scheissami

I'm drinking coffee, lots of coffee--unfortunately, I'm on call tonight and am pulling thirty hours straight in the hospital. Yucky. Someone have a beer (or three) for me....

Hey, let us know about the conditions when you get back. I was thinking about going next weekend. I haven't been able to figure out, though, whether I'll need a permit for the Obsidian area--are the summits within this area, or is it just certain campsites?

Having just recently moved here from the south, I can assure you that everything that those folks do is an absolute mystery (although I have to admit I miss the biscuits).

Our skin serves many functions, one of which is to act as a barrier. Our skin and digestive tract are inhabited by bacteria. These normal bacteria are called "flora." People are not "infected" by bacteria until the bacteria are actually causing some sort of disease process. So, Staph aureus is a normal part of our bacterial skin population, but once it starts to cause problems (folliculitis, cellulitis, pneumonia) we have developed an infection. Our digetsive system actually depends on normal, non-infectious bacteria to help prevent infection by other, disease causing bacteria. You may recall a doctor telling you to eat yogurt after finishing a course of antibiotics. That's because all yogurts contain active bacteria, and eating the yogurt will replace the bacteria in your digestive tract, hopefully preventing infection of your gut (this is necessary because antibiotics don't just kill the bacteria causing the problems, but all bacteria susceptible to the drug). This is because the "safe" bacteria compete for the nutrients necessary for the infectious bacteria to establish an infection and grow. Normal flora are nothing to worry about, and anyway you can't really do anything about them. Without signs and symptoms of an infection, there's usually no reason for concern.

A large portion of the community actually carry MRSA in their nose, as well as on their skin. I think the numbers are nearing something like 40% of hospital personnel and 10-15% of the community. Fortunately, however, the community acquired infections with MRSA don't have the same resistance patterns as those acquired in the hospital. What that means, then, is that frequently oral antibiotics can be effective in treating skin infections. MRSA pneumonias, however, typically are due to the more resistant organisms and tend to be more difficult to treat as an outpatient. Signs of an MRSA skin infection are basically the same as for any other Staph infection: redness, tenderness, swelling, and potential for abscess formation. Everyone carries Staph as part of their normal skin flora, and many people have minor infections due to Staph (such as folliculitis, or infection of hair follicles). Unfortunately, to treat abscesses requires surgical intervention--pus needs to be drained and cannot be treated with antibiotics alone. Anyway, probably too much info. If you notice redness, swelling, pain, and +/- fever GO TO THE EMERGENCY DEPT OR YOUR DOCTOR. Early recognition of cellulitis (skin infection) makes treatment much easier. I'll get off my soapbox now....

Yo, have any of peeps seen "If Looks Could Kill" with Richard Grieco? Absolutely classic awful eighties film that is quite possibly the most hilarious abomination of all time. I can't even find the DVD online, and I've damn near worn out the VHS copy I have. "Michael Corbin, deep cover operative for the CIA..."

Hey, gang: I just finished my first alpine-style climb a few days ago with a hike up Mt. Adams. That's the highest elevation I've been so far, and although the climb wasn't technical, I definitely got worked. I was wondering if any of yous had some recs for climbs of similar difficulty (i.e.--no belaying, no ropes, just ice ax, cramps and maybe some scrambling). I live in Portland, so most of the Cascades have potential for day-tripping. Appreciate any input. Cheers!

Barjor, let us know what the conditions are--we're leaving Sunday morning, camping at about 9000' overnight, then going for the summit early Monday morning. A brief report on the conditions would be awesome. Maybe we'll even cross paths! Cheers.

I'm heading up the south (dog) route next monday with some friends from back east. Any idea what that's like right now?

I have a BD firstlight tent--weighs 2 lbs. 7 oz. without the optional clip on vestibule. I think with it the weight is something like 3 lbs. 6 oz. Anyway, it's a great single wall tent, especially if you like to do trips by yourself. If you're alone, don't bring the vestibule and you've got this huge tent to yourself, but if you need the extra room for gear, you've always got the vestibule. Since it's a single wall, it's not always the best for cold, wet nights (actually, the condensation is worst on the tent poles, since the tent pitches from the inside). Anyway, I'm pretty happy with mine.

Hey, Could you post a brief trip report with the conditions you saw? I'm going up next Monday with some friends from back East. Cheers

This is exasperating--now I have the toe bail out, but cannot get it back in....am I a gimp, or is there some secret method to get the bail in? It seems like the bail has to go down through the slot, but there's no room for it to wiggle through....scheisse!!!

I recently purchased some Grivel Air Tech step-in crampons, and I'm having a horrible time trying to move the toe bail back to the second slot. The problem is that the toe bail wire is super burly. Does anyone have any slick solution to this problem, or do I pretty much need a vise and a file to just annihilate the wire till I can manipulate it around? All suggestions welcome. Cheers.

Hey, I was hiking on Hood the day you guys climbed it, and I kept thinking to myself that there was so little snow cover that climbing it would be pretty dangerous. It sounds like you guys think the South side would be fit for climbing. As I'm fairly new at mountaineering, would you guys recommend an even earlier than usual start (say midnight or so from Timberline Lodge)? The pics are awesome and the route sounds like it involved some exciting navigation and decision-making.

Spill beer? I said debased, not sacrilegeous!!

"Shut your fat ass! I can't buy a pack of smokes...." That movie absolutely rocks, Funny Man. Are there vigilante Saints of the climbing world who will knock off gimps like me for voicing their ignorant and debased opinions?

Hey, I just moved to Portland and have only been climbing a short while. I've been to Broughton, but the area seems to have only a few easier routes (<5.9-5.10 bolted or <5.8 trad), mostly more moderate stuff. Does anyone have suggestions for some areas around here without having to drive down to Smith? Cheers.

Thanks guys...I'm pretty stoked about the trip, though I suppose it may be sorta blase.....By the way--would roping up be overkill? I ask only because my buddy doesn't have a harness, so we'd have to get one if it's necessary. Cheers.

A friend of mine is visiting me and would like to climb one of the cascades. He has no mountaineering experience, but is an avid backpacker. Myself, I have very minimal experience, having only participated in some glacier travel classes (but no rescue courses). Would the south route up Mt. Adams be doable for us? Everything I've read seems to suggest it's a burly hike, but not technical. Or, would you suggest maybe another climb? Also, we'll be doing it first week of August--are crampons/ice ax necessary?