[What's up with windproof,breathable nylon?]

quote:

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Originally posted by snoboy:

I think that it could let some wind through and still be wind"proof". I don't know if there is a windproof "industry standard" like there is for waterproof?

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I coulda swore I've seen something relating to flow metrics outlined in Gore Windstopper packaging or maybe in REI's buyer guide handouts.

 

I know this much... I have a Marmot windstopper jacket that's one of the best investments I've made. Pricey, but great stuff.

[climbing 11/27]

Hey, don't make fun of me... Check your PMs.

[chatter]

Kinda like pushing a rope, ain't it

[Devils Thumb and cell phone]

quote:

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Originally posted by salbrecher:

quote:

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Originally posted by Jim:

From the Juneau Empire:

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Well how the phuck should I know. I only know the Devil's Thumb around here.

[Devils Thumb and cell phone]

Devils Thumb in Alsaka or Devils Thumb up the Mountain Loop Hwy?

[Aid clinic at VW in Seattle]

I be there... try to anyway.

[Closest decent snowshoe traning ground]

Dude, slap soemthing to clamp the two together and you've got yourself a splitboard

[question for web savvy folks.]

It's pricey, but good shit, DFA. Worth ten bucks? I dunno, but I have half a dozen pair

[hurricane ridge skiing]

I'm in, I've got an ONP pass, and I'm good fer weekdays. Now where's that damn snow!!

[chatter]

quote:

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Originally posted by thelawgoddess:

quote:

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Originally posted by allison:

Pervs: ...

Freaks: ...

Sorry if I put anyone in the wrong category.

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i might switch a couple of those, but it depends if you're categorizing them on "looks" "desires" or "practice". if it's the latter i'd have to say a couple of those need switching ...

and one might fit under both ...

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[Helmets and UV]

How about stickers and the effects of adhesive on the plastic?

 

I have a Pezel Ecrin... pretty standard helmet. The packaging came with a lot of cautions, don't do this, don't do that... don't paint, don't sticker. I've seen plenty of folks out there with personalized helmets, and I'd kinda like to adorn mine (more for identification than vanity .)

 

Thoughts?

[crappy weather]

I've done three Thanksgivings out there. The first year was awesome, close to three feet of fresh snow the night before we arrived. The third year was barren. I fucked up my boards on rocks and Whistler Blackcomb operated limited runs. I guess you take what you get

[Avvy beacon]

Point taken mattp. I also value competent partners who are equipped to rescue. That allows me to venture into the backcounty.

 

However, I'm still not gonna tear down a slope I know has avalanche written all over over it (38 degree slope, fresh dump consolidated into a slab over a known weak layer, sudden rising temps, route over a convex hump, deep whumps sound effects beneath.) Avoideance training would indicate taking a different line (actually with all of the above, I wouldn't be caught there in the first place.) But the key point is, a beacon isn't gonna tempt me to try my luck.

 

Change a few of the factors and my assesment of that risk will change. I'd still probably avoid the hump, and maybe we'd choose to ski cut the slope, but when it's deemed safe (i.e. when I deem it to be safe enough) I'll ride. The beacon itself isn't a factor in that assessment.

 

Ted - Maybe I'm a fool for taking some comfort in the thought of the beacon and competence in rescue technique, but I am in total agreement with you regarding the importance of awareness and avoidance. Let's see, it's 4:20, time for a and a...

[SVC mountaineering course ?]

I know the Mountaineers catch a lot of flack on this board, but to be honest, they and other organized groups like them (BOALPS, AAI, WAC) are a good way to get introduced to climbing and alpine adventure.

 

The Mountaineers are a large organization with a LOT of students. As a result, their students tend to be clinggy, they do treat students like children to begin with, they teach things ONE way and ONE way only, and they do have a few pricks that are almost impossible to get rid of in a volunteer organization. But, hey, who are we to talk

 

The Mountaineers tend to be very conservative in their approach, but they are comprehensive in requirements. A Basic Climing graduate from the Everett Mountaineers, for example, has had 20+ hours in first aid and first responder type training. They have been schooled on all of the fundamentals (navigation, weather, clothing, equipment, roped travel on glaciers, self arrest...)

 

Probably most valuable is both classtime and field training in rescue technique. They drill on that shit, and I'm glad they do. If I take a fall and my partner is an Everett Mountaineer, I know he/she has been trained in how to deal with the situation, conduct emergency tie off, escape a belay, rig a haul system, and treat me for first aid. Can you tell I'm an Everett Mountaineer

 

Seriously, if you are new to climbing and especially alpine adventure and mountaineering, take a comprehensive course from a reputable organization, but don't leave it at that.

 

When you're done, come climb with us and get exposed to "other" ways of doing things (lead climbing, sport climbing, ice climbing, hanging belays, double rope systems...) There is a big world outside of the Mountaineers, but they are extremely good at introducing newcomers to the sport.

[Avvy beacon]

quote:

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Originally posted by terrible ted:

... I don't have a beacon and I don't plan on getting one. I've spent dozens of hours practicing and even teaching their use (and I have to agree that the newer technology beats the hell out of the old earplug Ortovox), but I just don't see the point. Maybe in Colorado, but here? Beacons are for corpses.

 

... If you don't have a beacon, I contend you're much more likely to make the right decision (i.e. route change or turnaround) when your "lucky" turn comes.

 

-t

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We all weigh bits of information in the field and make determinations of whether its safe to travel or if alternate routes are preferred. But I really don't think we invest in a beacon so that we can push that line. So far I'd guess that we'd all be on board with that.

