knappster99

Over at backcounty.com, there is this package: http://www.backcountry.com/store/BLD1095/Black-Diamond-Nunyo-Ski-with-Look-Nova-10-Alpine-Lifter-Binding.html I've never skiid before and have an extra $100 lying around. Sound like a good idea with some garage sale boots? I'm looking to take them up to the resorts and get a feel for it before putting on some free heels and taking them out to St. Helens for practice. Also, there's only 191's left. I weigh 185 out of the shower, is that a good fit? I'm pretty much looking for a cheapo setup to start on.

Aah, the wonders of the internet...

That COC club looks pretty good and Point Defiance is about 5 mins from my house. Thanks for all the good tips on where to go, etc. I've picked up some green trails maps and are happy with those, are those sufficient? I have (free) access to the USGS maps of the area but they look like they may be a higher scale (100K? I don't know). Are there things I should look for in a map? 24K scale? Grid systems?

Map and compass navigation (orienteering, I guess) is what i'm looking for. I have a GPS and use it a lot but I really don't want to be tied down by it or be too dependent on it. There really is no substitute for a compass and map...

I've been to a couple of REI's "101" classes and they're pretty thin. Their snow camping one was a joke so I'm kind of weary to drop some money for any courses from them.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a course? I was looking at the Tacoma Mountaineers course because I don't have to drive to Seattle, but I'm open to other options. There are a few at North Seattle Community College which are considerably cheaper (for class cost, not equipment). Any thoughts?

Open your eyes...

THAT is a sweet pic, how many people have that? Not many, i presume...

Did any of you hear that comparison done when their new album came out ("the long road" i think)? In the liner notes somewhere, one of the members talked about how they went into the studio to record something completely different and new than what they recorded in the past, or something to that effect. I looked it up on Wikipedia and they reference it as "How You Remind Me of Someday" and played those two singles (How You Remind Me and Someday) together and everything was exactly the same, same chord changes, similar tempo, same melody, it was ridiculus. Here's the link to the NPR interview with the creator and the mp3 file of the comparison: http://jeffmilner.com/2005/02/this-is-how-you-remind-me-someday.htm I wouldn't be surprised if you can do this with any pop/rock band out there in the last 10 years. It's sick how music has gone downhill in the last 10-15 years and turned into this horrible comglomeration of crappy singers and pretty boys. Sorry for the rant, too much coffee and not enough work this morning.

How about a light down jacket/vest, something 500-600 fill? Would that be too warm? I have a little room in the jacket and worried that merino wool won't fill that empty space.

Fleece doesn't layer too well underneath it (binds, I think fleece on fleece doesn't really work) and I'm at a loss of what to do for that mid-layer. Any suggestions?

I just picked this one up at REI for $60 at their recent Super Clearance sale, normally $200. It's one of their Apex softshells (Apex Universal, i think), summit series. It's pretty stretchy with some decent pockets (two "waist belt compatible" ones and a napoleon) and a helmet compatible hood. I've never "climbed" before (glaciers, higher than 5-6K in elevation) but want to try it out this year. Does this sound like a good jacket or should I return it and save up for a waterproof shell? http://www.trailspace.com/gear/the-north-face/apex-valkyrie-jacket/

It seems like NWAC's site is down. This might be a little further south, but it's the best I can find: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/data/PQR/SABOR

When Jesus said, "Love your enemies," I don't think he meant kill them...

Yep, this is Dan . Glad to hear you got in contact with another one of us REI'ites. We're everywhere now (not always a good thing!). I'll have to make it out there again, it was a blast. Give me a PM when you get some extra skis around, I'd love to try them out. They're looking better than the skiboards i've been looking into for BC skiing. I was going to put some silvrettas on real wide, 110cm long skiboards and ascend with skins. Check it out: http://skiboards.com/messageboard/showthread.php?t=1693&highlight=grimper Have fun out there guys, I'm jealous...

Would these be good for someone who never skied before? I'm not too much into downhill but looking to get into BC skiing...

Oops, now I get it, Pandora (user) was selling some... sorry.

Where? What's that website? The difference between the silvretta's and those homemade ones is that *any* boot can be used and just strapped in similar to snowshoes (he was going up the next day in cross-trainers!). They were also waxless so no skins necessary!

Unfortunately, a late start and lack of sleep only got us 2-3 miles up the trail. Below where you cross the creek is a few inches of soft stuff on top of a hard crust (packed on the trail) but above there that soft layer was gone on exposed slopes. I was on snowshoes but there were boot tracks continuing past our stopping point.

When I was out on St Helens on Sunday, I ran into a couple with some homemade skis, Mark and Pat to be exact. The bindings allow normal boots to be worn and are free heeled. I was wondering if anyone else talked to them and their thoughts on the skis. After snowshoeing around this winter, skiing definitely looks like the way to go for both ascent and descent. They were planning on selling them locally for ~$400, which sounds reasonable. Any thoughts/recommendations?

I'm not afraid of the snow, it's the ignorant drivers that don't drive for the conditions. The longer you're on the road, the higher the chances of some idiot riding your ass and not stopping when you do. Come on people...

We've got a good 6-8" here in Tacoma , I don't think I'm going anywhere tomorrow...

I'm just not going to go . For someone with as little experience as me, I'm definitely heeding any warnings you guys give, especially with a forecast like that. Thank you very much for all the info and tips, you've probably saved me a lot of trouble and unnecessary harm. I was afraid I may catch some flame after reading through most of this forum... I might just wait for better conditions or when all the climbers start heading up this spring, I've always wanted to get into climbing anyway.

Oops... missed that one, sorry. I have the whole trip planned out so I might head up there and stay either at Muir or at the Jackson Visitor Center parking lot, the place is probably a ghost town and not plowed. I was more worried about avalanches and snow conditions, I have heard that there have been avalanches on and around Panorama Point. Should I postpone the trip because of snow conditions? I might answer my own question here, but this is a quip from a report dated 1/6/07 at 215 pm: "Avalanche danger should become extreme by mid morning or mid day Sunday with some possible large and potentially destructive slides increasingly likely. Travel in avalanche terrain should be avoided Sunday. Decreasing winds and snowfall at cooling temperatures and likely widespread previous natural avalanches should combine to low the danger late Sunday and Sunday night." I imagine that this kinda ruins any plans of making it up to Muir until Monday...

I was anticipating the extra 19 miles and planning on an overnighter or two, but I wasn't sure if the road is open to foot traffic just yet. I haven't been up to Baker before so I'm not sure if I have enough time to get maps, research places to stay, etc, for a trip tomorrow, maybe another weekend. What are the normal high camps on Baker? I was trying to stay away from any glacier travel because, honestly, I've never stepped foot on one.