North_by_Northwest

I guess it's just indicative of the kind of winter we've had-there should be avalanches not mudslides right now.

Sounds like you had a pretty Fun - experience. Is this the Rock Mtn. right across the highway from Stevens?

Lazenby was the worst Bond ever. Especially because his Bond character got married-totally wrong for a Bond. He should be erased from the James Bond record.

Dogs are better to have on the trail than horses on most occasions: do you ever see a horse rider stoop and scoop? And they go right on the trail everytime. What was said earlier about frontcountry, training, leashes, not in restricted areas goes too. Also NO BARKING. When people follow these rules I'm glad to see their dogs in the woods, its good for 'em. You're name is Steve Birds? Crazy. I work for a Steve Bird.

The military should get pay raises. If they make it a more rewarding career choice we will get better and smarter people with their fingers on the trigger. It can never hurt to have a little more intelligence behind a gun.

Yeah, I think it is Manning. I just remembered Spring first. What really bugs me is when he rants about banning ORVs from some areas in Eastern Washington. A lot of these areas are not good for hiking but are perfect for ORVs. Manning goes on and on about writing letters, the "four-wheeled terrors", etc. when hikers never go there to begin with! It's not like the areas are unusual or pristine in any way either-it's just miles and miles of broken basalt and scrub brush-the same stuff you find everywhere east of the cascades!

As far as user groups and lobbying goes, what I'd really like to see is some sensibility and compromise on both sides. Hikers and climbers need to realize that it can't all be pure wilderness and that many more people enjoy nature from the seat of a motorhome, ORV or 4X4. They need to be allow some areas to be open to ORVs and let it alone. ORV groups need to realize that there are many places where their sport is completely innappropriate (Yellowstone) and very destructive. They need to stop fighting for the right to use these areas because they should know they don't belong there. What it all comes down to really is a compromise between what people want to do in the outdoors and what is best for nature. If everyone decides to do what is best, in terms of their sport, for nature we can't go wrong. If we keep butting heads over relatively small issues and refusing to budge we are all just wasting time. Maybe this is what Sisu is trying to say with groups working together.

These annoying little parking fees are a direct result of funding cuts. The Gov chops what the FS, PS or whatever agency gets and the agency is forced to charge us in order to keep its head above water and continue providing services. True: as climbers or hikers we get very few services for what we pay for. This money goes to pay for the things we don't want to see: garbage removal, fixing washed out trails, eliminating unnecessary trails and destructive campsites, erasing the marks of errant ORV and horse users, etc. When you hike in an area that sees a lot of traffic but still looks beautiful (Enchantments) don't say: "Ohh, I paid $10 a day to be here and there isn't even a decent toilet." Instead notice how little the area has been impacted for the number of people that have visited it over the decades. It didn't always look this good, it has been worse in the past. Your fees go to keep it up. I hate the fees too and I would like to see an end to them, but it has to come from the top down. Protesting like Necro suggests will not lead to change. Voting is the only way to get the funds our lands need (with this many people out there they can't take care of themselves anymore.) As far as different user groups: there is a place for everything. I like to go four-wheeling just for the hell of it and I think there should be areas where that's acceptable. I also like to backpack and climb in places where there is no sign of motorized use. I would never think of going four-wheeling where I hike or climb, or hiking where I like to go four-wheeling; it wouldn't be appropriate. I think that areas like Yellowstone should be rid of snowmobilers: it's just not an acceptable place for motorized use. Some see it as taking lands that are theirs to use, but permission to snowmobile in Yellowstone was given long before snowmobiling was what it is today. The first people to sled there had no where near the power, noise and destructive capability that those who ride today do. Laws and restrictions need to adapt with technology. I agree there are some really arrogant and stuck-up climbers and hikers out there. The 100 Hikes books (Ira Spring) are full of the kind of snotty B.S. that I just can't stand. A lot of climbers do feel that they are above the law, even in relation to the environment. A prime example is the Mountaineers lobbying to place permanent bolt anchors in designated wilderness areas. That goes against the laws and principles of wilderness areas, but they support it because they think they are too important. At the same time they also publish Ira Spring's books.

