ken4ord

The question was if anyone wants to hit the back country. So far it looks like we are hitting the back country on Saturday, then Sunday I am riding with a friend of mine at Crystal, thanks for the info on Crystal though.

Why? What's the deal with pilchuck?

From the looks of the chart looks like you can't score higher than 200.

I have notice that too. It looks like Crystal has the best conditions, then Snoqualmie, Stevens, and then Baker that is as far as the weather is concerned. Definitely seem warmer as you move up North.

OK so far I tentative plans for heading down to Cyrstal on Sunday with my buddy. He has to check with his boss and see if that is ok with her since her mother's birthday is around then. So Saturday would be the day to hit something up. Any suggestions as to where to go?

Well looks I am going to be heading up on Weds. instead. You guys have a good one on 25th. Yo BP, I'll be swinging by your place of employment and see your sorry gimp ass.

Bronco, I thought they gave it IV,5.7,WI4 rating, yeah that route seems like a good one. So you been scoping it from the road, but not getting on it. Why? Just haven't gotten the right conditons or other reasons? Stephen, what? 4 am for the Tooth f-dat are serious? Your pulling my leg right? I was going to see if you wanted to get on it, but there is no way I am leaving Seattle at 2:30 am to climb the Tooth, have fun.

I have to admit it took some time to get use to the Split, but once I did that thing rocks. It is not like a regular snowboard because there is a ton of flex. The days where I feel ski wold be better is when it is icy out. It is really hard to ride your edges when the board is really soft. Well we (I) have managed to get way off topic, which was a great day had by Ehmmic in the powder.

There is no way they will be able to enforce it and if they could it just mean you would have to walk a little farther.

You mention Index crags, but what about Index mountain? Has anyone been on it in the winter or planning on climbing it? What does it take for it to be in? Last Friday is the first time I have been able to see the mountain in a long time looks like it would be fun, but it was way to warm. I am assumming we need a freeze spell for things to set up, but how many day are required? What about some of the cool alpine lines in WA Pass when do those come into shape, what type of weather patterns are needed, anyone game?

Just trying to figure out why some of you feel that rescue services should not be charged? If I am in a serious car accident, it is not like all of the medic charges and ambulance services are free. The way I feel is that if people are putting there lives out on the line to save mine then I am more than willing to pay for that service.

Where did you see it? Is it on video or out in the theater?

It would quite amusing trying to see you do an approach in that.

Hey Dave, What would you be into hitting? Also is there a one day that is better than the other? Right now I have tenative plans to hit Crystal one day and then the other I want to be in the backcountry, but as which day I am doing what, that is still up in the air.

Well I has meself a Jeep and can fit two other if I am going up. I will know tonight or tomorrow if I am heading up on X-mas dia.

Alright any of you want to hit up the backcountry one of these days? The only backcountry I have hit so far is Heather Ridge area want to get out and see some more. It was fun but would like to get on some more serious terrain. How about you?

So why are the spiltboarders always whining about performance at Couoloirmag? I don't know what they are whining about. Are you sure it not skiers who are trying a split board, that are doing the whining. I have yet to meet a snowboarder who whines about getting into the backcountry on one. I love mine. Granted it is not a rigid as regular board, but I have no complaints with mine.

No trolling intended, just reality.

Ok yep, I see it now, I was being dumb. I guess for me I wouldn't bother with the auto lock since I would have both hands on the brake end.

My gf and I were talking about getting up there too.

Well, that's just it...I wanna be able to skin up and ski down. Snowshoeing into something when your partners are cruising on skis, and watching them slide home again while you get worked is so suck. I've got AT bindings on the way Split board is your answer. If you get a chance to try one out they are incredible, they climb like you wouldn't believe.

What a sad story. Powdery bluebird day spent on sticks, instead of surfing the giant white wave. I am glad that you had a good day, but I just can never see going back to the dark side-skis,(ok some times I think about it when I am in the backcountry and bogged down in some thick veggies, but only briefly then I break out my poles then I am all set). The movement in snow boarding is what has got me hooked. Yeah the boots are more comfortable same with the clothes, but if you have yet to get that feeling of being in the zone; mountain, board, self being one, then you have not gone snowboarding. The other day (Friday) was a perfect example. Not that good of conditions but god damn I had fun. Spent the first half pretending I was on my downhill bike and not making turns unless there was one in the trail and not touching the brakes. Later I hit up the tress and the crud that was between them. Then spent the rest of the day doing the steep bump runs carving quick sharp turns and getting aggro with the mountain, punching the fall line, what a gas, it was crazy fun.

That is sweet little trick, I like it. I think where this system will really shines is on long multi-pitch rappels that have two bolt rappel anchors. One thing to look out for though is on free hanging raps. In the past I have used a sling girth hitched to my harness and have my rappel device attached to it and free locker. Usually I will rap to the anchor and as I am going by it clip into a single bolt and continue rapping until the bolt is weighted (obviously the clipping into a single bolt is dependent on the situation and the quality of the anchor). What is nice about having an extension from your harness is having both hands on the brake end (=more braking control). The down side is if you need to climb the rope it is difficult and if you are free hanging it is next to impossible with out changing the system around, (try it, it is really hard). Another thing to look out for is if you have long hair, your device is going to be about eye level making it easier to get your hair trapped in your device as you are rapping. Dru, I am trying to figure out where the friction on the cordelette is going to come from in this set up? It is no different than having a three point cordelette anchor that you are clipped to directly into, right.

Just saw a part of it in the Bannf film fest, looks like it will be a good one. I am not a skier still enjoy watching their films, though.

The only problem with the Pinkham Notch Avalanche warning sign is that people still don't pay attention to it and the vagueness of it. Their warnings ranged from low, moderate, considerable, high, and extreme. Last year some people died in an avalanche when it was moderate, people were sort of up in arms about it because it was posted as moderate that day and most people seem to think that if it was moderate that it shouldn't happened. Then the accusations started flying about the person who had given the reccomendations for the day. It seemed that people felt that low and moderate meant you were in the clear of an avalanche being triggered, considerable was taken as low, and only when it was posted high and extreme should you worry.