chris

Not true. President Clinton was under oath testifying to a Grand Jury. The A.G. was under oath testifying to a senate committee. Testifying to Congress also has a swearing in process, remarkably similar to a judicial proceeding. Lying in that testimony is also a criminal offense, and Congress is able to file charges against anyone who commits perjury when testifying to a Congressional Committee. Perhaps you need to look farther than just the Constitution to develop your legal arguments. I didn't think they had gotten that far yet. I thought that were they are now in wanting to swear them in and they are taking the 5th. Maybe I'm wrong, I didn't think so. I'll have to check. Regardless it will not get to that point anyways. The dems will drop this soon as it only been done for political gain. They don't want a show down on this in the courts. Its because of the A.G.'s inconsistent and limp testimony to Congress - under oath - that this whole issue came about. By the Constitution, congress can call for "heads of departments" - historically assumed to be Secretaries - to testify. All other staff of the executive testify with the permission of their President, directly or indirectly. In the past, Congress has subpoenaed executive staff members to testify when necessary - this action has been challenged and the Supreme Court upheld the Congressional power to do so. Now we have another administration trying to use "executive privilege" to prevent staff from testifying to Congress. We even have a staff member trying to claim 5th amendment rights to avoid testifying - a new legal argument, since 5th amendment protection has only historically been used to protect someone already under oath, not to protect someone from taking an oath. If the President wants any of this to go to court, I don't believe even the current conservative Supreme Court would overturn the previous decision.

I had a prepared a long rebuttal post describing all the beta JH provided when he posted about his route cleaning efforts (which are definitely appreciated) at Beacon. Or how just two days ago he recommended a double set of HB Offsets for a Beacon rack. And how all media representation - topos, magazines, guides, forums - provides beta for climbers' knowledge. And how all of our climbing gear is a result of climbers feedback - beta - after their experiences. Then my girlfriend saw what I was doing, boxed my ears, and told me to get a life and get a job.

Not true. President Clinton was under oath testifying to a Grand Jury. The A.G. was under oath testifying to a senate committee. Testifying to Congress also has a swearing in process, remarkably similar to a judicial proceeding. Lying in that testimony is also a criminal offense, and Congress is able to file charges against anyone who commits perjury when testifying to a Congressional Committee. Perhaps you need to look farther than just the Constitution to develop your legal arguments.

That's not what I understand. Patriot Act II extended the power of the executive to appoint US Attorneys without the consent and will of the Senate, although A.G. Gonzalez testified to a Senate committee that the administration had every intention of continuing to get Senate approval for appointments. And that is irrelevant to any ethics or legal violation that may have occurred if Republican Congressmen or Senators did indeed attempt to interfere with a current US Attorney investigation or court case. And if they used their influence inside the party to "encourage" the President to dismiss these US Attorney's prematurely. P.S. Anyone calling me dumb should first make sure their spelling, punctuation and grammar are correct, you uneducated ass.

This is great! Rumr asked "why bother" and Fqw just gave a great answer - OW's are common on many alpine routes - NEWS, Rebel Yell, Backbone Ridge, Prusik, etc... It seems like every classic multi-pitch route in the Sierra has one pitch of OW - the Harding Route on Keeler, the South Face of Conness, the Steck-Salathe, on and on...

Except it is illegal for member of the Legislative branch to interfere with investigations and court proceedings of the Department of Justice. It also violates the Senate's and the House's Code of Ethics. And it is a little suspicious that three of the eight US Attorneys report having conversations with at least one Congressman or Senator regarding an investigation or case. Its also a little suspicious that all eight reported having special meetings with senior administration staff members, all about investigations or cases that could influence or effect the mid-term election. It was stupid for Congress to sign away its rights in the Patriot Act. This is clearly another example why. Signed, Registered Independent

Joseph, you didn't grow up climbing in a vacume, and those guidebooks and topos and magazines you've read surely have influenced you. The shoes and harnesses and ropes and protection you use are a result of this shared experience you insist that you don't participate in. Hell, so is this website - another form of guidebook/topo/beta - in fact, you've provided beta for Beacon routes right on this site! Socialized, commercialized, homogenized, and risk-averse. Climbing became commercialized when the Chamonix Company of Guides was formed in 1821. Socialized - the American Alpine Club was founded in 1902. Homogenized - until we get more women and minority climbers, this is still an art dominated by white middle-class men like you. Risk averse? How's that harness feeling, or those cams you use. The essential unknown and adventure are still out there, whether Tim publishes a topo or not.

