builder206

Left camp in a valley forest to scramble some peaks over July 4th. Came back and what had the bastards eaten? Not the food, none of that. Not the sweaty clothes left to dry. No, they chewed off a corner of my foam pad and they ripped open my garbage bag to chew on - get this - some dried-out used alcohol wipes. The Antichrist is walking the earth right now.

Man, that guy at FF sure got told!

Why?

The years have not been kind to you, Rob.

I’d like to meet up with someone in August to do some alpine stuff. I am past the beginner stage but not well-seasoned. I can lead .6 and follow most .8, some .9. I have a tick list that’s III / 5.easy: Cutthroat / S Face Cutthroat / SE Butt Dorado Needle / SW Butt Dragontail / N Face, Hidden Couloir Eldorado / S Face Johannesburg / NE Rib McMillan Spire / N Face of W Spire Nooksack Tower / NE Face Triumph / NE Ridge If you’re game maybe we could do a crag day to check the vibe before jumping in. I have a rope and a lot of pro. I have trips scheduled every weekend now through Aug. 10 but after that I am open. For a crag day I could get out after work on a weekday, E 38 or Index.

I'm very sorry to hear of your loss, Brian. Best wishes to you and your children. Mike

By accident I just found that EMS is giving 20% off your first item and 15% off every item thereafter, through July 14. http://www.ems.com

Stay classy, Mr. P.

threadjack, sorry...climbing doesn't belong in spray

I was at Graham's shop a couple weeks ago. He is tinkering with them already. I don't know when Gen II will be out. How's that working for you? Any wear spots - corners OK?

Maybe phone or email the Leavenworth Forest Service office too. I would ask anyone going to the Snow Creek parking lot to look at the board to see if a kind soul posted a "found" note too. Out of all the things to lose, losing photos might suck worst of all. I haven't lost much but have had super good karma getting stuff back when I did. May the force be with you.

Email & PM sent.

Well, Obama is closer to God.

June 5: “The Forest Service has announced the latest round of stimulus funding for the Pacific Northwest, which will include more than $26 million to repair some roads, close down others, reduce fire risks and tackle other projects in Washington state.” It includes “$650,000 for repair and maintenance of Suiattle Road in Skagit County.” http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009306102_foreststimulus5m.html

It does seem that the BD Raven or the Raven Ultimate may be the best choice - very light if not the lightest, and an aluminum head sounds too dicey. The Ushba is heavier but even at $240 does not have the Arc'teryx logo so that's out.

Cost is no object.

I am thinking about getting a CAMP Corsa ice axe for moderate-angle glacier slogs. Are there any drawbacks to a super light ice axe for that use? Any problems making a good self-arrest because of the very light weight? I don't foresee a problem but it would suck to make a mistake because I didn't ask. I see that the pick is shorter on the Corsa than on "normal" axes. That might be one way they shave weight, but maybe a little more penetration can make the diff between stopping and merely slowing down. Are there any super lw axes anyone recommends?

Well, you just don't know who your friends are.

You wished for a camera once, too.

2000 election Dem. 50,456,002 or 47.9% Rep. 50,999,897 or 48.4% delta 0.5% 2008 election Dem. 65,431,955 or 52.6% Rep. 57,434,084 or 46.1% delta 6.5% You’re irrelevant.

Careful with the bayonets.

I too have bought and sold weapons privately, but I have never sold to somone I didn't know and trust. I would never sell to a stranger. I wouldn't want a crime on my conscience. If I need to unload a weapon for cash I take it to a gun store and take the hit on price. Yes, federal law allows private sales. This is not the same thing as saying that “gun fuckers” support the right to sell to felons and mental patients. I was at a gun show a couple Saturdays ago. A buyer settled on a small auto pistol but changed his mind when the seller pulled out the background check paperwork. After he left the table I suggested the seller call security and let them know about the exchange. Persons ineligible to posses a firearm commit a crime merely by trying to acquire a gun. In other words, if a background check comes up “no-buy,” the story doesn’t end there; the applicant has now committed a crime. The seller was a big believer in personal freedom and highly offended that I thought a guy who did nothing wrong should be reported. Neither the seller nor I could know if the would-be buyer is ineligible to posses a gun so technically he was right, the guy may have done nothing wrong but he sure was quick to change his mind and walk away when the background check paperwork came out. Kind of creeped me out.

Dude, dial it back a notch willya? You are painting with too broad a brush. No one supports that and you know it.

Join a couple shooting clubs, spend a couple years getting to know gun nuts. Right now you're talking out your ass, clueless.