Chad_A

Will do

Oh! Oh! Keep us posted

Don't know about that. There's lots of rock exposed from what I saw from Illumination Saddle two days ago. Sweatin'- no problem, always happy to share

Two different people I know have reported waist to chest deep unconsolidated snow on both the South Side and the Reid Headwall, yesterday. Hood looks great from PDX, and the weather's going to be spectacular, but it's probably better to get out the skis, rather than the crampons, this weekend.

Griz- Isn't your avatar pic of Peru? I seem to remember you mentioning it somewhere...from what I can see, looks beautiful.

I should state (I forgot to mention) that I would be willing to pay fees; the guide part is what gets me...oh, and only 80 routes, well, that's not exactly great either.

That's what I mean. When I sent my letter, I suggested working with the climbing community to set regulations that might benefit the area a bit more. I would think that setting such strict regulations would cut the tourism drastically, and that is a major source (if not the main source) of income to the city of Huaraz. I can see the closure of some areas might be necessary to limit the impact of use, but the requirement of a guide, well, that'll keep me home.

Cool- I imagine by technical terrain, it'd have to be hard, frontpointing type of action. It sounds like it'll be fine to wear a bit loose on 50 degree, good step-kickin' terrain.

Directly from the American Alpine Club website: "Action is still needed to help reverse new regulations that would dramatically alter the climbing experience in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru. The UIAA recently approved a motion introduced by AAC President Mark Richey: “The UIAA strongly encourages that the PNH [Huascaran National Park] and INRENA [Peru’s interior department] work cooperatively with their Peruvian Mountaineering Federations and those of other countries with an interest in the park to establish and adopt policies and use regulations regarding climbing and trekking within the PNH that are fair and beneficial to both local and visiting climbers, environmental concerns and the local guiding agencies as well.” If the new regulations are implemented as written, climbers will only be able to access the most popular peaks and routes (an estimated 80 of the 600 or so known routes within the park), must climb with a local mountain guide (at a ratio of one guide per two clients), and will not be able to visit the park between December and March. To voice your concerns, email Leoncio Alvarez Vasquez (Mr. Alvarez) at lalvarez@inrena.gob.pe. Please copy any emails to Mr. Alvarez’s assistant at jbarrios@inrena.gob.pe and to the head of protected areas, Carlos Salinas, at csalinas@inrena.gob.pe. Though communication in Spanish is ideal, any language will work. See a copy of Mark Richey’s letter to the Peruvian authorities at http://www.americanalpineclub.org/docs/R...ez--9-2005.doc. A background article on Huascaran National Park regulations by AAC member Jim Bartle is posted at www.americanalpineclub.org/docs/2004_Winter_AAN.pdf." I've sent an email to them all; if anyone else wants to, please do. I'd like to see another solution, rather than having it regulated to death. Thanks for helping out.

Thanks, Dru. What do you think about the Rideout area? Probably about the same...thin, and needs more time?

Well, I'll be damned. A whole 'nother way to walk, for a whole 'nother type of boot. Go figure! Thanks, John, I'll have to continue with experimentation. By the way, if the heel isn't locked in tight, is it okay for it to slip a bit? I suppose it wouldn't hurt as much, because it'd be the inner boot slipping inside the outer boot, instead of my actual heel slipping inside the boot...

Good call, that's about right...although, I suck at ice ratings

Well, on closeout, I just picked up a pair of Scarpa Alphas, non-thermomoldable style. Historically, I've had a hard time wearing any plastics around the shop (shin bang, etc), so the fact that I was able to wear these up to Illumination Saddle on Hood today was a complete victory. Still, my heels hurt a lot, and it took me a while to dial in the lacing correctly. The Upper ankle of the boot is much stiffer than my comfortable leather boots; it causes a levering effect ( ankle flexes forward, comes up against the front of the ankle support at the top lace area, and levers the heel/achilles area back into the heel of the boot= heel pain). Note that, fortunately, the sizing of the boots are appropriate, and the heel doesn't slip up at all. I'm considering the Intuition liners for the future...maybe the velcro doesn't need to be tight at all? The Intuitions don't have anything fastening the top of the liner. So, what should I expect? Will the upper boot break in at all, and flex easier? Or will I have to run the laces looser on the upper boot, and risk less lateral ankle support because of it? One thing that I did find is it helped the ankle flex if I didn't overtighten the velcro tab at the top of the inner boot. I'm happy to hear input, but please spray elsewhere. Thanks in advance, and happy holidays to y'all.

I'd been watching conditions, but fell off the wagon with staying on top of things this past week. Anyone know if they got any of the brunt of these storms that just went through? I'd like to make a trip up there this winter (sooner, or later). Thanks for any info

Bump. I'm going if at all possible. It's nice to hear about the bipartisanship, and about the congressman actually hiking the Timberline trail. 75,000 new acres of protected land and 15 more miles of protected waterways sound good. That's assuming we have the money to protect it? Discuss. Thanks for posting that, Winter!

Thanks for that...what kind of stretching routine did you do, and for what length of time (for each stretch?)

Damn, so it's confirmed... I am getting old. There! Now I officially have reasons to be falling apart! Ha!

Never ruptured one, but my right achilles started acting up after a year of trouble free hiking and running. Strangely enough, on uphill terrain, it's fine. It's the downhill that causes a strong, dull ache that shoots through the achilles area. I'm wondering of a bone spur has formed that pinches the the achilles when the toes are pointed downward? Anybody else had any experience with this? This whole thing makes me nervous; I understand that the achilles doesn't give a whole lot of warning before it snaps. By the way, there's no swelling, redness, or malformation of the tendon.

Haha, good point Nah, you're probably just like me...need to stop investing in expensive microbrew, and start eating more Ramen. That'll get ya there quicker. Cheers!

Go back to the gym, rat.

Nice, Alan! Good to see you got out. Hopefully, I'll be able to put in some painful learning time this year, and I'll be able to do some turns with you sometime

bigwalling- I understand that family can be weird. I've come to figure out that it's probably because I don't spend much time with them, and I don't have much in common with them, anymore. At any rate, I was bummed this year when my g/f flew home to be with her family on Thanksgiving. Then, I got called into work, to dialyze a patient in an ICU. All the sudden, things weren't so bad for me. I went home after that, smiled at my empty house, and had a brew...at least I have my health

That's the most extreme form of training I've heard. Imagine, trying to stay amped up to that. I'd end up putting down the pack, and eating a bag of peanut M&Ms.

Wow- very cool. I just screwed around with that Pandora website- I typed in PJ Harvey, and it suggested Pretty Girls Make Graves. Very cool...this could entertain for hours

D'oh! That's the one that David said we should've checked out