catbirdseat

I have the MSR heat exchanger and yes, it is bulky. I'll bring it when I have to melt a lot of snow for water, usually only if I'm spending more than one night out. You need to save more weight in fuel to justify the weight of the exchanger. If it saves a second fuel bottle, then it is worth it.

The rack I carry varies depending on what I am climbing and where. My single favorite piece is my yellow Alien. It is always there every time. I almost always have a single set of Smileys wired stoppers too, since they are so light.

I've scrambled the north face an it is steep. The south face is even steeper. Bring a rope.

I think you are referring to Vikings Horns on Long Mountain. I think that it is choss. Bring pitons.

I had heard that the spring can actually be too hot to stand and must be diluted with steam water. The enclosures are made of piled up rocks and get destroyed each year by avalanches. They have to be rebuilt each year and engineered to mix the right proportions of spring water and stream water.

Martlet: DustinB's alter ego.

I just led Steel Grille, 5.9 at King Pins. I had top roped it a couple months before and knew I'd have a hard time with it, and I did. I had to aid a move I had had no trouble with on top rope. Conversely, I had no trouble with the move that had been toughest previously. Oh well, no redpoint this time, but it was a worthwhile experience anyway. I'd say this is a quality route because it feels like it has 8 cruxes on it. There isn't just one hard spot. It's very sustained. It's a climb that is hard to forget. If you go, take along some medium to large hexes in addition to a bunch of 2-4" cams. Placed endwise, the hexes work great where the crack flares inward and cams wouldn't do as well.

I'll put in a plug for Erden's slide presentations. They are very interesting and entertaining. Lots of really nice photographs. I heard lots of great comments from other people too.

All they have to do is put a miniature video camera up in a tree at Exit 38 and they will have all the information they would need to make an arrest. Sounds simple enough to me.

A whole week without a post. I'd rather cut off my right arm.

I tried Superfeet after I developed plantar fasciitis in my right foot. They helped a little, but the inflammation didn't go away until I had custom orthotic insoles built. The orthotics are made from a plaster cast of the foot and are constructed using carbon fiber and epoxy.

Apparently, nails don't do nearly as much damage as bullets do.

You need to find a girlfriend.

Lummox, I think you hit the nail on the head. Those nail guns don't go off by accident. You have to push hard on them, unless the gun was illegally modified, which I am sure happens a lot.

Dryad can pick up a pair of La Sportiva Cobra slippers for you on sale in France for $44 EU (or $53 US). We're getting ripped off here, big time.

Iain, did I tell you about my rock collection? I keep it right next to my nail gun.

"About 150 students attended the dance, Tate said. All had to meet academic and behavioral standards to be invited."

Baggage = Babies, i.e. Single Moms

It would be terribly gruesome.

I would believe that.

Welcome to alpine climbing. A very entertaining and unusually lucid TR for Mr. Wind.

A friend of mine is taking her Alphas with her to Denali in two weeks. She has the thermo molded liners. I asked her if she was sure they were warm enough. She said that with the overboots, they would be.

One of these might be useful for packing.