catbirdseat

There were four of us and we did exchange leads above Gibraltar Rock. There is no way we would have made it otherwise. I'm sure there are guys that could have done it as a party of two, but it would have been way hard.

One thing is for sure. You have to be passionate about guiding to be willing to go through all that. It ensures that not only they are competent, but they really enjoy doing it. They aren't going to get rich by it.

Who here thinks you need 45 hours of instruction to take clients top rope climbing?

You could have called the cops. The guy would have gotten a ticket with a fine for inattentive driving. But who's got the time if your truck isn't damaged?

The roadless rule was created under the Clinton Administration. It basically says that if an area doesn't already have roads through it, then new roads shall not be built. It recognizes that road building is very expensive for one thing and that it facilitates the destruction of the last pristine areas in our forests. From Inslee's web site: Inslee and Boehlert Re-introduce Roadless Legislation to Protect America's Last Pristine Forests Thursday, 6 June, 2003 U.S. Reps. Jay Inslee (D-WA), Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and other Members and environmental groups announced today the introduction of the National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act at a "Roll-Out" event on Capitol Hill. This bi-partisan legislation, supported by over 150 original cosponsors, will make the “Roadless Rule” into federal law. U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and John Warner introduced companion legislation in the Senate today as well. “The National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act ensures strong protection for America’s last pristine forest lands,” said Inslee. “Loud and clear, Americans have called on the federal government for strong protection of their national forests, yet from Alaska to Virginia, the Roadless rule is under threat on a number of fronts. Whether it be from threat of judicial action or administrative ruling, protecting America’s Roadless areas should continue to be the law of the land, unwavering under political winds from Washington, D.C. Congress cannot allow the Roadless rule to be undermined.” Inslee further explained, “Roadless areas make up only two percent of the lands in the continental U.S. but provide incalculable benefits. These lands preserve our nation's vital sources of clean water; provide critical wildlife habitat to more than 1,600 threatened, endangered, or sensitive plant and animal species; and offer unparalleled recreational opportunities. Our bi-partisan legislation provides lasting protection for America’s Roadless areas. We look forward to ensuring America’s Roadless areas remain protected.” The administration has indicated it plans to propose changes to the Roadless rule; Inslee’s and Boehlert’s legislation would ensure that the Roadless rule remains the law of the land. This environmental legislation would protect nearly sixty million acres of pristine National Forest lands from logging, mining, and drilling, except in cases where the logging is necessary to protect forest health, to improve habitat for endangered species or to reduce fire danger. The lands will remain open for recreational use including hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and the use of snowmobiles and dirtbikes.

As far as I was concerned, I couldn't see shit from Paradise. At the time Gator was saying, "Gib Ledges is in". I'm thinking he had been up there, but no. It was marginal.

The cheapest would be wide spectrum fluorescent tubes. The best would by probably metal halide because you don't have to have the lamp so close to the plants, but it's more expensive. The Indoor Sun Shop

Trask don't need no stinkin' cell phone.

If the mountain will not come to Mohammed...

Get serious.

US House Representative Jay Inslee from the First Congressional District will visit my workplace sometime next week. He has been a supporter of the Roadless Rule and has introduced legislation to maintain it. There's a chance I might have a few moments to speak with Mr. Inslee. Does anyone have any questions they would like for me to ask, or concerns to raise (in addition to the usual Fee Demo complaints)?

When we climbed the ledges last February, there was lots of unconsolidated snow on the Cowlitz and we were concerned about avy danger, not to mention that we were postholing. We went around the problem by ascending Cowlitz Cleaver and going behind the Beehive then rapping down a short step. It worked out pretty well, although it was more time consuming.

Marek, are you planning any more winter climbs on Rainier this year? How about Nisqually Icefall?

Marylou, the big difference between you and the other women of cc.com and the men for that matter is you frequently make imperative statements telling others what you think they should do. Guys like Cavey use the word "I" as in "this is what I believe" or "this is what I do", but they don't constantly go around telling people you should do this or you should do that. That's why he is repected and...

If you were willing to ski the road from Troublesome Creek, Goblin Peak might be a more doable winter scramble. It's over 10 miles, though.

That would put him in company with Dustin_B in the Deep South of Authoritarian Land.

Is it a surprise to anyone that an Authoritarian would be a hard core Bush supporter?

No surprises here.

For those of you unfamiliar with oscillococcinum, it is a form of homeopathy. Good luck Sisu, I'll go with clinically proven therapies, thank you.

Classic.

Even der klenkmeister has fallen prey.

I hear that those who have gotten flu shots are getting sick too. Say your prayers. "Take Drugs"- There are drugs such as Relenza, Tamiflu, and rimantidine that are effective at lessening flu symptoms and duration once you are infected. I took one of these a few years ago, 24 hours into the flu and I was skiing three days later.

I never said that dioxins did not come from natural sources. I am sure they do, but I still maintain that the primary source is from human sources. Wood burning is the third-largest source in the US. The other issue is that there is not one dioxin, but many. Some are more toxic than others. The most widely studied and most toxic one is 2,3,7,8-TCDD. This particular one is the one found in Agent Orange. It is a byproduct of the synthesis of 2,4,5 T.

Almost like divine retribution in a Greek tragedy.