Zoran

I have wide feet and that was the reason I bought them. They are good for touring and I don't have reason to be unhappy. Problem is that they are overkill for my skiing abilities. I feel ashamed that as begginer skier I have them. I tried few Scarpa models and they killed me. Good skier can do magic in Adrenalins. My initial goal is to buy Dynafit Aero model but I couldn't try them anywhere in Vancouver.

Congratulations to Jordop, Steve and Ben for being mentioned in new Gripped Magazine for their outstanding climb in Waddington range. "... Steve Harng, Jordan Peters and Ben Stanton spent a week climbing amongst the peaks at the head of Sunrise Glacier in the northeastern Waddington Range. Their outing was the beautiful eight pitch South Buttress of previously unclimbed Isolation Peak Number Two D 5.9 250 m. ..."

If you have moment maybe you can have look into the Elfin Lakes side: http://www.pzs.si/forum/viewtopic.php?t=509 You should go there this late spring. I am going there again with my friend. Only one thing was bitter from our trip. We left extra gear in the hut and some guys stole few things.

In addition' (if I got it right?) Climbing gear editor claims that Enclosure SHOULD be warmer regarding to amount of filling they put in. We, owners of the parka, know that body is 200g and sleeves 170g. Looks like way how Cloudveil made it, didn't give expected performance output. I was just few evening out on -10C and I've never tried DAS before. My enclosure was $90CAD+Tax, and I couldn't resist to buy it. I love it

Scott, Looks like is harder to climb up trough this verbal avalanches than to climb A+A.

DAS parka won 1st place in gear review (new issue of Climbing mag). My Cloudveil Enclosure didn't rate high but I got it for a fraction of the DAS price. It's not bad and there is always better solution.

Dru, you are adventurous guy too. You climbed solo in remote areas without fear. I know Scott ... He is very determined person and he knows how to take care of himself. You should see him soloing Arete on Mt. Wedge.

Cloudveil Zero-G looks like good choice. I love mine. Z

Thank you for your report. Z

This is my friend's web-site... http://www.alpiner.net/114.html Z

... Other Info Ohhh boy is it coming down! It has been a blizzard all day. Duncan just called down with the afternoon update and said it is so deep that if you step off the track where the snowcats have been you sink in chest deep! So with 60 inches at the base and over 75 inches up on top, according to snocountry.com's data base, we now have the highest snowbase of any ski area in the world! We are also advising you that due to this tremendous snowfall, in simple terms: stay out of the backcountry. It is extremely unstable and extremely dangerous. We will be doing extensive snow control work inside the ski area the next few days to prepare for opening day, so please be advised of that as well. Stay tuned, because it is looking like this coming Tuesday, will be the deepest powder day opening we have had in more than 25 years! We will be posting photos from today sometime this evening once the photographer makes it in from out on the mountain! ...

I liked your post. Don't worry too much about comments. Dru is giving this forum specific flavor. Without him (and people like him) forum will be so dry and boring. So, I always appreciate to hear some news about new equipment. It's funny that I live in Burnaby BC where Arcteryx is located but I didn't know anything about Naos packs. I read after your post about them on some sites in Netherlands.

It was hard to read your post ... Thank you for sharing your emotions. Be strong and keep up going. I don't know what else to say. Zoran

Congratulations on good climb! It's interesting that there is no lots of reports or pictures about Grant Peak. Even at Bivouac... Maybe your climb is FA? Thank you for sharing info about area. Z

I agree kioti ... It's very frustrating to see price drop 50% after 6 months of the purchase. About XT's ... I have them and they are good. Scarpa experimenting with XT boots and goretex now. I don't see the reason but looks like people are still impressed with goretex. Soon they will make XT's with Shoeler fabric and you can have new XT GTX for 150$. In this marketing and design game we can only benefit. I think ... Z

Looks like the answer is here: http://www.wantmedia.co.uk/news/PetzlNomic.htm at the bottom left corner ...

Maybe this is the way to add weight to the pick ... Looks like is removable. I am not sure. Just guessing ... Z

Sorry for the late post ... I found prescription glasses in plastic case on the top level in the Brian Waddington Hut. They were hidden behind the support frame. During the night I was looking for my head-lamp and found the case. I will post this on VOC board at UBC tomorrow and on few other forums (BCMC, VOC, ClubTread etc.) I will ship them for free to USA if owner is there. Please PM me description if they are yours. Thanks. Z

I don't think you can find better pack than this one. Full option is 2050g but if you remove all extras it drops to 1400g. http://www.deuter.com/cms/front_content....7a611eced284a93 Z http://www.deuterusa.com/guide45.html

It's a long way too, but hut is beautiful. You can climb Ledge from that side too. Ponzini, Do you have something for us about your camp in Garibaldi area? Any reports or pics? Z

It's interesting to see where he was. He tied himself with prussics to ice screws and fished the rope hanging from helicopter. In case he will miss to catch the rope ...

Tomaz is safe! He is rescued by helicopter and transported hanging on rope from 6000m to base camp. He is in great physical condition and doctor will keep him in base camp for few days. Looks like no big damage to his feet.

Tough night 9.8.05 07:02 CET It was raining all night long, and in the morning it began to pour as if it were judgement day. Tomaž called in around 8:30 am. The fifth nigh in the icy trap was challeging. "If the weather stays like this, I won't be able to hold on for much longer, this is not a biouvac anymore, it's pouring all over me, and everything is freezing!" It was -5C at night - in his sleeping bag! To keep warm he trys to move around as much as possible, he was fighting the snow all night long which was narrowing down his living space. The doctor, Anda, advises him to keep drinking as much much warm fluids (melted snow/water or tea) as possible, as dehydration accelerates frostbite. But Tomaž told us yesterday that he drinks less than a litre of fluids a day! It's difficult to cook in that small space he is in, and his gas supply is low to - he's burning the last tank. He asked if the weather forecast promises some improvement. The clouds are already breaking over the bas camp and the view of the mountain is slowly unfolding. At the moment the visibility is up to 4500m. The forecast is promissing. It should stabilize in the early morning, and Wednesday and Thursday should have clear skies. But we have to make notice that this weather report for Nanga Parbat means clarity from 5-8 am, therefore we will have to hurry up with the rescue. A promise was given that a LAMA helicopter with the best trained Pakistani pilot will arrive at base camp as soon as the weather improves and then we will only have to wait for a clear view of the rock wall. We receive a lot of encouraging e-mails for Tomaž. Now when he longs for warm thoughts and words we can read him the majority of them - almost every one - Anda keeps reading the heart-touching messages to him till late night. And I let him know how the humanitarian appeal is coming along. The response was unbelievable - amazing what kind of ideas one can have, trapped in a life threatning situation.

He is still there. Rainhold Messner is involved in rescue as an advisor. They think that hanging rope from helicopter is the best way to go. Nazir Kabir is involved in the rescue too.

Tomaz contacted base camp last night! Today is his 6-th day in snow cave at about 6000m (18000ft). Space is very small, about one square metar and he cannot move a lot because of high exposure and avalanche danger. His toes are getting blue and rescue is requested despite of bad weather. Yesterday for a moment small patch of blue sky appeared but again fog is covering upper part of the face.