Coldfinger

Thanks! Mark is unavailable for a bit but will ask his colleagues.

Howdy, We are researching the two approaches to the base of the Cassin Ridge--down the West Rib or the Seattle 1972 Ramp--and would like to get in touch with anyone who has done either recently. Thanks!

Keep in mind the Quark is a very versatile tool, and its swing varies by what modular components one chooses. For steep ice: no hammers, pick weights (additional $$ from stock configuration), trigrests WITH the trigger and the grip installed AND 3m shaft tape make the best pure ice tool I have swung. Very nice and very accurate swing. But try it without hammers and pick weights and not so much.

Howdy Keenwesh, hope you are well!! As for the 2228, I have found one can really stretch it just shy of tearing and a much thinner and tighter wrap is applied; seems lighter to me than a more relaxed application tension. Almost forgot: carefully wrap the shafts so as to minimize overlap between turns and that will also save weight

Hey Fairweather! Point is there is a big campaign in Utah and Idaho and Wyoming to "return" Federal lands to the "rightful" owners according to the "correct" reading of the Constitution (one which I would add, not ONE court has accepted over many years and many attempts). So there actually IS a constitutional issue here: crackpot armchair lawyers, rabble rousers, tea party idiots and conservative "journalists" raising the constitution any time it serves their ideological purpose (despite the actual legal claim being totally bogus). But the bottom line is the big $$$ investors and industry and corporate interests who back this campaign to serve their own greedy ends. Or put another way false patriots preaching sedition (as in the recent governor's candidate in the Wyo GOP primary--Taylor Haynes--who announced he would have state law enforcement officials arrest ANY federal employee out on federal lands) while wrapping themselves in idiotic interpretations of the constitution.

Fine, just don't whine when your favorite non NPS mountain range is cut, mined and/or drilled and filled with yahoos and their ORV's and garbage.... Feel like the anti-wilderness, anti-environment angle IS a big part of the story if not THE story. Then there's the guardians of the constitution angle. I mean it is SUCH an injustice and constitutional violation to have to walk into the local FS office and get a permit. Sheesh I feel like my basic human rights are totally violated when I have to go get a woodcutting permit. Nevermind when I have to get a group permit to lead my den of cub scouts up there.

“The U.S. Forest Service remains committed to the First Amendment,” agency Chief Tom Tidwell said. “The directive pertains to commercial photography and filming only. If you’re there to gather news or take recreational photographs, no permit would be required.” “This proposed regulation is just one example of the kind of federal overreach that comes when we lock up our public lands in wilderness designations,” Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the top Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said Friday. (DRILL BABY DRILL)

And I am definitely NOT saying he FS isn't wrong or even off its rocker here or many other times; I just don't trust the "reporting" on this one. Seems more sensational and click on that banner driven than substantial.

They already and for many years have been issuing permits for this stuff, they are simply trying to make uniform and even rules that apply everywhere. Here in Wyo the latest rage is to "give" billions and maybe trillions of dollars worth of land to the states (read for industrial exploitation), even though these GOP types decry "handouts". Guess other citizens in states elsewhere might view this "gift" as a handout. But the point is there has been a lot of nonsense and anti fed "reporting" and it is definitely yet another attack in that war on public lands. BTW not sure why this particular commercial use should be excluded from regulation when commercial guides and outfitters are not.

Howdy all, RE: Forest Service Wilderness Photo fees....... Was going to post a reply but you all have run so far off of the farm (and reality) I thought maybe I would do a little reframing. First off, from my perspective this is yet another example of the "Free Press" (maybe the "paid press") running off foaming at the mouth to shock the public about the bad conduct of the "federal government". I.e. catering to the 2014 edition of sedition aka the "sagebrush rebellion." What really cracks me up is that the FS and its rule expressly excludes news gathering (either of a discreet incident, a serial edition or a long term project) from the fee. All the while "journalists" are decrying the end of journalism in wilderness (not that I have seen many if any real journalists anywhere near the actual outdoors). Apparently our intrepid journalists are once again either too dumb or too dishonest to do any research. Secondly, as things stand there is a total hodgepodge of local district rules regarding COMMERCIAL (i.e. not news but strictly for $$) filming in wilderness and this rule is an attempt to provide one overarching and perhaps fair policy. Kinda seems a good idea as it would rob local dictators of their little fake and arbitrary fiefdoms. And last but not least please do keep in mind that the $$ behind the anti-fed thing wants to frack, mine and cut the Fu*k out of our public lands. A little disappointed that those who enjoy those wild places cant be bothered to do more than (apparently) get their britches in a bunch over something they saw on Fox and/or Facebook. Anyhow, thought maybe you all could post a few more germane facts than found on the other thread which is, it seems, one of those inevitable ones where the "Spray" Lords overrun the Climber's Post.

Make sure they fit crampons, had big problems with the Syder Kevlar and too much rocker in the sole, and oh yeah one midsole shattered and that boot was floppy like a sandal.

No ideas here except send it in! Just judging by the size of the tent--you go with partners--so let them supply tentage until you get it back. Have had very good luck with MH warranty BTW.

A plus in my experience has been they make it easier and more comfortable for one to not be looking the wearer 'in the eyes'.

Hmmm. Have seen folks doing 5.12 in sneakers so what's your point? Climbing ice with lightweight snow tools is about as much fun as soloing barefoot, even if it's 5.8!

I would add the aztarexs have metal grips which are both too slippery and thermally conductive(cold).