chris

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!

Because the first two posts gave me the impression that someone was simply adding another helicopter service into the area - "commercial tenure" is not a term used in the States. Also, "heli-snowmobiling" and "commercial tenure" were not mentioned in the first two posts, or in the links provided. So give me a second... EDIT: EDIT #2:

Thanks for the spell-out. So does "commercial tennure" grant the permit holder exclusivity? And as I understand it, heliskiing is not presently offered around Mt. Waddington, only heli-access - am I wrong? And does it simply add to the helicopter traffic that already occurs, or does it limit it in a "rob Peter to give to Paul" scenario? EDIT: And hey - I followed the links in the first two posts (though I'm not a Bivouac member so I can't see the discussion), and I don't have any information about "heli-snowmobiling". Can someone cite a source to back that up? I had assumed that any snowmobile access would be for lower mountain operations (like other coastal boat heli-ski operators).

Yeah, it's usually best to do this before you spout off Jordop - I apologized for being a smart-ass and I said that Don's argument was compelling and persuasive. Not that I agreed with him or regretted my post. I don't agree (completely) with Don, nor do I regret voicing my opinion.

since this is not the issue here, nor ever has been. Apparently no one has been allowed to guide on Waddington until now. Jordop, sorry, I was feeling a bit smart-ass when I wrote that post. But American Alpine Institute and NOLS offer Mt. Waddington climbs (the NOLS trips are heli or plane resupplied). And I thought (though I may be wrong) that ACMG-IFMGA guides are allowed to operate on Ministry of Forests lands. So, allowing a guide service to land a helicopter in the area is increasing access for a guided visitor. I've never been shy about stepping up and voicing my opinion about guides' access on public lands on both sides of the border. I think that my voice provides a bit of balance to others who cry "No - Never!" I know that the resulting compromise will sit somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. Really, you should buy me that beer. Edit: Wow, I just finished reading Don's posts on this. Very persuasive and compelling argument. And though I'm not a Canadian citizen, I am a tourist who comes in and spends my money there (something that means less now than it did 6 or 7 years ago). And as a climber, a back country skier, and a guide, I figured my opinion was asked for in the OP.

Thanks, I just emailed too: My email tag includes my profession, my primary company, and my membership in the American Mountain Guide Association. I'm all in favor of increased guiding access to public lands, and I'm happy to defend this position to anyone who wants to buy me a beer. Thanks for posting the link!

I'll add a vote for the Suunto Altimax. I had a Vector, but the compass function was simply another screen that I had to pass through more often then not. I find the alarm plenty loud enough in a tent. Its my primary navigation tool. For a GPS, I've been using a Garmin E-Trex Vista, but I'm starting to believe its too big for my purposes. I'm getting ready to purchase a Gecko or something similar. All I want to use it for is to enter and follow waypoints for alpine whiteout navigation.

My ski-in-all conditions fat boards are K2 Mt. Bakers, 181cm, 88mm waist. I'm 6'1", 185lbs, and these do it all for me. They want to carve big turns, but I can make them turn short if need be. I don't think I'll go bigger until I start Heli-skiing.

Check out Three Sisters Backcountry Access (www.3sbca.com). They're the only AIARE course provider in Oregon. If you're in you're in southern OR, Shasta Mountain Guides may be closer.

REI does do a map & compass evening about once a month for free. This is a different offering than their GPS navigation. Even if its thin, it will give you a good introduction.

Other - pro deal. And for what it's worth, I found my purchasing tends to be cyclical rather than consistent, and averages between $1500-2000 a year.

I see. Since I haven't served, than I can't bitch about what happening to my best friend, or my brother-in-law. Only I did serve. Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class, Fleet Marine Force - that means (for a ground-pounder like you, Sheaf) that I moved with a weapon and with the Corps and gave up my non-combatant status. A lot of the leathernecks and devil dogs and Docs who are in Afghanistan right now went through Mountain Leader Courses that I instructed. And a lot of my friends are still in, and I read the NY Times every week to see if I recognize any names. So, by your standard, I've earned the right to have an opinion. And I say its bullshit that I - an American citizen - should have to stand up and justify myself like this to have an opinion about my country and my government. Fact is, that article you posted sucks ass. No sources are given for the statistics, nor are all the fatalities service-wide accounted for. Its un-fucking-deniable that more airmen, sailors, marines and soldiers than 3,133 have died, since that number doesn't include Afghanistan and the typical accidents that occur from training and operating. And it didn't included the crippled casualties or the fatalities that occurred out-of-theater from injuries. So the comparison from the Bush administration to the Clinton administration is a complete fucking waste of my time. We'll ignore the fucking piss-poor journalism, writing, and editing right now. And I'm pissed that my President and Commander-In-Chief fluffed up the intelligence briefing better than a porn star to pump up public support for invading Iraq. And I'm pissed that my best friend has already served three tours, and has shrapnel in his back and knee from a fucking IED in Bahgdad, and still continues to serve because he's a brave, honorable, soldier. And I'm pissed that my brother-in-law - a helicopter electronics technician - is having to do patrols right now in Iraq because we don't have enough infantry to do the job that needs to get done. And I'm pissed that my President's strategy has only emboldened Iran and started a civil war in a country that we had no legitimate reason to enter. So fuck off.

Ahhh, that is the problem! Thanks JS!

I agree - perhaps Sharma's ascent shouldn't have been included for consideration because the consequences of deep-water soloing are different (like the likely-hood of dieing when you foul up is less).