knelson

...and that's all you need.

The legal mumbojumbo in most distributor agreements - I believe - will stipulate the pricing structure. Break the structure, you lose your distributorship. You may also be allowed to only distribute in a certain region. Bad things happen to distributors that sell outside their area... when the manufacturer finds out. And who would tell the manufacturer? Why REI, of course, who would then lean on the manufacturer to strictly enforce (or even rewrite) the distribution agreement. And what manufacturer/distributor would want to lose REI's business? That's what I refer to as the walmartification of REI. It's the one way relationship between retail outlet and supplier/manufacturer that seems to be creeping into everything retail. Just once I wish manufacturers would band together and tell retailers to go to hell when they push unreasonable cost/distribution issues down their throats. Then perhaps retailers would remember that without suppliers, they're really nothing. [/rant]

Second hand information here, but from a reliable guy who got a reservation "request" in earlier this year and was contacted by the USFS... They're planning on opening St Helens to climbing on July 21st. Permits are $22 per individual! It's not clear if this is a fee associated with an advance reservation, or if this fee would be in effect for "day of climb" permits also. I couldn't find any info on the St. Helens website at http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/mount-st-helens/ but that sure seems like a hefty fee for a hike. Edit: sorry... didn't see this post before I posted. More info here: http://www.cascadeclimbers.com/threadz/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/555972/an/0/page/0#555972

While I might not have chosen those exact words, I did find that comment by her... interesting... when I read it. It really hammered home the idea that REI doesn't give a rat's ass about it's original customer base and it's original mission. Yeah - I know, get over it and shop somewhere else. But for her to say in one breath that REI answers to no one - not even their shareholders as cj001fidlfkd pointed out - and then to say they're going to have to decrease their offerings of stuff in the store to make room for "extended" sizes (for the larger folks) really makes it obvious what their mission is. I had to chuckle about her comment about trying to compete in the "crazy internet space in 1999-2000." Isn't that when they went and strong armed all the distributors to keep MEC and other outdoor shops out of their US turf instead of working with the manufacturers to bring FAIR pricing to it's members? Isn't that what REI was founded to do?

Can you read? I clearly wrote that Lowell was correct in suggesting that I could have anticipated a problem and that while in the past I have known climbers to go to the Aurora Bridge for that purpose, other locations would make a better choice. My reading comprehension is just fine. When I read your post just previous to my response that you quoted, I basically read your post to say "There was no problem with what I was doing until the cops showed up." If that isn't a correct summary, then I apologize. Yes... you did respond to Lowell saying that you could've chosen better places to do this. I read that. But in all your other posts, you still don't really appear to think there was anything really out of the ordinary about what you did. That - and what seems to be the majority of responses on here agreeing with that - I guess, is just raising my hackles this weekend. Yeah... arguing on the internet is pretty pointless. But I'd be having the same exact conversation with you if I ever showed up at a Pub Club!

I routinely see people almost cause massive pile ups because they can't drive and read the stupid flashing DOT boards above I-5 at the same time. "Oh gee... that sign says something. I'd better HIT MY BRAKES and slow to 40 so I can see what it says." You telling me that those same folks aren't going to bat an eye when someone is dropping a rope over the edge of that bridge? While I find it interesting that I'm even getting worked up about this, I find it even more interesting that you seem to see no problem with your rope work on Friday. This, from the same guy who warns people not to flash their high beams at oncoming cars to warn them of a speed trap because the police might pull you over for interfering with their speed trap. But yet the cops showing up for a guy with a rope dangling over the bridge is an overreaction? It's all fun and games until someone gets an eye poked out. I think Mom's little words of wisdom apply very nicely in this situation. Now see what you did... you made me go and sound like my Mom. Shit.

Y'know... there ARE easier ways to unkink your rope than that!

WTF!!!!?....some people make me sad... Glad I could darken your view on humanity. I would've called it in not because I thought MattP was looking to off himself or rig explosives under the bridge. Nope... I would've called it in so the fuzz could escort Mr. ReallyBadIdeaDuringYourLunchHour off the bridge rather quickly so the 47,000 folks drinking iced lattes with one hand and talking on the phone with the other while driving with their knees don't cause a fatality when they rubberneck doing 50 mph at what this guy is doing hanging a rope off the bridge, and swerve into my freaking lane and the side of my car. Lord knows they can't drive, drink coffee, and talk on the phone to start with, so throw another distraction into the equation and you've got a 20 car pile up in the works. Sorry. I'm just an ass that way.

No difference. But the last time I checked, rapping off Lower Town Wall wasn't against the law. And I'm pretty sure there's some statute somewhere that says you can't "get your kinks out" on the Aurora Bridge... even if it is noon and you're on your lunch hour. I would've called you in, even having a pretty good idea of what you were doing.

Huh? Maybe I'm missing something, but how do they pull you over for obstruction? Have two more cops down the road a bit, in each direction, so they can see who flashes their lights and who doesn't? Or do they just stop everyone that goes by at the speed limit and ask them if anyone flashed their lights at them? And even if any of this did make sense, how could they prove I just didn't hit the high beam by accident when I meant to hit my windshield cleaner? I flash people, and they flash me. In fact, I just got flashed a couple weeks ago, and I thanked her for it.

It WAS black. And the loop half of the velco around the wrist/forearm was facing towards the inside, which would stick well to fur, I imagine. Hmm...

Found a black fleece mitt liner at Ingraham Flats on Monday, 6/19. The liner is really really huge. Big hands. Very impressed. When I first saw it I thought it was a balaclava. Then I noticed the thumb. Anyway... No tags on it anywhere. Maybe home made? PM me and I'll see that it gets back to you. Can't tell you how many single gloves I've lost. One just doesn't do you much good!

