Dr_Crash

Yummy Likely not good for your typical glacier / alpine travel unless you carry them in your pack as you would rock shoes. But to go trash on waterfall ice and practice drytooling, and save the nicer alpine boots for alpine, why not? And don't forget that these could help you solve issues in meetings when you need to look serious threatening to kick ass. drC

Thanks Dru/Don. That's what I wanted to know. Would you say the Quark is a better tool than the Aztar? The Aztar is lighter I think, and have read it's a "lightened version of the Quark for alpine" though we all know marketing will say whatever they want... drC

Can't find it, search is limited to a month (boo). Can the author bump it or PM me so we can exchange info? Thanks, drC

Dumb question: does anybody expect to be able to put those shafts in snow (plunging, or for belay or whatever though boot-ax belays are weird anyway)? I know that Petzl say that it's one of the nice features of the Aztar for instance, and it's the ax that backcountrygear.net puts in their alpine ice package. The shaft is straighter too. I'll try to borrow tools before I have to buy some so I can get some experience with a few, but if I wanted a set of ice tools for alpine climbing, would the Aztar be a better choice than the Quark? Or will the Quark be just as nice (though a bit heavier) and perform better when playing on waterfall ice? Aztar: drC - Ice newbie.

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I've built a number of anchors for crevasse rescue using ice axes as a deadman anchor, and hung people and their equipment off them, and they held very well. Cascade concrete snow... drC

I mean... I've been here for a week now and it gets boring. Not Tokyo, the 10 hours meeting that justify my presence here. I have to go back in 3 weeks for more of the same. Come up with a good idea to impersonate me, please... You know you want to visit Tokyo. drC

Dead body graft... At least you have scary stories to tell on Halloween night... drC

You drive... So... I'll be there with my 'Merican chauffeuse. drC

I got a 3-4 season convertible on REI outlet for $89. 2 persons, 7 lbs and a bit. Look for deals. drC

Ping... Anybody has anything? Kids are 7 and 5 1/2 years old. drC

For cheap; not too soft. I may have access to loaner tele skis this year and well, nothing better than some cross-training... drC

Ha ha ha ha ha ha... No wait, it's not funny. I live here too. drC

A lot... 1005.6 on my 4th try, but the head stopped short of a 6th mine and more points drC

Are they available here, and how do they ski? I saw a pair yesterday in Tokyo. 980 grams (per ski I assume) in a a 170 cm maybe. Looked interesting, and I have always liked Dynastar. It's on Dynastar's US site, but I don't see many dealers for it though... I'll try to ask the Dynastar rep at Snoqualmie when the season starts, but it'd be nice to have reviews (will also ask on skipass.com). Same for the wide (75 mm waist instead of 65 for the plume) and the regular one (68 mm). And the 2003-2004 wide, which apparently was only 70 mm. If the 2003 wide has a weight comparable with the Volkl Norber Joos that coluld be sweet (it's only EUR 230). 75 mm is nice though All skis have a wood core except the Plume drC

Forget about what's cool - just keep your ass safe. He's asking about helmets for his *head* not his ass. Please don't hijack the discussion. drC

The Canon A95 and S70 are my two prime contenders now... Both have great image qualities. Good reviews at dpreview.com. A95: + 5 Mp + Uses regular AA batteries (x4). + Swivel LCD screen - A bit more weight (might be a plus for stability) - Less MP S70: + 7 MP (can crop heavily and still have good prints) + True wide angle (eq. 28mm-100mm) - No swivel LCD - Proprietaty battery (though clones are cheap and it's lightweight) drC drC

Girl, I forwarded you Rafael_H's opinion already... If he wants to repost it here, he'll do it. drC

One thing is certain, we *DO* need the bottle opener and the corkscrew. Why hasn't anybody made a combo nut tool + knife (to spread the cheese ) + corkscrew? We can open beer bottles with carabiners, duh. drC

Petzl has two models. I have the large (non-serrated blade) and it's a nice sharp knife. I am going to replace my knife and BD nut tool with Trango's shark. This way I save some weight and can lose two things at once when I'll drop it (thanks CBS for the dropping idea ). drC

Duh, of course it's staged. Still funny. Thanks for the name. drC

I went to Patagonia's Seattle store yesterday. In their dressing room, there is a big poster of a guy who is hanging off a pretty steep face, with a beer in his hand and flip flops on his feet. Do you know that picture? Is it available in print somewhere? Thanks, drC

The polars are so new it's going to be tough to find out much info. Assuming they have the same altimeter they put in their bike watches, look for a post I made on the Polar 720/725. I posted a reply from Polar USA about the precision of their altimeter. drC

I'll look up routes. Ingraham Direct is the most obvious. Which days would you go? I may have something on the 27-28. RE: the 20th, I can't. I am flying back from Japan that day and need to be at Snoqualmie the 21th. drC