Figger_Eight

From pictures on their website it looks like it's the uber safe, full body harness, steel hardware, fat ropes set-up. Rapping is kind've a chore anymore, but doing it off a building downtown (in the middle of the day, without having to worry about running from the po-po) sounds like fun. And definitely a worthy cause.

Shouldn't be an issue...half bags have gone to many higher and colder places than Rainier.

It's the Sasquatch Festival at the Gorge this weekend. It's gonna be a zoo!

Hey All - The AAC Cascade Section Spring Picnic is happening next Friday at the Mountaineers building at Sandpoint, Seattle. Everyone is invited to the event starting at 5pm and going till 9pm. Music and square-dancing with The Tallboys, food catered by Casper's Southern BBQ. The AAC is having their national meeting that weekend, so there'll be a lot of folks in town you can rub elbows with. See ya'll there! If you have any questions you can contact one of the section chairs: Eddie Espinosa: eddie[at]featheredfriends[dot]com Roger Strong: rogers[at]bdel[dot]com

Spent 3 days in backwater Hawaii with a steripen and really like how convenient it is. Given, it relies on batteries and electricity, but you can't beat scooping up some water, pushing a button and being done with "water duty" in 30 seconds while chatting and leaning against a tree. It also looks pretty cool when you do it at night I figure since water treatment facilities and organizations responding to urban disaster areas are using them more and more, you can't go wrong. And don't forget the old school technique of leaving a clear container of water out in direct sunlight for a few hours to sterilize it.

5'8" 180lbs and recently just went in the other direction. I had 98 underfoot / 170's and am now on 108 underfoot and 181's. They have a bit of rocker on the shovel, so ski shorter on hardpack/corn but am pretty happy with the decision. A shorter ski is nice in the trees and have a lighter swing weight if you need to turn your skis in the air...but in the mixed up, crappy snow (and if I'm lucky enough to get out in the good stuff) I'm happy to have a bit more length.

Call me if you do, sucka!

How about the Apex Rock? The XT's are definitely a bit more rigid than the Triolets, and are able to take a full step in crampon, but have a decent enough rocker that they won't totally brutalize you on the approach. The Apex Rocks have a little more flexibility and are nearly as insulated as the XT's.

To the top! See ya'll at FF.

Ha ha. http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en-us/journal/mountain//winger-for-the-weekend-36

Don't forget the Boreals. They generally have the widest last of any mentioned.

Correct. The laminates seem to consistently last longer than simple fabrics with just a DWR however are usually twice the price and compromise the breathability of the fabric to a degree. Furthermore the rate of vapor transmission will be different depending on the particular fabric that the company uses, e.g. a $200 Gore jacket will likely be less breathable than a $600 Gore jacket. The variable is the facing fabric used in those cases. I guess I was just confused by your post - it seemed to say it was an either/or choice: that you have a jacket with a membrane, or a jacket with a DWR. Maybe a laminate vs. a non-laminate might be more accurate? Sorry if I'm mistaken.

Huh? DWR (Durable Water Repellent) is a catch all term for the chemical applied to the surface of face fabrics to prevent it from wetting out. It's applicable to any fabric regardless of whether it has a laminated PTFE membrane or not. And you're right - not all DWR's are the same. Some seem to last longer than others. This is common terminology. - Eddie (my personal account)

FWIW - Event fabrics and Gore-Tex do have a DWR's in addition to the laminated PTFE membrane on the inside.

Troof.

This is all I have left to add to the conversation.

Woops - yup, you're right. Just double checked.

You were able to have guns in National Parks before the ban was lifted, but they had to be disassembled, unloaded and stored separately from the ammunition. We also see this from the context of living in the PNW where it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to carry a gun up to Camp Muir. The story might be a little different, though, if I was out hiking or backpacking in Appalachia.

Depends on the condition of the old liners. A pretty nice benefit of the Intuition liners is that they're a lot lighter and don't absorb moisture (in addition to being warmer). And $150 bucks is only $15 bucks per toe

Used once and as close to new as you can get. Updated with thermo-fit liners. $125 bucks OBO.

I would suggest the folks who you should worry about having a gun have been carrying one into parks for many years now. And as for rangers carrying guns, just check out the NPS morning reports to see how often they're involved in things where they probably should be armed. I'm no gun nut...but, I too, think people who are paranoid about them are kind've in the same category as those who judge Mt. Hood accidents and don't climb.

I'd throw in Boreal to the mix also. Like folks have already said: fit is everything. All of the boots mentioned are top shelf and I would be reluctant to say a particular brand is the "the best". If it doesn't fit your foot you'll find out sooner than later it's actually "the worst". Spend an afternoon and try a bunch on. Some will simply not fit, a bunch will kinda fit, but one or two will call your name.

I'll give you 50 bucks and a plate of cookies!

wow is right.

Jeebus - a homeless dude grabbing a puffy jacket I can understand...but what the hell does a cam go for on the black market nowadays? Can you trade it for a couple of dimebags or something on the street? I can't imagine any climber lifting a cam. Talk about bad karma.