Plinko

Bogen, Which Costco? They have Costcos all over now days...Canada, US, even one in Taiwan last I was there. How do you know of the approching shipment? You got a SKU for this paticular item? (costco item number)

Lots of MSR loyalty here for some reason...maybe because they're cheap, or local, or ? Check out the specs on a pair of Backcountry Rescue's, made by Northern Lite. They weigh almost 1/2 of what most other shoes weigh. Downside is their traction isn't as good as my MSRs, but for half the weight, big deal. MSR's Denali with extended tails: 4 pounds 10 oz NortherLite Backcountry Rescue: 2 pounds 11 oz That's a real tough choice....

I look DAMN sexy in a Speedo...how about I NOT send you a 8x10 of that hot steamy goodness I'm dyin for an update! Maybe he's having a hard time finding an Internet Cafè in KTM

Someone saw this post and word got back to people at UW, and I received an email this week from Wick Haxton, Director, INT at University of Washington. He detailed how the university thought the Forest Service would take care of it, and the Forest Service thought the University would take care of it, so it never got done. Mr. Haxton has found a lot of relevant documents about the history/cleanup (lack thereof) regarding the university's experiments. It appears that in Feb 2005 he's arraigning a walk-through with the Forest Service to get an idea of what needs to be done. So cc.com may be good for something after all (aside from all the spray) In case anyone's interested, I'll post updates here in the months that follow. Stay tuned....

Erik Lewis, (Erik with a "k"), will be missed. Save some of those freshies for the rest of us...we'll see you soon buddy.

A&F used to make some proper gear...50 or 60 years ago

Thanks for the first impressions...I've been threatening to ditch my ghetto MSR's for either the Lightnings or the NorthernLite Backcountry...so this definitly helps.

Down is an obvious good choice, but since you live where you do, I'd stick with something synthetic, like this one here. It's the ultimate for soggy trips in the northwest, and no stressing out all the time about trying to keep it dry.

I think that happens a lot more often then people will admit...I saw the same thing on the other side, while camped near Schurman, tents rolling down the mountain like tumbleweeds...but those lucky s.o.b.'s caught it beofore it took a serious dive.

Amen, brother man!

The Canadian equivilant of MRE's (called IMP's) kicks ass all over MRE's...tastes better, and more variety to choose from.

I had one for a while, nice pack, carries comfortably up to about 40-50 pounds and the Dyneema Gridstop fabric is insanely durable. The Cloud and the Satori are my fav 2 Kelty packs and are lighter, but the Haiku comes in a close third...All three use the same interchangable hip belt system. A real solid pack, at an incredible price from Campmor.

If it's only a 'just in case' piece, I'd second the MEC Northern Light Jacket, (or the Magma if you want a hood and twice the weight). Amazing how warm that thing has kept me even when it's been soaked clear through...my size large is 14oz and was cheap at $75US.

Like DPS mentioned, REI has a few GPS units, like the Garmin ForeRunner (geared toward runners) and Foretrex (geared toward hikers), both come in a 101 and a 201 variety. I've got a Foretrex 101 and it's great for running and general hiking, but it gets scraped up easily when climbing, so it goes into a pocket when it gets to be a scramble. The 201 has a rechargable battery, otherwise the 101 has exactly the same features, INCLUDING elevation. Using a GPS in summer, a pair of AAA's will last about 12 hours...in winter, make sure you've got spares handy, an impossibility with the 201's rechargable battery. They're a rugged unit with heaps of cool features in a relativly small package. The BIG display screen makes it easy to read info while your bouncing down a hill. If the Garmin GPS's are too technogeek for her, check out the Suunto X9 GPS watch. More compact/stylish, but harder to read and doesn't use a common battery size. Good luck shopping...

Some guy from Michigan coming down the mountain said he found a red jacket. Does it look like this ? Nah, I'm playin...but being bright red, it should be easy to spot down in those cravasses

How could you NOT hear that?!? Clang clankity clank clank...

Like Heinrich, I've had wear issues with the Trango S. For 3-season hiking/climbing I'd stay with something soft, and unless you plan to be on snow all the time, I'd avoid goretex...sure it's waterproof and all, but it doesn't breathe so well in a boot. One of my favourite boots has been the Montrail Morraine...lasted longer than most, and did Rainier half dozen times. The Montrail line fits my foot better than most La Sportiva boots, but tha's just me and obviously everyone's gonna be different. Good luck shopping!

Talk about skimpy shit, you got any Mammut Dyneema slings? Sure they're super strong spectra/kevlar whatever, but it's still a head trip to put a load on one.

I've had a pair of 10 pt. AL Stubais for about a year...before I even took them out on the first trip a rivet broke that holds the strap to the crampon frame....5 cent bolt and lock nut and it was good as new. I still worry about the other rivets failing in the same way, but after a year, they've held up better than I expected.

Do an internet search for "water storage barrels" and see whate turns up...Heaps of 30 and 55 gal options. Since they're so big, you're gonna eat it on the shipping costs, so see if you've got someone local that has or can get them...

the OR Advanced bivy is freestanding. Although the OR bivvys are pretty bomber, they're a pain in the ass to get in and out of, and they're on the heavy side of things. Hooped (or some sort of wire stiffener) is totally the way to go...something that will keep the fabric off your face...like the Bibler Tripod or Hooped Bivy...TNF even makes one that's easy to get in and out of, but you have to deal with assembling poles (PITA). Integral Designs is my fav, especially their eVent fabric bivys...South Col, Bugaboo, Unishelter and more... The "generic" MEC bivys are made by Interal Designs so you might be able to score a better deal there. Lots to choose from...good luck.

My spring/fall system is like this: synthetic boxer-briefs, then synth thermal bottoms, on top of that i wear some TNF Apex softshell pants (with all TNF advertising removed!). This works for about 80% of the time, like last weekend up at muir where it was snowing hard and blowing around 35-40...it's also what I wear when snowsoeing or XC skiing in winter. For warmer conditons, the thermal layer is omitted, and for intense rainy muckiness, I throw on a pair of light shell pants (Marmot Precip full-zip) but they get scraped up easy on rock, so dont scrape your knees! Another issue I have with softshell pants that nobody's broght up is they get stinky faster than most pants...usually on the second or third day of a trip they start to get 'noticable'. I guess that goes with anything sythetic, be it a shirt, liner socks, or whatever. Despite that, it gives you a broader comfort zone in more varied conditions and is as durable as anything else i've owned ...before i wore Mtn Hardware Pack Pants for most stuff, and for comparison, they aren't as water repellant, don't breath as well, and aren't as stretchy-comfy. My next pair of pants will be $3.00 polyester slacks, circa 1973...the fit is better than the REI Mistrel and One pants...am I the only one that doesn't like the way those things fit?

I use a Marmot Oracle most of the time...not the lightest, but solid compromise between lightweight and bomber (read HEAVY).

Good call Fro man It's the shits to sit here on my couch watching this all go down in a place i know well, and so close to home, and not be able to do a thing to help. It would be nice to do something, anything, to feel less ineffectual.

For as short as teh piece was, they jammed a lot of info in there and did a good job of portraying you as a man on a mission, rather than some crazed lunatic with a pipe dream. Good exposure to the masses, even if it was breif. Best of luck as A-n-O continues on it's next leg of the journey!