Blake

what was up with the green alien placement? you are making me worried...

From Salon.com Later in the film, a "scientist" explains that, thanks to the strangeness quivering below the subatomic level, meditating monks have lowered the crime rate in Washington, D.C. But not until the end of the film do we learn that the scientist making this claim, John Hagelin -- who once ran for president -- conducted the research while teaching (until 1999) at Maharishi University, the school named for the Beatles' guru.

you got to quit seetting yourself up like this josh. Just google "agent 86" if you've never seen Get Smart.

maybe that's how Danny H.0Wit is so fast, he just thinks about gum drops and teddy bears, and the ice crystals in snow propel him up the mountain?

so you are saying that it has been scientifically proven that we can use thought to transform the phyiscal properties of elements around us, dependably and within a series of hours? In other news, I'll be freeing City Park tomorrow, by just thinking happy thoughts, and imagining some nice big holds. I might solo-downclimb it afterwards.

SC.... I think you are just fishing for responses, but if that salon.com article, and other i've read read are true, then the whole movie is bullshit. The story about Caribbean nativse looking at Columbus' ships and staring right through them without noticing them is made up. The story about how meditation caused a drop in DC crime in made up, and the Japanese quack who claims he can use "the force" to change the structure of water/ice crystal by using "happy" or "angry" thoughts is complete BS. Most of the talking heads were devotees of the Ramtha cult.

crazy cult in Tacoma! http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2004/09/16/bleep/index_np.html

So there is a "movie" that came out last year, independently made, that even stars an oscar winning actress, called "What the [bleep] do we know?" It was recomended to me as a great film that really inspires you to think. It turned out to be the longest most inane piece of garbagee i've ever seen. Anyone else get a load of this thing? Lots of the scens were filmed in PDX too. Offical site

I'm on board with the gear swap too... now who wants to trade me yellow and red aliens for my used nylon runners?

Erik, why not use that backhoe to improve to the trail to the base of Mox Peak?

how bout covering their cracks with grease and lighting it on fire ala City Park?

yeah, i left Stehekin a week ago. I'm sure i was there when you were there though. No fixed gear up there unless you count our rappel runners. It should be noted that the next group to climb Evil Twin will encounter a teal runner Paul Klenke left atop Devore Peak last may, and that I bootied last August.... someone else take it and keep the thing moving around.

sorta like an Alpine Desert in there though, eh?

Rumr Vs. NOLSe cagematch.... no drytooling allowed john.

Weather looks marginal, better bring more beer and sauasages.

We left the trail at its 3rd switchback, just after a small stream ~1.5 miles in. Pretty heavy bushwacking followed, but we crossed straight down to the valley floor, and up the far slope before turning left. Our reurn route was a little more circuitious and "exploratory."

Climb: Green Creek Wall-Evil Twin Arete - III 5.9 Date of Climb: 10/10/2005 Trip Report: Yesterday David Trippett (AviTripp) and I finished the climb of the Evil Twin. It wasn't fantastic weather, and up high, not fantastic rock either. David lead some wet thin, hard stuff that took major guts. The first pitch begins at the very toe of the rock, and followed a solid vertical crack system for nearly a full rope's length. The crux involved chimneying-becoming-stemming before turning a roof just before the belay. The pitch ends at the shrub atop this roof, just left of the light-colored rock. From here, the next two pitches were steps of low-mid fifth (fun finger cracks) with amounts of easy scrambling between. We simulclimbed these. Pitch 4 is a wide crack, then a broad slab leading to a headwall, with chimneys on the left and right. Take your pic... both about the same difficulty. Left side protects better with smaller gear. Definintely a good pitch. From here we belayed the next pitch in the rain, and I lead out right then back to the ridge crest. Tougher and funner climbing could likely be had by going a more direct way. After a bit more simulcimbing, we got to the base of a steep, soaked corner. Large slabs of smooth green rock lead to the ovious dihedral. I belayed from the shelter of a nice roof, which guarded me from falling rain and rocks. Several times I almost suggested David try to put pro in and lower off, but I held my tongue. His lead through the toughest climbing of the route, and then the most friable rock, definitely made me glad to be on tope-rope. The top couple hundred feet were 4th and low-fifth that we simuled as well. The rock quality deteriorates up high, definitely a lot more exposed to the elements up there. We hit the arete's high point, then did a mostly down-climb descent to the west. The schwack out to the trail couldn't have ended soon enough, it was almost headlamp time in the forest. Green Creek is a beautiful stream. Gear Notes: Medium rack up to 4" I forgot a 3.5 dmm cam somewhere on the top two pitches. It's probably forever lost to humanity. Approach Notes: In early October '05 the Nooksack River changed its course, and the bridge now ends 1/2 way across the stream. Wading back through the water by headlamp was really fun.

i'm curious about bill's claim as well... what seems soft, and what seems like a beacon "testpiece"?

September 23, 2005 Airway Heights, WA – In cooperation with the US Consumer Product Safety Commision (CPSC), Omega Pacific is voluntary recalling a small percentage of Five-O Screwgate locking carabiners built between November and December of 2004. Carabiners affected by this recall can be potentially opened under moderate loads even when properly locked and must be returned for replacement. Only carabiners marked with the lot stamp “VT” are affected. The lot number can be found on the backside of the spine and is clearly identified. Do not return any lots other than “VT” as no other lots are subject to this issue. No other models are affected. Only Five-O locking carabiners with the lot stamp “VT” (see our website for photos of this lot stamp location: http://www.omegapac.com/op_climbing_notices.html) are considered under this action. Please do not return carabiners to retailers. Instead, please ship any affected carabiners directly to Omega Pacific. Please mark all packages with “Attn: Warranty Returns, RA 728.” Be sure to include your name and shipping address where we can deliver a replacement Five-O locking carabiner. All returns or inquiries can be directed to: Omega Pacific Customer Service 11427 W. 21st Avenue Airway Heights, WA 99001 Attn: Warranty Returns, RA 728 If you have any questions, please call us at 800-360-3990 or email at info@omegapac.com We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this may cause. --Omega Pacific, Inc.

Best gear assortment ever... if I bought the backhoe, would you throw the tent and bivy into the bucket?

Leavenworth ropeup is the 30th, 1st, and 2nd... so unless it is going to be the very next week, it'll have to be the weekend of the 15th, or the 22nd.

The Weekend on Oct 22... Because otherwise it's immediately after the 11worth ropeup. That's final.

I think Bend's construction is booming, at least the town seems bigger and bigger every time I go through. Good rock (Smith), good skiing... poor alpine rock.

Anyone else puzzled over there being two Fischer Creeks that drain opposites of the same high ridge area?

you climbed YW twice in one day?