Bill_Simpkins

No problem..... I just tend to get mad cuz i feel like the older guys pick on me for my lack in special gear and 'stylish' climbing clothes.... I just do my best to get out and climb so when im older and can go to more extreme places I will have more experience... Man, you are doing great. People these days have too much gear anyways. Busting out the rope on the slopes like that is a nice mellow way to learn rope management. Looks like you had fun.

They do that to entertain themselves.

Had that on Erie on Saturday too. Super nice.

Something for you all to consider is that new computers will be very outdated soon. Yeah, technology changes fast, but between now and 2011 there are going to be significant changes (more than the usual) in performance. For instance, I heard straight from Intel that the average home machine will have about 80 cpu's by 2011. Additionally, frameworks are currently being released that let programmers easily spread the cpu load out amongst them(PLinq for example). This means MAJOR improvements is software capabilities are on the way in the next 5 years. Already, it is practical to get a home PC with 4-8 cpu's. So for now, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Unless your hardcore gaming or rendering video and computing weather patterns, get something that just "works" and hold out until its practical to get a 50+ cpu system and software is out that takes advantage of it. Exciting times ... I've been using a DUO 2.66 Ghz PC with a 8800 GTX video card, 4x raid array running Vista SP2 and it's been solid as a rock. It never crashes and is very smooth. Can run 3-4 Visual Studio 2008 , SQL Server Management Studio (big hog), IIS, Fiddler about 10 browsers, a Virtual PC and 2 remote desktops all at the same time and it still runs fine all day long. Also handles any game (such as Team Fortress 2) with ease. One of the other developers where I work took a Mac and put Vista SP2 on it and it works great. Also WinXP SP3 is going to be the fastest Windows product ever made, when they release it. So that's another thing to consider. Maybe get a mac and run XP SP3 on it. I think right now it won't matter too much. Just get something without busting your bank.

This statement seems way out of line I also said, "Should be considered". Considering is very different than accusing. Consider Accuse Towing referral kickbacks is a real problem (article - CLICK ME!). Hearing the stories my father told me of when he was a tow truck driver (granted it was in the late 1960's) in San Francisco, opened my mind enough to have this consideration myself. As soon as people stop considering likely (and historically recurrent) possibilities, then anyone with a little imagination can get away with anything. Although I doubt Cooters was getting kickbacks. It wasn't my intent to argue about this. My intent was to throw the idea into the bucket of possibilities. If no good enough reason is given as to why the cars were towed versus ticketed, maybe possibilities like the I one I suggested considering will be, well, considered. I would like to think that all law enforcement makes just and fair decisions for the good of the people, and hopefully in this case they did.

I would consider the South Face of ABP during one of those dry/cold winters we had, like a couple years ago. Heck, you could probably even hike in snow free then. Right now it's probably just plastered with crap and super deadly. I'll try to telephoto into it next time I go snowboarding at Baker. Maybe John S. could take a few up-close photos from his plane? (hint hint).

What? You confuse me. Who was motivated by money? The $193 was a towing fee, most likely to a private tow company. The deputy does not get a dime, the sheriff department does not get a dime, and the county would make a pittance, if anything. No, it was not about money, not at all. It was for the reason the deputy gave, though I agree that it was a pretty weak arguement without much though involved. Unless, you think it was a vast conpsiracy with the tow company? Maybe the tow truck driver called into the county to set the whole thing up? OF course, that must be it. I am simply stating that there is a motive to do such a thing. I didn't say that WAS the motive. However, based on this discussion, there doesn't seem to be many other possible motives for doing such a irrational thing that may outweigh this one, other that sheer stupidity or ego. Thus, it may be worth looking into. Having the tow truck operator put $1000 in the pocket of the deputy for hooking him up with the business isn't that unrealistic. Should be considered. It wouldn't be a vast conspiracy, but lining peoples pockets like this goes on every day all around you at every level since the beginning of time. Most people doing something like this on such a small level would probably assume no one would ever dig far enough or even consider such a thing, thus they think they can get away with it. “Follow the dirt and it leads to money. Follow the money and it leads to power. This maxim has rarely let me down.” -- Simon Jenkins

When the government makes a decision, they should make it in the best interest of the people. This decision was clearly not in the best interest of the people and was probably more motived by money. When there is 18*$193 involved there is clearly a motive, other than the best interest of the people, to tow those cars. It is upsetting when the government, on any level, makes decisions against the peoples will. There is a law against that, and it is called the constitution. Every chance they get, they try to soften this law so they can get away with more. I am glad people are going after this towing matter because on a moral level, towing the cars was wrong. People NEED to hold on to whatever dignity we have left. Don't just blow things like this off. Please.

