DanO

Went on a couple of hikes using the ideas he gives and it seems to help, he claims that you can use up to 70% less energy by using his methods over a bad running form and your recovery time is much less than if using poorer form? With my very little experience with this I think he is right, of course I never studied different methods of moving etc, while walking, hiking and running before, I just went out and did it. I see that his web site is very commercialized, luckily I got a book cheap. Dan

I have been going through the book and I am actually learning a lot of different ideas about running. Don't know how well these ideas translate to hiking with a pack. According to the book power running is more injury prone than using the methods of "chi" running. Since the guy practices super long distance running, like marathons and more I am sure he knows something worthwhile. A few ideas is to run using the core of the body helping, to lean forward at the ankles while running. Feet kicking to the rear of the body, as opposed to a more upright running position or a power running type of movement. The author says he has success in helping previously injured people run and to greatly reduce injuries by using his methods. Dan

http://www.chirunning.com/shop/home.php I found this guy's book at a thrift store and picked it up cheap and checked it out. I read through about half of the book and it seems worth trying out. The guy has run 100 mile races so must know something. Dan

Hello, I belong to Skagit County SAR group, we want to recruit more members. We are the smallest mountain rescue team in the state. Do training at the meetings once a month, 2nd Thursday of the month, also other training throughout the year. Mostly rescue rigging skills, members are expected to have mountaineering experience and climbing experience and personal equipment, at least enough experience to rock climb and get up and down Baker etc in a leadership role. Rescue equipment and training is provided by the group. We do about 5 to 10 call outs a year, from peas to nuts we can be called out for most anything that needs climbing skills or vertical angle rescue skills. We get called to support Bellingham Mt rescue at times as well. So if you want to join a small group of guys and a few gals to help out the climbing community give me a PM or call. 13603333709 Thanks Dan

http://www.alkalizeforhealth.net/Liodine2.htm I found this link that mirrors pretty much a couple of CD's that I was given of a radio broadcast. I am given to understand that iodine in table salt is designed to prevent gout, which is good, but to get the full benefits such as heavy metal chelation you need more than this, IF your table salt has Iodine in it. I have not done extensive research, so if interested do your own research, and good luck. I am using Iosol brand which as two forms of Iodine, I could not find this formula in the brands in the local health stores and I understand there is a real difference. I took a higher dosage at first about 4 drops a day and now down to one drop a day, recommend to take it with selenium. Like I said, do your own research, not my axe to grind, just doing a heads up post. Dan

Check out turns all year website for good deals on used gear to get started.

The chemical toe warmers and better yet the whole foot warmers really work, but are used up after about 6 hours so you need multiple sets of them especially if you think any chance of being caught out overnight. I have used these with good success in the really cold. Make sure they are fresh ones made this year, the old toe warmers from last year may last a couple of hours then are cold. May try those electric socks read of their usage, best yet if you have cold toes get another pair boots if you can as noted by others. Also sticking your feet into ice cold boots is a bad start of a day. IE trail head camping etc. May want to keep them in your sleeping bag with you if really cold.. By the way, the possibility of frozen toes is serious business and can cripple you up for a long time, think carefully about the chances you take if you get caught out overnight and at least be ready to take your feet out of your boots and warm your toes up etc, if caught out. Dan

It is easy to overlook the Iodine supplement, I want to stress that this supplement has had a great effect on my energy levels, it stimulates the thyroid gland. It is a common deficiency, in other words most people are deficient in iodine. The link I gave has two forms of Iodine in it, both types are absorbed in different locations in the body. Dan

http://www.wobenzym-usa.com/ Heads up I have been trying this stuff out for a couple of months and it seems to really work. I take about 10 of these a night on a empty stomach, not cheep. It seems to be helping a old joint injury, that with some iodine supplementation that I am doing as well. I was told that wa state soil is deficient in zinc selenium and iodine, also iodine deficiency is common, I have been taking a particular type of iodine supplement that was told to me to be better than most. http://www.wellnessresources.com/products/iosol_iodine.php?source=google&group=Iosol_Iodine&gclid=COXw1uut3aUCFQpvbAodRSoa0w I have good results with the iodine supplementation. One or two drops a day. A effect of the Wobenzym is that my recovery time seems to be greatly reduced after a trip out, maybe about half, not sure what is going on, is the combination of iodine and the Wobenzym? or the Wobenzym alone? I take a few other vitamins, a multi and a D vitamin. If you have a joint injury I suggest checking out Wobenzym, do your own research and good luck. Dan

It is nice to have a GPS that works well under the trees, I have a few years old garmon GPS which is good, but often loses signal under trees. I understand some of the GPS models do better in this regard in keeping signal. Dan

Not asking for much just a few swings of the axes, I find that at the end of the icicle road up to the right in the woods often has ice, if any is to be had. Hubba-Hubba? Is the little ski lift area in town open yet? Thanks.

