Off_White

Yeah Greg, you still got the touch...

What, have you never noticed Erik's spelling? Why would it be any different with his name?

you forgot freedom kissing.

Yep, there's more than just dust bunnies in the twisty little hallways of my brain.

You mean "Rye or the Kaiser" don't you?

Hey dere, Miss Cleo got de brahnd new bag.

Fooled me, I didn't think the ice cliff glacier couloir faced that way. On the other hand, I didn't think there was anything that steep in the location it would be if that was N. Ridge Couloir either. If Larry the Tool took the picture, wouldn't there be a little laser dot on Ed?

Yep, so what does that put Ed on? Razorback Ridge?

Yeah, I've had a couple friends have similar experiences. One was denied entry to Canada a couple years ago because he had shoplifted some cheese at the store in Yosemite in 1977. It seems any crime committed on federal property (like national parks) qualifies as a felony. The standard is if you have ever committed a crime that at any time is considered a felony in the country of origin or Canada, you don't get in. I had a crossing aborted once because my climbing partner had been busted in 1979 in Edmonton for receiving pot in the mail from the US. At the time, the arresting officer had lectured him for being so stupid, and why didn't he just go down to the Rolls Royce Bar to buy pot instead of having it mailed through customs? He was released on his own recognizance ("You don't want to be in the jail for the Long Weekend now, eh?") and later fined $100. Although the crime was not at the time considered a felony (ohhh, the good old days), by the time we tried to cross the border at Osooyos (sp?) for a first trip to Skaha it was, so we were turned back, and wound up driving down to Smith instead. I think we drove about a thousand miles before we even left Washington state (unless you count that little loop into Canada and back to US customs, where they feel obliged to search you with drug sniffing dog and all, because you've been turned back). At the time, I thought it was payback for the US Customs "zero tolerance" policy that was in full swing. The worst thing is that I can't get my main climbing partner to return to Canada, and he doesn't want to do the work to change his status, which seems to involve giving the Canadian consulate a lot of (non-refundable) money and a grovelling letter about how you have rehabilitated yourself, for the mere consideration of your non-gratis status, with no guarantee of a favorable outcome.

Generally speaking, when standing in a lift line I prefer to baa like a sheep, but mooing works well too. I hope your rad friend saved his tricks for under the chair, cuz why bother if no one is watching?

At this very moment, it's The Bellrays "In The Light Of The Sun."

Thanks, I hadn't been aware of his conservation/education work, yet another reason to admire the man.

Being a sucker for alpine lakes with islands, I've always wanted to go to Spectacle. Lakes are cool, nothing to be embarassed about.

Maybe if you had a peak in the background of those lakes you might get some takers

Is the second one Peggy's Pond?

How newbie? I don't think of Liberty Ridge as a particularly good beginner route, though it does get lots of "enthusiasm over experience" attention. Terminal Gravity had a great little rant on the difference between conditioning and experience over in the Fitness Forum in the "conditioning hikes" thread, and Liberty Ridge was one of his examples. If conditions and weather are great, then its no big deal, but that can be a big "if." I've been weather skunked on it twice ages ago, so I have no functional beta, but lots of folks around here do.

Make sure they explain what "buddy skiing" is. Its more than just going to the area with someone, you've got to maintain contact and check on each other.

Is the Black Spider the thing right of the route line in this photo? Looks like a cold and overcast day kind of route to be sure.

The snow started sticking just past Enumclaw on 410, still there on my way back down the hill. Also started out the day with chubby rain here in Tenino, and non-stick snow on the little hill heading north out of town.

Bet you didn't know he was talking about tattoos.

I think Trask does go to pub clubs. He's that older gentleman a table or two away pretending not to be eavesdropping.

It was an embarrassment of riches today (friday). I actually saw someone with a snorkel. I got stuck in the deep stuff because 20 degrees was just not steep enough to move through it, but fortunately I had my Cousteau Society card with me. I just called up Jacques, and he brought the Calypso overhead and lowered me a line.

Yep, but I can't drive there in an hour and a half. Any port in a storm. Gotta go.

Well YIPPEE, I'm going to Crystal Friday.