Off_White

Well, let's kick it up a notch. Perusing McLane's Alpine Select for BC alpine routes, it's stunning (and a little demoralizing) how many approaches call for 4wd-high clearance vehicles or an extra 75km of walking. There's lots of mention of approach times with and without mountain bikes. Why don't folks use motorcycles? Seems like even a cheap little dirt bike would speed you along better than crawling your big ass truck through huge water bars.

So, are you going to celebrate by joining some Squamish posse and burning some american tents?

I don't think many have claimed that hallucinogens are performance enhancing, it's more like getting points for working with a handicap, like a no-hands ascent of a boulder problem.

No silly, it's the one that's having the most fun.

Thurston County started doing this a number of years ago and got early kudus for being an innovator. I had a recent interesting encounter with the now widespread technology. I have a subscription to Reason magazine, a monthly libertarian publication. The June issue arrived in my mailbox with my name in bold print on the cover, the comment "They Know Where You Are" and an aerial photo of my property with a red circle around what they thought was my house (it was actually the hay barn in the front field). This was part of the lead article about the unsung benefits of a database nation, that we should get used to a loss of privacy, and really, it's all for the best. They did a special run of covers for the subscribers so that each got their own feature, including assorted tidbits about my neighborhood such as the average commute time, that only 22.88% have 4 year college degrees, and that 3% of the children in my zip code are raised by their grandparents. As a general contractor, I use these aerial photo databases all the time, whether for drawing up a quick site plan or checking to see if there are any wetland or easement problems with a given project. It's all pretty wild, and who knows where it will go in the next decade. One drawback though is that the crag in my front yard is invisible from the air, too vertical to make much of an impression. However, apply the 2' interval contour overlay, and there it is!

Well, it does raise the question, just what is the best guidebook ever?

Thanks for the synopsis Will. While I was striking a pose, I was also curious just what your job was up there. on the good work. I am curious how many here are self-employed. It struck me as funny that of the few I'm aware of, AlpineK, MattP and I land on the left end of the balance and only RobBob on the right. That's contrary to the mythology of just what sort of person is a self-starting entrepreneur.

How many of you free enterprise types work 50 hours a week or more? How many of you are self employed entrepreneurs? Will, you actually work for the federal government, don't you? Do you suffer any kind of libertarian angst over being a burden to society, a leach on the face of American ingenuity?

Christopher Hitchens defines himself as a contrarian, rather than a liberal. He left his long standing column at The Nation over his disgust that no one else at the magazine would agree with his unconditional support for going to war in Iraq. Hitchens, who I think is a fabulous and entertaining writer, once referred to Lady Diana and Mother Teresa as "a simpering Bambi narcissist and a thieving, fanatical Albanian dwarf." Hows that for spray? His graphic for his column in The Nation was a guy on a horse with a lance and a windmill in the background. Like any writer, he has his own bias and agenda, and he's not about to admit that attacking Iraq was anything less than the right thing to do. Besides, I think Hitchens starches his shirts, and I'm sure he finds Michael Moore's fashion sense repulsive. Anyway, my point is that Hitchens is not a recent convert turned off by Moore's film, but has been in the pro-Iraq war camp since the very beginning.

Yeah, this looks like no fun at all.

It sounds like you two have some unresolved communication issues in your relationship. Take him aside and have a gentle conversation, but make it clear that if he can't keep you abreast of major changes in his life, it just won't work and he'll have to move out.

I'm psyched, this is a pretty cool space mission. Check it out Fairweather, two things we agree on in as many months.

That's a good thing, cuz I'm really hoping he's gonna need a new job soon.

You'll notice Distel is the subject, not the photographer? I like the heel hook at the lip turn, but then there you are dangling. Did you crank out the finish or run out of gas? I had a feeling that Flagstaff limestone would be just your cup of tea.

You get a loaf of cheap bread, a jar of peanut butter, and a pot of jam. Make the whole loaf into sandwiches, load them back into the bag, and apply compression until the stack height is reduced roughly 50%. They're going to get squished anyway, might as well be deliberate about it. Voila, with a sack of smushies you're good for a week, and need waste no time in selecting what you will have for your next meal.

You're so silly Rudy. Doesn't matter which piece of the climbing game turns your crank, everyone is concerned about access and user impact, and secret projects come in all sizes. As Kix mentions, it's quite the balancing game: you don't want a bunch of people making a mess of things, but without enough traffic the moss will win. That said, it's my guess you'll actually need to promote the area some to get the traffic you need to keep things clean, so work on your access issues pro-actively. Just what is the NW boulderer population these days? Even with more information access I doubt you'd see anything remotely like the onslaught Bishop has endured.

Dru is correct, it's not visible in the photo, though I think the upper part comes in on the skyline from the right. Here's a crappy photo that still doesn't quite show it, but it's closer. Dragonfly is over on the extreme right edge, mostly facing further right. The white rock up high on the right edge is part of Dragonfly.

I was at Colchuck late when Yoder and partner (McGowan? can't remember without the book) arrived in the dark after the FA. We got 'em stoned and sent them on down the trail, and they were foaming at the mouth about how good the route was. Windmilling pantomimes and bugged out eyes suggested the crux was pretty sporty. I've also done a route on the NE Butt between the Beckey route and the direct. I'm pretty sure the info in the guidebook about those other routes is wrong, but if you're contemplating Dragonfly you shouldn't have a hard time muddling through one line or another as a backup. The one we did was about 5.8. On the way in I sort of scanned around looking for the start of Dragonfly. I didn't scramble over to the base, but didn't look like it would be too hard to find. If you do it, take pictures and tell stories.

East of Seattle, eh? Kind of a tossup if you're closer going west, isnt' it?

Awww, you changed him! Rabbi Toughguy is cool. I figured the Lutherans had put that stuff behind them, but thanks for confirming it. It's good to know I can laugh at Garrison Keillior's jokes without guilt.

Somebody needs to buy Dick Cheney a book for his birthday.

Martin Luther? You mean that German augustian monk who wrote in his essay On Jews and Their Lies I was quite surprised to see his name linked to a polemic poised as if to come from the mouth of your combative Rabbi Toughguy. Coming back around to baby smashing, Father Luther preferred to see possessed children thrown into the river to drown or be cured. Martin Luther was a sick bastard.

Well, maybe not quite as funny as babysmashers...

Cute baby? I think Bat Boy has a little brother!