Crux

"On the contrary," one might say, "By how far you think NPR is to the left of center, you can tell how far to the right you have drifted."

Hating the U.S? I don't think so. A more likely condition voiced in this thread, and one shared by many Americans that love their country, is not of loathing for the U.S., but of a resolved contempt for a few bad soldiers that shamed the nation. Consider the following, written by a WWII veteran and journalist: "If you were going to make a list of the great times in American history, you'd start with the day in 1492, when Columbus got here. The Revolution when we won our independence would be on the list. Beating Hitler. Putting Americans on the moon. We've had a lot of great days. Our darkest days up until now have been things like presidential assassinations, the stock market crash in 1929, Pearl Harbor, and 9-11, of course. The day the world learned that American soldiers had tortured Iraqi prisoners belongs high on the list of worst things that ever happened to our country. It's a black mark that will be in the history books in a hundred languages for as long as there are history books. I hate to think of it. The image of one bad young woman with a naked man on a leash did more to damage America's reputation than all the good things we've done over the years ever helped our reputation." -- Andy Rooney, Our Darkest Days Are Here mc

Opposition to Dosewallips road construction is said to be coming from the following groups: Olympic Parks Association, The Wilderness Society, National Parks Conservation Association, The Mountaineers, Northwest Ecosystem Alliance, Wilderness Watch, Olympic Forest Coalition, and Public Employees for Environmental Ethics. Source of information: "Conservationists Challenge Decison to Rebuild Dosewallips Road Through Ancient Forest"

Shot on sight. Then arrested. Then required to climb with two or more climbers with no "resume" of skills whatsoever.

Schoeller Dynamic is the least warm of three Schoeller soft shell fabrics. Ordinary lightweight ripstop (especially of a light, neutral color) can serve better in warm weather, for protection from wind, mosquitos, ultraviolet, and light brush, but Dynamic reportedly stands up to abrasion better than lightweight ripstop. Schoeller Dryskin Extreme, which has a microfleece inner surface, is warmer than Dynamic. Dryskin Extreme is also frequently described as being more resistant to abrasion and water; perhaps the increased thickness helps with this. Dyanmic is the least warm of the Schoeller soft shell fabrics, but this makes it more suitable for abrasion protection in weather too warm to wear anything warmer. BeyondFleece markets items made with WB400 as 3-season garments targeted for use during Fall, Winter, and Spring, and items made with Dryskin Extreme are considered 3-season garments targeted for use during Spring, Summer, and Fall. Schoeller WB-400 is warmer and more wind and water resistant than Dryskin Extreme. Scott Jones at Beyond Fleece says this: "WB-400 is micro fleece laminated to a stretch woven, creating 98% windproofness. Dry Skin Extreme w. 3x Dry is only 70% windproof but much more versatile due to its great breathability." BTW: Sample pack of these Schoeller fabrics proved available upon request made through BeyondFleece Website. ~mC~

Seeking advice on how to stretch a ligament/tendon injury in the hip joint? Mebbee better to just keep the joint active, thereby assuring circulation of synovial fluid to promote healing in those tissues unserviced by vascular system. Bicycling works for me when similar symptoms suffered; worst remedy has been total rest, but stretching the already over-stretched seems to delay the time required for the tweaked fibers to get their composure back.

Story of earth to flat is no certain at least not. Flat only a theory. Not to certainty. Please go read you capitalist geology book before post you more here communist lies and propaganda.

Point is well taken. But seriously, of the shit that O'Reilly may deservedly eat, he is not likely to choose his own words from the menu! Even he has better taste than that.

Been spending so many late nights studying that I'm really starting to lose it from sleep deprivation; just had a dream that I was all awake and staring at a page on the cc.com site, and saw this incredibly weird science fiction gizmo that looked like... wah the faw kizzat?

Terribly wrong? Nah. It's an old story, told repeatedly for over 100 years now. Back in 1939, when FDR moved Thanksgiving up a week in order to extend the Christmas shoppng season, a lot of folks thought that was terrible too. But people had a depression to contend with, and to promote the economy was to promote the human welfare. If you see people lining up, that may be a good thing.

SC-- Got those facts a little upside down? Seriously, you surely know that a negative G force is that which is opposite to the usually experienced gravitational force, which is also called a positive G force. And so-called red-out is associated with too much blood flow to the brain, too much flow that may be caused by negative Gs, which will tend to lift the blood to the head. BTW: Excellent documentation has been provided by CBS this time around... Of course, an aware climber, busy climbing, is not at risk of blacking out from lack of blood flow to the brain. However, given an accident or an improper rescue technique, that same climber may be subject to being held in a vertical position for a substantial length of time, as when dangling in a harness or strapped to a litter being rescued. The point of concern is that this situation may prove fatal to the climber. On the more mundane level of concern, any protracted inattention to the brain's requirement for a precise and constant flow of blood, at any time that flow may be accidentally impeded, may cause one to black out and lose consciousness. The case in point is that of military personnel standing at attention. I recently learned in a physiology course that standing with the knees locked is an aggravating factor in this situation. Regardless, it’s a long way for blood to be pumped upward, from the feet to the heart, when a person is standing. If the leg muscles aren’t exercising, then the veins and venous valves can’t do much of their normal part to assist the return blood flow, and blood will tend to pool to an extent where pressure and flow to the brain is reduced. Note that flow to the brain is normally very constant: Any change in flow to the brain will cause immediate effects. Given exposures to high negative G-forces, fighter pilots wear Military Anti-Shock Trousers (MAST); pneumatic devices that limit blood flow to the lower extremities. Correct? Without MAST, extended exposure to positive 4 or 5 G forces will cause enough reduction of blood flow to the brain to cause a blackout: A pilot may maintain consciousness, but will lose vision until those G forces are reduced. Interestingly, deployment of MAST devices is also now apparently a part of procedural drill for some SAR teams, not only for reducing hemorrhaging from extremities, but also when practicing an evacuation that entails keeping a client in a prolonged vertical position...according to documentation linked to in the CBS post

