tvashtarkatena

I can't believe someone actually had to explain the joke to it...

You could stand to update yourself on the dynamics and physiological causes of addictive behavior. Your philosophy of a 'society that needs fixin' is dated. Only a percentage of human beings have a predeliction for addiction, not all. And a newer generation of 'good' drugs are already helping millions of people quit smoking and other harmful addictions. Coupled with other forms of support and treatment, such a regimen can put a significant percentage of addicts, although of course not all, back on their feet. Read up, then review your society wide (impossible to implement) solutions, whatever they may be. Finally, your model of a society waiting to explode into a cocaine fulled, heroin addled frenzy/catatonia is silly. Meth Crazed Zombies Rape and Pillage Squaresville Suburb! Come on, man. You don't really buy that Drug War generated myth. As Ivan stated, social norms, responsibilities, values, and genetic predisposition make addiction unattractive for most of the population and will continue to do so regardless of the legal picture.

We caught a zombie Jesus peering out from the slide cedar. Then again a glancing blow from a rock to the nut (!) might do it. If the bolts are epoxied in, how would the water get into the hole? Granite is somewhat permiable, but not that much. One word: Locktite.

I don't believe the story. No one would try to microwave a baby without basting and browning it first to lock in the juices. 450 for 20 minutes in a conventional oven would do it.

No, it does not pertain to those things, until the damage done to society outweighs the philosophical (and administrative) appeal of freedom. You are free to do whatever you want, until it fucks too much with the rest of us. And yes, becoming a drug addict fucks with the rest of us enough that we have laws to discourage that behavior. That is apparently not how our society works, considering the fact that the overwhelming majority of drug related deaths; disease, accident, and violence, are due to alcohol. In contrast, there are a few tens of overdose deaths due cocaine and herion; drugs which draw a particularly harsh, and in many states, mandatory, sentencing. The harm to society of these 'hard' drugs isn't even on our criminal radar screen, yet half off all prison inmates, and that would be about a million people, are incarcerated for non violent drug related offenses. Study after study has shown that these folks come our of prison harder criminals than they went in. I would say THAT is a pretty large burden on our society. To further debunk your argument for criminalization of drugs; heroin and cocaine were legal readily available, over the counter and from doctors, in the U.S. for many decades. Their use peaked in the 1920s. Criminalization did not curb the rising trend of addiction; a public information campaign on the negative health impacts did. Again, this is neither the main point nor representative of the values of our society. We do not live under the 'tyranny of the majority'; that's why we have a Bill of Rights to protect us from exactly that. This 'island man' statement is so ludicrous it requires no reply. Drug addiction is a disease of the brain. You don't treat a disease with prison time. There are a whole raft of new, effective drugs coming out that will help people regain lives broken by addiction, thanks to advances in brain imaging and other technologies. If you commit a crime, on or off drugs, great. Prosecution is in order. We already have laws for that. Prosecution for possessing or taking a substance, in itself, is a gross violation of personal freedom, as well as being an expensive, counterproductive, and ineffective way to deal with the issue. If you take or are addicted to drugs and do not commit crimes against others, the state should have no interest other than to provide health information and programs to allow those who wish to a way get out of the downward spiral.

It doesn't have to be that way. The National Park and Wilderness Area managers would still be free to restrict motorized/stock (and other environmentally damaging) use while managing volunteer trail crews, possibly supervised by park hired personal. The allowance of volunteers to do some of their work would need in no way impact the park's focus on maintaining pristine wilderness. This is the way trails are maintained in the Columbia River Gorge, and it works very well. No one's clamboring for dirt bike access to that area. In fact, the result was just the opposite. There was a big move several years ago to log some of that preserve, and, because so much of the public had either worked on or used volunteer maintained trail system, the public outcry quashed that effort soundly.

Mountain bike access is not a big deal to me personally, but it seems to make sense that bike access be allowed on roads that are no longer maintained, and appropriate valley bottom trails up to a certain turn around point. The Suiattle River trail is one example. 10 miles of flat trail; road access to the TH is washed out at Downey Creek. Why not coopt cycling clubs to maintain this section of trail (but disalloy the building of jumps, rails, and other cycling park paraphelia) in exchange for access? This would represent a lower cost compromise alternative to rebuilding bridges that may just wash out again. It also is in line with the argument that we need more than just climber involvement to maintain some of the existing infrastructure. Finally, our trail/road system was built in an era of less extreme flooding, more readily available public manpower, greater park funding, and logging. That's all over with. If we want to see some (you're not going to see all) of the existing infrastructure maintained, volunteer labor will have to become a greater part of the picture over time.

Mountain Wanker PM'd me, asking why it should change it's name. I think it has a crush on me.

Golite Jam. Great pack, and not just for summits. In any case, get a pack with compression straps (the Genie has none, plus it's too small for what you're looking for).

NCNP strives to be more like Alaskan NPs; favoring wildness over convenient weekend access (which, after all, is what we're all talking about here). It's refreshing that the lower forty eight has at least one (and, unfortunately, only one) park that maintains pristine wildness as a priority. It's amazing that this jewel is in our back yard. I think the road closure is appropriate, given the unique difference in the park's mission. Plan a little more time and put out more effort. Welcome to the 21st century. As for trail maintenance, we'd do better and probably get further as a community to organize and lobby for permission to maintain the trails ourselves and gain mountain bike access for those long valley bottom trails and closed roads than to beg for more budget money or complain about closures. There is more than enough manpower in this community to do the job. Besides, if the past 10 years is any indication, a higher budget will only go towards fancier sign kiosks and not towards trail maintainance or improved access. Finally, eliminating the use of stock would do more than any other one thing to reduce trail maintenance and environmental impact of human visitation.

