PaulB

I've had a Peak1 Apex for 8 or so years, and have never had problems with it, either in summer or winter. I'd prefer it if the fuel line detached from the bottle instead of the stove, but otherwise it's fine. Before the Apex, I had a little one burner Coleman with integrated fuel tank, which was indestructable, but heavy.

Yep, that's the place. There's a whole bunch of good lookin' lines up there, enough to keep you busy for a weekend. I was a bit amazed at how much ice there was, especially considering that it faces east. Some of it could probably still be climbed if we had a day or two of cooler temps. BTW, I assume that your "guess" was based on my road bulletin on Bivouac.

Found these (and a few other) climbs on Saturday while skiing: I'm sure others on this forum have seen them, but I've never heard/read about them anywhere, so figured it would make a fun guessing game. Here's some hints: - east facing at about 1200m elevation - in an area more associated with skiing & snowmobiles - approximately 50km from Squamish - the approach is currently about 30 minutes on skis from the end of the road Jordop, if you know where we ended up going on Saturday (which wasn't Saxifrage) you aren't allowed to play.

The Shuffle is supposed to be released in Canada sometime this month. Do any of you have one, and if so, how do you like it?

Was skiing on Trorey & Decker today, and despite it being the end of February, it felt more like mid April. Travelling conditions were superb, and there is most likley a set track all the way 'round the Spearhead Traverse. Once the eastern slopes warmed up, the snow was fantastic for making turns. North & west aspects were a mixed bag of "powder" and wind slab which wasn't so much fun. Anyone heading out to this area for a day trip should note that the cat track (Sunset Boulevard) down from the base of 7th Heaven is closed due to lack of snow. In other words, if you miss the last ride up 7th (currently at 2:30), you'll be rock skiing/hiking the 7km back to the village.

Rockies mountaineering is much more pleasant in the summer, but something like Athabasca might be fun in the winter. I'd suggest that you focus on ice climbing. At the end of three weeks you'll be running up grade 3's, and most likely be comfortable leading easy 4's. Camp if your budget demands it, but do yourself a favour and spend a few nights at the ACC Clubhouse in Canmore or the Alpine Centre in Lake Louise. Great places to dry out your gear, get updates on conditions and meet other climbers.

So, you made good on the promise you made here! I'd like to hear some feedback on the 7tm Tour bindings if anyone's given them a whirl.

A TR and some pics of Keith's hut and the surrounding terrain here. The Wendy Thompson hut is unlocked, so anyone can use it. However, the kerosene heater and Coleman stove are supposed to be kept in a locked closet, and you get the lock combination when you make a reservation with the Whistler section of the ACC.

When Mulroney asked the Queen to appoint extra senators, he was simply asking her to exercise her power as the head of state. The British parliament was not involved in any way. The Queen is the head of state for both Britain and Canada, but those two roles are independent of each other. She happens to live in Britain, so people make the assumption that the monarchy is synonymous with the British government, which it is not. When acting as head of state for one country, she does not represent the government of the other. In some respects it's easy to see why those feisty New Englanders decided to revolt and make up their own system.

You are mistaken (or perhaps your history teacher misinformed you), but you can brush up on things here. Canada is a sovereign nation with no ties to the British Government since the Canada Act was passed in 1982.

The sketchy ice runnel:

If you're not familiar with the area, the trailhead for the Wendy Thompson hut is only about a 5 minute drive from the trailhead for the Cerise Creek hut. Between the two of them (and maybe a day in the Whistler backcountry) you could easily fill up a week with minimal cost and not much driving.

Great skiing and much fun was had on this trip to the Pebble Creek hut north of Pemberton. You'd need a group of 5-7 to share the costs of the heli ride(s). A good trip with cheaper access would be combining a few days at the Wendy Thompson hut in Marriot Basin with a few days at Keith's Hut in Cerise Creek. Get a copy of this book, it has all the info you need.

Two Whistler-Blackcomb adult day passes, valid until June 2005. CDN$115 for both, or $60 each. For comparison, Edge Card pricing from now 'til April is $65 ($61+7%GST).

In the article I read about this (might have been in Explore), it seemed clear that while Intrawest said that they were interested in building some huts, it wasn't going to be in the immediate future.

Could be a muscle imbalance in your upper arm. Try working your triceps in the weight room and see if that helps.

Too bad about your lungs..... it was indeed sick pow. Runs into Oboe Creek were especially fine.

Maybe not..... just noticed that Festiglace is Feb 18-20, so it'll be pretty busy at Pont Rouge.

Since you're talking about a US long weekend, Quebec would be a good choice. There will be some road trippers from New England, but things should will still be relatively crowd free. If you're based in Montreal it's only two hours to Quebec City, or even down to the 'Dacks. For what it's worth, central Canada has been having a stellar winter. Temps have been plenty cold, and I suspect that there is lots of ice in prime shape.

