to hear from some successful backcountry boarders out there!! By the way, what's the product to secure your board to your pack. I don't really want to buy a whole new pack for carrrying this one piece of equipment.

What, spending time in slide alder, and nights w/o a woman? That's probably half the people on this board.

One thing the Mountaineers really beat their drums about is that they require you to go through MOFA (Mountaineering Oriented First Aid) which is about a 30 hour course. Back in 92 I took Wilderness First Responder up in Bellingham through the Red Cross, which is a 90 hour course taught by a REAL PROFESSIONAL who now works for AAI up there. The course was really great and I practically was an EMT by the end of it. The Mountaineers MOFA class is taught entirely by volunteers and doesn't even hold a candle to a real WFR cert. At the conclusion of the WFR in Bellingham I felt that each and every member of the class was as competent as someone can be without professional medical training. I would have trusted any of them with my life in an emergency. The graduates of the MOFA program from the Mountaineers I wouldn't trust with a band-aid. The instruction just totally sucked! The Instructor merely read the textbook to us during class (like I can't do this on my own time)? All said, some first aid training is better than none, but I felt it was pretty low quality. The Mountaineers definately have their faults, but having just graduated from the Basic Climbing class this last year, I have to say that I accomplished a lot of great summits, and learned a lot of new skills that simply would not have been available to me otherwise. Like most, I am looking forward to now just climbing and not marching in groups of 50 on the Nisqually Glacier.

You bitches should be looking here! http://www.oprah.com/

but seriously, try and find ANY difference between some of this crap and what's on Oprah today!

Mr. Panther, don't you think you're taking yourself just a little too seriously?

So I noticed that there were over 70 replies to the latest Mountaineers based post so it must be of more interest to most of you than any other goddamn subject on the board! I admit feeding the flame a little with some slightly degrading remarks about some of the regulars on the board (just for trolling purposes of course) and boy did everyone come out of the woodwork! I gave this a little thought later this weekend and had a drug-induced vision come to me while snowboarding and couldn't help but make a comparison with this and some of those crap daytime TV shows like Oprah, Gerado(sp?) and Sally Jesse whatever, where someone comes out and says to an unsympathetic audience "well I'm actually a Seattle Mountaineer and rather enjoy it." I then envisioned someone emerging from the audience and throwing a chair at the poor SOB on stage, and Oprah discreetly breaking for a commercial while announcing that after the break they will speak with an anonymous Mountaineer (voice and image disguised for security puposes of course) leader who "reserved" a Glacier with little consideration for those others who may want to be on the mountain that day. Some great stories in there by the way and keep it coming. But has this become a "Climber's Oprah?" I must admit I do find it funny to see 50 Mountaineers students gathering at Paradise in a snowstorm with brand new $25 belay gloves hanging from their harnesses as much as anyone else!

I feel really privileged to be amongst such a high caliber on-line climbing crew as you bunch! WAY cooler and with many more rights to be on the mountains than any disdainful group like the Mountaineers. Yeah, the Mountaineers can be awkward and laughable sometimes but so what. They're EVERYONE'S MOUNTAINS! The fact that you are already experienced climbers and they are not means SQUAT! Most of you twits that sit on this board daily are precisely the ones that give climbers a bad name. There is nothing worse than running into climbers with bad attitudes. Maybe it's because no one really cares about your exploits but yourselves. I am curious about some of you, what came first, the self-righteous attitude, or did it develop after years of climbing and following it up with self-aggrandising posts on message boards?

I have a Canon EOS which is a bit heavy for climbing. Make sure to buy a chest harness camera case is what I'm really trying to say. If you have to fuck with it too much you just won't be burning the film. Minoltas are cheaper and lighter weight. Whatever you do, experiment with the damn thing BEFORE YOUR TRIP!!!! Just take stupid shots around town in different light conditions and get it developed before you leave. I had to learn with a whole new system in Alaska and ended up blowing a bunch of shots!

First date this time of year would definately be great for an ice climb of Chair Peak NE Buttress. Actually any movie with Julia Roberts will do the trick.

OK so I know that all the MEC and arcTeryx stuff amongst other things is well worth making a weekend up in Vancouver, but how about prices for things like cams, active,and passive, biners, quickdraws. Worth getting on a trip to Whistler this Winter or not?

Gracias to all for the great advice. I think I'm gonna give it a go!

My reluctance to Lead is mostly attributable to my having only summited on 2 rock climbs. It seems that if I go into the Intermediate class I will be starting to lead having only really done 2 peaks.

I finished the Basic Climbing course this year and really enjoyed the experience, as well as the knowledge I gained in about 6 months time. I was able to summit 6 peaks (4 Glacier and 2 Rock) and want to go for more next year. I've heard some of the Pros and Cons about the Intermediate program and would appreciate some thoughts from some people who have found themselves in a similar situation. My perfect situation would be to simply be able to climb at this same level next year with about the same # of climbs. I do not feel ready, nor currently have the desire to lead rock. Do you "develop" this desire to lead rock? Once again, if anyone found themselves in a similar situation please share your thoughts. Thanks. [ 10-25-2001: Message edited by: payaso ]

http://www.gopportal.com/emailoftheday/talibansingles.html

Mariners in 6! The Yankees looked pretty cooked.

I really enjoyed Eldorado! Right in the middle of the N. Cascades National Park with killer views all around! Maybe a more interesting topic could be what was the most unrewarding view from the top of a mountain you've ever seen (not including bad weather).

What is the "moondance?"

We need a lawyer to figure out the details here. If your car gets the ticket, who is legally responsible? What if your roommate borrows your car and doesn't use the pass? If you go to court, can they prove that you were parked there to use the National Forest? How about a big sign on the dash that says "IN TOW."