wfinley

Dig around on this page for potential weekend trip ideas: http://www.uaf.edu/aac/

I have the 1st gen of Barons. I actually take back what I said about the Barons. Yesterday I skied a long line in them that started with 50 degree thigh deep powder, then it turned into breakable crust, then it turned into solid ice. The Barons powered through everything and I actually skied the line thinking about the route instead of about my skis. I was pretty impressed that the skis were able to link a long series of jump turns in 40 degree terrain where the snow was breakable without any issues. Basically these are mountaineering skis -- made for steep descents where you have to turn fast and link jump turns. Skiing them in deep powder is doable but I don't care to link turns in deep powder and prefer GS turns. For me I think it's a matter of learning to ski two very different skis (Jak BCs and Barons) in two very different manners. My Jaks suck on steep breakable crust - my Barons suck on deep powder days where you have to keep the angle under 30. If you're looking for a ski for steep couloirs with crummy snow they're good; but I don't think they're an all around ski.

I've been skiing them since late last season. They're ok... I don't love them but they work well enough for steeper runs where you need to turn fast and steady. On open slopes I feel like I'm skiing really slow in them - but that might be b/c I usually ski Jaks and like to ski fast with few turns. In hardpack and variable I have to be careful -- they certainly don't bust through crud (which sounds clique). They are certainly not stiff. I have skied them maybe 30 times BC and once at a resort. To tell the truth... I'm eying the Shuksans!

An Akita would certainly solve the intruder problem. Problem is though it would also eat your cats and bite your kids! Just about any dog, once it is integrated into your family, will be somewhat protective and growl and bark at bumps in the night. Dogs can sense if you are spooked and most will automatically fly into some sort of pack / protective mentality. The hard part is getting a balance between a protective dog and one that gets along well with kids and cats. My old dog (husky / lab mix) loved cats, snapped at kids and would have happily led intruders to the computer in the hopes I'd work less. My new dog (lab pitbull mix) loves kids, tries to eat cats and goes ape if he sees a reflection in the window.

I climb with my wife all the time. When we snuggle during forced bivvies I don't wake up feeling guilty. 8D

I think the deal is Americans can shoot... and they can ski. They just can't shoot and ski. Most skiers who show a lot of promise get pushed into the regular XC races... the biathalon isn't as important to America.

That was a cut scene from Lynch's Inland Empire. Watching the above scene might make you think that there was a reason the scene was cut... but the truth is the entire film is like that scene. This film is proof is how dismal a good director can be when he refuses to work with an editor.

The topic seems to have drifted... but I have a question about ELF. I seem to recall that after the Oregon trial the decision read that acts against property could not be considered terrorism - whereas acts against the state or people (i.e. the person who firebombed the SUVs and left targets messages against the police) could be considered terrorism. Is this correct? I'm having a hard time finding a record of the decision.

Yep... me too!! I'm going to the New next fall for a short visit!

And yes... it's in WVa -- about 30 minutes from Seneca.

Nelson Rocks in on private land. They did have it open for a while to clmibing but the rock is rather chossy in places so they closed it down out of fear of injury. The rather lengthy disclaimer is due to a death on the via ferrata in '06. Nelson Rocks is home to the longest route in West Virginia... an 8 or 9 pitch traverse that goes along the entire fin. The last pitch is really cool... as you near the top the fin is so thin that you can see through to the other side as you're hand-jamming up!

I have a MacBook Pro running XP simultaneously so I can run IIS/ CF8 and mirror my hosting environment. It's a good setup for a designer... but if I was only doing programming I'd go with XP only. Likewise if I was only doing design I'd go Apple only. In my opinion the only reason you'd get a Mac is if you do a lot of photography or design. Adobe products run better on a Mac and Apple's Aperture is an excellent product. Running Photoshop or Illustrator on a PC is an exercise in patience. On the other hand trying to do any type of web programming on a Mac is ridiculous considering 90% of users are on a PC.

We climbed it sometime around July 4th. Late June is a good time to be up there but if you plan to float watch out for ice dams on the river.

