Chad_A

Happy birthday, Marie ; I agree with that, as well, by the way. When I'm by myself, I tend to back wayyyyy off. In the presence of others, I'm more comfortable with risk (maybe a false sense of security), and more apt to take chances.

I have 3 CCW packs including the Chaos. Love it. I've special ordered all mine directly from the company though since they do free custom modifications. Then pay shipping, no tax. I don't like tool tubes either and got the regular attachment system on my Chernobyl. I've never had a problem carrying heavy loads with it, but then again I don't like to carry much.... Nevertheless, I may try this plastic frame sheet idea for the Chaos. where do you find such a place? by they way, FF in seattle carries CCW packs. Dustin, the place I went to here in Portland is called TAP Plastics. They seem to sell all kinds of plastic stuff, plexiglass, as well as fiberglass items/supplies. I don't know if TAP is a chain, but if you look for that kind of thing in the yellow pages, you might find something up there in WA. I just borrowed the guy's tape measure, gave him the dimensions, and he cut it to fit. I think they had the HDPE in a couple of different thicknesses. Hope that helps ya out.

Fern, next time you stop by a national park, ask the person at the entrance booth, if there is one, if they have a card holder; it's just a clear plastic sleeve that hangs from your rearview mirror. Not saying that they're going to have one (at Rainier last year, they were out), but they're supposed to.

Bah! I'm screwed. Have to work that period of time (5th-10th). I guess I might prefer to do it earlier than later, anyway...Better chance of the route being in good shape Good luck to you, though. Hope everthing works out

Clint, are you locked into that weekend specifically, or are other weekends an option? I'm looking to do something on the 4th of July weekend. I'm going to try to rope Oleg into it...heehee.

Hot damn! I couldn't remember what website had the Rainier Norwand cam on it. Thanks

actually, one of the links does have the paradise cam, just the one facing south, not toward the mountain.

c'mon, somebody!!!

Still available; had plans, ended up cancelled. Can leave any time on Saturday, have to be back Monday night. Call at 503 679 1187, email, PM, Etc. Open to options, just don't want to do dog routes.

Don't have much of an opinion of all of this, except to say "good on them" for having the fortitude of completing the three most boring routes on the volcanoes in 28 hours. I would've went to the nearest brewery.

http://nwhiker.com/pnwWXcam4.html http://nwhiker.com/pnwWXcam2.html I'm sure that most of you have seen these, but it's nice to have them compiled in one place. Check out the website http://www.northwesthiker.com/ for trail info by region. Sorry if you all already know about this.

I have a Chernobyl, and a pal has the Chaos; we both took ours to a plastics supply place, and had them cut HDPE framesheets for them. Added a neglible amount of weight, and they both carry much, much better now.

I lead there on a two-day-a-week basis; you can always PM me, and see if I'm going to be down there. Feel free to look me up. ---Chad---

Looking to get out. PM if interested, or email me under my username. Wouldn't mind doing Buckner, as I've been shut down a couple of times.

Whoa, that's a recent pic? If the freezing level was down, and you could get high enough before the sun hit hard, the NF would go fine. What a strange year. The NF in June? Go figure.

Don't know how old your fuel is, but if it's been around for a while, might want to try a different batch and see if it does any better. Just a thought.

Nice TR, and good job with giving it a shot. Sounds like you had fun...it will be most rewarding to go up and finish it off, now that you have the skills to do so.

I picked the wrong time of the year to move... wish I could've been along for that one. Crackalicious, have fun if you head up!

There you go. Nice pup!

One thing to add: Suunto's service department is very nice. I thought that, with my original Vector, that I'd screwed up the o-ring, because it freaked out, and failed. Sent it in, and turned out to be a cracked case (I'm pretty hard on my watches, evidently.) It was a year and a half out of its warranty, and they replaced it with a brand-new looking remanufactured unit without a cent of cost. Seems to be their policy to send you a remanufactured unit when they receive your unit (probably makes for a quick turnaround time). I sent mine in again to get the scratched face replaced, and again, they sent me a brand new looking reman unit. Very nice!

I'm usually down at the PRG a day or two a week, to lead, or whatever. Occasionally, I'll do trips to Smith to practice trad; most extensive windows of time off I have from work are reserved for the alpine, though. If anyone is looking for a 'round town lead partner, look me up. I check my PM's here daily.

Glad you made it back okay...and welcome to the site

Yup, fact of life, brother. Just because it's Smith, doesn't mean that it's totally immune of objective danger. Total load of bullshit. You go unnecessarily knocking rocks on people, and make no mistake about it, you are the asshole, period. And maybe Dr. Flash Amazing is mistaken (not likely, of course), but doesn't objective danger stem from the environment or other factors out of the control of humans? So, like, if the Churning Buttress fell on 50 people gaping at someone dogging their proj, that'd be objective danger. Pigeon attack at the top of Vomit Launch; objective. Spontaneous nubbin failure on BBQ the Pope; objective. Louts dumping choss on your head; poor choice on their part. Being a gravel-dumping chosstronaut above a popular zone on a busy day at Smith is not cool. I've seen C.C.'s post, and the great DFA's posts, and put that way, I see where you're coming from. On the Christian Brothers traverse, with that said, would it be obvious from the getgo that you would be dumping choss on the people below you? If not, I don't know if you could call them an asshole. Just, uh, unknowing...

I think that might've been Oleg and I. I knew to do that, because I've been screwed before with trying to approach in the dark; what looked like it would go, wouldn't (Neri knows all about this ) Given the low freezing levels continuously, and the precip, I'd bet that the approach to the headwall would be a piece of cake right now. Give 'er a week to settle the snow, and it'd be golden up there, I'd guess. Like ashw said, though, you're not likely to find any fun technical stuff up there, now. Back in March, in the dry spell, there was a little to be found. Now, with some fresh up there, prolly won't. Have fun up there whenever you go! Every time I go up there, I'm reminded how goregeous it is.