Didn't bother to look up Europe, but for the US: - In 2003, 21% of the total electricity generated was from nuclear reactors - As of August 2004, the average age of the 103 operating reactors was 24 years - Most nuclear plants were designed for an operational life of 30 years. Beyond this, hugely expensive overhauls/upgrades are required for continued safe and efficent operation. Some major decisions will have to be made in the very near future as to how that 21% of capacity is going to be replaced or how demand can be reduced by an equivalent amount. Reference: DOE Website

Keep in mind that custom orthotics and molded footbeds do different things. Orthotics correct bio-mechanical problems because they are built from a mold of your foot in a "perfectly neutral" position as determined by a podiatrist. By supporting your feet in a "perfect" position, your ankles, hips and lower back should all line up correctly, improving your overall posture. Many people who get orthotics for the first time find that their hips hurt at the end of the day because their legs are being forced into a position that they aren't used to. Molded footbeds mostly just fill the voids that regular insoles don't, which feels comfy, but doesn't necessarily eliminate the source of your discomfort. This is especially true of footbeds which are molded by standing on them, as any bio-mechanical problems (e.g. pronation), will be built right into the footbed. Some footbeds are molded without weighting your feet. This is similar to what is done for orthotics, but instead of a podiatrist, it's usually done by a high school kid. For the molded footbeds, try and find out if they are molded while weighted or unweighted. In short, orthotics are a good choice if you're worried about problems with your gait/stride during activities like running or hiking. Footbeds are good if you're mostly worried about comfort and control during activities like skiing or skating. As the comments above show, different things work for different people. Be prepared to try a bunch of different solutions, which means you'll likely end up spending some cash on a product that you might not end up using. Apologies for rambling, but I've been looking for the perfect insole/footbed/orthotic for a long time.

I have pretty messed up feet. I can stand a quarter on edge under my arches and I've got massive heel spurs. The last time i got fitted for orthotics the clinic took pictures for their "freaky feet" wall of fame. I've tried expensive prescription orthotics, cheaper "fitted" orthotics, custom footbeds and trim to fit green Superfeet. I've found that while the custom orthotics are good in my street shoes, the Superfeet have worked the best in my climbing and ski boots. I've been thinking about giving the custom fit Superfeet a try. So, in response to your question, I didn't find that the expensive orthotics felt better than the cheaper insoles in any given footwear in any given situation. What feels comfortable walking around town might not feel so good at the end of a 12 hour slog through the mountains. In terms of durability, I've got two pairs of Superfeet that I've been using for about 5 years, and they're still in good shape. The life of custom orthotics will depend on their exact construction, but I would expect at least 5 years, probably longer.

When I bought mine on Friday afternoon, the dude at the climbing counter had to go rummaging in the back room to find it. He told me that it was the second to last copy. The MEC in North Van had none when I walked over during lunch on Friday. I just realized that was the first time I've been in two different MEC's in the same day!!

I don't think so. My impression is that the AMC is mostly made up of hikers and backpackers. If you want a good look at the New England climbing scene, get a copy of the DVD "Uncommon Ground".

Based on this bulletin, I'd give them both a pass this weekend -------------------------------- South Coast Region Forecast of avalanche danger beginning Wednesday, January 12, 2005: Day:\Wed. p.m.\Thursday\Friday Alpine:\Considerable\Considerable\Considerable Treeline:\Considerable\Considerable\Moderate Below Treeline:\Moderate\Moderate\Moderate Travel Advisory: Avalanche danger on Thursday may be High in areas that received high snowfall accumulations, specifically near the Coquihalla Summit. Throughout the region winds concentrated the new snow into drifts and pillows in protected areas behind terrain features like ridges and ribs. Shifting wind directions formed these pillows on all aspects. Cold temperatures slow down the process of these drifts congealing into a slab; however, where cohesive slabs develop the avalanche danger will be highest. Whumpfs, shooting cracks, and recent avalanches are billboards advertising avalanche danger. Manage your risk by starting on small, gentle, and wind protected slopes; watch for avalanche signs, and listen to their message. Avalanches: Accidentally triggered avalanches were small slabs, but on slopes as gentle as 30 degrees. Avalanche size is expected to increase with Wednesday’s new snow. Snowpack: New snow amounts vary from 5 to 40 cm with highest amounts reported from inland areas near the Coquihalla. Hidden below the new snow is a weak upper snowpack. Above a crust from December 19th the snow is primarily weak sugary crystals, possibly capped by a harder layer of wind affected snow. Because the wind keeps shifting between the south (or west) and the north (or east), surface and hidden windslabs are possible on any aspect in alpine or open treeline areas. Cold temperatures continue to weaken the snowpack. Weather: Westerly winds delivered 10 – 15 cm of fresh snow along the outer coast, and a whole lot more in inland areas like Alison Pass and the Coquihalla where closer to 40 cm fell by Wednesday afternoon. Winds will shift again to north and east outflow and temperatures will fall as a new surge of cold dry air pushes in.