NEWSTIPS

Okay, guys, we've been making calls on some of the problems you've mentioned...and the problem we're running into is any empirical evidence of funds mismanagement. Absent that, does anyone have pics of poorly maintained trails or other physical evidence we can go with to bolster our search for where the funds are going?

Montlake bridge will be open for the drive there, but depending on how late you stay out, might be closed for the drive home. DOT news release: The Montlake Bridge (State Route 513) will be closed to traffic for three extended periods overnight on Monday night and Tuesday night March 10 and 11, 2003. During the closures, WSDOT Bridge Preservation crews will perform work on the bridge's mechanical draw span system.

DUH! Obvioulsy, the solution to this problem is to show up at ALL drinking events.

FYI, KING5 is doing a story with the ski patrol at Crystal on saturday afternoon/night. We're shadowing them on their afternoon shift to see the types of calls they respond to and talking about the dangers skiers face after a heavy snowfall. They wanted to make sure we emphasize "buddy skiing".

Tom, If you love feta cheese, I've got a dip recipe for you.... 12 oz cream cheese, softened 8 oz feta chese, crumbled 1/4 tsp marjoram 1/4 tsp basil 1/4 tsp dill 1-2 cloves of garlic mayonaise Mix together everything but the mayonaise. Next, I generally add 2 tbsp full of mayo, but some people add up to a half cup if you like it really creamy. (I prefer my dip to be a little thicker and not as soupy.) Refrigerate for an hour. Serve on crackers (Triscuits work best) Oh yeah, and serve with gin and tonic.

Well, I've never had such a great offer. It is clear to me from your posting that you are buying, so I'll meet you there in 20 minutes....It'll probably be a hidden camera crew, though, so as to capture you as you really are rather than how you wish for the camera to portray you.

This is great. The mere fact that this one topic has so many of you steamed means there are literally hundreds more people of the same opinion. I wish there were an icon on here to show the can of worms I've opened with this query. FYI....I've started the phone calling process to do this story, but don't expect it to turn anytime soon. As Erik or Iain said, this is certainly something that will take a lot of groundwork before it makes it to the airwaves!

Actually, NWCN did a piece on him several weeks ago, but maybe we'd like to revisit it. I'll have to check to see when exactly that climb is and see if we can hang out (maybe literally?) with him beforehand...

How much would you estimate the average climber (is there such a thing) spends each year on climbing fees? I can do the research to find what the fees are and what they are supposedly used for, but what I need to know from you guys is why you think they're not being effectively disbursed. Are there problems on the trails that should theoretically be fixed with the climbing fee income but aren't being done?

Well, we had some positive response from the climbing community on the story KING 5 did last week on the car breakins at trailheads...so we're looking for other concerns of the climbing community to address. What are some other issues that the climbing community would like to see on the news?

If I had known about it, I probably would have come....but alas, no internet connectin at home meant I spent the evening at home drinking with my cat instead.

So now you're blaming me for your slow internet connection? Them's fighting words!

Comcast (formerly Attbi), actually. Hope they're decent. Haven't heard any gripes about them so far...

I missed an opportunity to dRink with you guys??? What is this world coming to? Dang that cable guy for not having my modem installed yet!

Just to update you guys..... the search for the missing snowshoer on Mt. Hood has been called off permanently. the sheriff made the decision today to "demobilize search efforts" due to "extreme avalanche danger" and white-out conditions. Officials met with the missing man's family and explained that the survival rate at this point is "zero". BACKGROUND Press Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Dept. *** UPDATE *** MEDIA COORDINATOR CONTACT FOR SEARCH ON MT. HOOD March 3rd, 2003 9:15 AM PREVIOUSLY RELEASED: The Clackamas County Search and Rescue Unit and volunteer search groups will be searching this morning for a missing 49 year-old Portland man who was snowshoeing in the Hogs Back area of Mt. Hood but failed to return at 5:00 p.m. last night. Fred Frauens, 49, left Timberline Lodge at 10:00 a.m. yesterday and failed to return at 5:00 p.m. His wife, who was waiting for him at the lodge, reported him missing at about 6:00 p.m. The Mt. Hood Ski Patrol did a hasty search of Timberline's boundaries last night. Mr. Frauens is an experienced hiker but not a mountaineer. He has very little winter survival experience and was poorly equipped. He does not have any electronic devices such as a cell phone or a mountain locater unit (used to send out a signal in the event of an emergency.) Searchers with Portland Mountain Rescue, Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue, Multnomah County Explorer Post 631 and the Mt. Hood Snowmobile Club will be heading out at first light this morning. The weather today is forecasted for freezing below 3000 feet, wind 10-15 mph, and snow of up to 4 inches. The command post is set up near Timberline's Day Lodge. Contact Info: Sgt. Nick Watt, Clackamas Co Sheriff's Dept

Okay, I'm in. What time will it be?

Okay, now I'm depressed. You aren't interested in news unless there's nudity involved?

Actually, I would be happy to come to the great out of doors with you guys, but I am as novice as novice can get and I didn't figure any of you experienced folks would be interested in taking a newbie out. I've never done ANY hiking or climbing before. There ain't a lot of mountains where I grew up in Tennessee!

1. If S&R is the lead agency on the event, then of course we're going to get our information from them. If there is someone else available to us, then we talk to them, otherwise, we have to make do with what we have. 2. It could not have been our helicopter hovering over you on Thursday. Our chopper went into the shop for maintenance on Wednesday night and was in about 100 pieces by the time we were alerted to the SAR operation. 3. How on earth could we have mentioned that you had a good time? We didn't know who you were, didn't know when you were coming down, and didn't want to speculate on what you were *feeling*. Having had no personal contact with you, there was no grounds for reporting that you had a good time up there. I understand that climbers get frustrated with the ways SARs and their hobbies as a whole are portrayed in the media, and I actually appreciate getting feedback, but when it's scribed as a personal attack, it benefits no one and serves only to anger all parties involved. As an aside, if anyone would like to come to the station one day and see what it's like up on my end of things, I'd be glad to show you what we deal with and the way we have to handle the volume of information coming at us. My days off are Wednesday and Thursday and I'm happy to give you a look-see into the news world (if you think you can stomach it without whipping out your sidearm).

Just as long as you give as good as you get. Dang. I knew it was dangerous to use the words "lick", "me", and "pub club" in the same thought.

No prob. We've had this problem with her before. I think that she knows even less about hiking/climbing than I do (if that's possible). At least I'm learning the differences now... And you guys can get your licks in to me in person at Pub Club on Tuesday!

Check out my response on the "getting lost & found" thread for an answer to this query. (I'd post the link here but I don't know how)

Isn't that what I do????

Hey now! Why the animosity? King5News asked permission didn't she??? And come on down for your ass stomping. It's been a while since I kicked some ass and I'm rarin' to go!