knelson

Thinking that there is "someone" within the whole Islamic religion that can speak for others or reign in their extremists is like thinking the Pope can reign in Jerry Falwell.

Soooooo... we're only remembering the news over the last 5 years or so? Nah... Christians have never done anything like that before. Nope. Uh uh. Never in history. Not MY religion. Nooooo way. Srebrenica? Any one of The Crusades? Different methods, but the results are just the same.

Do you mean that they are going to a reservation system, with a reservation fee, but there will still be free day-of-climb permits available? Or ALL permits will cost $$? I'm guessing their just copying Rainier's policy - the overnight permit is free, but if you want it earlier than 24 hrs before, you pay a "reservation" fee. Or am I wrong on this? -kurt

http://www.emeraldqueen.com/entertainment.aspx?e=1189 ...and Air Supply is coming in September! Woohoo!

Don't paint your ONE experience on the Emmons as the norm. It isn't. Yes... there are more inexperienced folks on this route than others. But the hoards and bottlenecks are not norm, from my experience on bluebird days. Sounds like you just got lucky, and found what you were looking for! -kurt

I can NOT believe the term "horsecock" has not entered into discussions in several of these threads. Or is it just too easy?

Wow. That story ended waaaaaaaay different than I thought it was going to. Phew.

Comment for folks that don't like getting passed on the high side... Take the high side yourself and leave the boot track for the passer. If you're gonna get passed, you should be aware of it whether or not the party behind has said diddly to you. As the last person on the rope, communicate your intent with your team, step out of the boot track on the uphill side and continue on, slowing down if you need to. (Needless to say, passing should be done in a relatively safe spot.) While the party behind might not be overly thrilled at being on your downhill side, the fact that they keep the boot track always seems to soothe them. It also allows them to pass you quicker and you to keep moving. As a team leader, you can even discuss this scenario with your rope mates before the climb, so the group is all on the same page. If you're not comfortable outside the boot track, then you probably shouldn't even be there to start with. -kurt

Found - walked out on their own. See... http://www.cascadeclimbers.com/threadz/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/478446/an/0/page/0#478446

removed as to not further drag on sprayfest -kurt

Really? So if the Emmons route on Rainier isn't a great place to build up experience on high glaciated terrain, then what is? Baker? Phhh... the thing only tops out at 10+k. I'm not pissin' on your entire post - I actually agree with 99% of what you're saying. Gotta just shake your head when you're in camp at Schurman boiling water, looking at the people in the next tent over with FOH (the WHOLE friggin book!) trying to figure out crevasse rescue concepts. "Now WHERE do I put this prussik thingy again? And HOW do I get the pickets from you when you're in the crevasse?" But you know what? You're on dog route #2... you better come expecting to deal with it. Granted... 100 people on the route seems insane, but everyone doesn't climb at the same level. "Respect for others" means just that.

Think that record is toast now. I asked Gator at the FF book signing about this and I think he said the record was like 4 or something. Gator did say they did it over many days though. -kurt

You were faking it; I could tell. I'm sorry that you have enough experience to know when someone is faking it.

Mine normally holds a small tube of sunblock, chapstick, and a variety of food. You can really pack a lot in that little thing. Way easier than fussin' with the pack for those quick stops. -kurt

OK. After my little nap at the bivy spot at 8400' on Rainier's lower Ptarmigan Ridge today, I spied something next to a rock near me. After several minutes of finding things stashed under rocks, and strewn around the pebble field, I finally ended up with this inventory. THINGS YOU MIGHT WANT BACK... (1) mylar space blanket, still in package (1) compass [did you drag the thing through sand or something?!!] (1) sunglasses [REI glacier glasses, non prescription]in glasses case (1) whistle on nylon cord (1) bic lighter, pink (1) book of matches [actually... you probably don't want these back, but hey - maybe they have sentimental value.] THINGS CATEGORIZED AS TRASH, AND DEALT WITH ACCORDINGLY (2) packages of some gawd awful smelling sauce that had holes punctured in them, japanese writing on said packages. (1) nearly full tube of firestarter, also with holes punctured in tube. Nice. (1) tea bag... I think. Also japanese writing on it. (1) tea bag... Tazo Earl Grey [i actually used this one when I got home. It was my finder's fee.] (1) package Sugar in the Raw (1) plastic fork (1) burnt down stub of a candle. [Also might have sentimental value, but I had to draw the line somewhere.] OK. So if someone wants this stuff back, just PM me or reply and tell me... -the color of the cord the whistle is attached to -the color of the sunglass case, and style and for extra credit... -which restaurant the book of matches is from ... and I'll figure it's yours and make arrangements to get it back to you. Sorry - unless you want to go dumpster diving, the trash stuff I threw away. Oh... no Neutrinos though. Damn. -kurt

Must be a blend. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4722639

You must truly be unbeatable at Trivial Pursuit.

What? You want the link to the NPR article I heard the other day? The guy they were interviewing from Olympia said that biodiesel was the way to go because it didn't require any expensive conversion of your existing vehicles/equipment. The only drawback he commented about was the fact that when it was burned, its exhaust still retained the smell of whatever the biodiesel was reclaimed from. If it came from a vat of oil used to fry up french fries, then the person following that vehicle would probably have a sudden craving for fries.

Except it smells like fried fish. clearly not my problem since i don't use need biodiesel lubricated satisfaction these days. Use or need? You can use biodiesel without modifications to your existing equipment - or so the guy on NPR said.

Except it smells like fried fish.

But then you just end up with an "average" experience.

WE EAT AWESOME KIMCHEE! ?

We Eat Awesome Kimchee?

Not if you're trying to get your money's worth.

Is that like a SCSI drive?