Roger

jockeying for a moderator slot, are we?

Perfect. Outside magazine and Buick, together at last. Will someone please attend this event and take a digital camera so that we can have another thread of hilarious mountie pictures?

dude iain, how was the kind pow brah? LOL

here we go again... link

Name the ninth female canadian amputee to summit Everest without supplemental oxygen (hint: she was the third virgo).

speaking of which Dru, are you going to post your cc.com Xmas shopping list again this year?

who bail...

*** I am ignoring this user ***

hell yeah. I like the part where the judge said that the Bush Administration reversal of the phase-out ignored the facts, and "was completely politically driven and result oriented." Nice to see a judge actually calling it like it is every now and then... Judge Voids New Rule Allowing Snowmobiles in Yellowstone Published: December 17, 2003 WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 - On the eve of the winter snowmobile season in Yellowstone National Park, a federal district judge on Tuesday evening struck down the Bush administration's regulations permitting more than 950 snowmobiles a day in the park. The judge, Emmet G. Sullivan, said the Clinton administration's decision to phase out snowmobile use in that sweeping landscape of canyons, geysers and jagged horizons had been arbitrarily reversed. The ruling, while not unexpected, throws a new element of confusion into an annual ritual of snowmobiles converging at the park's four gates for the opening day of winter park touring. With the latest rule invalidated, an earlier regulation holding the maximum number of machines to 493 in Yellowstone and 50 in nearby Grand Teton National Park and the road connecting the two goes into effect, a park spokeswoman said. Next winter, she said, a full ban goes into effect if Judge Sullivan's ruling stands. The ruling bristled with sharp characterizations of the Bush administration's actions. "The gap between the decision made in 2001, and the decision made in 2003 is stark," Judge Sullivan wrote. "In 2001, the rule-making process culminated in a finding that snowmobiling so adversely impacted the wildlife and resources of the parks that all snowmobile use must be halted." Judge Sullivan continued, "A scant three years later, the rule-making process culminated in the conclusion that nearly 1,000 snowmobiles will be allowed to enter the park each day." The ruling included a footnote saying that "there is evidence in the record that there isn't an explanation for this change," and that the revised environmental impact statement "was completely politically driven and result oriented." Judge Sullivan sent the relevant National Park Service decisions back for reconsideration. Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton reacted to the judge's ruling by defending the Bush administration's decision, saying in a prepared statement that improvements in snowmobile technology and careful limitations had balanced the need for public enjoyment with that of resource conservation. "The added Park Service restrictions of best-available technology and allowing a limited number of snowmobiles is a responsible approach and avoids a complete ban," Ms. Norton said. The ruling was embraced by the environmental groups that sued to overturn the Bush administration snowmobile rule. The groups wanted to retain the snowmobile ban issued in 2000, which would have gone into effect over three years, with the final ban being instituted this winter. "Yellowstone is where our country first said, `This is what our national parks mean to us.' " said Denis P. Galvin, a former deputy director of the National Park Service, in a statement released in collaboration with the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, which, along with the Fund for Animals, appealed the ruling. "This ruling reaffirms that fundamental purpose." But for men like Bill Howell of West Yellowstone, a co-owner of Yellowstone Arctic Cats and for three decades a snowmobiler and tour guide, the ruling was simply another blow to the tourist business that sustains the small town. Speaking of the local economy, he said, "For the last few years it's been a downward spiral, because of this issue." He agreed that the moribund national economy might be part of the problem, but then said, "The majority of it, I'm positive, is because of confusion over whether the park is open or closed." Six of the more than 50 motels in the area, close to the most-used Yellowstone entrance, went out of business in the past year, he said. The federal lawyers defending the reversal of the snowmobile ban had urged Judge Sullivan to delay action until a final rule was issued. He agreed, and the government issued the rule on Thursday, six days before the start of the winter season. Judge Sullivan reacted testily on Monday when a lawyer for the Snowmobile Association suggested that it was unfair to act so close to the start of business for the snowmobile-dependent towns around the park. The Interior Department in 2000 went ahead with the unusual general ban on snowmobiles, partly out of concern about the health of park rangers who had to wear gas masks to alleviate the snowmobile exhaust. There was also concern about the studies that showed the accommodations made for snowmobilers hurt Yellowstone wildlife. One study showed that in the wake of the grooming of 180 miles of park roads to accommodate snowmobilers, the distribution of bison in the park "changed drastically" apparently as they chose to use the easily traversed paths rather than other routes that took them through deep snow. However, the easily traversed paths also made it easier for them to reach the park's edges and stray onto nearby ranches.

