Kit
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Posts posted by Kit
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An Idaho forum. neato.
I split my time between Cd'A and Moscow. Generally go somewhere else to climb, though. Post Falls is great, but rock climbing is pretty limited otherwise unless you're into to alpine stuff on the Selkirk Crest. Perhaps once there is a critical mass of climbers we can stay ahead of the moss around sandpoint. Are schweitzer crags still covered in the crap? I climbed at LaClede years ago and had a terrible experience... maybe I should go back and give it another try?
Don't tell anyone about all the great skiing! There might not be enough to go around....
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My car was broken into a few years ago at a Hotel on Robson Street downtown Vancouver, along with every other car with Washington plates that was parked in the hotel garage and lot (a total of 7 or 8 as I remember). All of the others were nice SUVs and caddy-style cars, mine was a POS chevy... it was hilarious, there was a trail of gear leading away from my truck. First, a left LaSportiva Makalu, then a sleeping bag, then a dromedary bag... miscelaneous stuff sacks... finally in the alley 1/2 block away the other Makalu boot. My only loss was the damage to my truck! Apparently the hoodlums have no use for outdoor gear because they took off with an armful but dropped everything. We reported to the Vancouver Police but basically they didn't do anything (no surprise).
Anyway, its anyone's guess why they only broke into the Washington rigs. Maybe you're better off not to cover up the gear... let 'em see that its a bunch of crap they don't want!
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Ooh... nice. Any chance for pictures? Did the folks who went to Cutthroat stay overnight?
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Yes sir yes sir I have I have... posted one trip report.
And now I'm up to TWELVE posts! Yes! That's still over 8% trip reports. A respectable ratio getting worse at the moment.
But seriously... doesn't my idea make sense? It could only serve to increase the quality of content in the posts, and reduce (but not eliminate, no one wants that) the senseless babble.
IS there anyone who uses this site regularly but makes a conscious effort to minimize their babble, or maximize the redeeming quality of their posts? Will he/she please weigh in?
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Now here's a suggestion that would turn cccom on its head:
Remove the tally of posts next to everyone's avatar.
Tell me if I'm wrong, but a lot of the nonsense filler on this site is just lame effort to increase "rank" by having lots of posts (thousands upon thousands? I mean, c'mon folks). How about tallying legitimate Trip Reports? Yeah, I know, that won't work. Perhaps... once a member makes 100 posts w/o a TR, they can ONLY post in Spray, until they finally post a TR? I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I get tired of reading the same old flames from people who aren't really adding any content to the site.
Yeah, I can feel the flames already... I know this will never happen since so many who support the site are the ones I'm referring to.
Anyway, what does everyone think?
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Sounds good Waz... when the time comes we'll have to compare schedules
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Climb: Wallowas - Aneroid Basin-
Date of Climb: 2/18/2006
Trip Report:
Let's see if I can make all of this come together, being my first TR and all.... And yes, its not really the Cascades but I've seen more WestSiders there than locals!
We headed out Saturday morning and on the way to Enterprise the Subaru dash thermometer went down to minus 13F... we were wondering if this was going to be a bad idea.
We ran into a guide from Wing Ski who informed us that there were 10 folks staying at the Aneroid Lake cabins... which was good news since we didn't have to break trail and there was still plenty of fresh snow to be had.
Also ran into a couple from Portland who were camping in a tent at the meadow below Aneroid Lake... they had a couple of VERY cold nights and another guy from the Seattle area bailed on a Aneroid summit bid presumably because of the cold
But we opted for the snocave which kept us cozy all three nights
Managed to find great snow on all the north and east faces with good stability (RB4), but still worried about wind-loaded areas, never saw anything but sluff tho.
Monday we decided to make a Grand Tour summiting Aneroid Mountain (9702'), skiing down, skiing the north face of Dollar Ridge, and then skiing the east facing slope opposite from Town Hill (not sure the name of this hill).
All in all it was a great trip! I'm hoping to get back in there soon; this was my second trip in there and it only gets better the more familiar I am with it. Any Moscow/Pullman folks want to go... I could probably be coerced into another trip!!!
Gear Notes:
Down everything. Anything to stay warm.
Approach Notes:
We skinned up right from the car and on the way out we skied to within 1/4 mile of the car before we had to carry the skis due to thin coverage in the thick trees.
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I'm thinking there are some absurdly swift ascents. How long has it taken you? I'm assuming Ulrich's is the fastest route (when in condition)?
I did the southeast route a few years ago and, being a mere mortal, it was a very long day and I remember being pretty worked afterward... I'm thinking about trudging up there again with some friends and I'm curious to see how much better (or worse!) I'll feel this time around. By the way, should I bother to bring the crampons this time?
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Ok to set the record straight it is the Pelican 1010 case that I was thinking of that is so compact and still fits the Pentax Optio 500 series. I am guessing that it would be a fit for the Canon S500 series or similar compact camera.
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The only place I've seen that stocks the Pelican and Otterboxes is REI, and they are very unpredictable about what models/sizes they keep on hand. I have seen both the models I mentioned in the Spokane REI store at one time or another. The only other place to look would be rafting/kayaking outfitter stores, since they tend to stock dryboxes from time to time.
The REI links are:
NRS has them too
I might be wrong on the Model # of the Pelican that fits the Pentax 550 so good... I thought it was the 1020 but now I am second guessing myself and thinking perhaps it was a 1010... I will call my friend who has one and find out which one it is and post again.
