marylou

Smack it down, Dr. Brown. The less you think about it the better. Go get it.

My cat got a bird today. Good Kitty.

I saw Dave Schuldt out riding the Middle Fork on Saturday. I was on my way to Goldmyer for a soak. Sunday tried to get into Rebecca Lake for some fishing but then the expected weather came in and we turned back. Sunday was a day of relaxing Retail Therapy. I didn't climb either.

I might drop in since it looks like some of the cool kids might be there.

The neglect and disorganization on the federal level in response to this disaster just sickens me. I'd hoped that giving money to a charity to help would make me feel better, but I just feel sick and sad and angry and ashamed to be an American.

So, Mal, are you saying the Wilderness Act should be revised or reinterpreted to allow for mountain bikes on any trail in the Wilderness system currently open to stock? I mean, it's kind of a cool idea and all, but it does open a huge can of worms. Dave Schuldt is a mountain bike guy and I would think even he would frown on such a dramatic change to the Act. And while we're at it, shouldn't this thread be in Access? I'd rather see it there where it at least has a chance of not turning into a sprayfest.

They still sell that one at the Visitor's Center at the Park, not sure if they have it at the ranger office thing in Marblemount or not. It's a nice map, put out by the USGS, but I think the maps were printed eons ago. They are not plasticized like newer maps and tend to fall apart at the fold lines pretty easily. If you can get over the metric-ness of it, it has enough detail on it to get you around pretty good. I just got one of the newer plasic Nat Geo NCNP maps, but have not even really looked at it yet.

LA Times article The proposed changes are spelled out a bit more in this article. Very, very bad.

Petulant Meniscus

Does gravity work differently 30' off the deck than it does 1000' off the deck? I'm sure you'd be happy to explain that to us, since it's apparent you know everything.

I think the nicest one in the Wa Pass area is Blue Lake. Very pretty and super easy hike.

When I fell while leading, and broke both my ankles, I thought: "shit, my mom is going to kill me."

All better.

Are a bobcat and a lynx two different critters? Or are they the same critter with a different name?

I talked to the people at McNett about fixing up my down bag, and they gave me a soap called "Down Cleaner Concentrate" and a bottle of spray-on Revivex. I washed the bag as usual with the down soap, and then used about a whole bottle of the Revivex on it. I did the entire outside, and the inside of the hood since I sleep with the hood open sometimes. It seems like it took forever (2 hours on gentle in the big dryer, and there were still clumps, I airdried it the rest of the way) but the shell feels very nice and water-resistant now. I have not had it out for a test yet, but will report back on how this worked out once I have. The McNett people said that the Revivex sprayed onto the outside of the bag would not harm the down.

I should add one thing. I have had a headache since about when I got bit. It could be a coincidence, but given I never get headaches, I'd suspect it's not a coincidence.

Nat Geo has a gigantic topo for the whole area. I got mine at Pro Mountain Sports last year when I was planning to give it a go. Runs about 20 bucks, and I think you can mail order it from PMS. Does not have route info on it, and is not at the same scale as USGS. Nat Geo map is 1:30,750 versus USGS 1:24,000. That said, it's the whole area on one nice big waterproof map.

I suppose it *could* could have happened at home, I assumed it happened in the woods because I was up there more than I was at home before I left for SLC. Does the Hobo live in Seattle?

I got bit by something last week while I was up on the Middle Fork Snoqualmie, somewhere near Big Snow Mountain. About 24 hours or so later, I had a quarter-sized bruise around each of the bites. There are two bite holes per bite (fangs I assume). I'm kind of surprised I did not feel the bites when the critters were biting given how big the bites are. The whole area was tender to the touch for a few days. I had someone look at it over the weekend, but it was in Salt Lake and I'm not sure if this guy knows our local critters or not, he said probably Hobo Spider. They seem to be getting better and I do not feel sick, so I don't plan to go to a doc here in Seattle. Anyone know what bit me?

Think, me, Mur, Thad. Good fun. Next August we'll try for a little advance notice, and heck, maybe in a few years this Pub Club thing will take off! Great to meet you guys, and special thanks to Think for the lodging this weekend.

How about Thursday? Is everyone going to be there yet? Then I can get a ride "home" with Thinker! Murray, you could meet us later on after your meetings? Looking at my schedule, I think I could meet at 7:30 or 8.

I'll be down there from Thursday through Sunday next weekend. Wondering if there are enough cc'ers that will down for the weekend for us to have a Pub Club in Salt Lake? Thinker's going to be putting me up, so he might be game for hooking up for a beer as well. I have a few random evening things planned, but nothing set in stone at this time.

That is the cat of a friend of mine standing next to a human for scale.

I like down. Primaloft is one of the nicest synthetic fills out there, if you swing that way, which I don't personally. I don't find it as warm (there is a thing about how they drape around your body) and also heavier for the warmth and way bulkier. I'm too lazy to go look it up, but if memory serves, it's the Primaloft One (as opposed to PL Sport) that's the higher end of the two, and I *think* that's what is in the Renaissance. The Ren is a nice bag, but it's cut small, so make sure it's suited to your build/needs.

I'm by no means an expert on the subject, but did get my first AT setup two seasons ago after a long career on an alpine setup. I have the Scarpa Lasers, and Fritschi Freerides mounted on K2 T9X. I tried every combo of AT skis with AT boots, with alpine boots, and both boots with the alpine setup. The AT boots with the AT skis was by far the best combo for me. The AT boots are a dream to ski with, very comfortable and warm. The only thing I find difficult with the AT stuff WRT skiing on ski area snow (as opposed to natural) is ice. In icy conditions, the heft of the regular alpine gear comes in way handy. Otherwise though, the AT stuff really rocks the dome.