Plinko

Amen, brother man!

Check out the Belay Jacket from EMS. Almost identical to the WT Belay Parka (6 oz/sq yd Primaloft, etc). On sale for $79. The website shows that they're out of size Large, but if you call, they have both the Red and the Gold available.

Men's size Large Northern Lite Jacket, from Mountain Equipment Coop. Color is "Cinnamon", i.e. maroon. This is one of the lightest and warmest insulating layers, perfect for long stops in winter, or those long, cold belays. PrimaLoft synthetic insulation keeps you warm even if wet. Similar to the Patagonia Puffball, but much warmer. Actual weight of this jacket is less than a pound, at just 14.00 oz on my scales. Condition is practically brand new, I've worn it on 2 occasions while backpacking, and it's been babied...it's been stored unfolded on a closet shelf in a non-smoking house (not hung upon an evil clothes hanger or crushed beneath a ton of other clothes). I love this jacket, but I never use it. Looks brand new. Paid US $80 a few months ago, will sell for $55.00/obo. More info can be found HERE. Cheers! Ben N. bigben@backpacker.com

A few questions for ya. What model bindings? What model K2s, and what condition? Lastly, where do you live? Thanks for the additional info... Ben N.

MSR 36" picket that's been carried on a number of glacier slogs, but never placed, so aside from a few minor scratches, it's like new. $15/obo

Never tried loading it with skis, so I couldnl't tell you. I've had my other GoLite Race loaded with snowshoes and snowboard using the helmet holder straps, and it works great. It's plenty big enough to hold skis and a sleeping bag at the same time. If I were loading skis, I'd use the compression straps on the putside to snug it all up.

*Sold it, thanks* I have an extra GoLite Race backpack that's been outside once. Mint condition. Size Large, 2900 cubic inches. I love this pack and after much trial and error (Gregory, Mountainsmith, Ultimate Directions and more) the GoLite Race is my first choice for 3 season backpacking. More details can be found here. $60/obo Cheers, bigben@backpacker.com

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

You want mittens? I got some mittens my granny knitted for me when i was 2, interested? Or did you want mits?

GoreTex/Joey/Jose Cruz is a f*in tool!

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.

Garmin Geko 201, New In Box, received as a gift and it’s gone unused. One of the smallest, lightest, most compact GPS units available. Bonus: This unit will also come with a RS232 serial cable adapter for plugging the Geko into your PC to upload waypoints, route info, and for downloading the latest Garmin software updates. For complete features and product details, please see: HERE $120.00 or make me an offer before it goes to eBay Cheers! bigben@backpacker.com

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).

could you be a little more vague?

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.