Hello, I belong to Skagit County SAR group, we want to recruit more members. We are the smallest mountain rescue team in the state. Do training at the meetings once a month, 2nd Thursday of the month, also other training throughout the year. Mostly rescue rigging skills, members are expected to have mountaineering experience and climbing experience and personal equipment, at least enough experience to rock climb and get up and down Baker etc in a leadership role. Rescue equipment and training is provided by the group. We do about 5 to 10 call outs a year, from peas to nuts we can be called out for most anything that needs climbing skills or vertical angle rescue skills. We get called to support Bellingham Mt rescue at times as well. So if you want to join a small group of guys and a few gals to help out the climbing community give me a PM or call. 13603333709 Thanks Dan

rmncwrtr May could join a mountain rescue group yourself, true insider's perspective that way.

Hello, I started this thread as a sort of check for me, as what I am thinking about goose down insulated clothing could be a hazard. I tried the polyguard 3d sleeping bags and found them heavy and not warm for the bulk as compare to goose down sleeping bags. I also tried a light weight goose down jacket on the presidential range new Hampshire in winter. I put it over all my other clothes and it got wet from snow from the outside and a little perspiration from the inside out. I had a good over rated goose down sleeping bag and a good tent, that night I still could not get the goose down jacket dried out. I must say the jacket did not have any kind of waterproof treatment or shell, so I was outside it's intended design in usage. (Needed more of the brain in operation..) For me synthetic is the way to go for clothing, and now I am on the hunt for a good belay coat. I notice though most(all) of the synthetic ones are not made as puffy as the down belay coats. I still prefer goose down over synthetic for a sleeping bag, but as we all know it depends even more on a good shelter. As a gear freak, I would like to try out the newer primaloft sleeping bags some day to see if that would work for me. I wonder why they can't make those goose feathers waterproof? You would think with the right chemical treatment that would work.

I did a little search, when the crap hits the fan. http://www.outdoorsdirectory.com/magazine/goat_hunt_from_hell.htm

I did a little search, when the crap hits the fan. http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewArticle.asp?id=2026

Rarely out more than one night in winter. Generally I wake up & bag is fine. Stuff it, get home, bag is a hopelessly wet mess, condensation from the night having become thoroughly distributed through stuffing process. I am considering trying a Primaloft sleeping bag in the future, when I can afford it. I really like Primaloft in clothing gear.

I wonder how many people buy the down gear and even know how careful you should be with down clothing in rainy weather, or wet falling snow, etc. The goose down clothing is nice and light and stuffs easy in your back pack,, it sucks you in..... I have tried the polyguard 3d insulated sleeping bags and found them too bulky and cold and heavy as compared to down. With a Down bag the key in rainy weather is to have a good quality shelter, a slightly larger than needed shelter is nice, to keep all clothing and gear and sleeping bag etc off of shelter walls, also I think doubled walled tent better than single walled. I myself would not use down insulated clothing unless it is assured to be a dry cold condition. I do use a down insulated sleeping bag and carry good quality shelter. Not hiking or climbing but.. My Dad a construction worker in heavy construction projects said Goose down will get you killed, good enough for me. Nothing like being under a ice cold drip working all day to get that education. Dan

I always favored goose down for sleeping bags, but would consider trying out the newest Primaloft insulated sleeping bags. I notice a lot of insulated clothing gear in REI and by manufacturers to be insulated by Goose Down, local stores seem to have MORE HEAVY goose down insulated clothing than synthetic. I wonder about this, how many climbers and hikers in this area actually use down on the trails and mountains. Personally I almost never would carry down clothing, especially in the cascades. Is most of the down gear sold to people that are really not going into the back country? Or do they know something I don't know? I imagine in the back country after a soggy couple of days being in trouble with goose down gear. Actually it can be much quicker than this to my mind??? Dan

In the right area this face would be a wonderful crag to develop, it would take effort from several people to do all the cleaning. I will go back time to time as I live about 20 min drive now from the parking spot that I go to. Dan

