JoshK

Gaston; I understand that you would think this way, coming from socialist anti-gun Europe. Crime doesn't only follow poverty, but it also follows an unarmed populace. This has been statistically proven; good reference on this is "More Guns, Less Crime", by John Lott, an economist. To refute your assertion, look at the rising violent crime rates in Britain where handguns were banned in 1995 (or 1996); look also at violent crime rates in rural communities where there are quite a few guns. There will always be murder, just new and different implements - that is a human issue, unfortunately. I'd be happy to discuss this over beers with you sometime. By the way, did you ever do that retro-bolting work up at Static? Greg W Greg, the rural argument is silly. Population denisity plays into the whole factor a lot. Saying the large amount of guns in Montana is why there isn't much crime there would be pretty BS, don't you think? Also, the populace is heavily armed in many 3rd world nations, so that's why there is such a low crime rate in them, right? Oh...wait...errr...no You like guns, that's fine, but don't pull out the "statistically proven" stuff. Statistics can be used to prove practically everything, and simply because John Lott, an economist, says that his numbers prove that arming everybody with an AK-47 would make this country a safe place to live doesn't make it so.

I've been very very happy with my BD vipers. I use them only on waterfalls as the large amount of shaft curve and pinky supprorts (albeit small) makes them less than ideal for the alpine. I have pretty small hands and I liked the grip the best out of most everything I tried. -josh

I believe the Alaksa pick is also stronger and designed more to take abuse at the cost of some performance.

what up, trav. I bet if there is any snow left in the SGC it'll be great. the rock should be free of snow on the WR making for a fun and much easier ascent. that would be a great route if more straightforward than it was in may!

it's easy, like usual. have fun, cool climb. great views, neat mountain, bring skis to get down!

Orin Hatch is a fucking idiot, this doesn't surprise me a bit. Only a a place as fucked up as Utah would vote this jackass into office.

Something tells me another 5k of vert might cut down on the touron contingent on mount rainer quite a bit.

It's too bad rainer had to go and blow itself to shit and all. Can you imagine in it in it's old glorious 19,000+ foot form!?

GWB should be happy, at least he's never going to be at risk for execution.

so, does no job mean no computer or more climbing time?

My friend here at work used to fuck with the dumb freshman girls in his dorm at UW by telling them that mount rainer was mount fuji, and yes it was true that during a clear day you could see all the way to japan. more believed him than not.

Damn, TLG, I was within like 20 of you, but then I went climbing for 10 days and I'm eons behind.

Bizzare...even more odd is that they could just as likely cause a rescue situation by hovering over people for no reason.

This might be your problem. I'm not sure bout the makalus, but la sportivas have always struck me as a fairly narrow fitting boot. I've had great success with technica, they fit my fatter feet better. -josh

I dunno, i've really never had much problem with cyclists on the road before. I think most are courtious and more importantly, most realize that despite issues of right or wrong, if they get hit by a car, they will lose. I find other idiotic car drivers much more of a problem. The left lane hogs around here are particularly bad. 3 vehicles in 3 different lanes all driving the same speed next to each other seems to be a washington tradition.

Well, if that's the case, does that mean you are also subject to the "no more than 5 cars" law?!? Again, it seems that if you want to be held to the same standards for *some* laws, it should be that way for all of them.

Curious, does the "illegal to hold up five or more cars" law apply to bikes as well? It should. That's one law the cops need to do more to enforce.

Like he said: I'm not allowed to have an opinion? (I thought we were just wasting time at work.) Clearly. We're all in this together. In any event, I'd rather be out climbing either one of them (or anything else for that matter) right now than sitting in this office. Thanks cavey, good to see you too.

I'm not allowed to have an opinion? I clearly said it was just my opinion. I found the climbing on the NR, while very exposed and cool, not all that difficult. I thgouht the 4 pitches on serpintine were more interesting and if you stay on the ridge the rest of the "scrambling" quite enjoyable. I dunno, maybe it was that we had the whole of dragontail to ourselvs and had to deal with 3 other teams on the NR, but that's just how I remember it. THey are both great routes, but I found serpintine very enjoyable despite the fact that everybody likes to bash on it.

FWIW, I actually thought the climbing on serpentine arete was *betteR* than the upper NR of stuart minus the gendarme. there are basically 4 "tehcnical" pitches of serpintine which go at 5.6, .7, .8 and .8, and the rest can be simulclimbed, but it was fun and solid simulclimbing, and everything better than that crap gully on the upper NR of stuart. Just my 2 cents. I had a great time on that route.

The tourons who got their car stuck 2 feet from the pavement were by far the highlight of my weekend. BGWAHAHAHAHAH

lee, thanks again for the great climb! mucho fun. erik, it's a great day climb, save for a bit of choss down low. lee and I were both in the mood for a relaxed weekend+bivy, but easily done in a moderate day. great solo to a very cool summit and awesome views!

strong bad s

Too bad the canucks can't brew a decent beer.

Holy crap, this is the funniest shit I've read on here in a long while.