Blakej

I'm considering doing ellinor sunday if you have it off. I am also trying to get a group to come along so we can practice some in the chute but if that falls through I'm game to just climb. Neither requires any rope work but both make nice short climbs to get out and enjoy the view.

Just got back from an excellent day up on ellinor practicing my axe arrest and doing a little glissading. The only thing that sucked is the glissade chute has been worn to a three foot deep rut in places making it feel much like like a bob sled course which was fun but hindered me pracitcing face first arrests. It was a blast though with snow roostertailing over me as I flew over several little "jumps". At the bottom I finally got around to building my first snow cave which really built my confidence in its durability. When I tried to wreck it jumping up and down just wouldn't do it. I ended up having to break it up with my shovel. I nice thought when you think of the random hiker not paying attention and walking over you. I am considering returning this weekend and testing different forms of snow anchors(flukes, pickets, bollards etc.) on the steep slopes to build confidence in their ability to hold me if I can manage to bum the equipment and find someone to join me. Any suggestions on safe methods to persue this. Would it be best to set up some form of belay or considering its a safe runout depend on axe arrest if the anchor fails. I'd hate to have a picket pop out and plant itself in my face. Anyone want to join me? I'll play crash test dummy number one.

My bad I missed the excellent progressing page posted earlier but the glacier question still stands and any other advice you can give.

I'm looking to get lots of alpine experinece this coming year but being a southern boy for the most part I have no glacier experience and I pretty much refuse to take a class being old school and figuring everyone should have a climbing mentor. The question is are there any safe glaciers or areas to go out solo and walk around to gain confidence on crampons or ice axe arrest. I'm assuming arresting on ice is much different than snow. And what about alpine "climbs" that are safe enough to build confidence and provide a progressing, build my confidence reading snow and avalanch hazzards.

bomber gear XL shorty. I'll sell it for 25. Just a heads up its not one of the super nice ones so expect fancy if you want it.

yup alls still up for grabs. forgot to mention that I also have kayak attachment for yakama rack and short sleeve dry top. I'd like to trade for the accessorys and cash for the boat but if you got some good stuff I'll straight up trade. I really need good randonee bindings crampons and stuff like ice screws, trad gear, pickets ect. let me know if your in the sound area it would be great cause I dont want to deal with shipping.

Another nice thing is a temporary filling you can get from most dentist. Anyone who has lost a filling far from medical help can attest to the misery.

Not to knock you mrdoolittle but I hate when people bring up the over hydrating thing. I'm not a physician but a medic so if a doc wants to give me a contrary please do. It is extreemly hard to over hydrate. The only cases I've seen are people trying to "clean their system" for a piss test. If your exercising and drinking a constant flow of water to keep your urine clear and replacing all those vital minerals you should be without question ok. Just a pet peeve.

pm me with the dementions of your bed I have a 98 tocoma and am very interested. Might even drive down to pick it up.

I agree with TBay. I wont bring anything I can improvise from stuff I already have. ie frame stays from your pack to make splints. Also consider this. Why do you need a thermometer. If the person has a fever you'll be able to feel it and treat with an antipyretic. If the fever is really high you'll notice somthing is not right and be concerned enough to get them the hell out of there. Just some things though expand your thought process for you kit.

I apologize for being late to this post but being a subject near and dear to me I cant resist. To say the least some of these posts disgust me. I completely respect and even sometimes agree with many of the anti war and critical posts but I cannot believe that there are people here who can make such ignorant and hateful comments about the loss of life that has happened in Iraq. Please debate even argue, come up with something productive and do what you can to make it work but dont attack the people who stand on the point of the spear and carry out a dirty job that they truly believe is protecting you and your right to "spray". I doubt more than a handful here have experienced the horror of war and what it can do to you. How it can haunt you and at times destroy you. All I ask is that you recognize and respect their sacrifice. Stay safe tele nut pm me and address and I'll smuggle you a pint.

2001 Riot Glide used mostly for surfing in the ocean and a little playboating in rivers. Great boat for a paddler from 180-215lbs or a tall paddler looking for a playful boat. $400.00. Also have paddle, vest, helmet, and skirt to make package. I will consider working some swapping gear for solid randonee bindings or Grivel G12's crampomatic in decent condition.

if you read some cooking instructions on meals they define high altitude as over 6000 ft. never been at what I'd call high altitude but i'm sure pistachios and moom pies are just as tasty

Thanks for the bad-ass thread of replies. so many opinions to sort throught I think I just pick the toughest looking pair. As my climbing mentor used to say "Remember grasshopper its not the first one up its the one that looks the coolest doing it."

oz are you offering to lead/teach or the opposite?

basic glacier travel and the general washington climbs. Not really planning on vertical ice but would like somthing that could substitute for shits and giggles if I want to try the vertical stuff but basically I'm new to glacier and snow travel so I need somthing to make those first steps but hopefully give some growing room into the more technical stuff. I would prefer step ins. any suggestions.

I looking to buy my first set of crampons and I've been looking hard at the grivel G 12 and grivel Air Tech. The question would be what am I loosing by going with the air tech besides weight. Are the shorter spikes going to effect me much? Are there any other models to look at for just basic first set type deal?

Actually been working on getting over to utilikilts for the past month. rbw... are the mammut champs insulated?

I've been looking pretty hard at getting a pair of the stretch/water-resistant/sometimes insulated pants such as the REI one or the salomon second skin and was wondering if anyone has an opinion at to which is the best one out there.

Actually I will be hitting Anderson The complete tentive peak list is below. As for when I'm not sure. I am going to start scouting some of the ridges early april to get an idea of what exactly I'm getting into and I still need to gain some Glacier experience As thats one of my big weak points. I definately want to hit all the mayjor peaks along the route but I'm still in the research phase. Probobly won't happen at least till early next year though. peak list elk lick, lacross, white mountain, anderson, chimney, christie, seattle, noyes, meany, queets, barnes, childs, pulitzer, ferry, stephen and carrie.

It seems that most of you carry some sort of protection on a regular basis but even if your stuck with out it can you really see just standing there and watching someone die while you potentally can prevent that. The percentage of people in the US with potentially life threatining diseases that you may contract from cpr is relatively low and as for if the guy is a victum of trauma or not if he's already dead what can it hurt. unless your a well trained medical professional who knows what hes looking at better to err on the side of caution.

The route I was thinking of was starting at Mt Elk Lick and following that ridge white mountain and chimney then over to seattle noyes and finishing up in the bailey range traverse. basically an east to west s across the park.

I recently was looking at a full topo of the olympics and saw a possible route for a east to west olympic high country traverse but I haven't seen any beta of this ever being done or attempted. Does anyone have info. I've been told some of the areas I am looking at crossing just aren't worth brush crashing through.