PaulB

I suppose it could get turned on in your pack, but I think the chances are small. I've only taken my Icon out on a couple of short trips, so more use may prove otherwise. I will say that the chances of the Icon getting turned on in my pack are much less than for my old Zoom, which it has replaced. With my Zoom, I always left one battery lead disconnected until I needed to use it.

That would be my only complaint against the Altimax (and I assume the Vector as well). The alarm is too quiet, but at least there are three that you can set in series.

I've been very happy with my Suunto Altimax. It's pretty much a Vector without the compass function. Note that GPS altitude measurements can be somewhat inaccurate. From the bit I've read, I don't get the impression that the SiRF technology will improve that.

Check out the ACMG's Mountain Conditions Report.

No one in/around Vancouver offers this service. On Sight in Squamish used to, but not anymore. I got mine done by Yates this summer.

Ingress Protection (IP) ratings denote how well electrical equipment will resist ingress by solid objects (the first numeral) and/or water (the second numeral). The higher the number, the better the protection. An "X" denotes no protection. e.g. IPX4 indicates no resistance to solid objects, but resistance to splashing water. IP ratings explained here.

If possible, you should try them both on, and buy whichever fits your foot the best. Many people find that if they have a "Scarpa" foot, the Garmont's don't fit so well, and vice versa. In terms of performance, the T2X will be much burlier than your old T2s (2-buckle I assume), almost like the three buckle T1s from a few years ago. I've never skied in Garmonts, so can't comment on them. As an aside, if you're buying new boots to have a "performance" setup, size them nice and snug, and keep your packed out and comfy T2s for long tours.

I'm looking at the Icon as a replacement for my old Petzl Zoom. The Zoom still does the job, but I want something more compact, but brighter than my Tikka (original, 3 LED). Would the Icon be comparable to the Zoom with a halogen bulb?

The Royal Canadian Mint makes coins for many countries. Currency as well as commemorative stuff.

top100climbing.com CC comes in at #13 and bivy.com is #5.

I contacted Onsight this summer and was told that they no longer reslings cams. Apparently, they had a bad experience with a particularly anal customer, and decided the marginal revenue wasn't worth the potential headaches.

I bought my Camalots (1 & 2) and Camalot Jrs. (0.5 & 0.75) in 1994 and had them re-slung by Yates this summer. Barring major damage from a fall, I expect I'll be using them for another 10 years. If the Camalots are in good shape and the price is right, I'd say you've found a great deal. Even if the trigger wires were frayed or bent, you can probably still get new ones from BD. As mentioned, the only real con is that the old Camalots are heavier than the new ones.

It is true that The Boot has closed. The building is still standing though, and has reportedly become something of a squatters camp for ultra-cheap ski bums. I haven't heard if anyplace in town has picked up the uh, scene, from Friday nights. Inbounds was probably good for about two or three runs before everything was tracked up. Luckily, the backcountry was an endless canvass of untracked, hip to waist deep powder, with only about a dozen or so of us playing in it.

Cool... you can faceplant and have your head and/or spine impaled by an aluminum bar.

You don't really buy Edge tickets. You buy an Edge Card (requires proof that you live in BC or WA) which includes either 1 day for $70 or 5 days for $280. Once the included days are used up, you get a discounted rate (currently $64) every day you ski. Each person in your group would have to buy their own Edge Card. You can either order the Cards online, and pick them up at Guest Services, or just buy them when you get there. If you link your credit card to the Edge Card, you can totally avoid the ticket windows and go right to the lifts. If you live in BC or WA, the Edge Card is the way to go.

The 7-11 tickets are usually $5-$10 cheaper than the ticket window price, which is currently $77. Seeing as this is high season, the discount is probably closer to $5 than $10. Unless you get an accommodation & lift ticket package, or qualify for an Edge Card, 7-11 is the cheapest you'll find. Note that you have to get the 7-11 tickets in Vancouver, or in Squamish at the 7-11/Esso next to McDonalds. You can't buy them in Whistler or at the 7-11/Petro-Canada in Squamish.

Nothing wrong with a wide stance for either alpine or tele. A wide stance equals stability & balance whether you're busting through backcountry crud or carving high speed turns on groomers. These guys definitely use a wide stance: Herman Maier Bode Miller As for learning at the resorts or in the BC, I'd say do both. Buy a cheap AT setup and ride the lifts as often as you can afford to, but also get out in the BC so you can start learning all the stuff that goes with that side of it as well.

There have been a couple of nasty incidents at the Diamond Head (aka Elfin Lakes, Red Heather) parking lot recently. Multiple broken windows and one car torched right to the ground. Something to be aware of for anyone planning to spend New Year's up there. More info on ClubTread & TTips.

Wasatch Backcountry Rescue has recently tested heli based, long range, receivers to search for avy beacons. This addresses the range issue, but is not much help in terms of recovery time unless there happens to be a suitably equipped heli in the area at the time of burial. Probably most useful when searching for someone who is lost or for doing a recovery. The same could be said of the RECCO system.

I carry multiple pairs of light fleece and/or softshell gloves for climbing and a pair of mitts for belaying. I was looking at MEC's Dr. Sno glove ($45) today, and thought they would be good for ice. Snug fit with good dexterity.

The standard SE Ridge route is fun, but it's a long, steep approach to get up there from Airplane Creek. Best done as a weekend trip so you can bag Stewart & The Still while you're up there. Note that the bridge on the Airplane Creek road was washed out a couple of weeks ago, so depending on when they replace it, access next summer might require a long hike up from the Foley Creek FSR.

I've had an Altimax for 5 or so years, and it has been great on all my climbing and skiing adventures. It's only weakness is a crappy alarm that you can barely hear. I change the battery maybe once a year... it's easy to do.

It was more of a short runnel than a full waterfall. Not anything that you'd bother to climb, but neither was it something that we wanted to ski.

Between Gadd's Ice & Mixed Climbing and Twight's Extreme Alpinism, the subject of weight training for ice & alpine climbing is pretty well covered.

Try this.