 

But your point above... man, I don't get that. I mean, that's like saying you won't wear your seat belt driving because you never push the limits... and if you wore the belt you might start speeding

[Avvy beacon]

quote:

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Originally posted by thelawgoddess:

and don't skew what i said in response to something else. any idiot would prefer to be in avalanche-prone terrain with someone who actually knows how to use their beacon AND who's "artful" in avoiding getting caught up in one.

A bit snippy are we? Actually, I prefer to avoid avalanche prone terrain

[Pub Club 11/19]

quote:

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Originally posted by thelawgoddess:

how about next pub club at the ram in u-village ... they have $1 well drinks on tuesday nights, too.

only bad thing is because of that they're super crowded ...

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Yeah, like I can just see us elbowing in with the frat rats and loving it (cuz where there are frat rats, there are sorority grrls.)

 

[ 11-20-2002, 10:37 AM: Message edited by: Toast ]

[Avvy beacon]

quote:

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Originally posted by snoboy:

The idea with the Barryvox, is that you set the settings

before

you use it. Then in the field the only thing to worry about is switching from analog to digital and back,

if

you configured it that way. And hey, if it gets more people reading the manual, that's a good thing, no?

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Oh... kinda makes sense

 

quote:

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Originally posted by mammut_rep:

Like I said earlier, most people won't need to adjust any settings on the unit. It's good to go right out of the box. You have the OPTION of changing the settings if you want to.

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Then I don't see why you'd need to have these settings. Seems like you're presenting a gaping opportunity for people to screw things up.

 

Maybe for somebody like snoboy who wants to upgrade to digital but is still stuck in the analogue mode of operation this might be a novel option... but then I say, WTF, why not just stick with what you got and what you know?

 

Besides, a digital beacon like the Tracker is SO simple to use. I'm not sure I buy snoboy's argument that the analogue digital hurdle is so great that you need a more complex device to ease you into it.

 

I do see value in the Barryvox's ability for the default receive mode to be set analogue (i.e. greater range) then shift into digital when in range (i.e. stoner friendly.)

 

Hey, wait a second... How'd I get on your side

[Voile Split Board]

quote:

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Originally posted by Charlie:

I've been told that switching from free-heel to down hill takes no longer than it takes a skier to remove thier skins and lock your heels?

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I dunno, dude. I've seen skis be deskinned and heels locked pretty quick. Maybe I'm just lame, but my attempts to swap between freeheel and riding mode on a splitboard were hampered by massive surface area battling sticky adhesive and the ever-so-persnickety Burton clamp A simple grain of ice is enough to prevent the damn thing from locking and that's a tough thing to juggle when sinking up to your waist in fresh pow pow.

 

IMHO, there are some inherent costs to doing business on a board in the backcountry. However, skiers don't get to enjoy the massive erection one gets while riding a snowboard down steep freshie tracks. Ride on.

[Avvy beacon]

quote:

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Originally posted by mammut_rep:

I agree that the Barryvox seems to have a lot of settings, but there aren't any more than you would find on a standard cell phone.

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How much you want to bet your average Joe doesn't fumble a few times trying to dig up their third most recent missed call and save it. Now add the confusion of an emergency Wouldn't you really rather have the most basic device possible? 'Course, that's just me.

 

But hey, you could always drop by one of the Pub Clubs and to show off your wares... and maybe run a refresher clinic for us. There's one going on tonight at Dexter & Hayse (sp?) and usually one every Tuesday.

 

[ 11-19-2002, 07:37 PM: Message edited by: Toast ]

[Avvy beacon]

Paul Baugher is leading a Level I avalanche clinic up at Crystal Mountain in January. It's pretty pricey, but I'm sure it's comprehensive. I think Gary Brill runs something similar.

 

Other groups like the Mountaineers run avalanche safety classes. They focus on avoidance but also teach rescue technique. Everett is running one December 3rd (2 lectures and a field trip.) Many stores like Marmott and Cascade Crags will run similar clinics.

 

As a primer, you might check out some of the avvy related articles in Couloir.

 

Also, if you plan to be out this winter, sign up for the daily NW Avalanche Bulletin hosted by CSAC. It broadcasts the NWAC's avalanche updates in a daily email. Reading these updates daily is VERY educational as they indicate when and how slabs and weak layers develop in relation to the weather.

 

Hope that helps... time for a beer

 

[ 11-20-2002, 10:29 AM: Message edited by: Toast ]

[Avvy beacon]

quote:

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Originally posted by snoboy:

quote:

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Originally posted by Toast:

I think you mean digital then analogue

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No, I think he said what he meant to say. The Barryvox can operate in analog, then switch to digital after picking up a signal. This serves to increase the effective range in the initial search.

 

Don't quote me on this though.

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You're right about the Barryvox, but I don't think that's true of the X-1. I could be wrong though

 

On a side note, I've heard the Barryvox is almost too sophisticated (way too many frickin settings,) and confusing to use.

 

I have a plain vanilla F-1. It has good range because it's analogue, and once you've re-familiarized yourself with using it it's pretty dang simple to use.

 

However, hands down, the Tracker is the one I'd want my friends to have. It's extremely intuitive and superior for multiple burials. My impression of the X-1 is it's a not so cheap knock off and two years late.

[Avvy beacon]

quote:

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Originally posted by thelawgoddess:

i'd rather be skiing with someone who has this

(digital)

beacon and little more than some common sense than with someone with an old beacon who may or may NOT remember how to use it.

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I'd rather ride with somebody who's artful in avoiding avalanches, and knows how to use their beacon should the need arise

[Stick death]

that's some phucked up shite

[Avvy beacon]

I think you mean digital then analogue