tbunch

Oh, thanks for the offer but that would require painful surgery! My current plan is to go out and win the lottery, then buy some La Sportiva Nepal EVO GTXs. The 103s are in the trash. If anyone wants to dumpster dive I'll give you the address.

I pulled my Asolo AFS 103's off the shelf, doing a gear check for the upcoming season like we do, and, well, just look at them. [img:center]http://people.omnigroup.com/tom/images/BootsForSale.jpg[/img] I can't believe it! They're barely even 25 years old! Do you think Dave Page can do anything? Would you like to buy them, cheap? Ok, I guess it's time to check out that new Gear Deals section we have. I think I'm looking for a good boot for slogging up volcanoes that can make the crossover to moderate ice if you'd care to nominate one.

Sounds like the very definition of a classic climb. I believe it was the well know dirtbag climber Mark Twain who said, "A classic is something that everybody wants to have climbed and nobody wants to climb.", was it not?

So, if I understood you correctly, you encountered some women and a goat, and CascadeClimbers clamors for pictures of the goat? Sounds about right.

I used medium leathers and strap ons and it was fine. The Blue will probably be running with water and from Snow Dome to the top may be slushy, so just expect wet feet. I would not characterize any part of it as steep except possibly the summit rock. I'll bet the Blue has receded about a half mile since I was there last.

I had a .75 Camelot vanish from Breakfast of Champions. I think that place is the Bermuda Triangle of Camelots. Anyway, if you're digging around for your Camelot and find a .75 that looks like it's been there for over 20 years, it's mine!

I'll chime in with the "non-technical descent is often the scariest part" crew. I'd probably be up there myself today if I hadn't dislocated a shoulder in a tumble descending from Green Giant Buttress 2 weeks ago. Instead I'm watching youtube videos and typing this with one hand. More well-wishes to the injured climber and another shout out to SMR. You guys rock. I want to be you when I grow up. -Tom

Well, I didn't find anyone there for the CC/AAC meet up, but I did manage to crash Kevin's birthday party and score a free piece of cake. Then I regaled my beer with the harrowing tale of my semi-conquest of almost half of Green Giant Buttress with Warren last weekend, including our encounter with an evil wizard disguised as a toad, who cursed us when we refused to answer his stupid riddle. Yeah, he parked his car and got toad. We get it. We probably shouldn't have trundled him off the trail. Ultimately I think this is the real reason I dislocated my shoulder on the way down the approach scramble. Kevin says he'd like to see us back, though!

I'm not good at dates (just ask my wife) but I think this Thursday is the third, and I hear they still have beer in Ballard. The Facebook page hasn't been updated for almost a year, but I think I'm going to show up and hope to meet some of you all! I'll be a tall skinny blond dude with his left arm in a sling. I'll regale you all with the tale if you like.

God dag, Alan Arnette has a fine writeup answering most of your questions here. I'm sure everyone has their favorites but all three authorized guide services are great. It mainly depends on what route you want to do. Mt. Rainier is a serious object for a novice and you are talking about a somewhat early season climb. I would recommend being very fit when you arrive and having gained what experience you can manage. There is no reason novice can't safely succeed but the weather will be unreliable and you should be prepared to bail on your attempt.

My battery dies very quickly in the cold, and my phone shuts down if it gets too hot. So far I haven't had a smart phone I would rely on as much as my own .

You're actually quite right. One fatality blamed on avalanche in 1896 and one in 1998. Far more fatalities have been blamed on falls and weather. So I guess we don't have to worry about avalanches for another 84 years or so.

We all assess the risk, make a decision, and so far all of us reading this have come home, anyway. It's the social dynamics of the decision that scare me. Hopefully everyone has read the New York Times story on the Tunnel Creek avalanche. If not, this is a really good time for it - it's an amazing bit of journalism.

It's easy to judge from the comfort of my armchair, but I have to admit having the same reaction. Still, thanks for the stoke, and especially for not becoming another statistic in what has been a pretty grim year, avalanche-wise!