What group of kids died? Is that the Zimbabwe train crash or is it something else? Too many bad things are happening.

Sounds like a great trip ML. Was it cold on Epinephrine or 70s like you said? I went to get on that route on my New Years trip and it was too wet and cold. We were almost snowed in and forced to stay in Lee Vining. I'm jealous.

UPDATED FEBRUARY 1, 2003 8:06 PM ET -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Toyota to Reach New Foriegn Market By AARON CLIPBOARD Staff reporter Toyota announced the release of a new four-wheel drive pickup truck late yesterday morning. The new truck, an offshoot of the popular Tacoma line, will only be available in the countries of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and North Korea. Toyota is marketing the new model as a response to the Afghan war, in which Toyota trucks were featured hauling troops and supplies for Al Queda forces. The new Terror ISM can carry as many as eight passengers in its military grade bed. The truck, dubbed the Terror will be available in two distinct packages. The IST package will include an I-Force V8 engine and a standard cab and truck bed. The ISM package is also based around the I-Force V8 engine but offers a standard cab with military side bench seating in the bed. A popular option available with both models is a roof mounted .50 caliber machine gun. Toyota trucks are valued in remote parts of the world for their durability and long life, Afghan leaders were quick to recognize this and have been major consumers of Toyota vehicles since the early 1990s. The new Terror models are, in part, a response to faithful brand consumership from the Afghans. "We don't see Toyotas getting used like this in America," said Yosukia Haramoto, Marketing CEO of Toyota's Middle East Block, "in the U.S. a truck might go two-hundred thousand miles without a problem, in Afghanistan and other terrorist nations they're ordering new trucks every other year." Haramoto explained that the volume of four-wheel drive trucks shipped to Afghanistan and Pakistan increased sharply after the Gulf War. Toyota sales in the region responded well to the preparations for terrorist activity. The corporation hopes that sales in Iraq and North Korea will pick up due to the fact that they are similar markets. Photos such as this, from the Afghan war, prompted Toyota engineers to develop a truck more suitable to the rigors of terrorism. Toyotas team of engineers was introduced to the problem of transportation in Afghanistan on a one month research and development retreat. According to Haramoto, they quickly discovered that the trucks already in the region were often heavily loaded when carrying troops and weapons, making escape from U.S. forces more difficult. The team went to work quickly, adapting Toyota's new I-Force V8 to the more nimble Tacoma platform. Expanded seating and weapons options came second in the Terror upgrade. A paint shade of gray that reflects a minimal amount of light and blends in well with most Afghan territory was chosen, the shade is also known for its lack of visibility from the air. In the final production models the radios were removed and Afghan print cloth seating was made available. Afghan forces were immediately pleased with the result. Haramoto is confident that the new Terror will be "Toyota's big seller number one" in remote parts of Afghanistan, and will quickly beat out the competition in the other "Axis of Evil" countries it is being offered in. All Terror models will feature an interior based around traditional Afghan prints and materials. It is unlikely that the Terror will be seen on America's car lots; Toyota has no plans to market the vehicle on U.S. soil. The Terror may see competition from the United States however, as both Ford and GM are currently developing their own terrorist edition trucks for export. MORE TECHNOLOGY NEWS • All Headlines • Print Edition Only Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company | Privacy Policy | Contact Us

Grover McClellan, resident game warden in Startup, WA, found climbing as a youngster. On hunting trips his father would send him up tall trees and rocks as a lookout for game. Grover hated hunting but he came to live the climbing. He now devotes his life to enforcing game laws, chainsaw carving, and of course, climbing. His team of twelve is sponsored by SKOAL and T.C.'s Offroad Outlet. Grover plans to lead the first ascent of the Nose with only Skoal brand chew, Busch Lite and jerky as supplies. May we all wish him well.