I guess I'm juvenile, but I find it funny to have a picture called "belaying willy". I think I've found a new phrase. I like it. Glad you finally did it. And got down, too!

First thing I'd ask... "Sir, do you perhaps keep abreast of the goings on at www.cascadeclimbers.com?" I'd then decide which route to go. Damn. I thought I was done wrong for getting pulled over doing 70 in a 60 in podunk Eastern WA over Memorial Day Weekend. But at least I just got a warning! Guess it pays to have a 5-year old and your late 70s mother-in law in the back seat.

MC/VISA have a great racket. You pay them interest and maybe a yearly fee. Vendor pays them a percentage of transaction + per charge fee. (Between 1.5% and 2.2% or so depending on the transaction, plus somewhere around $0.25 per charge.) If any fraud happens, vendor pays "chargeback" fee and gets money IMMEDIATELY taken from their account. Vendor has to prove and jump through hoops to get money back... assuming that they dotted all their i's and crossed every single t... AND even if the vendor is cleared and gets their money back, they STILL have to pay the chargeback fee. ($20, at least, per chargeback). And here's the new one - y'know those "rewards" VISA/MC cards where you get something back for every dollar you spend? Vendors get the priviledge of paying another 0.1% to 0.2% EXTRA to process those cards! Oh... and we can't deny them if we accept VISA/MC. And you know what... it costs the consumer nothing. I had a customer deny a charge one time (mail order/telephone order transaction) and when I called her regarding the "fraud/chargeback report" I received, she said "Oops... sorry. I had a bunch of charges around Christmas that I just didn't remember doing so I reported them as fraud. I guess I forgot about yours. Sorry. But I really liked your product!" Gee. Thanks. So long story short, 6 weeks later and having to have the lady call her bank twice, I finally get my money back... less the $20 chargeback fee even though the lady filed a fraudulent fraud claim. Nothing I can do but just suck it up... and complain here. Does she get a spanking? Nope. Just a shiny new card and a big "thank you" from VISA/MC. Yes sir... they're really hurting from all that fraud.

Here's the conditions website by the way... http://mountrainierclimbing.blogspot.com/ Please note the comments here and there on Gator's blog about recent unconsolidated snow on several of the routes. While it's been warm down here, the freezing level has only flirted with 10-11k feet a few days over the last few weeks. Personally, I'd give it some more time to settle down up there.

While not an expert, I believe there is a thread of truth... kinda... in what you were told. Perhaps. Maybe. You've got two forms of control on Rainier: climbing permits and camping permits. These are two totally different beasts. The "climbing" permits aren't coveted at all. Go to any ranger station that issues them, plunk down your $30 and you get one. Shoot... you can even go to the Rainier NP website, download a "climbing permit form", mail it in with the moola, and get your permit in the mail. Legally, I don't think the NPS can deny selling you a permit. This kind of ties in with what your friend was saying as far as the NPS having no ability to keep you from climbing the mountain. However, if you decide to climb without a permit, they can cite you. The camping permit is where the NPS CAN actually limit how many folks are on the mountain, and in what zones, and keep you from climbing the mountain. Those permits are the coveted ones. You can have your climbing permit in hand, but if all the quotas are filled in the camps and alpine zones, you're sunk. Oh sure... you can thumb your nose at the NPS, but they would have every right to cite and fine you and send you back down the mountain. Do people go up without camping permits? Sure. Do they get caught? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Do they get fined? I have no idea. While I'm not as familiar with NFS requirements, I think they also regulate strictly by camping permits. You don't need a permit to hike/climb in the Enchantments - unless you want to stay overnight. Adams' fees revolve around the legality of the NFS Parking Pass - it's just a fee paid to go above 7000' in the summer and has nothing really to do with camping or parking. There is no restriction on the number of people on Adams at one time... which is obvious some times. I'm guessing that thumbing your nose at that one gets you the same spanking as thumbing your nose at the parking pass. -kurt

Well... if you thought you were wallowing in a lot of snow last year on your trip out here, I'm thinking you might get a shift in your perspective this trip if you're heading up on Sunday. Stay safe and have fun. There's a lot of snow up there and me thinks it hasn't really found a good home yet. -kurt

"Mission Accomplished"

Say no more, say no more.

I second this list, but if you're a group of 4 on your first trip, you might want to consider taking a stove/pot and sleeping bag along with you, along with at least one shovel... preferably two. Split those four things up between the four of you and you haven't increased your individual load much, but have really increased your odds if something goes whacko. Have fun!

Plus the National Park Service relocated the venomous ones back to their native Canada, as they weren't a indiginous species.

You're not too far off there, me thinks. Check out the description for the Climbing Partners section... "Need someone to belay you up Liberty Bell? Hookup with climbers from all over the NW right here." Why would I want to "hookup with climbers" if all I want them for is belaying my pathetic butt? I definitely see an opportunity to share resources with minnesotaclimbing - maybe a foreign exchange program of sorts?

That just doesn't come out no matter what. After getting back from a one week trip, our cat showed its displeasure for us being gone that long by peeing on the lumbar padding of my pack. Soaked in real good. Didn't even notice it until the next outing when the body heat and sweat started working its way into the padding and "activated" the wonderful stench. I was seriously concerned about what this aroma might attract out in the woods. After getting back home, I tried everything to get the darned smell out - even those "get rid of cat urine" products. Nope. Only thing that worked, kinda, was a baking soda paste worked into that padding... over and over again... and rinsed clean. Although it's been something like 10 years, I can still get a waft of it from time to time. Luckily, it's not my main pack anymore.

Well gee... no shit. You could've at least worked with me here. [edit: Looks like the folks at KOMO finally did some proof reading, as it's been changed now. Whatdyaknow... it IS "slur."]