iain

Did you accidently chug Olestra?

Agree with the caveman. Didn't see the post but you can't remove it just because it is critical. People post stuff that makes them look like total jerks but the posts have remained. It looks like he had some good points to talk about too.

Perhaps you already have this experience, but you might try some not-so-technical scrambles with knowledgable friends to get some experience living above treeline, dealing with weather, cold, snow, exposure, etc. Being comfortable in that environment to begin with can make a difference on whether you make it to the top of something or not. It just takes time to develop the discipline to take care of the little things, and it's the little things that add up to become big advantages or big liabilities during a climb! No book will teach you this stuff.

eh hem, that would be Mount Adams Meadows.

http://www.cascadeclimbers.com/threadz/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/267776/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1/vc/1

Ice and rock

I would do just about anything when being faced with burning to death. If I worked in an office that high I would have base jumping gear in the bottom drawer of my desk. I'm not kidding.

Often it comes down to looking at a thin-section under the scope of diorite and granite to tell them apart, as they have very similar texture when you just look at them. Sometimes it's easier though. Maybe I just need more experience at it. Fun times!

You wouldn't be too wrong, since there is a chemical distinction, but you would avoid being labeled a total geek. I am not sure what Dragontail is, actually. I never read anything about it. This is exactly what the iron ore extraction business is all about.

A mixture is a good way to put it actually, as it forms in a mixed-up liquid state in the continental crust. Based on how it cools, and what it picks up as it does so, various minerals crystallize out at different temperatures. This is why there are a million kinds of "granite" out there, hence all the ridiculous sub-names. Doesn't really matter unless you work for Exxon or carry a rock hammer as a profession.

Granite is what's known as a rock!

as for quartz, it has a definite crystal structure, a uniform hardness, a uniform chemical composition, etc. It's a mineral by these definitions. It is one of the primary minerals in granite, however.

Because granite is a mixture of many other minerals, such as feldspar and quartz. It is formed through relatively slow cooling, hence the large crystals it typically has. It is the same as rhyolite (as dru said), but rather than cooling quickly, it has cooled slowly, usually at depth.

To repeat, granite is most definitely not a mineral. It has a bunch of quartz in it.

haha you guys are posting way to fast for me now I look like an idiot! (par for the course, I suppose)

granite is not a mineral. quartz is, however. diorite can be quite common. It is basically granite with less potassium feldspar, the pink stuff. It is much more "black and white" in appearance, though that is not a definitive description. so does monzonite ever have monazite in it? gawd I'm glad I'm not studying this stuff anymore.

Bad law? How many bayonette stabbings to do hear about now? Someone could've cut themselves on those things.

Some knowledge of structural geology will keep you off desperate down-sloping holds and underclings. Trapse across some of the faces on Mt. Sir Donald for some examples.

Apparently he has those routes totally wired, as they are local things he is on all the time. But still. He also downclimbed some hard 10-something to get off of it. oh here's the link: http://www.huberbuam.de/aktuell/enkommu1.htm

"Soft, strong, and highly absorbant" We'll have to guess whether you are talking about the quality of the writing or the paper on which it is written.

The USGS has things like this: http://wrgis.wr.usgs.gov/docs/parks/noca/nocaft.html and this: http://wrgis.wr.usgs.gov/docs/parks/noca/nocageol1.html dunno if that's a help. It would help to know what kind of geology you are interested in: petrology, stratigraphy/seds, structural geology, geochemistry, etc. for instance you can talk about the chemical composition of rocks on Rainier, or the flow structure in its debris.

the buttons make it hard to play tetris, the true test of any calculator's worth.

No, the system at Wimbledon is an electronic "eye" that tracks down the lines. It is used for calling serves in or out, since the men's game has gotten so out of hand speed-wise.

I have carried port in an MSR Dromedary with no problem...really hits the spot!

pfft someone didn't pay attention to the metolius safety dots