AlpineTortoise

I have an 87 Civic hatchback 5-speed with the (preferred)larger 1.5 liter engine and get high 30's to 40 mpg. With a short wheelbase, fwd and engine over the front wheels, the snow traction is pretty good. I use studded snow tires on front when I know snow will be encountered. The car is so light that just one buddy is usually enough to push it out of a problem. With one rear seat folded down, three climbers and all their gear, for whatever, will fit. The two main problems for me are going up to Paradise in the winter (a lot) and the south route road into Mt. Adams. Chains are a pain. The way out of it is to trade off with your 4-wheel buddies for the hard stuff, but then you are on their schedule not yours. I am very curious about the existence of a lift kit for a civic. That seems pretty doubtful though. The Civic works great, but with a Subaru you wouldn't have to compromise. If you are a Microsofty wait for the new Volkswagon Touraq(?) that's coming out next year, it is the final solution, but costly.

As best I can tell the whole point of the soft shell "push" is that you: 1. Look good 2. Get to spend big bucks so you think that you have gotten the latest technology. 3. Have a water resistant, breathable shell that doesn't sound like a shower curtain every time you move. But really? In the mountains? Wind DOES pass right through and they do not insulate, so you need to use additional insulation. The applications where this material might be useful is under strenuous activities like fast cross-country skiing or hiking up some steep hill with a heavy pack in the trees. But once you break out of the trees or get up on a ridge and the wind hits, you realize that you have been had by the manufacturers marketing machine. In essence you are wearing a useless additional layer. It seems like an alternative compared to the $500+ they are charging for some of the goretex parkas nowdays, but don't fall for it. I would agree with some of the other gear opinions from this site and look to cheaper stores for fleece. Just hit it with some water repellant NickWax. But for your rock climbing exploits, I really don't know what material is tough for that? Yes, as I age, I am becoming a cheap old fart.

The Cloudveil Serendipity jacket is the biggest mistake I ever made buying gear. It was billed as breathable and windproof and was very expensive. It was supposedly capable of replacing two lighter layers, thus desireable for the weight conscious. Breathable?? Absolutely!! It was like wearing nothing and I half froze trying it out on the Muir snowfield. I tried it several more times with the same results. Insulating qualities?? None!! A total waste of money, unless you want to wear it as a fashion statement in Bellvue on a windless sixty degree day. As such, I feel the Cloudveil line is way overpriced, misrepresented, and non-functional.