Figger_Eight

Right on Matt. Cool trip

A couple of us are planning on being up there during the month of May. We'll be in Anchorage the first part of June. I think I might be ready to throw down when I get back to civilization

Don't forget the McDonald's $1 menu either. That's key for early morning road breakfasts. I'll spend a little extra for good coffee though.

Three Musketeers and Snickers - the extra large size.

So if you've already written on one hand, does that you've already used up half your available disc space?

Maybe he forgot his:

Remember this guy? German Cannibal

That jacket fucking rules.

Can someone remind me again where it is?

Avy story on Rainier

When are you guys meeting? I might be in the neighborhood.

They're all yours.

You're right...it has more to do with user error than anything, however it so much more of a critical piece than an ice axe I wouldn't take any chances. I can stop myself with a sixty year old ice axe...but I don't think I would climb with a fifteen year old used cam - that's all.

I was up there skiing today and heard about it in the parking lot. Interesting comment Troyer makes about "no avalanche warning signs up". Big bummer.

You're right my friend...however if (when) I fall on gear, I like knowing the history of the piece. That's why I don't buy used pro - it's like buying a used rope. A used ice axe...sure - ice axe failure isn't an incident you hear too much about. Cam failure is.

Buying used gear doesn't carry the same expectations as buying new gear. If you choose to buy a used cam, you're taking the chance that it is still in reasonably good shape. If you buy a new one, you're paying the extra money for the assurance it hasn't seen any falls (except in testing).

There are some pretty funny pictures of that pig out there.

If you let one person bring something back (or exchange it)...where does it end? Do you leave it up to the discretion of the shop employee as to whether something is 'new' or not? Climbers are a pretty resourceful bunch. If the shop gave an inch, people would try to take a mile.

Dumb rule or not, it's how any reputable gear shop will do business. If I managed my own store I would operate the same way unless I knew the customer personally and trusted them. The unfortunate fact is our litigious society has forced small shops to make these rules. That said, I've been burned by this same policy before and at the time I thought it was a crappy policy. I'm just more careful now.

This is a standard policy with all climbing shops, and it's to protect their ass. I don't know if I'd call it bad service...just a really strict policy that shops need to adhere to. I understand your frustration though...especially if you have the receipt and tags are still on the axe with a FF price tag on it. I'd try exchanging it at REI.

Tight shoes will restrict blood flow to your toes and will make them cold and numb. Is this bad...? If it's super cold, you may be more prone to frostbite. Otherwise stuffing numb feet into cracks might not be a bad deal...

Was his last name Nugent?

I'm still in love with my Ultimate Ski Gloves after three years of using them. Between those and my Dry Tool gloves, I'm set.

Hey Allison, I was in the same boat a couple of years ago. I had an '89 Soob that was at 180 k before a guy in a brand new Lexus pulled out in front of me...whammo - insurance money for me. If you want to stick with a Soob for around that price, I would suggest a '92 - '95 Legacy wagon. You have more cargo area than many SUV's, all wheel drive and good gas mileage. Ground clearance was never an issue for me.

If you wear a hat or something under your zipka, it won't creep down your forehead. I keep one in my glove box in my car and use it as a backup when I climb. It worked great when I came down the granite sidewalk (Darrington) in the dark.