JoshK

Antiques? Huh? The Blue Angels are F/A 18 strike fighters. This model of fighter is in active service and sees combat today. though I do believe they are in a large phaseout, being replaced by the super hornets and eventually more F-22s. Not that it matters, our "antique" jets (f-14, f-15, etc.) are more advanced than pretty much anything anybody else has. Frankly, i'd imagine our vietnam era jets would outclass most of the world's cobbled together "air forces" for that matter. Russian made jets sit in hangers in maintenance more than they fly.

I love how black and white you righties like to think things are. USA = good, people who don't like the USA = bad. It must be nice having a simple mind which is satisfied with simple explanations. Yes, those jets ARE the sound of freedom to many, but they are also the sign of misguided policies and destruction to others. For the most part I do believe our foreign policy blossoms from good intentions, but unfortunately LOTS of unintended consequences have caused us to bring misfortune to people who never directed violence, or even ill will, towards us. Unfortunately our foreign policy under George W. Shrub has not only screwed over others in the world, it has had a net negative impact on our own country. Now to the original point - it's an airshow, and no matter what the jets may mean to one person or another, very fast kick ass airplanes are cool, and the simple fact is we make 'em better and fly them better than anybody else. The pilots of those jets are living their dream as well. So, for the Blue Angels.

Is biner management learned while spraying on the internet all day? where do I sign up?

I think the reality is more that they simply want to go somewhere and a bike is good transportation... Granted, I'll never endorse commuting while dressed like you want to be in the tour de france, but to each his or her own. The jerseyed up shaved ones are more fun to blow by in my cargo shorts and t-shirt, however.

A few hours ago I spoke with my friends who spent the day on the ledge with Clive. Below is my quick interpretation from their story. We were talking over a cell phone, on speaker phone mode, as they were driving back. It is very possible I have mixed details up, so don't quote me. As my friends Dave and Eric were approaching the bottom of Serpentine they heard someone yell and they noticed some small rocks fall, but weren't yet aware an accident had taken place. On the bottom of the route they encountered Noah, who asked for assistance. Dave and Eric are wilderness EMTs, so they evaluated and stablized Clive. Noah then headed out to attempt a cell phone call. From their description, it sounded like Clive was in good spirits and started feeling better as they waited. Knowing my friends, I like to imagine the three of them sharing a laugh while they kept Clive company. At some point the Air Force shows up, and lowers a guy on to the ledge with them. Apparently the chopper had to leave to get some more fuel, but when it returned they were able to winch up Clive and the airman. Unfortunately there was no free ride for my buddies, who hiked out to their bivy. :-)

Can somebody tell me why the vast majority of bicycle communters need to ride spandex bike shorts and jerseys splattered with ads? It's amazing just how well a t-shirt and gym shorts work - and you don't look like a toolbag when you stop at the subway to get lunch. The cycling companies must love the fact that they can charge money so people can have the honor of giving them free advertising. LOL

Crazy - the team of two EMT climbers that happened to be below when this accident took place were friends of mine I had been cragging with the day before. I was supposed to climb Serpentine with them but remembered I had an eye doctor appointment today so I had to bail. I dropped them off at the Mountaineer Creek trailhead yesterday before heading to Wenatachee for a few hours, then back to Seattle. I just called up one of them and he picked up the phone laughing and said "we were wondering how long it would be until you called and asked..." Best of luck to Clive with the recovery!

I'm surprised nobody has pointed out the irony in the stupid thing being named critical mass. Get enough of a radioactive substance (in this case, idiotic militant cyclists) in one place and it explodes, causing terrible damage and ruining everything around it.

The drivers in Seattle aren't so much jerks, but just terribly shitty at driving a car.

as is a mob attacking one person I didn't defend the mob now, did I? I was merely commenting that applying "bravery" to this driver is completely laughable.

Since when does hitting bikers/pedestrians with a car equate to bravery? I assume you are joking. The fact that people are more than willing to swear, threaten and intimidate others while in their cars, but not in person, is the very essence of cowardice.

Uh huh... Hitler only killed a handful I suppose.

Idiotic bike nazis. Idiotic cops. Idiotic situation.

He attacked a church with responsible social values because a law change resulting from misplaced social values went in to place? Eh? Shouldn't he have attacked some republican-voting evangelicals? Get rid of the Ann coulter picture for god's sake. Ugh...barf.

Tazz, that's no failure at all! I have done lots of trips solo, but I often can't find that drive when alone either. The same thing happened to me on Clarke mountain a month or so ago as you describe. I was just never really "feeling" it and after some disappointing weather overnight I couldn't rally to climb the mountain even though I was plenty capable of it. It happens! You got some great pictures of an awesome area. Most people wouldn't even figure out how to get through the 'shwack! Leave the iPod at home, wolf? Ha, no thanks! Music is enjoyable many places, outside being one of them. Sometimes I like it on, sometimes I don't, but it's hardly "bringing the city with you."

And combining a climb and a bivy optimized for some views is invalid, how...? I'm pretty sure you are just trying to stir up shit for some reason. For example, many people bivy on the Torment-Forbidden traverse for the sole reason of bivying on an amazing ridge, even if they are plenty able to complete the climbing without a bivy.

I don't think "shouting" about it negates the action of actually climbing. They are seperate topics. Some people climb, some people post, many do both. One truth about people is, by and large, they like to share their experiences with others. Not posting a report in no way qualifies you as some hardman more interested in climbing than those people who may chose to post a report. FWIW, Colin has posted some reports on his climbs, most of which are far more "hardcore" than these...

I suppose sleeping anywhere other than my own bed is contrived too?

Two years ago, Tim Halder and I traversed from Dark Peak to Bonanza via Pt. 8599' and the West summit. However, we added a couple rocks to the top of pt. 8599' and it is now just pt. 8,600' Blake, I sensed you were amazing, but...to build mountains? Wow...damn man, impressive!

Damn, fellow scree surfers. we need a scree-surfing forum to discuss more great WA gully descents. nice trip guys.

I would highly recommend a loop up in the chiwawa river road area. one nice loop is to start at trinity, climb to buck peak pass, down and over suittale pass, up and over cloudy pass, past the lyman lakes, up over spider gap and down and out phelps creek and spider meadow... I took my dad on it over 3 days but if you are looking for a serious ass kicker it might be a winner...

Anybody know if pepper spray would actually deter a grizzly? It seems a black bear might go running, but i'd be afraid of just pissing the grizzly off more... :-|

? By getting extremely lucky to not die? Do you skydive or BASE josh? Luck definately played a part I'm sure....but I was more speaking of having the skill to fly himself to a safe landing in a difficult LZ surrounded by trees and powerlines in-spite of numerous injuries. Yup, and I bungee jump. And paraglide. And parasail. And I do every other trendy sport that the chix dig! Actualy, no, j/k, i do none of that shit. I likely would have ended up in the powerlines for sure.

You smokin' crack? "Manufacturer Cascade Designs Inc. cites the inflatable pad as being approximately three times warmer than any other un-insulated air mattress on the market." Oh sweet, it's 3 times as effective as another UNINSULTED pad. And all for $120 or more? Check out the mont-bell stuff that Jim carries at pro mountain. Far superior to this trash.

Good memory goat, I was able to find the TR: DonnV's trip report