tvashtarkatena

I'm glad you brought this up. Any other species would respond to an eradication effort by dying. But goats? They'll use any excuse to kill Americans. They're animals, plain and simple. The only thing these lint-heads understand, other than a steady stream of urine to the forehead, is a .222 round. For those of you who are wondering why I just suggested giving Canadian over the counter Tylenol with codeine to a bunch of ungulates, you're probably one of the apologists who helped create their perception of our weakness in the first place. You don't negoatiate with ungulates. The only good goat is a dead one, preferably with a side of tsatsiki.

Thanks a lot, Layton. Now I've got to run out and buy one of those, too.

Depends on orientation. If your head's into the wind those things can turn into great big wind socks. Agree with Mattp. I like a lightweight backup even in good weather, though: AMK sol bivvy After a couple of hours you'll be one clammy pilgrim, but they are great for little unexpected squalls, or when the cloud deck drops in on you. I call mine Russel. Real live bivvys are good for multi day climbs where tent space isn't going to happen. With Tarptents and the like, they don't seem to be a very good option, otherwise.

THe mounties Basic course is 550. Registration starts Oct 15. It fills up fast. You're also required to take MOFA 125 and Navigation 50 = 725. Alternatively, you could cherry pick: Take MOFA and Nav (skip Nav if you already know it, but MOFA is well worth it and its taught by EMTs) from the mounties and two one day clinics: Mountaineering Day School 187 and Crevasse Rescue School 187, in that order, from RMI (total 374) from the Mounties for more professional, less time consuming instruction. The RMI option doesn't cover rock climbing/belaying but you can learn that with friends at the crag and a bit of self study. That way you pretty much get all 4 classes for just the price of the Mounties Basic Course. Shopping for my GF right now, so this info is current. She's leaning towards the cherry pick option - she doesn't need 'gear selection advice' and a bunch of other stuff covered in the Basic Course at this point - but ax arrest and glacier travel are best learned in a focused course setting rather than on the fly. I wouldn't be so dismissive of the fitness level of the students in any of these courses, particularly as a newbie. Kind of luck of the draw, no? Gumbies can pony up for guides, too, and ironmen can take the Basic Course. I've seen both. If you want experienced partners, humility probably works better than uninformed bluster. FWIW, I had some great climbers as Mounties instructors way back, some of whom became great partners. A couple of bozons, too, but they didn't really water down the experience too much. After all, you're ultimately responsible for doing the learning part. Critiques of the Mounties courses are more credible from people who have actually taken their courses, BTW - I'd check to see where the complaints are coming from before you swallow them hook line and sinker...even if you DID read it on the internet.

Work? In the mountains? Come on. This is really about PORN in the mountains.

A tower can signal your phone to boost its transmitting power when the signal is weak.

When you do the experiment, can Josh and I film it? Preferably at night. Seriously, though, I'd stick with manufacturer recommended fuels. Naptha attacks a few kinds of plastic. That could produce some surprising results.

Sounds like somebody hasn't been laid in a while.

Old joke. Sorry.

Best friends next to this: NOAA Forecasts

Or a guidebook author. I know several.

Looks very cool.

I never apologize for America, Gene. Seriously, stay the hell away from Leavenworth during Autumn Leaf Festival if you can. The traffic alone will make you want to kill yourself. Great place otherwise.

Lynyrd Skynyrd is a Neil Young tribute band that performs American Civil War reinactments inwhich the South wins. If your command of English isn't very good, you'll fit right in with the audience. "The benefits of socialism" would be a great conversation starter. Many in the audience will be riding Goldwings (if they haven't left the PT Cruiser at home, that is). A Goldwing, made by the Honda Corporation, is an oversized form of geriatric scooter with enough luggage capacity for portable life support equipment. In other words, you'll have a chance to meet lots and lots of real Americans in Leavenworth and surrounding area that weekend.

HOLY AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, BATMAN: Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Toyota Town Center on Sep 26th! Also, THE AUTUMN LEAF FESTIVAL that weekend!!!!!! I'm thinking you two aren't going to have much time leftover for any alpine fun. TIME TO GET YOUR GOLDWINGS ON.

His portaledge didn't have the anti-gravity corner attachment point, either. Also missing: Bandit empties. FAKE.

The last guy I saw on a portaledge didn't look like that at all.

WILL SOMEONE PLEASE THINK OF THE CHIPMUNKS?

Layton posts from prison, so you'll have arrange that visit in advance.

NAST!

"GUN FELL FROM POCKET, STRUCK IN NECK" is listed as the cause of death for MRNP's first recorded casualty, a Mr. E.H. Hudson, on New Year's Day, 1897. C.W. Ferguson died in 1915 in the Paradise Ice Caves after he "POKED ROOF OF CAVE CAUSING COLLAPSE". John Moskin was the only park visitor/worker to be killed by "PREMATURE DYNAMITE BLAST" in 1939, near the Ohanapecosh Campground. One unidentified victim drown in the Ohanapecosh Hot Spring during that same fateful year. Dangerous place, apparently. The second leading cause of death, at 68, just under "FALLING (88)"? "AIRPLANE CRASH". 14 people have committed suicide, 4 have been murdered. and 4 had trees fall on them. Surprisingly, 2 people died after they "CAPSIZED". although one of these also went over Sylvia Falls, which may have been a factor. There have been 3 drug overdoses - all involving prescription drugs, one from an Albuterol inhaler (!?) At 93, climbing accidents (involving summit attempts) are vastly in the minority among the 394 folks who have died in the park since its first recorded fatality.

Rainier's pretty crevassed and icy this time of year, so familiarity with crampons, ice axe, climbing roped, and crevasse rescue is recommended. Weather can be tricky, too. If you want to nab a volcano, St. Helens and Adams have non-glaciated routes. All the pleasures of climbing steep, deep moon dust with none of the inconvenience of reduced gravity. You might consider a backpack/scrambling trip through some of our lesser known but still incredible areas on the eastern slopes, which have both better weather (in general) and larches (which will be in full color). The Oval Peak area of the Sawtooth/Chelan Wilderness, or the Shell Rock area of the Pasayten WIlderness (Osceola, Monument Peaks, etc) are two areas you may want to check out. Both are accessible from the towns of Twisp and Winthrop on Highway 20. The Cathedral Peak area of the Pasayten also makes for a fine loop trip with plenty of high scramble peaks along the way. The Entiat River area (Cardinal, Emerald, Saska, Pinnacle peaks) is also a nice eastern slope destination with plenty of larches and moderate summits. More popular but still full of larches and high scramble peaks: The Mt. Maude, Lyman Lake area from the Phelps Creek trailhead. The Goat Rocks wilderness, just south of Mt. Rainier, would be a decent west side choice for a multiday trip, weather permitting. None of these require permits (except St. Helens), although you'll probably want to buy or borrow a Northwest Forest Pass for parking your vehicle to avoid an international incident. Topo maps are available for the Pasayten, Sawtooths, Goat Rocks, and Mt. Adams Wilderness areas. St. Helens has its own map, too. Otherwise, its Green Trails or USGS maps. REI carries all of them, but call to check stock - they run out this time of year.

Willi's not a bad dog! He just loves certain smells and tastes so much that he can't resist. Not that he needs to, cuz he doesn't live with me anymore, thank Jebus.

In one day Willi the Party Dog chewed through my altimeter, pack waist buckle, ski pole strap buckle, and harness leg loop buckles. That was his opus, before he destroyed my leather furniture and floors. That dog definitely made me a better person.

We're also out of coffee. Please bring some as well. Thanks buddy.