chris

I think you're asking about Stellar Falls. Page 195 of the Washington Ice guidebook.

I think this mountain is better off without this route - but I also wish Kruk and Kennedy did a better job at explaining their rationale. Couldn't they simply have said, "We grew up hearing from our mentors that this should be done, so when the time came and we could do something about it, we stepped up."

Ousland did have a kite/sail, but if I remember right he only had one size wing and one length of cords - today most kite-skiers in Antarctica will have three different size wings and three different length cords to address wind strengths/elevations. But the tech was still new in 1996, so I think he only used it occasionally. Regardless, what he did was phenomenal and I was lucky to be standing at the ice shelf/island transition on Ross Island when Ousland pulled up in January 1997. The coolest memory - his children had gotten to draw and color on the tops of his skis during their construction - inspiration and motivation to come home! Just got home on Wednesday from my eighth season on the Ice. Every time is fantastic.

Nice! That matches my experience, but its nice to finally have a resource that backs it up. On a less harsh note for MtGuide, I'd be interested to see if Dr Hacket has changed his opinion since that lecture in 1996. I would be surprised if he hadn't.

If my wife's hiring process is any example, by the time they've called you in for a sit-down interview they've winnowed the applicants to two or three potential hirings. They're all competent enough to do the job, but now they're trying to pick out the one who's going to fit in best with the team. Its less about your job skills and more about your personality and character. They're also pretty upfront about this if you ask.

Will Gadd has written some pretty good articles about this - go looking at willgadd.com. My conclusion from reading his pieces - a SPOT (not the SPOT/cell phone combo, just the plain old SPOT) - seems to be the best way to go. Blake Herrington told me about a clever strategy he used in Alaska: when he and his partner were ready to be picked up a week earlier then scheduled, he sent an OK signal three times in one hour. When his SO saw the status updates, she gave their pilot a call to go pick them up. That's a clever and much cheaper way to send a message than any sat phone!

Leaving the country tomorrow, so this will have to wait until I get back. If you're interested send me a pm and we'll take care of it in February! Chris

Leaving the country tomorrow, so this will have to wait until I get back. If you're interested send me a pm and we'll take care of it in February! Chris

Leaving the country tomorrow, so this will have to wait until I get back. If you're interested send me a pm and we'll take care of it in February! Chris

Leaving the country tomorrow, so this will have to wait until I get back. If you're interested send me a pm and we'll take care of it in February! Chris

Leaving the country tomorrow, so this will have to wait until I get back. If you're interested send me a pm and we'll take care of it in February! Chris

Black Diamond Patrol Gloves Size L These gloves are fantastic – they've been to Mt Vinson in Antarctica, ice climbing in Sichuan, and skiing on Mustagh Ata. They share a lot in common with the current model, like “Our take on the classic patroller work glove, the Black Diamond Patrol combines a stretch-woven nylon shell with durable goat leather for all-day utility and comfort. We added a 100% waterproof BDryTM insert to keep you dry on slushy spring days and PrimaLoft® One insulation and Polartec® Thermal Pro High Loft® fleece for toasty warmth.” Current model retails for $94.95 ($103.97) with tax). $21.00 - 80% below retail.

Head Ski Gloves Size S Another basic ski glove that someone left in our house. Look like new, also have a velcro pocket for hand warmers on the back of the hand. “Outlast” on the cuff, “waterproof/breathable” on the tag. FREE - Shipping $6.00

SALE ON HOLD TILL FEB Marmot Sharp Point Jacket Size L From Marmot's website: "The Sharp Point is the WINDSTOPPER® Softshell that defined the category. Professionals and dedicated enthusiasts choose it year after year for its impeccable fit, durability and weather-beating functionality." Again, its like-new. Another regular fit, and retails for $250.00 ($273.75 with tax). $55.00 - 80% below retail!

Rab Vapour Rise Lite Jacket Size L LINK to Rab website and page. This is another like-new jacket, barely worn. More of a regular fit, and it retails for $129.95 (or $142.30 with tax). $30.00 - 80% below retail!