Wrong! I climbed about 15 feet of it! I'm waiting for someone to climb the South face of American Border peak when it ices up.

I usually just suffer in the wetness at index. City Park is good in the rain. Ironhorse is fun when its wet too(Ballznuts are useful if traversing right after start). The first belay is right in the path of a constant stream of water. Possible dry places for aid in rain: Squamish: Nightmare, Zombie Roof Index: A ways right of City Park when you round a corner and go up a hill, there is a dryish place. There is a crescent shaped crack under a roof. If I recall right, there was only one bolt for the descent. That was the best part! Needed a few LA's and KB's. My friends wall: we put up a string of bolt hangers on a huge roof for when we get to tired to hold on with our hands

Very sad. Sometimes I run into snowmobile tracks on the South side of that ridge where the hikers are. That means they have to ride over the col, which is off limits? They get to the backside of the mountain from the Canyon Creek Road, ride up into the basin from behind and cross over to the highway side of the mountain. Pretty popular area.

I think you're right Blake.

I have little respect for research which closes with: "When in doubt, use bolts". I've pulled out newly placed bolts with my bare hands. In fact, that very sentence could harm more people than the paper could ever help. I assume their intentions are good, but when they say stuff like that, it loses credibility, especially with their target audience, climbers.

"Scientists have shown that three is greater than one, but four is not that much greater than 3. After years of study and millions in funding, the researchers came to this controversial conclusion. Many previously believed that one was greater than three, but now the greatest minds in the world have proved them wrong." Taken from "3 is greater than 1, but 4 is not much greater than 3" paper produced by: J.H. Desperateforgrant IV PhD Bob Hadnothingbettertodo PhD Sarah Lookingforanythingtogetpress PhD

I believe Mike Layton hiked in there a few years back. If my memory serves me right, he said the rock was worthless. Layton?

Be careful of avi just below the notch below the South gully. As far as the boulders being covered, some of the holes are pretty big. I wouldn't say for sure now, but chances of a smooth ride across them would be 50/50 this time of year depending on snowfall.

I like "Roadside Geology of Washington". I want to add the the Beckey books have a lot of interesting geological comments in them too.

Screw Matlab, code it yourself.

#?. You let your pet wussy talk you into to Starbucks between every pitch. Coincidently, you end up staring at Burger's and Fries all day out the Cafe window then sitting around a trendy local Bistro all evening not feeling sore enough to deserve the cheddar-ale soup.

Larrabee's summit is really easy during the summer from Twin Lakes. Takes about 3 hours round trip if you walk really fast. That being said, if you can find a way around to the base of the face from the south side, the USA way should be pretty fast and effortless if you can drive or ski into Twin Lakes. However, from experience, Larrabee is the biggest choss pile in the the Cascades. It is held together by magic. So if you do that face, make sure it is really cold. Before you traverse over to the standard routes 4th class gully on the South side you can head up right to get a good look down the less step section (you can see that in the picture on the far left). Might be possible to scramble down through there to the face. I don't know.

Don't listen do Darin! He is a cube monkey with his finger sitting on the big red button! Bellingham is full of people driving Outbacks while they talk on the cell phone and drink a latte while driving their kids to soccer practice. It's dangerous. Live somewhere safe like Lebanon!

Looks like a turd manifold. I bet that baby has a sweet metric!

Very cool!

$20. Very good boots. Lace-ups for strap bindings. My wife went to size 7. These are used, but still have a good two seasons left in them. Send me a message.