Whats the matter Alison? I seem to remember you wanting to go with us on that vantage trip until you found out a certain person you disagree with was also going.. Now all you can do is talk $hit? Funny you got banned from our site for this crap.. and now you've just moved it to a new forum where even less people care what you think. Ummm, a bit of advice: I'd change your avatar name if you're going to post over here... ...Mountain Wanker.

Will eating Kashi improve my yab-yum?

The WH and bolts anchors are all there, with a few dings. One of the TS anchors appeared to have experienced a bit of lightning strike, but nothing fatal.

At base of Total Soul. Probably deep down in the snow moat. They mysteriously flung themselves down the route, possibly due to a lack of attention.

I piss on your Darrington routes. In fact, I just did piss on some of them. TR to follow. We did Silent Running car to car in just under 3 days; a new record. Look for it under the "Fat Fucks on Slab" title. Have you learned how to flake the rope yet? Geez, man. At least drape it over your belly, or something. Based on two recent TR's of yours, I would classify you as both a pussy, and a danger to your second. Thank God you didn't post any pictures of your anchor set ups! I think I've got a new, virtual "Alpine Buddy".

Mary Magdelene collected the life insurance payout?

Trip: Darrington - Total Soul, Westward Ho Date: 5/17/2007 Trip Report: James (jhamaker) and I went back to Darrington yesterday for a second fix of uncut friction. James forgot the beta, so we got on what we think was Total Soul (7 pitches, 5.11a). Whatever it was, it was a great route on that superb Darrington granite. Correction: we rechecked the guidebook and found out that the 4th pitch that weenie boy here backed down on and that James sent was the 5.11 variation. Kudos to James for grunting that one out! Bolts indicate a route, right? Total Soul (3’Oclock Rock) The base is still shrouded in a snow fan. Recommended for the approach: Paleolithic technology and even older rock shoes Yosemite without the grounds crew. Rapping from the top of 3 Oclock Rock The following foggy morning we headed up the Granite Sidewalk for Westward Ho (5 pitches, 5.9). This is the most sustained, pure friction climb either of us had ever done; perfect for people who’ve lost use of both their hands. James did some fine lead work on this one. Hauling my fat ass up the Granite Sidewalk (Blueberry Hill) Even the people at Value Village weren't sure what the hell those Care Bear things are on James' shirt. Granite Sidewalk Dude, while your fucking with your cordelet, I’m down here freezing my ass off. Pitch 3, Westward Ho (Blueberry Hill) Gear Notes: For the base of 3 O'clock Rock or your uncooperative partner: A stout cudgel. Total Soul: gear to 2.5", 8 quick draws, some slings. A couple of tricam and ball slider placements. Westward Ho: a few small stoppers and cams, 12 quick draws, slings, magnifying glasses. Approach Notes: A bit of snow at the base of 3 O'clock Rock. 2 washes enroute to Blueberry hill, passable by Outback.

Pussy, me? ...The North Face of Shuksan is a Day Trip, chubby. Before you go callin' folks pussies, pea brains, cockroaches, and rabid dogs, you should make sure you can look after yourself properly if you ever happen to "run into" one of them up there. And I can guarantee you that taking three days (!) to hump up NF Shuksan does not qualify you to be talking that degree of shit. Now run along you fat fuck. Glad you also had a good time on the NF. Good route, and a great ski. Can't wait to see your TR.

No, it isn't a "cut and dried philosophy", which is why there are 2000 years of continuing theological discussions on the subject and hundreds of different churches listed in the phone book. Jesus, though, did have standards for morality. He expected people to strive for those standards but he was capable of forgiving people who nonetheless fell short. classy, dude...do your homework about Jesus..."yadda-yadda-yadda" doesn't cut it. And here's another class act by "tvashtarkatena": And he harmed whom with his opinions? The Teletubbies? And, spreading even more hate in case you hadn't had enough!: sad....sad indeed! Raindawg, this so...so full of hate.

I piss on your Darrington routes. In fact, I just did piss on some of them. TR to follow. We did Silent Running car to car in just under 3 days; a new record. Look for it under the "Fat Fucks on Slab" title.

Of course he never hated anyone. He loved gays. That's why he wanted to bring them to Christ. Get real, motherfucker. The guy was a world class bigot who tirelessly employed his wealth, celebrity, and political influence to cause a shit load of innocent people a whole lot of harm. The end of his miserable, regrettable existence should make us all breath that much easier. And you gotta love Spray's two most rabid, cement filled tire chained dogs whining about all the 'hate' (which is actually nothing but good old satire and homage to the universe's infinite capacity for farce, but then again you can't squeeze black humor from a pea brain); the same 'poor me' tactics you hear from, say, the likes of Frist et al when their cockroach behaviour is exposed to the light of day. What a couple of pussies. KKK: you join up yet?

If that should happen, fall well, my brothers. Get it???

I wouldn't climb internationally with him. I suspect he's got a nuclear power source tucked away somewhere, and customs would be a bitch.

What does one do when one is atheizing?

Nice route, but I'm kind of wondering why you guys didn't ski it.