i_like_sun

Yes, commando makes you stronger!

No, actually I lube em up with SPF 50. Plus, my nads so tough by now! Going commando builds some real MAN skin...

Well said ken4ord. Yes, life is so much sweeter after coming off a mountain.... the smell of scambled eggs and coffee, and OH, the feeling of COTTON CLOTHES...... jesus that can be pure sweet bliss! Its been helpful to think of mountaineering as a type of "extreme endurance sport", because they certainly sheds light on the addictive qualities I discussed. And as for the 'fantastic-ness' or loligaging....... man, I can do that with tremendous style! Just give me a deserted high alpine lake in the middle of August....and I can lay around naked all day long! Just smelling flowers, napping, getting tan, becoming more of a hippie at every passing moment! I'm sure glad that mountain-folk still make up a small percentage of the population... because that would just ruin the whole "laying around naked" part...

So all these "trans-fats" we hear about....... I read today that on the molecular level, the hydrogenated oils from deep frying are only 1 structure away from being PLASTIC. Thats right. You put your tub of margarine outside in a hot and humid climate, and it will not rot. Butter will..... Road food? I'm boring as shit, but I just eat cans of tuna, tortillas, maybe take a bag of spinach, almonds, blah blah blah....... I'm a grazer...... not a "meal" kinda dude....

Hi Sherri are you in PA? Sorry if this isn't related.......

It would still burn some fat..... I read a study about it...... "cardio"

Bellevue washington........ not that cool.... Oh, HEY MYTHOSGRL!!!

TMI dude. These ARE your words mr. kevbone........ Are you trying to say something?

OMG that was fantastic! I know some gay dudes who've been happily "married" longer than any hetero couples I know.....

No. No. My understanding is that you just go "free and loose in those jeans"... I started one summer when it was like 500 degrees, my undies were so worn out they had holes..... fuck it...... Now I can't go any other way! 3 of my buddies have followed my example...... those fags.....

Thanks! Any insights to this sickness are helpful. I think my problem is simply that I LIKE TO SUFFER... Meaning, "um, lets see how rediculous we can be this weekend with a ziplock of cereal and a can of tuna"....

Once you start going commando......you can't stop. Shit just likes being FREE!

Whats the general consensus on wearing pants commando style?

haha, I still don't care....... :-)

The point is that I'm trying to figure out what my so far wasted life has been all about and that I am far beyond caring what anybody thinks.............

Please bare with me on this ramble... So, i've pretty much decided that when it comes to the mountains, sunshine, and birds, i fall into the category of "borderline lunatic". I have been known to melt into a pot of boiling happiness simply because of how beautiful the mountains can be. If I find that if life is lacking in exercise, and the occasional strong dose of mountain suffering, things just aren't right! My climbing habit, along with my near obsession with coffee and chocolate, has lead me to the conclusion that it takes a certain personality type to live this way. More precisely, I'm positive that many climbers (or high-end athletes in general) have addictive personalities. I suppose alpinism could possibly be as addictive as a hard-drug habit, but at least climbing can be used to make us healthier and live longer and richer! I apologize to anyone offended by my comparisons of climbing and hard drugs. This is stemming from some serious self contemplation and personality reorganizing this year (read the fitness and overtraining forum). I must point out however, that a natural exercise induced euphoria is chemically identical to the euphoria administered through drug needles! On the surface this is rather a downer, but if you think about it, nature has given us this fantastic gift of the sympathetic nervous system that is supposed to allow us the potential for pure and utter bliss. When that is in balance with the parasympathetic nervous system, man, life takes on a whole new level of contentment. Just talk to any major triathlete or runner etc..., they "need" their training in order to feel happy and content. Mountain climbers are no different. As an exercise science and physiology major, I don't think life should be without these healthy addictions. Its simply a matter of striving for balance. Peace:

From the picture it could still be a tendon rupture, as Layton says (even if there is no sign of pulley damage). If thats the case surgery is the only option to regain use.... But she still has full range of motion? Under her own power? (meaning not moving the finger with her other hand)? Then it could be a partial tear, or as you say a pulley strain (I've had that one)... At ANY rate, I'd get into see someone. Second to nervous tissue, hand injuries are extremely delicate. If you can, get into the UW hand clinic or ambulatory surgery center (this sounds drastic but they really are the best). There is a surgeon there named Thomas Trumble, and he it basically the leading hand/wrist researcher in the country (he did reconstructive Scaphoid surgery on me). I also know a hand therapist who can give me more names of people in the Seattle area, if you'd like (ie. Northwest Hand in Shoreline). All I really know about finger tendon injuries is that the sooner a rupture is diagnosed and and fixed, the better the final outcome (if you wait too long it becomes difficult to reestablish good blood supply). I appologise if I sound too dramatic...... but I've seen some horror stories regarding hands..... Peace:

I like the idea of asking him to workout WITH YOU........You could entice him even more by saying you'll both go naked..... Oh yeah, hey Kurt!

I have an 06 Arct. Sidewinder AR size Medium thats been used around 10 times (snowboarding and alpine climbing; no gummed-up street use). Its in PERFECT shape. Meaning, just as it was off the assembly line: zero scuffs. Its also in the "limited edition" Kangaroo Brown. Fantastic bomb-prof hardshell that is perfect for layering. Lifetime warrantee. Go to arcteryx.com to learn more. $250 OBO I can email high res. pictures to anyone interested. (msrp: $450)

Hey, my mom had the same surgery about 15 years ago. She returned to all of her activities within about a year. She never did any real PT however, and reinjured it about 5 years ago. Again, she's made a full recovery. She's not super active however, so remember that athletes are in a different category all together. They just recover faster and more completely. I'm sorry I can't offer any real technical knowlege about this back surgery, but I do know that physical therapy has come a long way, and that there is a ton that can be done for your recovery. I've done quite a few volunteer hours in PT clinics, and have seen some pretty fantastic recoveries from other back injuries. What I can say is that, when you do come back, work on that core strength as best as you can! In my 4 years of being a pre-pt/med. student, I have figured out that weak and imbalanced muscles are usually the cause of many of these sorts of problems. Sorry if this sounds too simplistic. I'm sure you can find some studies published online that might help you find more of what you are looking for. Best wishes to your healing pal. Hang in there, and stay sane! I agree, injuries suck. R

Oh man, last summer was nothing short of spectacular quadriceps carnage.... It wasn't one day in particular, more of a "theme" to my climbing, or rather, lifestyle. I had about six consecutive trips where I would be out for, oh, probably 15 - 18 hours straight, basically what I like to call "shredding". My most massive failure was to not plan my nutrition adequately. If you can imagine how many calories you burn in hard mountaineering, then factor in perhaps only as many as 1700 for my "trail food", I lost ALL of my body fat. Then I noticed that when I came down from climbs, my appetite wasn't its usual ravenous monster, but more of a pathetic sick little bird with a broken wing. On top of that I was working constuction during the week, and weight training in the evenings. Basically, overtraining lead to a wierd little eating dissorder. I simply could not stomach enough. After about 4 months of my appetite dropping lower and lower, I crashed completely and learned what REAL suffering is all about. Man I hope nobody has to feel that kind of pain......... Then, only a few weeks later, I got Mono......... all through the fall I suffered myself through university, and my health simply decided to say "you suck mister, I'm leaving". God damn I fucked up this year! 8 months later, my body is finally out of that "Jacked-to-fuck" state, but still having a hard to keeping up. I'm fianally starting to heal some of the "personality problems" that lead to this, so perhaps I can start to actually LIVE for real and materialize a finer, stronger, smarter me. I am looking forward to putting this shit behind me. Sorry if I've spooked the living shit out of anyone. But burnout can be, as I've learned, probably the hardest lesson for any athlete to overcome. Peace. R

High Cambell does give some of the best veiws of the mountain. The Emmons looks heeaalthy!

young shwety studds....

Sahale is a fantasic day. And if you want to be really masochistic, going on to Boston Peak is real neat too. Take a helmet. For a nice easy day close to Seattle, I'd say Kaleetan peak up at Snoqualmie pass. It has one of the coolest summits you can find......you'll see!

I have a widow's peak. Sometimes it makes me feel all squishy inside.