allison

I never use the word 'feminist' but if I did, I would not use the word 'cause' anywhere near it.

quote: Originally posted by fleblebleb: Hey, is anybody else thinking that a whole discussion about (a) going light, and (b) multi-day trips and forecasts, and © both at the same time, is just waiting to happen here...? Bring on the spray Flebby, you said it yourself....bring on the spray! Ya think this crowd wants to have a serious conversation about anything ??? They'd even have to change the name of the board, maybe to something like cascadecli......oh, wait, uh, never mind.

I posted this morning about being the designated person for someone who came back late, and for whom I nearly initiated a search. What I failed to mention is that the reason I didn't call is that I was contacted by cell phone, and found out that they were OK and on the way out. My thinking is that as many SAR attempts are not initiated because people had their phones with them, as SAR attempts are initiated by people with cell phones. Having said that I have mixed feelings about them, and typically only carry one when I'm solo in the woods.

OK, Ray just made me laugh out loud, for the record.

I was recently the contact person for someone who was late coming back. Had to decide how long to wait before making the call to SAR. I held my breath until I'd almost turned blue, not reaching for the phone.....and then they made it out. Whew. Now hearing Matt's SAR tales of woe, seems to me that maybe waiting a teeny bit longer than you want to is not such a bad plan. Sounds like those guys don't mess around once they get the call. ML, glad you made it back in one piece. We can chat about it sometime if these silly guys ever give us back our chatroom, hint, hint!!

Tim, check your PMs.

I picked Mona because in navigating the Big Wall of human nature, I often react like this or this, or this. . Ultimately though I find I'm happier and less involved in the sturm and drang if at the end of the day I'm more like this . Now, If I could just find a way to be like that when I'm on the end of a rope, instead of like this and this and this . Flame suit on, I can already hear this sirens blaring, the Emoticon Patrol is on its way to write me a citation! [ 07-29-2002, 09:32 PM: Message edited by: allison ]

I can borrow one from work, if you're not already covered let me know and I can probably bring one to a Pub Club sometime soon. I think one for small steel wouldn't run you much, another place I'd look is Tacoma Screw. Matter of fact when it's not been convenient for me to run down to work I've gotten them to let me use the one in the store on Leary. It's in the back by the windows, not sure if it handles swages for stuff smaller than 1/8" though. They've got cable and the swages themselves there too, so I'm guessing they's have a tool for those there.... [ 07-25-2002, 09:39 PM: Message edited by: allison ]

Hm, home from a long day at the salt mines. Looks like it was another productive day at cc.com...

dbb, my AA pack has (had) mesh straps, which pulled out of the edging material. If they are still making the straps this way, expect for it to happen. I got some scraps of heavy ripstop from Sea Fabs (remnant section), completely took apart the straps, and replaced the mesh with two layers of the nylon. It was a big pain in the butt, but seems to be holding up nicely. My AA pack is a few years old, and I'm hoping later models of this great little pack have improved on the original design.

Hey, Carolyn, sounds like you might have left the fuel valve open a teeny bit.

Dirt Circus.

They're cheaper than that BRAND NEW at MEC. I'd try about $125. You might have to go as low as $100.

If you are in an area where you can have a fire, burn one just to keep the bugs away. Seems to me that any kind of smoke helps, even, believe it or not, a little incense. DEET does seem to work, sorta, but I've got to use the really nasty full-strenght stuff, more of an oily substance than the kind of lotiony stuff, which is diluted more. Covering your skin obviously helps, and you can slather that white long-sleeved lightweight long underwear top with repellent to keep them from biting you through your clothes. Also that way you don't have to apply the poison directly to your skin. I have to apply about once an hour to make the stuff work. Bugs suck!

Sometimes I have to wear a headlamp all day at work. As a result, I have over 60 hours on my Princeton, on full bright, on the first set of batteries. Amazing. I have used both the Princeton and the Petzl extensively, and cast a big thumbs-up for the Princeton.

Nicely stated, Off. After having read the posts of the day, I would like to just say that if the majority of posts here in any way represent a sizable sector of the population's views on Wilderness, well, then, thank goodness we have Wilderness. Double flame suit on. PS. Now that I have my double flame suit on, Erik, you're starting to sound hysterical. Take a deep breath, my friend.

I am re-reading the above definition, and somehow the hypocrisy and vagueness are eluding me. It's all right there in black and white.

BRING BACK CHAT!!!

Here's the definition of Wilderness, as defined in the Act: Definition of Wilderness © A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. An area of wilderness is further defined to mean in this Act an area of undeveloped Federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions and which (1) generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work substantially unnoticeable; (2) has outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation; (3) has at least five thousand acres of land or is of sufficient size as to make practicable its preservation and use in an unimpaired condition; and (4) may also contain ecological, geological, or other features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value. The full text of the thing can be found here

No motorized or mechanized equipment is allowed in the Wilderness areas, including bicycles, chainsaws, and even wheelbarrows. Local land managers are allowed to authorize the use of power tools (eg chainsaws) in the case of heavy blowdown situations, and other extreme circumstances. I believe they did this after the Rat Creek Fire in '95, and there is periodic evidence of it on Wilderness trails, if you're looking carefully, you will see it. What I don't know is if there are any limitations as to how often these waivers are, or can be, written. If anyone from the FS or other knowledgeable folks can elaborate or correct me, I'd like to know more about the waiver situation. Oh and FWIW, helicopters are used for TM in Wilderness. They drop materials for big projects like bridge-building, and they are used to clean the toilets in some places, one example of the latter being the Enchantments. I think it's good to keep in mind that the Wilderness Act was intended to preserve parts of our nation's land, not primarily for recreation, but as part of our natural legacy. There's a fair argument here to be made that there be no manmade incursions, no matter what the nature, in these lands. That would mean the end of maintained trails and fixed anchors. While I seriously doubt that will ever happen, it would perhaps be the most essential interpretation of the Act. Whether one agrees with this philosophy or not, that was the intent of the Act. Sure, it's inefficient, and I suspect no land manager would differ from that perspective, but you've got to look at what the Wilderness Act's primary purpose is before jumping to any conclusions about the current state of the trails and routes contained within the system. [ 07-21-2002, 01:56 PM: Message edited by: allison ]

Whoever's "art" project it it...it looks mighty scary over there!

Uh, some of us are not.

I recently heard a rumor that Denny here chops but does not fill, perhaps he'd care to comment on this?

I sort of hate climbing. That's why I don't climb very much. It scares the crap out of me. I used to enjoy it, and sometimes I still do, but climbing is my psychic nemesis. It's scary, counterintuitive (for me, not for everyone) and it's dangerous. But it's also really, really fun. The sheer pleasure of moving over rock, well, it's sublime. The reason I climb though, is the same reason I rode a motorcycle for years. When I'm climbing, I find that I cannot focus on ANYTHING else. Very few activites blot out the rest of the world like that for me. I think there's something really liberating about having that kind of focus. Makes you feel alive. [ 07-18-2002, 02:14 AM: Message edited by: allison ]