JoshK

Jesus tits, Chuck, chill out. You think I meant that literally? I still, think, however, if the discussion has already been brought up there is no reason in pointing out the teacher is incorrect. Any reasonable teacher is going to be accepting that they were wrong. It isn't disrespectul to point this out.

http://www.cascadeclimbers.com/plab/showphoto.php?photo=2831&password=&sort=1&cat=500&page=1 I just uploaded this picture of shuksan from Ruth mountain. Baker can be seen in the background. It's not the best vantage for comparing them, but you can clearly tell that baker is a volcano in the distance and shuksan is, well, clearly not a volcano. Tell your teacher she is an idiot for me...

Yup, sad but true news. All you bastards who voted for GWB can thank yourselves, because he sure ain't helping the cause.

Doh...I am dyslexic, or however you spell that. I was thinking MRNP, as in mount rainer national park, which is why I was paricularlly confused as to where you found that climb.

Nothing like the sweet smell of dirt, chalk and sweat!

wtf ? isn't it "non technical climbing" called scrambing or hiking? . try to contact Chris Koziarz, he was there last month. check lonely planet guide, there is a lot of info there (about hiking). I think a moderate glacier route could be considered non-technical climbing, at least in my book.

Wow. Sounds, uh...fun. I'm not sure I want to get myself or my dad killed on a slog. We are actually looking at Mt. Aspiring as well now. I guess the NW ridge is supposed to be a fairly non-technical and beautiful climb. I have no idea what the mountain is like, but I'm assuming since it's a ridge it probably doesn't have the objective hazards of this linda glacier route.

Ha! that's a great photo Matt. Is that anybody around here? Ultra lights look scary but fun.

Dale, where 'bouts in MRNP is that?

Wow. How in god's name did that happen? The sherpa coulior is the pretty low angle one. Did you mean the ice cliff coulior? I've heard that is fairly steepish.

Exactly, which is all I care about is that they share the pics.

Who gives a shit who climbs what first. Even if I were to work real hard and get one or two first ascents around here, it is still going to be pretty much impossible to get them all. I'd rather have *somebody* do them so I can see the pics. If it pumps up your ego to climb something before somebody else does, good on ya', that's your perogative. Just bring back the pics and post them so the rest of us have something pretty to look at.

FWIW, despite the differences in stats on their websites, the Bibler Eldorado and the Integral Designs MK1 XL are *identical* in size. I set them both up in the marmot store and they are inch for inch the same. Bibler (at least they used to) claims the eldorado is several inches larger in both dimensions, but it must be how they masure it, because it isn'tt.

Wow, if you could that would be awesome! The more info I can find the better chances we would have of pulling it off. thanks!

Thanks Matt, that is about what I was figuring. Beautiful pic. I used your same words when I was explaining it to him that "he'd know he'd climbed something." Like I said, he is as fit as they come so I believe we could do it if other conditions cooperate.

Hello again all. OK, on talking to my dad again he has said he would like to attempt Mount Cook. The plan would be to hire a local guide for logistics (and a 3rd man on a rope team) with the agreement that he isn't to drag us up like gumbies. Has anybody here climbed Cook? Would it be doable for a very fit, confident and quick-learned individual with only minor amounts of prior climbing experience? thanks again, -josh

If you wanks climbed half as often as you argued about fucking fabric technologies you'd have the entire Cascades range explored within a years time.

Of course it will. Ben had lots of buddy's that were coconspirators in his crazy adventures. I fully expect these guys to keep the torch moving. For some reason I still don't buy that TC hasn't been skiied. It's so completely accessible and such an obvious line. Besides that it frankly isn't that hard of a ski. I guess it's just hard to believe with all the good skiiers around here that nobody has done it.

Heh. well said for sure. I imagine anybody who is gonna get up the mountain in winter could deal with a few miles of skiing on a road.

Does anybody have any good information on some fairly non-technical climbing opportunties in New Zealand? It looks like I am going there for the month of January with my father. We plan on doing some of the hut trail hikes, but I think it would be fun to get in a summit or two as well. He is very fit, but isn't a technical climber, so scrambles or easy glacier climbs would be what we are looking for. thanks for any info, -josh

Yeah, I think the potential on that aspect of sloan peak is about as far opposite from secret as you can get now. I'm actually really surprised nobody went up and did it last year. I'm also not entirely convinced it hasn't been done before and simply not reported. It seems a pretty obvious face to miss, but who knows...

Will the bridge break really cause a delay in alpental's opening? Anybody who isn't an idiot parks at one of the upper lots and skis down anyhow.

Yeah, I wonder what the deal is. I think they have enough snow??

Wow, that's awesome. I love hearing stories like this. Most people can only dream of kicking ass like Bill at 50 or 60, let alone 80!

11. 4WD does not mean you can get away without snow tires or chains. 12. No matter what the salesman told you, your SUV still sucks in the snow. Slow down and keep everybody safe. 13. Just because the subaru or Audi (or even little FWD car) took the corner at 35mph, doens't mean your SUV won't slide off into the snowbank trying it at the same speed (I've witnessed this TWICE now. ) Minx, reminds me of my new years eve skiing up at snocrummie a few years back. I got soaking wet but somehow it was fun anyway.