THIS JUST IN!! Leonard has died in an unfortunate accident at the UW Rock. Egged-on by fellow climbers and driven by his fear of a certain UW Rock personality, Leonard climbed to the topmost part of the practice wall. He was held at bay by the above-mentioned climber for six days without rest. Finally he lost the strength to hold on and fell to his death. His body bounced into the parking lot, where a number of female "admirers" grieved over him.

Despite Barney's strong start and early partnership with RURP he soon found himself falling out of favor with the climbing community. Barney came to realize that he was different and needed to be a different sort of climber. Rejecting all tradition and sanity he became a member of the Nation of Chongo. Since becoming a member he has logged over 500 days and nights on the walls of Yosemite. He holds duration records for time spent at a single hanging belay, 56hrs., and time spent on approach to Half Dome, 19 days. Unfortunately he has yet to get beyond the tenth pitch of any big wall climb. He blames his failures on lack of equipment, supplies and time. Quote from Barney, "Some say: for the lead dog the scenery never changes. How can I complain?"

Barb never quite made it to Camp 4. By the time the 70s were over she was on her second child and had just finished her third trip to rehab. The faith got her going strong however and she managed to pull through the difficult times on her own. Barb is now married, drives a Honda mini-van and explores crevasses in her spare time. She's not sad that she's fallen in status from a big wall hopeful to a mere soccer mom: the lord told her it's a form of progression.

see above

It's a good thing those bridges are being replaced-they're old. Too many important rec projects like trail work, bridges, etc. got put off because funding was lost to the fires and 9/11. This is a sign that things are returning to normal. Hopefully it will mean less crowds around Colchuck and Stuart too, those areas could use a break and I could definitely make use of some tourist free wilderness.

104 bpm-I just ran up and down two flights of stairs and walked about 100yds at a fast pace. When I was 19 I went to have my wisdom teeth removed. I had to be sedated and the doctor gave me the usual stupid speech about the possibility of death in sedated surgery. They had me on the table and hooked up to a heart monitor as the drugs were taking effect. The last thing I remember seeing as I went under was the monitor going ________, then seeing lots of people in white coats running around. As my body relaxed and I went into sedation my heart rate went lower than the normal 'alive' setting on the monitor and made it flatline. I had a much lower heart rate back then-it's now 80 bpm after typing this.

Friends and roommates who don't climb always ask if I had a nice hike. Relatives just look at the pictures and shake their heads. What really bothers me is when people try to introduce you to their "climbing" friends. "Oh, you climb? You should hangout with Mike, he climbed Mt. St. Helens AND Mt. Si last year." They don't understand the different styles of climbing and the different styles of climbers and you can't explain why you're not that interested in hanging out with so-and-so without sounding like an antisocial asshole.

Here's an unfinished (needs much work before sale) short story on the topic. Please read rating system before reading story so that you are not offended. http://www.writing.com/main/view_item.php?item_id=413245 (Don't reproduce without author's permission please.)

I'll give it a little editing and repost it. Give me an hour or two, I'm at work.

{"My take on the Exum ridge is that it's a cheap "price point" shoe for the everyday used, as oppose to a true approach shoe. I tried them out in the store and I just didn't like the way they looked with my spring ensemble....just kdding...but it seems like more of a 'consumer' shoe as opposed to a performance shoe, sorta like the difference in the really nice new balance running shoes and the ones you can get for $59.95 at your local outdoor retailer."} That was my first impression too, but I know folks who use them all the time and for a lot of stuff. I hear they climb pretty well for a not-so-climbing approach shoe. They also seemed to hold up OK. Not a bad choice if you don't plan on climbing in your shoes too much.

Could use some editing, not bad though. I can see why they say it's too local. Did you mention that people from several states post? Your tale of how you were lured in to the site is the best part. What mags did you pitch it to?

Who's in your avatar pic Pope? It kinda resembles an old, faded HST.