allison

Yes, I was. I see a considerable difference in the objective hazards associated with climbing vs. skiing, especially lift-serviced skiing.

It's huge, I expect to save almost a hundred dollars a year. If I quit buying pitchers at Pub Club, that is, of beer I didn't drink, I would save roughly $400 a year. One of the reasons I don't go so much now, can't afford to support the 'vision.'

Actually the problem doesn't plague me when I am skiing, and no I don't wear a helmet skiing, the idea of doing so strikes me as ridiculous. It's nice to see that candor will still get you laughed at here. I'm sure you are perfect.

Dave, I kind of fell down and got a little banged up at work yesterday, and the doc won't let me ski for a few days, but next week I should be good to go Tu or Weds. Flame suit on, yes I am a little bit accident-prone.

There is one thing about the Enchantment permit district thing that I am curious about: Why is it such a big area? To include the Lost World Plateau, Edward Mesa, Druid Plateau, and Temple Canyon, well, I just don't see why they did. There is not a lot of traffic back there, and of course there is no trail or any possible way anyone could get there either. Anyone know why all of that was drawn into the protected area?

I don't even think you need to be connected, just work in the industry or write for someone. There really aren't a lot of media people there either, it's mostly buyers and sellers, which might explain why I got invited to some pretty swank events despite writing for a tiny, tiny magazine. It was pretty cool, all in all.

Geek, you took the words right out of my mouth. My dad is a log scaler for Puget Sound Log Scaling and Grading Bureau. He has worked there for 30 years. They grade everything that is logged, in the whole state now, if I am not mistaken, and he tells me that there is virtually nothing being cut in NF land right now. With W's thugs working hard now, this too could change. In spite of egregious overcutting in the 80s, there are some mature stands in non-Wilderness areas in this state. As far as the permit issue, I have to once again express my frustration with climbers in general thinking they are somehow better users than others. Sorry folks, there is no difference between people climbing and people not climbing in the Wilderness. They still carry loads through the woods, and eat, sleep, and poop, whether there is a rope in their pack or not. Fees and permits are a nuisance, but aside from the $30 parking pass, special permits and fees are only required in a small part of the Cascades, one that would be severely impacted by an unlimited number of hikers and climbers.

I would also like to suggest writing a query instead of something longer. I think you actually increase your odds giving them something smaller, and it's a lot less work.

Wow, week three, time flies! It was hard being at OR last weekend, totally out of my element, knowing almost no one, trying to sell my projects and my enthusiasm, nervous, out of my league.....and without my old friend the American Spirit. It was the toughest test thus far, and no one would have been the wiser if I had cheated...and yet, I made it. It is starting to get easier. It must be, as I still can't believe I made it though that without having just one. Plexus, break some bad habits, and get a good support network (Muffy and my SO have both been big big help), and you too can join the ranks. Best of luck...and Toast, of course now you may no longer bum from me at PC! I realize I am not out of the woods yet, but one thing that really helped me this time was a long slow taper-off period, during which I stopped smoking at the obvious times....after meanls, on the phone, while drinking, in the car, you get the idea.

And I am cukoo for Blurr's ever-increasing apparel line. Look for it in the States in the Fall. Just when I was getting tired of being here, there was a rare Big Lou sighting in front of the Salt Palace this morning. We had a little photo op, complete with His Tallness giving the top of my head a sniff (I am fairly tall but Big Lou is still at least a head taller), and apparently my hair smells good. Good thing I washed it, or it would have had the smell of stinky nightclub Teva Party all over it. Promise to post the photo of Big Lou as soon as I can figure out how. Oh yeah, and the heat wave is over---it's dumping freshiez right here in town.

I do some outdoor writing as well. Been here six hours, made tons of contacts, had more beer than food, feet hurt already. Just checking in after a star-studded media event with 40 media and our good pals Big Jim, David Braeshears, Ed Viesturs, Peter Potterfield, and a host of other bigshots. Dean Potter and Steph Davis are everywhere.

No worries, I always pack earplugs in the backcountry.

We do have a celebratory pillow fight scheduled for the summer, but even our respective SOs will not be invited. It's actually not going to be a pillow fight, I'm going to teach Muffy the fine art of Backcountry Mud Wrestling, time and location undisclosed. And yes, it is harder to quit smoking than pretty much anything else I can think of.

I am proud to report that I, along with partner Muffy the Wanker Sprayer, have successfully quit smoking. While this is not the first time for either of us, hopefully it will be the last. I wish I were full of witticisms about this sitchmo, but lacking that, I must say that I am at once relieved to be free of this burden, and thankful for the support of my former enemy (??) Muffy. Here's to you! Having said that, I still think the non-smoking bars in Seattle blow goats....except maybe the Latona.

Sorry, I am flying.....it is funny though, lately when people say "carpool" to me, they mean "drive me there" ...and anyway of course my car has been in the shop since 23 December.

I liked those Dean Potter pictures very much. My dad takes Outside and I read it at his house. DaveW and I got rejected for a piece on Darrington by both of the major US magazines. In fact I don't even think Climbing bothered to respond.

My politics don't allow me to objectively evaluate a speech? Why, because I'm a stinky liberal? Graphically describing methods of torture is a cheap device. I don't think Shrub is smart enough to do better than that, but certainly his speechwriters are.

His eyebrows looked like raccoon tails, only bigger, he made claims about cutting taxes and increasing the size of the gummint that would be destroyed by an Econ 101 student, he didn't cite a single statistic, factual or otherwise, and he scared young people by describing torture. All in all, another great night for the Republicans.

My favorite device for belaying is this thing they call a climbing partner.

I did a search of the site for 'recipe' and several threads popped up. Also I would search for 'ramen' to locate Jonathon's great thread on the subject. My favorite book on the subject is by June Fleming, called 'the well-fed backpacker'. Two things that dehydrate very well:Watermelon, sliced to a 1/4 thickness. Save yourself some hassle and get the seedless. Takes a while! Also ground beef is very good. Get fairly lean beef, saute and season. Rehydrate for a few hours.

I think I am happier loafing about the domicile than I would have been getting soaked at Crystal. Shut down twice this week by the warm and the wet, no less....

Anybody heading down to Salt Lake next weekend? I'm going for the first time, looks like a lot of fun to be had!

I've seen that study, Off, and it did not make me feel more confident about drinking unfiltered water. I HATE carrying a filter, but nothing else has been proven effective to a point that I'm willing to leave the beast at home. It's not just critters that are concerning, also the people walking around carrying giardia and not knowing it. Unfortunately, nothing works as well as a water filter.

Seriously, you people lack imagination. Any time I say anything remotely controversial, the response is that I must be doing the nasty with so-and-so. How dull.

Let's not forget about our good friend Cryptosporidium, avoidable with a filter, but uncurable so far. I'd elaborate on Crypto, but one of our many scientists could surely do it better. Iodine and bleach are both helpless against Crypto, and bleach really hasn't been proven successful against giardia either. Be careful out there.