I concur, bagging another peak is a goal to consider, as is the fun factor. Also, between my experiences on Stone and Washington, I too have had more fun on Washington. In response to the previous suggestion that a second, alternative route on Washington may be good experience after Rose, Elinore, and Washington from the SE, my first thought was of Washington NE Ridge-- definitely a choice to consider for a second ascent of Washington. However, upon recollection that my idea of fun included shwacking by compass and enduring an unplanned bivy in the rain, I'm now compelled to say a first trip up Stone is better choice for a person plausibly not yet as diseased as myself. BTW: To be clear about Washington NE route, I started from Jefferson Creek road, near branch at vicinity of 47-32.58 N by 123-13.49 W From car, ascended SW by easy shwacking to broad ridge crest, continued SW over point 4457' and followed meandering series of traverses and scrambles that eventually topped on the "nose." Chose to retreat N down from the tip of nose to reach traverse SW to base of George's chin. On summit, observed dust devils and updrafts, premonition of rain to follow. Nice sunset, then it poured.

Second that... IMO Stone will be far better next bet in South Olys than alternate route on Wash...

Yeah that: If you like Mt. Washington area and already did the dog route from above Lk. Cushman, Northeast Ridge may be a go now... depending on route finding. Call it a day-long off-trail romp and class three scramble. It's a great hike, but no trail... notably, basically need to get off the hill before dark or bivy. Detailed as "Route 5" in CG to the Oly Mtns; Grade I, Class 3. FA 1964... Recall from running the Northeast Ridge, class 4 choss avoidable by not bearing over to intercept the East Ridge too soon-- stay with the Northeast Ridge until compelled to join the East Ridge to summit. (Then up and around Washington's nose to the summit.) Notable for the return: if visibility wanes, take care to resist tendency to bear slightly off to the North which could turn into major off-route descent into the maw of wild animals...

DMM ProWire As light as Neutrino but with larger profile, easier to grab esp with bigger hands; has a 'hook' for the gate to engage (unlike the ball-and-socket of the DMM WireLock), but the hook is sleek and thereby less prone to snagging; the WireLock gate socket reported to sometimes get goobbered up in ice and slop, is PITA then. Trad hook of the ProWire stays clean; thus, did not get WireLock; do like ProWire. 37gm. Can't beat for the weight. Nice feel to the closing gate. Is good.

Slush, Schlop, Crudd...

Gervasutti, Giusto (1909-1946). GERVASUTTI'S CLIMBS: Matterhorn by moonlight, solo on a new year's night. Other tales. Pre-WWII first ascents in the Alps. Crowder and Tabor. ROUTES AND ROCKS IN THE CHALLENGER QUADRANGLE: Geological guide to the Pickets and other rocks of the North Cascades.

Twist-lock collapsible poles have proven unreliable for me; chose BD Contours because don't want hokey anti-shock; don't want unreliable twistlock; do want flick-lock; do want light weight. FWIW: Found a pair and ordered yesterday from online liquidation retailer at the following link: "Contour Trekking Pole, '03, Black Diamond, pair, cosmetic blem, $99.95, Sale $59.00"

Yeah to that, and what would a proper buggerin' be without wearing a fashionably correct figger-8 about one's harness?

All in a row now, learn the wiley ways of rope craft, sign up today!

Truely it will be a loss to see pass that lazy option to cruise upon my land yacht so deep into those old woods. But the Middle Fork is not what it was, as much as I'd like it to be. Today, the Middle Fork seems falling to an urban decay while we argue how to manage the circumstance of our own numbers. As I too reluctantly observe the best way to stop the bleeding is to close the cut, I will also remember it was like magic to be able to drive so far and close: To get to within within an easy half-day's walk from Dutch Miller's Gap, we'd rise late in the city and go. Then, two hours later, we'd be hot rodding through the mud and by the SUVs and soobies, puttin' pedal to the medal while floating upon our decrepit beater-car all the way. But hey, what was it really about, back before then, back when? Back when there were no crowds and it was only about a couple-few buddies pressing for a mid-winter camp upon the Crest or a trekking out on a summer's peak-bagging romp, what was it about? Hoo yeah, I do recall! Thus, I say close the gate and lock it! Throw away the key. I'll go ahead and ride a bike and walk; get damn tired, but see it all, see it all the way. As it is and shall ever be.