mzchristy

Is that Weird Al Yankovic?

That was CRAZY last night! I thought a plane had crashed, too. My room mate thought we were being bombed. (By who?? Pittsburgh, perhaps?)

Just stumbled across this today and couldn't be more horrified! And to think of all the Strawberry Yogurt I have eaten...YUCK! Read Me

Welcome to the home of extreme ironing - the latest danger sport that combines the thrills of an extreme outdoor activity with the satisfaction of a well pressed shirt. http://www.extremeironing.com/

Apparently the latest Curling calender is creating quite a stir, featuring nude female curlers. http://www.cbc.ca/story/sports/national/2005/10/31/Sports/curling-calendar051031.html God, I can only imagine how popular freestyle motocross would be if those backflips were done in the buff!!!

Yes, I must agree with Juarez. Motocross is certainly not as easy as the good riders make it look. Juarez is one of the best riders I've ever met and knows his stuff about motocross!!! But look out Juarez, you'll get eaten alive posting on cc.com!!!

Camo?!? What camo? I can't see anything...

Speedos Thighmaster EpiLady "Razor-o-Hell" Perms Olestra (thank you FenderFour for that informative link yesterday: )

She did all that in 3 hours?!?!? Damn, she's good. Notice too, that the man takes a nice long stroll past (what can only be) Victoria's Secret. He could have made a diagonal bee-line for the Gap...but no, he is momentarily distracted...

Holy Crap that's scary shit! (no pun intended) Thank you for the info.

The annual Dakar Rally, an off-road race from Europe to Africa (also noted to be the world's toughest motorsport event) is underway! I'd like to acknowledge and send congrats to my friend Jonah Street, from Ellensburg,WA who is currently in 25th place. Way to go Jonah!!! We're all looking forward to a big party on the 21st!

Oops. Photos didn't load. Sorry!

Man's best friend (August 2005) Troublesome Creek, Leavenworth (September 2005) Falling out of a tree hurts! (August 2005) Girls on dirtbikes rock (November 2005)

I just took a friend up to Stevens yesterday (incredible snow BTW) to teach her how to snowboard. First off, do NOT get the Rossignol package at Stevens with your EZ 123 lesson pack. Those rentals boards are crap! Upgrade to the Demo package if you can't borrow a board from a friend. After an hour on the bunny hill, I decided she'd do better with a lesson. It's hard to teach friends, family, etc. And it takes patience from both sides!! I have done both--skiing and snowboarding and I enjoy snowboarding more. I think this is for a number of reasons. I'll list what I think are the pros of snowboarding for you: Snowwboarding seems more fluid to me, there is less equipment to keep in check, the boots are way more comfortable, jumps and rails are so much easier to learn, and the board is easy to pack with you (with the right pack). Here are the cons I hear a lot from beginners: you do have to learn to walk with the board strapped on, chair lifts are a bit more challenging as one foot isn't strapped in (use a stomp pad), you're on your ass a lot at first, and it's harder to learn (initially) than skiing. And it's highly addicitive. Oh, two more things: Wear a helmet! Wear wrist guards!

Hello All, A very good friend of mine directed me to this thread the other day and I have read it and re-read it many times. I sat here with my fingers on the keyboard wanting to say something, and nothing, all at the same time. Silence has been very comforting lately. I have been so close to this subject. Much closer than I ever envisioned I would be. I never climbed mountains, or considered doing so, until my fiance died on one not that long ago. I became obsessed with putting my feet in his foot steps, however long ago blown away by wind and rain and snow. It didn't matter. He had walked the same trial. Stepped among the same rocks. Time seemed to stand still. People say things they think will help and in fact, it only makes things worse. The most well-meaning people say to me "Have a nice day", "How are you?", "Time heals all wounds" and blah, blah, blah. When, in fact, when I hear these things I just want to scream out loud. I have been angry lately. I see the season changing, leaves turning color, the air turning cooler and I think, "How dare time move on!" How dare these things change and that the world can continue to plod along when everything else seems strangely frozen in time. I am jealous of young married couples. I am jealous of old married couples. I find peace just escaping this heart ache and walking along a trail somewhere. When I think I am going to explode with the unfairness of it all, I do one of two things. I either put on my running shoes or my hiking boots. Or I crawl under the covers in my bed and stay there. Both are a means to escape I suppose. Both have helped me in some way reflect on this reality, dream about a happier time, and try and accept the things I cannot change. And so I reflect on the men and women who have lost their lives in the mountains. Experiencing life. Their lives were not wasted. Their lives were full and complete at that moment. I can say the same thing that others have said here, those words that seem so hollow, that they died doing something they chose to do. Yes, that's true. It may bring a bit of comfort. And it may make those of us left behind even more angry that we've lost someone with whom we've shared our life and beliefs with. But we did share them. Our lives are touched and changed, too. They did not die lonely, friendless, or without passion. I can only hope that I have the same grand story to live. They did not sit idly by and watch the world plod along. They jumped in feet first and LIVED it fully. Thank you AllYouCanEat.

Dear Ryan, I can only imagine how difficult this was to share. Many times I have wanted to write out my own tragedy on Mt. Rainier, which you know all too well! I am overwhelmed with emotion reliving the day that I returned to Rainier with Mike Gauthier, trying to relive the moment that I lost the man I loved so dearly. I climbed hoping to receive some magical answer, some epiphany that would lessen the pain of tragedy and sudden loss. Those answers never came and in the end, I returned to the rest of the world even though I wanted so desperately to fall asleep in the snow on that tremendous mountain. I know that finding the words to share your experience was perhaps as painful as the experience itself. Words make the surreal and unbelievable all that more real and and absolute. In some strange unanswerable way, tragedy has a way of becoming 'a grace disguised'. I can only share with you how I am slowly learning the hard lessons that only death can provide. There is beauty beyond this. With grateful appreciation, Christy

Thank you for your words of support. You're right...this website is an amazing place to heal, learn, and grow. I have found myself laughing out loud to certain threads. It seems as though everyone here is part of a small, intimate circle of friends. I have found hiking to be very therapeutic lately. I am grateful that Greg died doing what he wanted to do...That mountain will forever hold a special place in my heart. I look at that mountain every morning and can't help but think of it as a tremendous and glorious monument. Thanks again for the words of encouragement and hope. Hope to see you on the trails! Sincerely, Christy

Hello all, I am rather new to this forum, and this is my first post. I felt a deep need to respond to this thread. Greg Stark was my fiance, and I cannot tell you in words how deeply his death has affected me. Greg was an experienced hiker,....not a climber. He was an avid fly-fisherman always looking for the next adventure. He lived his life to the fullest. I know that Greg did not give up. He fought for his life up there, and he and his uncle used every tool they had to stay alive. I was very honored to have hiked up to the Muir snowfield with Mike G. on Thursday (Aug. 4th, 2005). It was amazing to have spent that day with him, as difficult as this hike was for me. I have so much respect for that man, both as a remarkable individual and as a highly respected ranger. While hiking down the mountain, I realized how "alive" the mountain is. I will always remember this day, and will always respect this mountain. For everyone out there,....please, travel safely and "trust your guide".