Trip: Bald Mountain, locals call it Haystack. - In Walker Valley Area. Date: 7/26/2010 Trip Report: Off of Lake Cavanaugh road, there is a little round mountain called Bald Mountain, it has a 1000 foot wall on one side. Decided to make a attempt to climb it last Sat. On Lake Cavanaugh road as your going south, the first road left after Bear Creek. You can pull in and find a gate, the gate can be locked or unlocked, locals go in all the time by car, but you may get locked in. Then Bike in or hike in, on the roads, bikes are better. You also can drive in if the gate is unlocked, but close it behind you. Go straight and the first road fork you go left, toward bald mountain you can see it in the distance. Keep going and I think take the next fork left, this is at a clearing where they have something like a clear cut and some old rusty big pipes on the right-at the clear cut. Then at next road to the right, you go right here and It is obvious as you can see the mountain face on the right of your position. When close to the mountain face at a creek you can go right along the face of the mountain moving left to right or you can go left on a road up, off to the left side of the mountain face. This road switch backs up the left side of the mountain. Up high you can see a old road to the right and there you can find a trail that goes up the back side of the mountain and at a high point there is a register. Not a bad day trip. If you go right on the road along the bottom face of the mountain you will come to a opening that has a Talus field that goes to the foot of a rock wall that looks to be about 500 feet. This is a rock face step up a first part of the mountain, this was our objective then to wander up to the top and down the back side then the road eventually to bikes, that was the plan. Here, my Girlfriend and I made our attempt on this last Sat. It was really hot, I suppose around a 90 to 100 degrees on the wall. I had thought it would be 4th class or so, but when I got to the first pitch it was 5th class. Hard to gauge the rating as it was covered up with moss, lichen and small plants will billions of little thorns. I thought to go for it thinking it will let off in a pitch or two. We had two lightweight glacier ropes, 30 meters each that I use as double ropes. This made my pitches short and in retrospect I should have had longer ropes. I had to dig in to find most every protection placement and for anchors, for foot holds. It was a struggle all the way to climb and to place gear and the fauna was chewing me up for every foot up, a rain of dirt and fauna on my partner I as dug my up as much climbed. More than once I had crappy pro and crappy anchors for belay. Ran out of water on pitch three and luckily, there is a bunch of trees on the right in a gully we escaped after pitch four and went down the gully to the bikes. I was beat, need more water and to be in better shape. The climbing would be fairly easy on clean rock and easy to find pro, as it was fairly scary and hard. I would call that climb as "Dirty Surprise" , but did not complete it. I figure we made it up the whole face a little over a 1/3rd of the way and over half of the way on the that first rock face "step". If any attempt it, let me know how it went. I think I may go back and go up the most easy way through the trees in the gully on the right and see what is higher up. Our route was about 1/3rd LEFT of the way over on the rock section (1/3rd left of the junction between rock face and tree gully on the right). And we went about 1/2 way up first rock step and escaped to the right. First photo is rock face, Second photo is us at the end of fourth pitch, third photo is some of our battle wounds. Dan and Machelle.

Ok, Got mine out and tape measure, got inside it with bare feet, laid on my back with feet sticking up in normal laying down on back position. The inside of the half bag is exactly 53 inches. I am 5 foot 10 tall and the bag came in 2-3 inches below my arm pits. This should allow for a decent overlap with a belay jacket. I plan to try this out this summer. Dan

My projected use is sleep in a tent and then carry it up with me if I thought I may need it on the trip to the summit. Or if in good weather can carry this without a bivy sack or tent and be able to bivy on a climb. Epic fabric is not totally water proof from what I understand, but really water resistant and breathable, almost water proof. Depends on the type of tent on how warm you can be. A really warm type of four season tent can increase the temperature range and you can carry jacket and half bag to summit if you desire. Snow caves/trenches are usually no warmer than 30 degrees so this is a decent rating if in a snow cave. Dan

By the way if you are on a budget you can pick up a fairly good hooded coat cheap at a thrift store, ebay, or other stores. The high buck belay jackets are great, but are expensive. I have a good heavy puffy jacket that I picked up years ago for 15 bucks which is super cheap, it has regular polyester insulation in it and weighs about 3lbs 3 ounces, (Super puffy warm coat). I will use it until I can upgrade later on. Watching for deals. The regular hooded coats don't compress down as small, are more heavy on average(most likely about pound more heavy) but can work. I prefer synthetic insulation over down myself. Get a fisherman scale to check the real weight of the jacket. Then you got a combo for summer alpine maybe for less than a hundred bucks. Half bag and Belay Jacket. The weight hit is not as bad as it seems as you don't carry the extra layers of clothing as you normally do. You just have on the light stuff when hiking in etc and use the belay coat to throw on top when cold or stopping or at camp etc. Dan

http://cgi.ebay.com/US-Army-Wild-Thing-Alpine-Half-Sleeping-Bag-Unissued-/220369010375?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item334f043ec7 Just a heads up, I picked up a couple of these to try out, good quality, made in the USA , primaloft insulation and with epic shell fabric. It is rated at 30 degrees and a little heavy for rating and size, but a good deal for price. I would carry it without a bivy sack in projected good weather or above the rain line, etc. Match this with a belay jacket it would not be a bad outfit to carry on summit bids and for summer alpine camping. Women and shorter guys may be able to get inside the half bag totally. A good deal if on a budget and want to try this out. I have not tried it out yet but expect to work well for what it is rated at and intended for. Not as light as down, but also won't collapse when wet. Dan