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woodchips

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Posts posted by woodchips

    Platypus bladders

    in The Gear Critic

    Posted

    I just started using an msr dromedary. i like it much more than camelbacks, platypus, or any other brand of hydration system. With an insulated tube, it works great for everything I use it for. Just my two cents.

     

    But does the dromedary make your water taste like plastic? That's why i've always stuck to the platypus.

    Looking for a place in Bellingham

    in The Yard Sale

    Posted

    We're a couple looking for a place in Bellingham to accomodate 2 people, 2 cats, some tools, and our gear. We're looking to move between early October and early November. Willing to pay up to $700 for a small house, cabin, apartment in a house, etc.

     

    Also willing to consider work trades or some kind of caretaker or house sitting situation. We are skilled in carpentry and native plant work. Let me know if you have anything near Bellingham (or north Skagit valley) and we can talk.

    Going to City of Rocks... have room for 2 more

    in Climbing Partners

    Posted

    We're thinking of heading out to city of rocks in mid october, and have room for one or two more people who want to share gas $$. We'd be driving a subaru, so two more people packing light would fit. We might have to put all the stinky climbing shoes on the roof rack to make room, but it would be great to have a carload of people.

     

    Staying 5 days or so, plus two travel days. We'd be leaving from bellingham but could stop in seattle to pick you up. We're not particularly looking for climbing partners, mostly riders. Dates are somewhat flexible.

     

     

    supercams?

    in The Gear Critic

    Posted · Edited by woodchips

    It's more like comparing Windows to Mac. I got a metolius rack and wish I had paid extra for the BDs.

     

    I got two off the small super cams. Mainly because I would hesitate to place one on the off chance that I would need it further up the pitch. Now I use both. The range is almost equal to a metolius #7 & #8 on the small.

     

    How do you think the usable range of the supercam compares to the BDs?

    Family hike near Mt. Baker (any ideas?)

    in North Cascades

    Posted

    With where the snowline is, and some road closures, your options are actually somewhat limited. The Lk Ann / Table Mt area in particular is sure to be all snow.

     

    The Hannegan Pass trail is reasonable for kids, it doesn't start really gaining til 3 miles in (and by then you'll hit the snow). Another idea is to walk the Anderson Ck road system just behind Silver Fir camp. There used to be nice beaver ponds back there.

     

    Immediately by the first bridge past Glacier there's a short trail along the river (maybe too short for what you have in mind).

     

    Don't know road state, and also probably still mostly snow, but Damfino Lks way up the Canyon Ck road is a good kid hike.

     

    I always liked those snowy hikes when I was a kid. Come to think of it, Table Mountain is probably out of the question, but Bagley lakes could be good, and might be worth checking out the twin lakes road. Do the kids have gaiters? They might really like a snow hike.

    Family hike near Mt. Baker (any ideas?)

    in North Cascades

    Posted

    This coming weekend, the wife and I are taking the kids up to a place called Snow Water near Mt. Baker. I was wondering if anybody has any ideas about good family hikes that would be reasonable for kids in the 8 and 6 year old range and hopefully close to where we are staying (If anybody knows where Snow Water is, I don't know) I don't know the area very well so keep that in mind. Thanks for any suggestions you may have.

     

    Pretty sure snow water is up near glacier, on the MT Baker Hwy. If that's the case, There's lots of stuff up at the end of the highway (Lake Ann, ptarmigan ridge, table mt, chain lakes, etc) that would be good for kids. Most of that stuff is fairly popular, so you might dig a bit deeper if you're planning on going on a weekend.

    supercams?

    in The Gear Critic

    Posted

    You should now be able to find both small and medium Supercams if you look around as I know they've recently made and shipped some mediums and there are still smalls around from the last batch of those they made. I'm hoping Larges will be in production in some capacity however limited by the end of the year...

     

    I've looked at them (feathered friends up in seattle has them), and played with them in the store, but haven't actually used one, or talked to anyone who has. I'm sure that the supercams and camalots are both good cams, so maybe I just need to get the lighter ones. Judging from the specs, the BD seem to be a bit lighter, but it's hard to tell if I'm comparing apples to oranges.

    supercams?

    in The Gear Critic

    Posted · Edited by woodchips

    I'm in the market for a couple of cams... I've got up to #8 metolius, and thinking about the medium and large supercams to round out the rack. (I know the Large isn't out yet.) Anyone actually using the small/ medium supercams?

     

    http://www.backcountry.com/store/MET0180/Metolius-Supercam.html

     

    It seems like it these or the BDs for large extended range cams. I'm mostly using them for alpine stuff, so weight is an issue. Any thoughts?

    Climbing in the san juans?

    in Climber's Board

    Posted

    I think the climbing on Waldron's a no-go, unfortunatley. They locals are pretty protective (They've been known to shoot flares at passing tourist boats, among other things), and most of Point Disney (the obvious sandstone cliffs on the SE corner) is owned by the Nature Conservancy and not open to the public. Getting to lopez isn't a big deal (I've got lots of friends w/ boats, which may be better than having my own) and I'll likely get a kayak this summer. Any details on the crag on Lopez?

    Climbing in the san juans?

    in Climber's Board

    Posted · Edited by woodchips

    Anyone know of any crags in the san juan islands? I realized this isn't climber's heaven, but I'm going to be moving back out there, and would like a place to get outside. (I lived out there a few years ago, but didn't climb then.) I'm not interested in pissing off any locals, just getting in some climbing.

    Mt Erie / N. cascades parters?

    in Climbing Partners

    Posted

    I'm going to be living in the San Juans this summer, and looking for hiking/climbing partners, and would like to chat w/ folks who know the area. I'm planning on coming to the mainland regularly, and may be able to do some midweek stuff. I'm somewhat of a newbie, but studying hard. I've just started leading trad, and mostly like alpine climbs and scrambles. Also, I'll likely be looking for climbing parters for checking out Mt Erie. Drop me a line.

    E911 Cellular GPS

    in Climber's Board

    Posted

    Nextel has a genuine GPS chip in some (maybe all) of their phones. I've played with it a few times, and it seems to work OK with no tree cover, but pretty slow. I wonder if any of the newer/ higher end phones have better GPS units?

     

    Mikester, are you on Verizon or what? I've always heard that Verizon was generally the best for remote mtn cell service...

     

    I'm curious about this too, I'm in line for a new phone, and will be in mostly in the N cascades and Olympics. Any suggestions?

    Lightweight harness?

    in The Gear Critic

    Posted

    I've been using the Petzl Adjama lately as a decent all-rounder...

     

    Pros:

    *Light(-ish) at 435g

    *Adjustable leg loops

    *Gear loops

    *Some padding, but doesn't absorb water too bad

    *Fully functional climbing harness(not only just a glacier rig)

     

    Cons:

    *No haul loop

    *Drop seat attachment(hook) in rear get trashed and can unhook if doing much chimneying.

     

     

    Certainly not the lightest, most bare-bones rig on the market - but for me a good compromise between weight and functionality.

     

    That's the harness I've got... I really like it for alot of stuff, but I'm looking to shave some weight for rainier and trips w/ long approaches. Also, mine seems to get pretty soaked, maybe I need to DWR it.

     

    It doesn't seem like theres alot of harnesses in the range between 95g and 300g.

    Lightweight harness?

    in The Gear Critic

    Posted

    If you want light harnesses you should get yourself down to Pro Mountain Sports. Jim is an expert on light harnesses.

     

    That's actually where I looked at the harness a couple of months back. Jim's been really helpful w/ gear, and puts up with all my newbie questions. I even got a tour "behind the curtain" (upstairs .) I'll check it out again when I'm up there this week.

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