snoboy

They wouldn't let me into the US last time I tried. I had a Driver's License, and an (expired) UK passport. He could have let me in if he had wanted to; I bet if I hadn't showed him the passport, he would have. My fault really- too lazy to get a new passport. If the dollar keeps getting stronger it just might be worth my while though...

Whistler (Blackcomb actually ) KICKED ASS today, tuesday! Everything except the Blackcomb Glacier opened. Not busy, and knee deep + in the gem bowls. Owwwwwooooohhh!!!

Andrew Maclean of BD tested a bunch of biners, dropped and found at the base of ElCap, etc... The batch came out the same as a regular batch. Three sigma blah blah blah - if you don't count the ones with obvious visible damage. I don't have a reference to the results, this is the best of my memory.

And this is a problem how? I love looking at my maps.

Only 5x!? There's drugs for that you know dru

Most avy incidents occur during times of moderate or considerable hazard... It's a little more obvious that there is a danger when things are going off big. This should be in the *freshiezone*, eh?

oops...

Uh, there's one difference of note, the heels don't lock!

I ask only for a boot that climbs ice, a "frictionless" pivot for touring, control on the manky snow with a heavy pack, releasability, step-in, and a history of the binding not breaking. Oh yeah, I telemark. Some people use the Alpine Trekkers for sticking stupid hard descents, where they feel the need for regular alpine gear. Otherwise they are HEAVY!

And what would you know about it my dear...?

RossVegas is supposed to get it too...

Sleep in the parking lot.

My memory of those results is signifigantly different. What I think they concluded is that gear with no visible damge passed the three sigma rating still. In other words it was as good as a batch of new gear. This is better news than what erik said!

The ttips.com take on this issue is here: But it doesn't add much...

Much more common in Canada methinks. I like. Handy for rescue scenarios too. I always have one or two on multipitch, even if I don't use them at every anchor.

There are some steel crampons out there that are as light as some of the alu ones, and might last a bit longer. I can't remember the models though. Dig around...

I like your style! Seriously, don't let her belay you if you think she's gonna hurt you. I would 2nd what scottp said. Good luck!

The only thing that defines the skier is the binding. People mount AT skis with tele bindings, alpine skis with AT and tele, who knows probably even tele skis with alpine. There are no boundaries. People do this sort of thing all the time.

I always feel like I'm on eggshells at t-tips.com! Lots of good info, but lots of bs to wade through there too. Just a different kind. Something like bivouac.com on the other hand is a great resource. Very dry, but to the point. Maybe cc should strive to have a split personality. Build a resource like bivouac, and allow NO spray at all, and keep the forums much as they are. If I wanted to know what is up in the PNW, I would come here. IF I wanted to know what was up in BC I would go to Bivouac. If I wanted to know that Rainey makes the best bindings, and the rest suck I would go to ttips. Together they form a great resource. Timmy, I know that you are trying to create a more content based resource as well, but somehow it doesn't seem to be catching on. I think it needs more promotion. Check out the "What's New" page at bivouac. Something like that in the sidebar could catch peoples eye? It will also need a critical mass in my opinion to get people to browse it as much as they do the forums. I have things to add to it, I've just been lazy. Certainly not too busy! How many others are out there that have something to add?

So I went skiing today. It hasn't snowed for 8 days now, but there is still the occasional fresh turn to be found. First run my back went bad on me so I decided to watch the Cliff Dive race. Basically it is 100m of moguls where you can choose your own line, then groomed gates to the bottom. Some of the peoplle were insane. One guy pointed the moguls just about all the way, and then attacked the gates. Literally, he sent one of the gate poles flying down the course. Another guy was pointing it down the second 1/2 of the bumps and got too far back! WooHoo! He sheared one of his bindings right off the ski when he wiped! Later in town I heard there was an ambulance headed to the hill.

YES. But they are quite spendy... They are lighter too.

NewsTips Try the library for a book called Freedom of the Hills. It is published by the Mountaineers. It has a good overview of all the different climbing disciplines. Maybe a little overcautious, but it's where a lot of us learned the basics. Well me at least. I can't talk for the rest of the fools ion this board. Or ask polishbob.