Fromage

Hey gang, I am looking to maximize the utility of my climbing time for the summer, and since I haven't spent a whole lot of time in the North Cascades it would be criminal of me to neglect them any further. Some peaks I am considering are these: Logan Forbidden Eldorado Buckner Goode The attributes I seek are minimally confusing approaches (I know, these are the North Cascades), aesthetically pleasing routes, technical difficulty of 5.7 max (for speed), and proximity to established campgrounds along major trail systems (LNT considerations). Please let me know your thoughts on these peaks if you have done them, or suggest some others you think merit consideration. Thanks

Mountain Hardwear Stratus pants: excellent condition! black size XL 3-layer Gore-Tex construction full FTX fabric (older style) with new FTX butt reinforcement full side zips elasticized cuffs with snaps elasticized waist with webbing tensioner were $240 retail yours for $100 plus shipping email nick@adventure-pro.com

This will be perfect for my mountain biking trip in Death Valley next August. Does it come with a hood?

Anyone have any info about conditions in NCNP for the coming weekend? From recent posts it sounds like conditions might be decent, but I'm wondering if it will hold through Sunday. I'm looking to leave Friday midday and hit the trail early on Sat. for something, not sure what yet. Thoughts, speculations and recommendations appreciated. Rock on

Superman underoos for sale, size S, used three seasons, small tear in the shirt under left arm from ice screw. Briefs slightly stained but elastic is still in good condition. Stored out of sunlight. $14.95 new, yours for $5 plus shipping

Yes Herr von Spanker, what you say is true. I was on a NOLS expedition this past summer in the Winds (34 days in the field) where most of my companions with Mexican-made Danas suffered a failure of one kind or another on their packs. I guess all packs are vulnerable when you are carrying 75 pounds in them for days on end, but my Bozeman Terraplane held up great. It pisses me off that a) the company moved b) prices went up c) quality went down d) customer service dropped off the radar Back in the Bozeman days you could slice holes in your pack, tear the zippers apart, melt holes in it, and let the snafflehounds eat it for lunch and the folks at Dana would fix it up nicely for you in a jiffy for a small fee. Now you get no love for your $460 piece of junk.

How about a Bozeman-made Dana Designs Big Horn (frame size XL, for 20-24 inch torso), 3,900 cubic inches, top and side loader, dual daisy chains, compression panel for $150?

Yeah, I'll be passing through Munising on my way to Detroit from Seattle. Say ya tooda UP, eh Have fun up there!

A lucky climber bought my gore-tex jacket, but the down jacket and a fleece are still up for grabs. Down jacket: Mountain Hardwear Sub-Zero, cobalt blue, XL great condition 650 fill retail $200 yours for $100 Fleece jacket Mountain Hardwear Big Chill, cobalt blue, XL excellent condition 300 weight Polartec bipolar fleece 4 pockets shoulder/elbow reinforcements high-cut collar very toasty retail $170 Yours for $70. Cheap! email nick@adventure-pro.com, unless you are Troubleski, in which case you can

Hey Loren, those tools are hard to come by these days. You may want to hang on to them or sell them to Sotheby's: Quasars are the only ice axes ever displayed in The Louvre as art. If I don't buy Cobras or Euro Quarks this season I might take you up on them. BTW, I was one of the dissident architects of the "deluxe anchor" debacle at the top of Icy BC last season. I know, let's back up two big fucking equalized trees by tying them to another big-ass tree with a 3:1, and THEN make our master point out of ONE strand of webbing. Ingenious! The hours we spent on that bloody anchor cut seriously into climbing time...

Hey Tubbariffic, I that cat girl might have lifted it from you when she "accidentally" knocked my beer out of my hand and created a scene. By the way, do you know where my truck is?

