Stuart

Got these days free and looking for a willing partner/s to tag a couple of alpine routes - Stuart/Maude/Baker/WA Pass etc. If interested PM me or phone 206 755 0649. I'm in Seattle. Cheers Stuart

That's the cheapest place in town. It's run by Veronique who is worth being nice to! If she likes you she'll offer to look after your gear while you head into the mountains. So, practise your french and be charming! Otherwise, head to Argentiere and stay at the campsite there if you've got a tent (lots of Brits there, so at least you can speak english and find out info easily). That was about 8 euros a night last year I think. You can walk or hitch to Chamonix (5 miles ish) and La Joux and the Col des Montets boulders are close by if the weather is keeping you out of the mountains.

Looking to get out on thurs and climb. Any takers? PM me or 206 755 0649 Cheers Stu

I'm free tues and weds. Room for a third?? Anybody else looking to get out tues and/or weds? Alpine preferred, but a day out is good any which way.

What about old school guys like Dougal Haston. Everest SW Face and Annapurna South face (last one without oxygen I think), Eiger Direct, 5.10+ in the late 50's and plenty more in Scotland and the Alps. Messner was pretty hot on rock and ice, before he took up peak bagging. Oh and the other Lowe - Jeff.

PHD (pete hutchinson designs) or Mountain Equipment (used to be owned/run by Pete Hutchinson) have very good bags. In terms of Down bags, in the UK at least, RAB (www.rab.uk.com)is the "gold standard" for anything down. If you explain you're off on an "expedition" you may get the expedition price list(about 40% off if I remember right). There is also kimmlite.com - they make very light stuff and their website is not up to date yet, but they have some interesting stuff coming out in may/june - too late for you probably, but maybe the dollar will be stronger by then!

the catholic church thinking the theory of evolution is scientifically flawed. Don't think so. Just the Creationists over here... "In a major statement of the Roman Catholic Church's position on the theory of evolution, Pope John Paul II has proclaimed that the theory is 'more than just a hypothesis' and that evolution is compatible with Christian faith." [Chicago Tribune, Friday, 10/25/96,

Have the old Kompakt Super (equivalent to the winter I think). Have had it 10 years and no problems so far with the quality. Being synthetic it machine washes, but it packs big and is fairly heavy, but very warm. Don't use it much anymore. Tend to use a thin synthetic or a thick down bag around here. Cheers Stu

I could be interested in Monday, depends on weather. What you got in mind? PM me

Like Dru says, and take bear spray

Doesn't look like Ron to me...

Personally, as mentioned before, I reckon the faces should have ice/mixed routes on them most of the year. Nothing lasts all year round anymore. Stuart and Slesse seem to be consistently mentioned, but the 3rd face is a little harder to pin down. Triumph looks the part... but so does Goode. Lets here the pros and cons of these from people who've done them.

Come on. There must be some more suggestions. Think of it as some good for the community - it'll give Colin somethings to enchain this summer!

What about Index over the road then? And stuff like Goode, Johannesburg etc. Give me your reasons.

As a newbie to this area, I was wondering the other day if there are 3 North Faces here equivalent to the Classics in the Alps (Eiger, Matterhorn and Grandes Jorasses). Pub talk last night got as far as Mt Stuart and possibly Bear Mountain. Not looking for the biggest or baddest necessarily, but the 3 with history and good routes, and obviously no push over.

NOLSe, out of curiosity, how did you get off the face? Was it the lowest left-hand ramp at the edge of the face?

There will be photos soon.

Instead of the NE Buttress on Chair, me and a mate did the northern-most of the 2 south-east chimneys ( the one you normally abseil down). It was in good shape with a couple of steep ice steps, and doesn't see much sun. We did it maybe 3 weeks ago so I don't know what it's like right now, but that would be my best bet for getting something done up there. Take 2 ropes as some of the abseil anchors are 15ft up the left wall and can't be reached.

Where abouts are you going in France? I know you're going to the south, but it's still a large area. There are a couple of english guide books, I think. There's an enormous guide published by Jingo Wobbly?!?!(I think that's right) to most of France, and will probably have a load of stuff I've never heard of. If you've never seen it, then Verdon is high up on my list of things I'd just go to see. It's big, but October may not be a good time to do any climbing. Probably snow, but there are some short bolted crags aroung there too. Basically enjoy. There's rock bloody everywhere in that country!

Hey miller I'm interested. Got half of tues (busy 'till 12) and all weds off. Up for any sort of climbing. e-mail me. stootayloratyahoodotcom

Got time off. Anyone up for some rock or alpine adventures. PM me. Stu

Is that seriously the best place? Oh christ......

Don't know if this is the place for this post, or if it should be in the gear shop forum. I'm looking for a decent shop in the Ballard/Downtown Seattle area that sells a variety of powdered sports drinks. Especially fluid replacement drinks.(not ) Used to use SIS drinks but can't get them here, so help and advice needed. My taste buds aren't fussy, as long as it doesn't literally taste like crap. Cheers Stuart

OK. Looking for people with nothing better to do this week to get out and get some stuff done. Probably heading to Stuart/Colchuck unless convinced otherwise. PM me if interested. Cheers

I don't know how much money went into this project exactly, but the structure had been there for years as it was an old alumin(i)um works, hence the thick concrete floor. I guess there are plenty of buildings like that banging about in the PNW too....