ADKMan

I highly recommend the Hilleberg Nallo 2 GT, it's realatively light for a true 4 season tent (about 5 pounds with all stakes, poles etc.) and has a huge vestibule (big enough for a third person in a pinch). When fully staked and guyed it's real good in the wind and ventilates well. The list price is a bit over $500 though.

Thanks aagin, we'll probably be looking at the July / August timeframe. It sounds like the chance of a good weather window will be best then.

Thanks for the feedback!

We are in the early stages of planning a trip to climb Mt. Rainier. We will be traveling from the Northeast and want to maximize our chances of getting a good weather window. Understanding that anything can happen weather wise, would we be better to plan the trip for late May / June or a July / August trip? We are planning on the Emmons Glacier route via Camp Schurman, is this route usually still in good shape in later summer? Or are we better to do it earlier? Any feedback would be appreciated.

I've found vests and pullovers with the newer lightweight synthetic materials such as primaloft or polarguard to be almost the perfect windproof midlayer. When things warm up a bit they make a pretty good outer layer as well. I personally use a Patagonia Puffball vest or a Micropuff pullover but there are many choices out there.

The Beal Joker should be available at Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking sometime later this month. They will be stocking the 70m goldendry version. http://www.alaskamountaineering.com/Product.cfm?id=694

I second the Snickers Marathon bars. They taste more like a candy bar than an "energy" bar.

Thank you for the information

Can someone give me an update on the proposed changes to guiding regulations. I am from New York and planning a guided trip in June / July and was wondering if I should wait to book a guide service or will the proposed changes not effect my planning. I was following this issue up until about a month ago and have not heard much about it since.