hoofmarks

Post deleted by hoofmarks

May Peter have the guidance to complete his final climb from this journey to the next.... Thoughts and prayers to his family in thier time of need.... If the real goal of a climb is not to get to the top but return safely, why go at all? What makes a seemingly intelligent person willing to take a risk for goal with no practical value? Why engage in a pursuit that can only be considered frivolous and selfish when compared against the impact of a loss of life. There is no goal that is at the same time more real and more abstract than the top of a mountain. Maybe some of the answers lie therein. A summit of a mountain is a clearly definable objective that can be reached only by dedication, good planning, hard work and luck. The first look at a big mountain fills you with fear: It's impossibly huge, no human belongs there. But to control your fear, you think of the mountain as steps, and taking one at a time, you find there is no single step you cannot make. You keep moving upward until every direction leads you down and you realize, after a moments confusion, that you're at the top. There were no impossible obstacles, the only barriers were in your mind. Mountains are permanent and indifferent, they can't be conquered. What you conquer are your fears and you perceived limitations. Easy challenges are no challenges, but harder ones come with bigger risks. Dealing with those risks will call on dormant strengths in yourself that you might otherwise never have discovered. Nothing is more empowering than taking a risk and succeeding. We admire those who take great risks but if they fail do we call them foolish? Worse, what if they die trying? Whas it a stupid waste of life. Saying "they died doing what they love" doesn't replace the sense of personal lost. So why do people climb? Because climbing reduces life to it's simplest, most basic elements: food, shelter, survival. Humans are designed to deal with these essentials, not the trivia that fills our everyday lives. Climbing elevates these senses to a higher degree, emotions become intense and, unexpectedly it is relaxing. Challenging nature on its own basic terms and succeeding brings exhilaration on a grand scale. Each of us should have his or her own mountain - a testing place in any endeavor where the goal is almost, but not quite beyond reach. When you take a great challenge and accomplish it you discover that your abilities are more than you ever imagined, enabling you at times to accomplish the "impossible". A life lived in this way is infinitely fulfilling....... "If you have a dream, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." johann goethe

Thanks for the feedback on the ID tents. I'm familiar with Biblers - any of the same problem on the ID as with the Bibler and the poles popping out of the corners in wind and damaging the fabric in the corners ???

I am looking for some feedback from those that may have any experience with these tents. Any problems or outstanding issues to be wary of ?? Good Experiences / Bad Experiences / Glad you bought / Sad you bought with this product from use in the field ?? Thanks - hoofmarks

Follow Up: I started looking for a pair of Nepal Extremes for a friend that was looking for a pair that liked mine. This is what lead to this posting. I had a "connection" that could source them at the 50 % off of the "local domestic" going rate - the down side is that this source went away due to "shipping restrictions". A new source has came about for a limited time close to the 50% discount off of the domestic going rate. These are for limited sizes - 43 - 44 -45 -some 46. If anybody is interested let me know and you can deal direct with source. Just passing along a option.... cheers, hoofmarks

I was researching this boot earlier in the year looking for a replacement for my plastic boots. I contacted Vasque direct and they put me in contact with Jack Tackle who designed this boot. Jack is very down to earth and more than helpful in sharing information on many subjects.... The following info is from Jack on this new boot. I hope this helps - hoofmarks Hello-My name is Jack Tackle. I work for Vasque and I am responsible for developing this new mountaineering program for Vasque. I am also an experienced climber and I think I can answer some of your questions that you sent to Paul Swarts in Vasque Customer Service. 1. The boots will take Super Gaiters no problem. The rand attachments will be very secure, although I always end up gluing mine on so they don't come off. 2. I designed the new Stealth Fitzroy sole so that all brand of clip-on crampons fit well. I work with Grivel and they have the narrowest toe and heel bale dimensions-so they fit with them and BD and Charlet. Those brands represent 90% of the crampons, but others should fit too. 3.I designed the Ice 9000 to be warmer and lighter than other conventional plastic double boots. Because the shell is warmer than just 2 mm of plastic, because the inner boot is very warm, and because there is a lot of under foot insulation,i.e EVA foam midsole, carbon fiber lasting board (shank) and foam and mylar on tip of the lasting board, besides the footbed, ---- you have tremendous under foot insulation where you lose a lot of you heat. 4. The boots are so much lighter ( over two pounds per pair) than the old Vertical. They are waterproof because of the Exo- Therm composite shell and the Pebax plastic fingers- instead of leather. And, again they are much warmer and they climb very well, because they are trim and light underfoot.The Stealth rubber sole will climb rock extremely well too. Good morning-Here's some answers to your follow up questions. 1. ALL crampons will work..New matic or clip on- so both your Rambos and your G-12 newmatics are in there. 3. I always come and guide at the IME NH Ice fest in Feb., so maybe I'll see you there. Vasque is a sponsor of the Ice Fest Feb. 20-23,2003 5. The Ice 9000 and the Super Alpinista single (in the category of your Sportiva Nepal Extremes) both have a carbon lasting board/shank that is totally rigid- but, this is a molded piece, shaped like the bottom of your foot- lasted is the term- and so we designed it to have a rocker to the outsole that matches this lasting board. What this means is that it hikes and does approaches much better than your Koflachs.. 6. The Ice 9000 double by it self without attaching a gaiter, is very warm. Obviously that's subjective- You can't rate boots like sleeping bags. But, again I have climbed Denali without Super Gaiters in this type of set up.... Still, not everyone can do that. So, compared to the One sport/Millet Everest and the Sportiva Olympus Mons. here are the differences. Those boots and heavy and clunky for technical climbing. The Sportiva published weight is almost two pounds heavier, some of that's the gaiter, but not all. It has a very heavy Vibram outsole on it for example. The Millet Everest is a little lighter than the Sportiva, but both these boots are meant for high altitude snow slogs and cold. Our Ice 9000 can climb grade 6 waterfalls, hard mixed ground, hike well, is lighter and warmer, and can work in ski mountaineering bindings like the Silveretta 400/404. Hope that helps. Cheers, Jack Tackle

Looking for Nepal Extreme size 12 or 45.5 New or used. Also any info on any "off the beaten path" gear supplier web site that may have them. I have looked at most of the popular domestic sites. Thanks !!