SALE ON HOLD TILL FEB Cloudveil Jacket Size S Its old Cloudveil, before the sell-out, so you can be confident that its better made and more practical than designs that came out later. But its still in great condition, and would fit a size-Medium woman too. I have no idea what this jacket retailed for, so I'm pricing from Outdoor Research's Cirque Jacket, which retails for $145.00 ($158.78 with tax). $32.00 - 80% below retail!

Patagonia Pucker Shirt Size M Like new, clean, no stains. Not much needs to be said - it looks good, dries quickly. Retails $59.00 ($64.61 with tax). $13.00 - 80% below retail.

SOLD Metolius – Black Diamond Quickdraws These have been sitting unused in my gear bin, and I'm sure there's someone who'd rather use them. Metolius dogbones, six 18cm long and four more 12cm long. Seven regular (not key) BD Positron straight gate carabiners. Ten regular (not ket) BD Positron bent-gate carabines. Aproximately 5 years old, never dropped, and I wouldn't sell these if I thought they were unsafe. I'm sure there's a struggling student or dirtbag who'd be psyched to get these and save some money for gas instead. I'd like to sell all 10 together. Looking online at BD's website, the closest retail match would cost $170.00 today. $34.00 - 80% below retail!

Black Diamond Quadrant Boot Size 27 (9.5 US Men's, 310mm boot sole length) Winner Backcountry Magazine's 2011 Editor's Choice, Powder Magazine's 2012 Skiers' Choice. LINK to BD site and Quadrant page. Still trying to move these boots, priced to sell. To fit my 28.5 foot into a 27 boot, I replaced the Boa liners with a pair of Intuition Power-Wrap Liners and Volcano foot beds (a $287 value in itself) instead. These boots have skied California, Washington, BC, and Antarctica in the last two years. A few scuffs but they're still working strong and have a few more years left in them for sure. BD Quadrant Boots Retail for $629.99 - with the after-market liners and footbeds, they have a $787.00 value ($861.77 with tax). $275.00 - Shipping Included - 70% below retail!

SALE ON HOLD 2010 Black Diamond Guru Skis - Price Reduced! 176cm, 123/75/106, 2.6kg (5lb 12oz) LINK to BD Site. Still trying to sell these - I've used these skis one season, 10 days, in Antarctica. They are optimal ski mountaineering, big-tour boards, keeping the weight off of your feet and back during the uphill, but preforming awesome on steep slopes dor the down. They've been drilled once for a pair of Dynafit bindings, 310mm boot sole length (27-27.5 mondo, or 9.5-10.5 US men's). The weird pattern on the bases in the photo is the left-over wax from my summer storage tune. Gecko Skins – These “glueless” skins work surprisingly well, climb a skin track as bit as steep as your friend's but weigh ½ as much. Trimmed for the Guru skis, no tail attachment. LINK to Gecko Skins. BD Guru skis retail for $529.00 Gecko skins retail for $206.95 Total retail cost (with tax) $805.87 $375 for skis and skins. $265 - Shipping Included - 70% below retail!

SALE ON HOLD Summit Extrem Ski Tour Pack 55L, Size M/L Part of a tip from a Korean ski client on Mt Vinson, this pack has seen one season of use – and that season was only 5 weeks long! It is lightweight, like-new, and has all the features you need for a technical ski mountaineering pack. This pack is similar in size to the Gregory Z65, but less is put into the suspension. Its a great pack, but redundant in my closet. I don't need it – someone else should have it! $25.00 - Including Shipping

SALE ON HOLD Gregory Z65 Pack 64L, Size M (18”-20” back) Still trying to move this - used for approximately 4 weeks. Fantastic for backpacking, ok for climbing, great for rough trails or cross-country work. Simply bigger than anything I need. You can buy this pack for $228.95 new ($270.55 with tax). $60.00 - Including Shipping - 80% off retail!

Price reduced on the BD Guru's with Gecko skins! BUMP!

This was a gift from a past girl-friend, and I've never really had use for it.

Down to one shirt, two jackets, and two pairs of gloves!