Goat_Boy

quote: Originally posted by Beck: I've got a Whisperlite (did not spend any money on that P.O.S.) and it SUCKS. Works fine(I guess, if you take into consideration its' inherent crappy design )it's just a P.O.S. Beck--give me an address so I can mail you the operating instructions. C'mon now, they're not crap. They are well designed, simple, durable and perform well for the intended application. I've been using a XGKII and Whisperlite International for a long while. I've had field failures, but nothing that couldn't be fixed in 10 minutes. They do need periodic maintenence, simple cleaning. My major complaint is the inability to nest the fixed tube models in cookware (I like to keep that stuff together). If I'm enlessly simmering or hanging in the tent, I'll bring the Stormy or the Primus. But IMHO there's no finer furnace for melting snow than the XGK. Fast as an R1, loud as a Harley.

My Commodore 64 is having a hard time posting these. Testing.

Norman, I'm shocked. You're the last person I would have thought to be trolling through the "Spray," let alone peddling this kind of trashiness... "First, find a small whole (about half and inch to an inch in diameter) and stick your finger in it. If you feel a tounge move away quickly, you have found a clam. Quickly dig out a whole and grab the clam before it borrows deaper into the mud." And this... "Horseneck Clams (Gaper Clams) are larger than your ordinary clam. Typically a nice size Horseneck will have a shell that measures six to eight inches." Not to mention... "Gaper clams are edible and are heavily fished at spring tides. They are commonly infected with larval tapeworm cysts, but these are harmless to humans." I certainly welcome raising the bar here with an exercise in taxonomy or descriptions of endemic organisms, but I'm on to your little game, I'm afraid.

quote: Originally posted by mikebell: Congrats guys. Swissman and I wished you could have joined us earlier this summer PP. Who wants to do my variation? Up the Hoh and down and out the other side. Are you talking about going up the Hoh Glacier, or doing the Hoh trail to Glacier Meadows and heading toward Low Divide? The Olympus traverse is spectacular. Routefinding through the Humes Glacier/Queets Basin area is especially fun if the weather holds. Look for plane wreckage on the terminal morraine. There are a few bivy sites here, too. Highly recommend camping high in Queets Basin, below Dodwell-Rixon. This is one of the most beautiful spots in the park, and seldom visited. I'd like to do this again, exiting via the queets river (we did the whole Bailey Range last time). Next year for me, though. I can't get back to Washington soon enough. Another cool option would be to exit via the south fork (Valhallas). Anyone done that?

PP, yes, I am talking about that knife edge. I don't recall it being too difficult--we simply turned the corner and scrambled straight up. I recall being able to look down on the east face. Not sure if that is the correct route, however. Funny thing about a lot of Olympic summit blocks--there usually is a hidden key to the summit that's pretty easy in class. The trick is finding it. BTW, Five Fingers makes an excellent bivy site, wouldn't you say? I've seen some of your trip photos. Looked like an great trip, perfect conditions. Nice outfit!

quote: Originally posted by Pencil Pusher: [QB]One thing that confused us was the route up was supposed to be class 3, yet 15 feet beneath the rap slings we could find no easier way than straight up that crack. Were we on track... was there an easier way? QB] Now I'm confused, unless the rap point has been moved. Seems to me the summit block involves jumping the moat high to get on the NE face, traversing to the south and scrambling the crumbly ridgeline (keeping right) to the top. It's been quite a while, but that's my recollection.

I've been using the old Silveretta 404's with a variety of boots with good results for my abilities. Silverettas are simple, bombproof, and easy to adjust and maintain. If you're looking for Warren Miller action, you might be better off with Diamir, though. I'd be interested to hear more on the Lazer. I've found Denali's to be more boot than I needed (or wanted) for the cascades. But I've settled into the climb first category.

quote: Originally posted by Norman Clyde: I would not have beat on myself that hard just for the sake of bragging rights. Still, you did earn the merit badge. Olympus in a day puts you in select company. Sweaty, filthy, and somewhat insane company, but select nevertheless. If mountaineering is about personal challenge, then time trials are just as worthy a goal as anything, I guess. A race to break a speed record is quite another matter. Good job, Norman. Not bad for an old country doctor.

Congrats, Pusher. Give us a TR on conditions, minimalist gear choices, footwear, etc. Why? because we can can can...

Let us consider your Goat resume, lowercase goatboy. Have you ... 1. Owned a Pontiac GTO (2 points for "The Judge" edition)? 2. Worn a Goatee? 3. Actually punched an aggressive, pee-thirsty Olympic mountain goat in the head or neck? Still in?

I can't comment on current conditions, but I may have to challenge you to a duel. Not sure this town is big enough for the both of us...

Ryland, Thanks for posting the entire piece. To my reading, the edited version changed it's tone and thesis. I think this is especially apparent if you read the published version first. The original text contains much that would mitigate my prior criticism. I still believe 3rd person speculation about climbing tragedies is often gratuitous, frequently misused by those who have an axe to grind. I don't think, however, that was your intent. But I do have to ask, why connect the tragedies with a proliferation of inexperienced climbers? "With the latest tragedies in the Cascades on Mt. Hood and Mt. Rainier, I wonder if there are too many people in the mountains with too little experience?" Even though you later point out that they were, in fact, experienced, the reference implies otherwise...that they made rookie mistakes. That's where the using those events fails and insults those victims and survivors. We weren't there and don't know what, or if, mistakes were made. Mountaineering can be dangerous for all level of climbers--sometimes even more so for accomplished climbers willing to shave the safety margin by forgoing that belay, running out that pitch or taking on the more challenging route. That's why a discussion of the dynamics of route crowding, not those particular tragedies, might have been more appropriate here. Otherwise your points about inexperience and poorly educated yahoos in the mountains are all well taken. Seems to me the published version did a small disservice to your intended argument. Best wishes.

If you knew the real truth, it might be "sheep boy," chicken F'er.

I actually drove a GTO in my college days. Hence the name.