crazy_t

Alpindustria is like the REI of Russia. They have all the Russian-made gear etc. and have at least 1 big store in Moscow. When I bring up their site, my browser has trouble with the Cyrillic characters, maybe you'll have better luck: http://alpindustria.ru/ if it comes up "readable" I would hope there is a link to read the site in english, usually top left. In the US, I'd try Neptune Mountaineering Phone: (303) 499-8866 Web: www.neptunemountaineering.com I'm pretty sure Gary has contacts etc. with Eastern climbers too, and might be able to figure it out. Lastly, this web forum is for some friends of mine's guiding service on Mt. Elbrus. There is a ton of traffic there, a lot of it from Moscow/St. Pete climbers/skiers/boarders. Though it is in Russian, you can post in English and will likely have a good chance at getting replies in English. http://www.go-elbrus.com/cgi-bin/bbs_ru/bbs.pl If you still don't have any luck, let me know. I have friends there who could probably help, and will probably be going myself in April/May and would be happy to pick some up for you. Tom

Ahh Mendoza...

Posted on Patagonia's site, with more climbing/surfing etc. content. Go to the company info link on the bottom of the home page, then ambassadors, then choose. Great stuff!

Cheers on a successful Long's ski! http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=587

Tons of gear available in Mendoza, too, might be an option (either at gear shops or via climbers from here going there from now until later February for Aconcagua). A lot of people have second thoughts about climbing after that trip, so you could probably get some deals!

You have to look at them in context, you can't compare them. For example, when Messner climbed Everest w/o oxygen, it was in the face of a legion of doctors, scientists who thought a human could not exist in those conditions, would just die. He was like a spaceman, heading into some stuff that was heavy. He broke huge ground, but it was carefully done, advanced in his personal continuum and experience. He wasn't a huge gambler, just had skills and huge faith in himself. He broke a lot of ground, paved the way for so many, then moved on to the next stage and stages of his life. epic. House is in a similar place, but in a different time. He is able to take advantage of better gear, technique, access. But he is sticking his neck out as well, knows his "work", and is advancing it in a way that is meaningful to him, like an art. Another groundbreaker. SS and Marko too. I have known a lot of Eastern European climbers. No one epic, really, I just spend a lot of time in Russia but don't know any of the "stars". But I like how they rely on very little (notwithstanding the well-publicized epic siege climbs of late). The Russian and Eastern European spirit values suffering, knows it is good for the soul. They can hunker down and suffer with the best. They just go for it, often preferring less to more. Sometimes to a fault, but I still like their spirit. Some of the newer, younger ones now have the means to travel more than their counterparts 20 years ago, and have a little $ for the new gear, and are rocking it. But House is right up there at the top, I think. Cool stuff. The original question? I think historically Poland is strong, Slovenia. US has had some badasses too!

The show is lame. (imho!)

Hey folks! Does anyone have any mini-skis? My daughter is into skiing in a backpack on my back (she likes steeps and pow and points me to which lines or spots she wants to go, so this is a good sign) but she is getting heavy. I am looking for an inexpensive pair of kids' skis that have basic bindings that she can strap over her regular warm boots. Mostly plan to do the tandem snowplow thing, and also to get her walking around on them in the flats. PM me, thanks!

Thanks guys. I hadn't even thought about TAY, shows how lame I have become! Here's a report from there from yesterday, talking about fresh in the am, then another guy came in the afternoon and got freezing rain on top of it (Snoqualmie): http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=6060.0 Keep the reports coming!

That's good shit!

anyone?

Anyone have contact information for this joker? You know him, the ski /women/party crazy guy? PM me, or please forward a request for him to pm me (Tom M.). Thanks!!

Nice way to spend a birthday! Looks sweet. Cheers!

Hi, I'm hoping to get out for some touring and turns this weekend local to Seattle. I'll have my 2 year-old in a backpack, so looking for nice conditions on mellower slopes. Haven't been up in a while, have seen a couple of TR's from the weekend, looking for some first-hand reports from later this week. We appreciate it!