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Not too sound too much like a salesman, but IMO the only way to protect your digicam in the mtns is to put it in a Pelican Case or an Otterbox.
My fav is the Pelican Micro #1020, because it is so small. I know a Pentax Optio 550 fits in there and I think the Canon S500 would too.
If your camera is a bit too bulky for the #1020, you might need to go with the bulkier Otterbox 8000, which fits my Canon A80 w/xtra batteries like a glove.
Several of my coworkers on a hotshot fire crew use these boxes and they all like them. They are *nearly* unbreakable. They protect from all water, dust, and impact. FYI, I recently broke the hinge of my Otterbox 8000 (while it was open) and they are replacing it for free.
Find them at:
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Thanks MikeG and jlag.
I easily drove my Subaru to the trailhead on Thursday the 17th. Then Sat. night (19th) it snowed about 5 inches or so up there. PhilomathSloth and I headed up early Sunday and were still able to drive the Subaru to the trailhead albeit with chains. There were about five cars at the trailhead - folks who had stayed overnight. We skinned up to timberline just south of Soap Creek and got spooked by the snow on the open slopes so we only got a few turns in. The new snow was heavy/slabby and whoompfing and our Rutchblock failed easily.
On the way out Sunday night there was another new truck at the trailhead and we encountered traffic on the road on the way down including a family who decided to camp ON the road.
All the traffic up there is keeping a good track in the road so access should be good until the Big Dump finally comes!
Cheers
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Well, the PR folks at REI are on the ball with this one. I wrote that letter yesterday evening, and got a response this morning at 10:00am. Here it is... take it as you will.
Kit,I appreciate your concern for Bend and your knowledge of REI and its history. If you will bare with me, I would like to comment from two different directions.
It is not always the case that outdoor recreation retailers close after REI’s arrival. In fact, there are many cases where more stores have opened. REI assists in growing participation in outdoor sports by welcoming newcomers and connecting people with recreation opportunities. Our inexpensive gear rentals are just one example of how we do this. Bend is a clearly a community where outdoor sports participation has room to grow. Bend is more like Boulder, Colorado, than Bellingham or Spokane.
Did you know that Big 5 and G.I. Joes have already located a store in Bend? A large Sportsman’s Warehouse is slated to open soon. One reason REI is continuing store development is that other regional and national retailers have been expanding at a rapid rate. Galyan’s opened four 90,000 square-foot stores in Colorado at about the same time we opened our store in Boulder. Galyans has since been bought out by an even bigger retailer, Dick’s Sports. We hope that our 5,000 current members and the community will be better served by having an REI store located convenient to them. And we also know that those customers may find Sportsman’s Warehouse more convenient, if we don’t.
We have to consider the long-term health of the cooperative. If we don’t continue to provide great products and great service, including convenient locations, eventually the ability to be a great co-op will be compromised. We have to adapt our business practices to the changing landscape. Just as the independent shops in Bend are going to have to content with competition whether it is REI, Wal-Mart or Sportsmans Warehouse.
I got an email from a Bend resident last week who is leading a fight against a Wal-Mart proposed for Bend. She was hoping REI would participate in an informational campaign to help demonstrate that not all national retailers are the same as Wal-mart. I declined to participate. I had future emails like yours in mind. I know that not everyone will see the difference between REI and Wal-Mart. I can understand why they might see it that way.
We hope that REI can be a good citizen in Bend and do a lot to nurture a thriving outdoor recreation community.
Mike Foley
REI
Public Affairs
Senior Public Relations Associate
253-395-8252
Cell: 206-920-2391
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I wrote a letter to REI today. Other members should do the same. It is OUR store, after all. A co-op.
Here's my letter:
I heard that REI is opening a store in Bend, Oregon. I am very disappointed.I have been an REI member for close to ten years, and while I like our store, I am disappointed to see what its growth is capable of doing. I joined REI when I lived in Spokane, where I grew up, because the only places to get high-quality outdoor equipment were at REI and Mountain Gear. However, I moved to Bellingham, Washington from 1995 to 1998. I loved the variety of small shops there like Base Camp, Great Adventure, and American Alpine Institute. Since the REI store has opened there, I think the only other surviving shop that sells comparable high-quality outdoor gear is AAI, which only carries the very high-end mountaineering gear. The REI store there languishes in its strip-mall solitude.
Bend, Oregon is a mecca of recreational opportunity. Local business like Mountain Supply, Pine Mountain Sports, Redpoint, and others have sprung up and thrived through the years in the effort to meet the town’s demand for gear. There is almost nothing that REI sells that can’t already be found in Bend’s great shops. I know this and I don’t even live there; I just travel there to play.
REI was founded in Seattle “BECAUSE (high quality) GEAR COULD NOT BE FOUND LOCALLY.” It says so right on our website. I am a member who will speak loudly against a store in Bend. How many other REI members feel the same? Just because 5000 members live in Bend doesn’t mean they all want a store there.
I like REI and what it stands for, but I cringe to be a part of the Wal-Martization of another great western town.
[TR] wing ridge - 12/2/2006
in the *freshiezone*
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Nice turns!
I wondered if the Wallowas got as much snow... anyone else notice that the Aneroid Snotel site isn't reporting snow depth? The Mt. Howard site must get all the snow blown off it.
Kurt - I'm in CdA now, but I'll be looking to head that way, too.