Edit: Sorry, my internet connection burped.

I've yet to meet a guidebook author that lives off of their books' sales.

Trog, personally, I am and have always been anti-beta and anti-guide - both are basically the antithesis of everything I climb for. As for tat people may leave bailing, we can deal with that no problem. As for "it increases the risk of serious injury" I totally disagree. Beacon is inherently a dangerous place, if you're not capable of bailing if you find you're in over your head you shouldn't be out there. To be completely blunt, I find the very idea that a lack of a guide or beta at any crag "increases the risk of serious injury" is ridiculous on the face of it and about as sad an indictment of today's climbing scene as I can possibly imagine. I have to agree with Joseph that the purpose of guidebooks and topos are never, ever, to provide some sort of level of safety. If you're flipping through a guidebook or scanning a topo to discover what's "safe" for you to climb, then you may need to take up golf. Good guidebooks are a collective history of the art of climbing. Good topos are works of art that document and hint at the struggles and searching an FA team experienced. They also provide the beta for people to move more efficiently and with more confidence through the vertical, adding another page to someone else's experience. They call visitors to come and experience the best that a climbing location can offer. Everything in our climbing today rests on the shoulders of the pioneers before us, from shoes and harnesses, ropes and pro, the Matterhorn to Mt. Moffit, El Cap to Baffin, Chain Reaction to Realization. Every climb isn't a FA. And those with the vision to go out and explore and discover new lines deserve to be recognized. All other teams afterward are resting on those shoulders, which wouldn't be there were it not for the topos, the guidebooks, and (yech) even the media to report these accomplishments and document our history. Joseph's insistence by stating, "I am and have always been anti-beta and anti-guide - both are basically the antithesis of everything I climb for..." is localism and elitist. Climbing is a shared experience - we can do better than that.

Actually, to my knowledge the Clinton Administration never "let go" a US Attorney midway through either of President Clinton's terms. Sea, please cite any sources that contradict me - I'd like to know more.

The PDF calls for a 22 deg E declination. But I just checked with NOAA, and our current declination is rounded up to 18 deg East. Any ideas?

We know they suck. They chew you up, spit you out, scare you with mandatory runouts and grind the flesh from your bones. But they're still part of the art... So what are your votes for the best OW pitches in the PNW?

Perhaps we should simply set a date and time to meet at Camp Muir?

Source? So far, no one has cited a creditable source for this information. I didn't see any mention on Patagonia about it, and Mr. Potter and Mrs. Davis-Potter are still listed as Ambassadors. Perhaps this thread belongs in Spray. It hasn't been announced to the public yet... it was only communicated last week internally so unless you are affiliated with Patagonia to some degree you wouldn't know. It was on SuperTaco a week ago More like "If you don't have an internet connection" So I found the thread on SuperTaco, claiming the entire rock climbing Ambassador team has been dropped. Seems kind of stretch to say everyone was let go because of the Delicate Arch solo.

Paul, you should really read Lowell's article: http://www.alpenglow.org/skiing/silver-skis-2005/index.html Here's a quote from that article that addresses your points:

Source? So far, no one has cited a creditable source for this information. I didn't see any mention on Patagonia about it, and Mr. Potter and Mrs. Davis-Potter are still listed as Ambassadors. Perhaps this thread belongs in Spray.

Source?

Missed that, thanks.

Hey, is there any way to remove photos from the Gallery? And to edit?

Latest news is that the Nisqually Road will open around 15 May: http://www.nps.gov/mora/parknews/upload/RebuildingRainier022607.pdf Mike, do you know the status for White River Road?

Me too. MRNP is forecasting a May 15th opening of the Nisqually Road.

Car insurance does not cover property inside a vehicle. It only covers damage to the vehicle and stock items conected to it - like the stock stereo it was sold with. Homeowners or renters insurance covers possessions inside. I made sure to have renters insurance when I was living out of a van for four years. If the parking lot was responsible, my carrier (State Farm), would go ahead and help me replace my property while they went after the parking lot for reimbursement. Tyler, my condolences.

Lets do it!!! As soon as the road opens - does anyone have news when the road opens? Lowell, are there other ski races in the Cascades that don't occur anymore?

Oly, get well soon!