iain

And did we? Show me the proof! Until a smoking gun is produced I will continue to believe we never made it there, just like there is no such thing as anthropogenic global warming.

for a more worthwhile reply: I can lead sport face routes in the 5.10 range, but I don't think it really makes much difference on my trad climbing range, since it seems almost a different skill set altogether.

nice, dragging this old beast back up from the basement.

diesel exhaust is now considered much worse for our atmosphere than gasoline due to the heavy particulate matter produced. I'd also like to add that I did not mean to totally restrict auto purchases, but perhaps some serious financial incentives to think about a better commuter choice.

I don't want to see a totalitarian system where someone dictates what you can buy, but when such ridiculous decisions are being made that clearly jeopardize our collective well-being, what are you going to do? I, for one, don't believe these people will ever say "well for the good of the community, I won't drive my troop transport today." I consider that selfish. You seem to consider that a god-given right. Maybe it is, but I can't fly an F-14 to work everyday either. I believe you are living proof of the need for regulation, as you clearly do not prescribe to the "good of the many" argument, which is exactly what is needed to initially drive improvements in personal transportation. Could you imagine how nice life would be without traffic jams? If everyone chips in, it could happen. Now you would call that last statement naive. Why? Because that will never happen. Why? Because people most often do not make decisions based on the "good of the many". So where do we go from there?

It is clear automakers don't give a rat's ass about fuel efficiency and smog reduction unless they are prodded with laws. It is also clear the people are driving over-powered cars for commuting if a V-8 is somehow justified in a light truck that sees no hauling or towing duty. Don't give me the "how do you know" stuff either, I know plenty of people like this. You DON'T need a Land Rover Discovery V-8 full-time 4wd in suburban Portland. People still buy these even though Prius, etc is available, and they do not go offroad or anything even close.

I think there is plenty of evidence that it is impossible for individuals and businesses alike to self-regulate.

Yes greg mind control is the only option. Is it possible for you not to speak in superlatives all the time? You demand to defend your kids with guns yet apparently you don't care about the air they'll be breathing in a decade.

if Siberia is an untapped resource then we aren't getting much oil from it are we?

muffy we can't proceed with this logical course of action as long as the american guy feels he is judged by the size of his truck, even if he does the I-5 commute, and people are willing to endure 2 hours of gridlock to avoid expending a few calories to get home.

mattp I agree with you 100%. It's worth the financial risk if only for the improvements in standards of living. It's like not spending cash on a new carabiner design to do R&D because evidence of failure is inconclusive.

damn right Caveman, there are people out there who should not be in the field on a technical rescue, period, regardless of good intentions. Some feel patches on jackets license them to become mountain cops, telling everyone how to tie this knot or that one, and scolding people for doing this or that on the mountain. The best guys are the older quiet ones with the worn-out gear who get the job done when the stuff hits the fan.

If there is not an objective set of standards against which each field member is evaluated through a testing process with documentation, an organization leaves itself wide open to litigation. Both these forms of evaluation are in place in the mountain rescue units I have been involved in, and if they were not, I'd quit.

you'll find them grubbing down on the jetfuel-soaked carcasses in mountain plane crashes too. Charming creatures.

Just barely flying out of the Clemenceau Group in the BC Rockies as a snowstorm englufed the range after a week of solid weather and 100% success rate on all peaks with some fun canadians. Getting ripped at the Old Trapper in Golden afterwards realizing the incredible luck we had.

I have two harnesses. I almost always use a Metolius 3D, but I also have an Alpine Bod I would like to start using more than I do. The problem is the gear loops. I made some from aquarium tubing and thin cord and they suck. They are a pain to clip quickly when they get weighed down by stuff. Any advice on where I can get good bulky rubber tubing or does anyone else have some advice on gear loop construction for this thing?

You had to look up LaGrande? How long you been in the beaver state foo?

..it's my prerogative...it's the way that I wanna live...it's my prerogative...

usually it is a climber realizing the difference between leading and toprope.

Is there much snow on Tumalo Butte and the cinder cone Tim?

buttercup is the superbeginner lift and daisy ain't much more than that. Should be more open by the weekend though I think.

do whatever you like now, "it's my prerogative" is in there to stay.

No, I'm proud. Thanks for embedding that prerogative song into my brain again.

you're pretty badass apparently.

I was talking about you.