Bigtree

Just a few words of caution regarding my recent experience with www.moosejaw.com I ordered a new Bibler Fitzroy tent + vestibule through Moosejaw.com in mid December after seeing their advert here: http://www.spadout.com/store.php?stpr_id=725 The savings were compelling so I took a chance. Unfortunately, several weeks after placing the order and the immediate $721 charge to my credit card I was advised that the tent was "back-ordered from the vendor (i.e., Black Diamond) and would take at least 4 weeks for delivery" Staff have admittedly been very personable, but sensing I was being shafted (as in we're out of stock and will no longer honour the advertised price) I cancelled my order a few days back and have since purchased through e-OMC (I ordered it from http://www.e-omc.com/catalog/products/2528/Bibler-Fitzroy-Tent.html yesterday on-line and it was shipped today - stellar service) for a few extra dollars than the Moosejaw.com price. With some luck I hope to see to a refund show up on my credit card relating to the cancelled Moosejaw purchase. Caveat emptor.

Being a chip of the old block, the kid is likely just as corruptible as his parents. If so, the party should love it.

Obviously you kept your wits about you despite losing your head and jamed it back on within 13 secs (ref. following quote from Dr. Ron Wright, most recently Chief Medical Examiner of Broward County Florida: "After your head is cut off by a guillotine you have 13 seconds of consciousness (+/- 1 or 2). The first time I ever learned this was when I put a patient into ventricular fibrillation. The "no blood pressure" alarms came on and the patient said "what is that?" I said I suppose you will find out soon enough, and he did. The 13 seconds is the amount of high energy phosphates that the cytochromes in the brain have to keep going without new oxygen and glucose. This is reasonably well known to the forensic community, but not often found in the literature. I believe I touched upon it in one of my articles on asphyxia. At any rate, not only can you blink, but you can do two for yes and one for no; and it is said to have been done.").

Just got back from a week of backcountry skiing north of Vancouver (some hut based). Lots of stuff to be mindful of; however, top of list for me over the last week (especially if travelling alone as I was) is: - a good, but adaptable, plan with modest objectives; - disciplined moisture management techinques with respect to clothing and clothing management (i.e., you can get away with remarkably little clothing if you focus on layering and delayering as necessary to stay as dry as possible); - yummy food to keep your body fueled and happy; - solid/dependable gear; and, - humbility (i.e., put another way, do your best to look for and avoid potential risks (like avalanches) so you can live to play another day, but leave lots of room for error).

This is so wrong for so many reasons... Ah well, in a land of 300+ million I guess there's bound to be some outliers.

Footage is from the opening scene of Warren Miller's "Journey".

You're a comedian Billcoe. "Sir John A McDonald" for Q1 and "11" for Q2.

I'd be surprised if you make it onto a plane with a rack of any kind these days. I was flying down to Palm Springs out of Vancouver just before 9-11 for some climbing at Joshua Tree and almost didn't make it because the US custom guy figured I could possibly handcuff someone with several wire nuts and redirect the plane to Cuba or something (seriously). After grilling me with retarded questions like "who was Canada's first prime minister?" and "how many points on a maple leaf?" he seemed satisfied that I was a harmless Canuck. So, pack your gear into your luggage and bury it deep, including that chalk that looks remarkably like cocaine.

I'm really screwed than at 5ft 10' and 125 pounds Rather mystifying since according to my calculations you shouldn't even exist. Go straight to the fridge and don't stop eating until you hit 198.65 lbs.

Panos, if your objective with the AT gear is for backcountry access rather than cranking turns, pretty much any new/used skis equiped with the Silvretta bindings coupled with mountaineering boots will do fine. You can pick up cheap used ones (skis that is) all over the place and needn't spend more than $50 - 100. I have a buddy who skis with Scarpa Vega boots, the Silvretta bindings and some crappy old boards/skins. He has no problem keeping up with us with the set-up; however, when he tries skiing downhill - that's when the boots simply don't provide sufficient support and all hell tends to break loose. As for ski length, since you're likely not going to be carving up the powder with a Koflack/Silvretta combo anyhow, I humbly suggest that a 150 cm ski is too short and you should consider something in the 170 - 180 cm range. Lastly and in regards to your height-to-weight ratio, you need to start eating food soon otherwise you're likely break/expire from the elements the first time you stray more than 50 m from the car.

Thanks Feck. Will look for snow/turns north of the border I guess and save Rainier for the spring.

I'm planning a wee road/early season ski trip the second week of December and am wondering if anyone can advise if the Stevens Canyon Road up to Paradise at Mt. Rainier is typically plowed/open at that time of year? I'd like to skin up to Camp Muir and get some turns in there if the weather permits. Thx.

Good advice. Didn't know the Eddy existed. I'll have to pick one up.

I have both, but never use the Cinch. I find the lever too short making it difficult to modulate rope speed when lowering my partner. Stick with the Gri Gri. Its somewhat heavier, but is well engineered and works well for its intended purpose.

Do a search for "Digital Media Converter" here: http://www.torrentspy.com/ There is a very good chance that you'll find a 2.7 ver with password that works fine not that I would really have any reason to know this.

As pictured below, I've got one. I find it too small to be useful, flimsy, poorly designed and rarely remains fastened to the bottom of the poles throughout the night when windy (I keep thinking that I'm not fastening it correctly, but nothing really seems to improve the bad habit). All-in-all, a dissappointment considering what the tent cost me.

Interesting. Thx folks.

Am thinking about climbing Denali next year via west buttress to celebrate my 45th year on earth. Will likely rely on the guiding services of AAI based out of Bellingham given my past positive experience with them years ago; however, I'm slightly mystified that their "season" is May 4 - July 5th which seems awfully short (ref. http://www.mtnguide.com/ProgramDetail.asp?program=9 ). Does anyone know if this is the norm with guiding services up there or is there something else in play? Surely the route is quite doable throughout July and August, no?

The Pisco sours when very well with fresh seafood cervichi (sp?) at several places along the coast whereas the cuy (pronounced coo-eee) was accompanied by a beer. Seems to me I came down with a horrendous gastrointestinal something bug a few days later after eating some market food and swore off pretty much everything except roasted chicken and fries from that point onwards.

Ha, ha - very good billcoe. Your response reminded me of a time I ate guinea pig in Peru a few years back. The presentation was great, but the meat tough and frankly not worth the effort. I guess its protein though.

Thought provoking stats for sure, but what's your point? Don't you think folks in those countries would spend the same on their pets on a per capita basis as north Americans if they could?

I was noodling around on the Pieps website (http://www.pieps.com) and noticed that they released a firmware upgrade (5.0) for the DSP this past August '07. Given where I live, the only option I have to get the upgrade is to ship my device off to a Pieps service centre which is a hassle and will cost me some loot. Does anyone know if the upgrade can be obtained via other means (e.g., website or disk)?

PM sent.

"According to your medical checkup, you are dead." — A doctor to René Desmaison after he was rescued off the north face of Grandes Jorasses, having spent 342 hours without food or water. Sounds like another tough guy whose book I'll have to read (342 hours in Large Jorasses).

So, your saying that Terrace is the loss leader in this deal? Seriously though, despite the fact that its in just outside of Terrace, this strikes me as a good deal having skied there 5 -6 times over the years (buildings, equipment, well developed/variety of runs etc...).