I think he's smart to be able to mix some business with pleasure. I don't think he has too much to prove, is pretty realistic about the fact that the mountains hold the cards, not him. Someone high profile like him likely needs major documentation to support his claim once he finishes, because he is an easy target. Sure, he could do it all in silence, that would be an option too, but the book and film sound like a cool project, and since he is documenting his descents, and has the ability to do it well, why not? The footage and book should be great, and there will be great beta for skiers looking to do the same thing. A lot of his friends are in the industry, and photography etc. are a part of that. He's sponsored, etc. but I don't feel like his motivations here are about sponsorship, and $. He has built his own career, and now he has these kinds of options open to him, why begrudge that? Seems like a cool guy, a father, and someone living a dream in the mountains he knows best. I don't see where he is trying to pawn himself off as a dirtbag, or really trying to mislead anyone. He's forthcoming about all of it, as far as I can see. But ultimately, I don't know him, don't know what's going on in his head or heart, so these are just words built on the facts or presented facts available. You are in the same boat. I was just pumped to cheer on someone who is doing something epic I wish I was doing! As a skier and climber who lived in CO for a # of years, who has climbed and skied many of those peaks, I just think he must be having a blast. And I'm in awe of that Capitol ski. Having the sled, etc. support must be nice too! Alright, enough from my end. Feel like this has gotten beaten down a bit, and I'm part of the problem! Need to get out skiing myself, I guess. Cheers!

from the article: Davenport .... doesn't mind if others question his project and his motives. "It doesn't take away how hard I work, or all the mornings I had to wake up at 2:30 a.m.," he said. "The skiing and mountaineering community will be the true judge. That's all that matters. "My career is made, I'm not out to make any more money or please anybody. This is simply another personal challenge in the life of Chris Davenport." Maybe he has "watered down" things as a response to "sponsor pressure". I personally doubt it, and would hesitate to judge him myself not knowing him personally. That's all that irks me from your original response.

And Lou's original effort was pretty awesome too. Here's a good history: http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20060606/RECREATION08/60606006

He rocked it too! That was sweet.

Flexibility is kind of required with mountains, especially something like skiing 54 of them from the summit (true descents). Getting good conditions is far from a given. So, of course, you could set an impressive goal and then "be flexible" with it until it was so watered down as to be meaningless. But, knowing those mountains, and the scope of the project, 1 think his revised goal of getting them in 1 year is still an epic feat (I would think that he wouldn't extend it past a year total). Beats the time of the only other person successful with skiing them all (Lou Dawson) by 12 years or something. Not bad. I hear you about setting a goal, but knowing the peaks, the scope of the effort and the weather/snow swings in recent years... And check out the accounts of skiing Capitol! Also Pyramid, Crestone Needle, etc. And many of the others were done by new and/or proud lines. He put a lot into it, regardless of the initial plan (all in one season) he has really kicked ass. Last spring/May in CO (during the "season"), they got a wave of 10+ 100 degree days in Colorado, essentially decimating the spring skiing snowpack. Rather than waiting for the "perfect weather season" (which is so random with weather patterns the last few years) I think he did his best with what he had. This isn't a cheesy 1st or lame variation "i.e. "oldest left-handed blond haired Lichtensteiner to climb the 7 summits", but a pretty cool thing, especially if you are a skier and live in those mountains.

Weather looks doable today.. http://www.zeitcam.com/showcam.php?cam=longspeak&currentimage=1

http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=587 http://www.skithe14ers.com/

He was the man, although you'd never hear him say that. I started climbing in Eldo and in the Flatirons, a lot solo, and he was a real inspiration. Cheers to Charlie, and Chris. Nice TR, btw.

Charlie Fowler leading in BBB:

Felicidades! That's sick.

Here's a link to a pic of climbers on 3rd class terrain on the route. They are being guided (hence the rope), but that pic and the preceding one are good examples. http://alpineskills.com/v-web/gallery/Mt-Whitney/DSCN1096