Jonathan

I know there are some spectacularly nasty bugz lurking out there, but I've never become ill. I wonder if there really is a problem or if we're just more sensitive (not necessarily a bad thing, mind you) to the issue than we were years ago. Obviously some sources are worse than others, say, glacial runoff from the popular, heavily beshitten routes on Mt. Rainier. Most of the Cascades, however, are still gloriously empty. 10% of the places get 90% of the use. You can always find pristine locales if you avoid the canonical destinations, especially if you're just even a little off-season. So what's really changed?

Happened to bump into one esteemed member of this site last night and put a face to a name. Some resemblance to her avatar, although the west wall of the Jolly Roger in Ballard was a poor substitute for a stylized Tuscan landscape. Among other topics, we discussed filters. I don't filter and drink deeply from most sources I encounter. Have done so since I became an outdoor geek as a teenager back in the '70s. If the source appears questionable, I might add some iodine tablets. If I'm feeling particularly genteel, I'll extent my right pinky at a rakish angle and pop in some powdered ascorbic acid to neutralize the iodine taste. So who filters, who dosen't, etc . . . Any good water-born illness stories out there? Jonathan Pryce

I am here to sing the praises of duct tape. I am also profoundly bored at the moment and hope to generate some spray. I’m not even really a climber, just a hopeless gumby wannabe. With duct tape I have: Field repaired marmot-chewed tents, glissade-compromised pants and crampon-ravaged gaiters. Oh, yes, also employed it to prevent snow balling up on said crampons. Just wrap around the front of the crampon to form a plate of sorts. Have used it on myself: After puncturing my calf on a branch stub on a icy log crossing, I used it to apply a bandage to control the profuse bleeding. Essential item in blister prevention and repair. Part of my bumper is currently affixed to my car with duct tape. The coax cable that carries this message from my computer to you, gentle reader, is duct taped up a door frame, onto a wall, and then down the wall on the other side of the room down to access the cable jack. Truely a vision of gracious living. What have you done with duct tape lately? Jonathan Pryce

Ramen: Food of the Gods, Manna from Heaven Ramen belongs on every trip, wherever your travels in our sweet Cascade home may take you. Along with Landjaeger and Kendal Mint Cakes, it constitutes the foundation of any alpinist’s diet. It's made me the man I am today, so you'll probably want to steer well clear of the stuff. Water boiled on 1965 Optimus 96 kerosene burning stove. Ramen block was placed into bowl, boiling water poured on top. Waited 3 minutes. Tucked in. Rated in terms of what tasted best or what brand names struck my fancy. Entirely arbitrary and capricious rating system. Stores visited: The Ballard Market, Larry’s, Uwajimaya and Viet Wah, the latter being my personal favorite. Oddly, there was no intersection of ramen brands at these stores. Nissin Top Ramen Brand Ramen USA Oriental, chicken, chicken vegetable, beef, shrimp, teriyaki chicken, Cajon chicken, chicken sesame Many ramen brands feature the mysterious oriental flavor. No corresponding occidental flavor I’m aware of. Is that an example of Occidentalism? Better call Edward Said. 1pkg. = 380 kcal, 120 from fat, 1660 mg sodium, typical of the ramens sampled, just what you need at the end of a long day. 10/1$ at many local stores Wine: Rancho Zabaco Zin, ca. $10 at many local markets. Great wine at a great price. Nissin Brand Ramen Japan Shoyu flavor. Hope those little shoyus aren't endangered. Couldn’t we eat those useless marmots instead? I really detest the little chicken fuckers. .39/pkg at Uwajimaya Maybe a little warm saki. Lucky Me! Brand Ramen Philippines Hot Chili flavor Included soy sauce and package of yellowish, viscous fat .39/pkg at VietWah Foil spice package strongly resembles a condom package, hence the brand name? Whatever Gourmet magazine or Cook’s Illustrated is recommending these days as complementary to yellowish, viscous fat. Sapporo Ichiban Brand Ramen Japan Original flavor. Whatever that may be. Included bit o’ seaweed, a nice touch .39/pkg at Uwajimaya One or two of those cute little cans of Saporro beer WaiWai Brand Ramen Thailand TomYum. Isn’t he related to Tommy Hilfiger? .49/pkg at VietWah Intelligent eyed, comely woman on package sports short-sassy do, yet she’s still urbanely coiffed. She’s giving a both thumbs up sign, while proclaiming “Softer noodles, quicker to be served.” Ohmygod, she’s even wearing one of those scrunchies in her hair that turns my knees into mush. I get no kick from champagne/Mere alcohol doesn’t thrill me at all . . . the ramen goddess intoxicates me, I am in love, she is the dream of my sleepless nights Ve Wong Kung Fu Brand Taiwan Beef, Chicken, Onion, Shrimp .35/pkg at Uwajimaya Kinda nondescript, actually, a little boring, despite its initially enticing pugilist appellation. Probably Canadian Tylenol, liquid version Yummy Brand Thailand Duck, Chicken, Tommy, Beef .39/pkg at Vietnam Duck flavor was this brand’s best and unique among the fine ramens I sampled. Whatever you’re having, thanks! Marching Brand Ramen USA Oriental, beef, shrimp, beef mushroom. The ramen that conquered the Ptarmigan! 1pkg. = 380 kcal, 140 from fat, 1800 mg sodium Enjoyed in executive session with my good friend, Mr. J. Daniels, and some nice web pages offering appealing visual imagery. Mum's Brand Ramen Korea Oriental .39/pkg at Uwajimaya Suggested wine: Box o' rice wine at Uwajimaya, 5.39/.5 later Vivo Brand Vietnam Shrimp, Beef Included little package of spicy flavored oil Strangely, the package was largely in Polish Polish cooking instructions 1. Makaron pokruszyć i wrzucić do glębokiej miski. Przyprawy z torebek dodać do smaku. Zalać 0,4 l wrzątku. 2. Przykryć na 3 minuty. 3. Po wymieszaniu zupa jest gotowa do spożycia. SMACZNEGO! I don’t know how to pronounce SMACZNEGO!, but I’m certain it’s a lot of fun to say. .39/pkg at VietWah Polish vodka, of course IndioMie Brand Ramen Indonesia. Just doing my part to support the repressive regimes who are our allies in the war on terror. Includes a package of bumbu sauce, chili powder, oil o’ mystery, soy sauce and fried onions. 5 packages. Wow. Couldn't tell a shoyu from a bumbu, but it's fun to say bumbu sauce, isn't it? Easier to say than SMACZNEGO! Of course, unless bumbu means sauce in which case I've just said something as silly as chai tea. .49/pkg at Uwajimaya Well, one more round. Westbrae Brand Miso Ramen Japan Has the distinction of being steamed, not fried, so 80% less fat. Also boasts less sodium. What's the point of eating fat-free, reduced salt ramen? That's like drinking a no fat, sugar substitute, decaf latte! 1.50/pkg. at Larry's. Larry’s, harrumph. Figures. Wine: Something white and Californian and out of a box, that's for sure