I've climbed in the eastern Brooks Range (Mt. Michaelson); what portion are you thinking about?

Be a little more specific... what type of routes are you looking to climb? Lots of fun climbing can be done in August. And if it's raining you can go fishing for reds.

The yo-yo ski runs at 14 on a rest day are excellent. Bring skis! Plus you can get down in 1/2 the time!

It's a standard filter on forum software. PHPBB does it as well. Try using google... just append "site:cascadeclimbers.com" to the keywords. For example: WTF search site:cascadeclimbers.com

The Aluetians don't really lend themselves to backpacking... unless you're talking more about Katmai which is technically on the Peninsula. For Katmai you will fly to King Salmon and then take another hop into Katmai. Expect to pay about $500 to fly RT to King Salmon. I have not been there but I've heard the backpacking is exceptional. So are the bears. You will routinely see 100 lb brown bears so be aware. A friend of mine who went down there last summer saw 45 in one day! The Brooks Range is excellent for backpacking. Ideally most trips combine rivers (packrafts) and hiking but you can do basic backpacking trips. Fly with Dirk of Coyote Air (http://www.coyoteair.com). Dirk is an excellent resource and can drop you about anywhere you want to go. Relatively inexpensive trips can be planned that involve being flown in and hiking out. Dirk can also arrange pick up for hiking out to the road. The only trip I have done in ANWR was a river trip with climbing on the side. We floated the Hulahula and were out for 14 days. The backpacking at the headwaters would have been quite fun... but to get the full experience of ANWR you need to combine it with a river trip... a big huge long river trip where you hike and climb in the mountains and then float out the the Arctic Ocean. Another option you might consider is backpacking in the Wrangells. There are some excellent trips that can be put together in this region. Bears are generally less of an issue in the Wrangells as well. Likewise there are actually guidebooks for this region. As for sites to help with ideas and plans: Check out various links on this site (Look for Kongakut / Anaikchak and the Wrangells): http://jtlindholm.com/photos.htm Hig & Eriin do some amazing trips.... prepare for a suffer-fest if you do anything like this: http://www.aktrekking.com/trips.html And there is lots of info on hiking / river trips on this page: http://www.alpackaraft.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=6

Count me as yet another one who can make the claim for the woman in my life. My wife uses one and while I won't say she loves it she won't ever go on extended climbing trip without one! I used to climb with a lady who could write her name in the snow with one!!!

April nights are still long, cold and dark. Bring a headlamp; preferably one with both a LED and Halogen bulb.

My thoughts exactly! Last year we had the privilege of seeing the school Hillary established in Khumjung. Climbing is by nature truly a self-centered activity. Hillary not only was first up Everest but managed to climb past the boundaries we set against ourselves when deciding that climbing is the most important aspect of life. I hope that when my knees give out or I tire of climbing that I can make a fraction of the difference Hillary did. He was a true hero and the world is emptier without him. Namaste, Sir Hillary. May there be another pole where you go next.

Sorry - I didn't mean to edit your quote. I hate the loss of life as well; I just question what good will come out of increased funding and calls to add warnings and force retailers to comply with some sort of approval / education process.

Are you an attorney? I thought only attorneys said things like that. PS.. people say the same thing about beacons causing more trouble b/c people ski risky slopes when wearing one.

It is an anomaly... for the most part it's BC skiers and snowmobiler dying. BC skiers are generally well educated - education for the snowmobiler group is getting better. Reducing deaths is a noble goal... but it shouldn't be on the shoulders of retailers or media outlets as some have suggested. I question whether it should really be a goal of the government. The average skier is more likely to die from a head injury; if we fund PSA campaigns for aves then why shouldn't we fund them for helmet use? To take it a step further why shouldn't we fund a public safety campaign for everyone headed out climbing at Rainier or Smith? The rash of deaths in the PNW is tragic... but maybe it will lead to people actually thinking instead of people relying on the government and media telling them what is safe.

I've been there; feel free to PM. Here's some pix from a friend who recently went there to get you excited: http://epiceric.blogspot.com/2007/07/little-swiss.html