Thanks for the tips. Running the numbers, it looks like comcast would cost a minimum of $55/mo. (just for 'basic' cable plus internet) or $83/mo. if I wanted 'standard' cable... which I'm pretty sure I don't. I'm not really worried about DSL not being fast enough, so the Qwest deal at $30/mo. for a year sounds like the ticket.

I'm resurrecting this one because I need some beta - I'm looking into high speed at home, and I'm considering this Qwest deal that the Doctor was talking up ($29.95 for 12 months, then $35/mo, free installation, free modem) I'm just skeptical because it's Qwest... but it sounds like the consensus around here is that Comcast cable sucks even harder at twice the price...? Has anybody signed on with Qwest already? DFA?

fiona/amber - yep, just about all the doors in my house are hung, most of them pretty well.

fiona, I'm sorry that I tried to lure you to my house. I don't really have a ferris wheel. But I do have a hot tub. Maybe I can make it up to you somehow....?

hmmm... WWTD? "hey fiona baby, I've got a ferris wheel in my backyard."

wow, 13 elapsed minutes and not one crass response to fionaflaps? WTF?? You guys are clearly slipping. Is it the moderators?

Drank beer with Joe Simpson when he was in town for a slideshow a few years back. He's a very funny and humble guy... and can definitely put it away. Sat next to Pete Schoening for dinner at a K2 climbers reunion - I met a lot of legendary climbers that night, but having dinner with Schoening was definitely the highlight.

holy shit. I agree with Greg Walden.

The Federal Wilderness Act dates back to the 1960s..I think 1965. It is Federal and controls specifcially designated Wilderness areas in National Forests. That has always been my understanding (I actully did some research on it in law school some years ago). But I can't confirm this 100%. I am curious, because if this is the case then Camp Muir is a violation of the Act. Do you have a cite for the Washington law that you refer to? It's actually all federal law, not state - the U.S. cite is 102 Stat. 3965 (1988). It's kind of a weird deal with Rainier, because the whole thing was created as a National Park in 1893, way before the 1964 Wilderness Act. I think that part of the Wilderness Act required the park service to study existing parks and figure out what portions should be designated and managed as wilderness. They did that, and in 1988 most (but not all) of the park was designated as wilderness. My hunch is that you are right, and Muir is not part of the wilderness portion of the park. Except on Saturday.

hmm... I bet they taste great. you probably just need to smoke a little more.

- old excaliburs w/old side-throw superloops - not-quite-as-old excalibur 'plus' w/chilis - new cross-ride 110s w/G3s - really old Dynastar alpine boards that haven't been used in close to 10 years. more like a museum than a quiver, really...

shaped or straight ??

Definitely go wall-to-wall. There just aren't very many good reasons not to, and sticking on steep stuff is fun. I bought a new set of the BD clip fix skins last year, and love 'em. I've had no problems, and it's a way better setup than the rubber tip because you can't kick one off with your other ski while skinning. Dealing with a kicked-off skin on a steep icy slope is a big drag. cj is right, though, that the clip fix is a bit harder to take off without removing your skis, but with some practice it will go. And hey, when you get to the top you probably want to take a break anyway...

two words: Ren-ton.

I don't think you're an asshole for not caring, because that's totally your business. But posting stuff about fallen climbers that says "well, it sounds like they were idiots and probably had it coming anyway" (esp. before any real facts are known) is guaranteed to piss people off, because it's just undeniably disrespectful. You may think that the institution of marriage is bullshit, but you are probably not going to stand up at your best friend's wedding and share your views with everyone. Anyway, you asked, so there's my $.02.

no, you're thinking of snowmobilers. common misconception. good to have confirmation that ultimately we are all subject to the arbitrary whims and caprice of the mods. thanks for the explanation snoboy... keep on jibbin', LOL!