Have already perused Beckey. Any additional info? Jonathan

Hello, Although a long time MSR Whisperlight stove user (and before that the Svea 123), I’ve been intrigued by the new butane mixtures and the pocket rocket type burner units. But what can go wrong with them and how would you fix in in the field? How often do the seals on the canisters fail? If the burner clogs, how to unclog? Is the burner basically just a tube with a valve and flame spreader? Ciao for niao, Jonathan Pryce

Hello, Thanks to all who posted. I agree with Picketeer and jhamaker about the "least struggley way" to travel in the Access Creek drainage. As I recall from the ’01 trip, stay on the north side of the creek and, as Nelson/Potterfield say, within earshot of the creek. Above the timbered campsite at around 3700’, head rightish, unitizing forest and some clever bear trails through the slide alder avalanche swaths. Of course we discovered these handy travel tips on the descent. By the way, weather last weekend compelled my buddy Norm and I to forsake the Picketts and head east into the drier Pasayten, where we enjoyed athletic scrambles of Lake and Monument Peaks. Scheduling issues may not allow an extended trip into the Picketts this year. Jonathan

Hello, Has anyone out there recently crossed the Big Beaver to get into the Access Creek drainage? Was in there last year in Sept., and it went well enough w/ a wade and a log, but that was a poor snow year. Thanks, Jonathan

Hello, Has anyone out there recently crossed the Big Beaver to get into the Access Creek drainage? Was in there last year in Sept., and it went well enough w/ a wade and a log, but that was a poor snow year. Thanks, Jonathan

Hello, I've frequently camped at trailheads. In NCNP there are several just off SR20. Free overview maps of the park are available at the RS in Marblemount or by snail mail. Cheers, Jonathan

Hello, Billy, In Sept. '01 we walked maybe 30 min. past Luna Camp until we encountered some sandier, more gravelly soil. Departed the trail here stage left and slogged through the brush to the creek, more or less in a straight line. A might boggy at times. Ambled downstream a bit and encountered a small knee-deep, not terribly swift wade onto a rocky island. From there two level logs sped us across the considerably more rowdy main channel. IMHO very fortuitous find. Now, could I locate this exact spot again? Perhaps. Would those logs be there? Hard tellin' not knowin'! Unfortunately we lost much time to struggling up Access Ck.--we were too far from the stream--and weather--tent bound for a day--to climb Luna and Fury East. We did achieve the col between Fury East and Luna, but too late in the day for Luna. We had underestimated the time required. The col however constitutes a spectacular destination in its own right. Good luck! Jonathan