Curses, my nefarious schemes have been foiled again! Get back to work, you tubby [ 10-30-2002, 03:35 PM: Message edited by: Fromage ]

Just in time for ice climbing and ski season, here are some nice pieces to keep you warm and dry. Mountain Hardwear Ethereal FTX parka, XL $200 Mountain Hardwear Sub-Zero down jacket, XL $100 Ethereal FTX: less than a year old cobalt blue Gore-Tex XCR fabric immaculate condition 6 pockets 4 zippered vents powder skirt reinforced shoulders and arms bitchin' hood Retails for $440 Sub Zero: 4 years old excellent condition, I have pampered this baby, recently washed and retreated it. 650 fill down reinforced shoulders and arms 4 pockets retails for $200 email me: nick@adventure-pro.com

Wow, that sounds like it hasn't seen much use. I used to ride around the South African bush in a Bedford lorry that was like the Mog only bigger. Those things are awesome! Did it have a flat bed or was it like a pickup? Was it diesel or petrol? You can fit much gear and many people into a Mog and run all those sissy Hummers off the road, too.

On another note, don't be afraid to wash your clothes, too. You come back from a climbing trip and throw all your nasty socks and base layers in the corner of your room or closet, what does that accomplish? Talk about losing breathability, people will suffocate if they walk into range of that stench. Washing your rock shoes occasionally helps, too.

Thanks for all the great ideas, guys. This helpful cornucopia of feedback will make my trip smoother. Cheers! Fromage

Hey gang, I am headed to the Tetons for ten days at the end of this month, and having never been before I would like to know if anyone has any info on the following topics: 1. Where is a good place to slog up to and make a high camp from which to do most of the classics on the Grand (Exum, O-S, Petzoldt, etc.)? 2. Anyone ever had any problems with wildlife? Especially the non-human kind, but I guess the question lends itself to smartass answers. 3. Has anyone been there late season before? Your thoughts and recommendations? Any other beta or suggestions for a fun, pleasant, safe trip are appreciated. Merci- Fromage

If you left some gear on Orchard Rock, email me with a description of what it was and we can make arrangements to return it. njbratton@hotmail.com

Barely used Mountain Hardwear Ethereal FTX parka Retail $445 Yours for $200 plus shipping Size XL, cobalt blue 4 zippered vents (underarm and chest) 6 pockets shoulder reinforcements powder skirt Gore-Tex XCR fabric This jacket is awesome, just a little too fancy for me. Email me if you are interested: njbratton@hotmail.com

Actually, Pedestrian, despite the notorious methods and ethics of the French, the American Triangle is a remarkably stupid invention by the Yanks. I remember reading in John Long's "Climbing Anchors" that the AT was popularized among Yosemite climbers in the 1970s. I witnessed all sorts of surprising things in France and while I generally feel safer climbing in this country, seeing the occasional American Triangle reminds me that even folks over here make dumb mistakes from time to time, only not quite as flambuoyant as the French. Vive la Raclette!

For sale, two items: 1. Mountain Hardwear Ethereal FTX Gore-Tex parka, cobalt blue, size XL, $200. Excellent condition, XCR Gore-tex fabric (latest and greatest), 6 pockets, powder skirt, underarm vents, chest vents, great hood. Retail is $445. Very nice jacket. 2. Petzl Jump rock climbing harness, medium, red, $50. Hardly ever been used, this was too small for me when I bought it so it has sat in my closet untouched. Padded fixed leg loops, padded waist, permanently doubled-back buckle, 4 gear loops, pretty light, these used to retail for about $85. Email me if you are interested nick@adventure-pro.com

Fortunately this controversy is diverting attention from my proposal, which is to operate a heli-cragging business. Clients drive from Seattle/Bellevue to the Little Si parking lot, leave their cars, climb into the ex-Soviet 1978 Mil-Mi 24 Hind that I purchased thirdhand from the Mozambican army, and I fly them up to the remote base of the crag. For a few extra bucks I can fly them to the summit for a panoramic view of North Bend. This operation will insert expeditions into the deep backcountry to climb infrequently ascended one-pitch routes. I figure $600 per person per day is a reasonable rate. Any comments can be sent to fromage@fly.littlesi.com

mon fromage prefere c'est cantal. Les varietes alpines sont les meillieures- tomme, raclette, etc. Bon appetit.

Anyone been up there lately? How is the approach, how is the ice, how is the snow above the ice? Merci Fromage

If you lost a watch at Little Si, I found it on Friday May 10. Email me with a description accurate enough to convince me it's yours and I will send it to you. nick@adventure-pro.com. Fromage