dougd

Looks like a great trip, thanks for sharing. I really wanted to get back to the N Cascades this summer but life intervened... Your trip reminds me to stay focused with future plans for this area when I'm able. d

I think Pat makes some fair points. I don't see effective counters to those specifically from those who disagree. Just a public "ignore" notice? I think that's pretty weak. JMHO of course, for what it's worth... d

These two look like they might be aid climbers... d

Ivan, you gonna just take that shit? d

Funny, I happen to be reading Kiss or Kill: Confessions of a Serial Climber... I remember following Mark's climbing in the '80's and '90's. This guy was a stud. Twisted? Oh yeah, but still a stud. Had sense enough to "retire" in Y2K... Wonder how that's goin... d

Simple math: 4 "I's" + 4 "My's" - 4 "We's" = a net "Selfish" My bottom line: "We" all have not been contributing to the health care system as it is now. Yet, we all use it and need it to work for us at some point. It is widely acknowledged to be unsustainable. A lot of folks pay in, many do not... The one's that pay in end up paying higher premiums etc to cover provider's costs for those who do not pay in. That is a long standing penalty, or tax if you will... With this law, positive change has arrived. Everybody pays in. There is a lot more to this law than just that. The President promised change, and has delivered on health care. It is as he himself admits, only a beginning. Surely we can applaud that, can't we? I've been paying health care premiums for a lot of years and I don't mind helping those who need it but folks that made the decision that health care was just too expensive and spent their money on other things can, now, with subsidies, make cost effective choices through competitive exchanges for their health care needs. Or, they can still choose not to purchase health care insurance and pay a tax which ulitmately helps pay for when they do get sick. Promised change has come. Give the man credit. It took guts and serious courage to fight for, and win this battle. d

Maybe a "fat tax" could work... Not a bad idea Jay... d A perfect guy to get the fat tax started would be that fat, blowhard, new Puerto Rican rush limbaugh. He would pay at least until the day he renounces his US citizenship... With him leading it off, and all the other fatties paying in, we could reduce the debt in a serious way. d

I went drinking with a bunch of polish friends recently. I've never seen anyone drink vodka out of full-sized water glasses before. Hardcore. No, everclear would be better, vodka out of a normal glass- a normal tool for an average party. Nothing hardcore about it. My only experience with everclear was in a renowned Frenchtown Montana establishment some years back. The bartender and I were rolling dice for shots and I "won" a couple times... The entertainment was really good and I had a great time until I had to get from that place to where I was couch surfing... I've always been a light weight when it comes to serious drinking... d

Maybe a "fat tax" could work... Not a bad idea Jay... d

News Flash: bhoener near tears...

Well reasoned and concise. Welcome back Pat d

We are in agreement on a single payer system but thanks to political realities it was a non starter. Bingo.....basically if you dont buy a product the government can tax you. What if they said you have to buy life insurance or take it a step further....buy a climbing rope or a bottle of water...and if you dont you get taxed and if you dont pay your tax you go to jail. Its a slippery slope. These arguments just don't wash. You're making it more difficult than it really is. It is simple. OUR Representative Government can tax us. They can also condemn your property and take it from you (eminent domain), and do a lot of other pretty unpleasant things for the GREATER GOOD. At our best, we are a country of shared sacrifices. Ask not what your country can do for you... d

Doc's know a lot but they sure don't know everything. They can't quantify heart, and the will a person may possess to overcome physical pain and accompanying mental strain to accomplish the things they really want to do in life... I am so glad to see Steph back in the mountains, and what a pleasure to share in this achievement. d

The Supreme court can be wrong. Remember the Dred Scott decision? Citizen's United is another terribly misguided decision IMO and hopefully will be overturned soon, but hope for that went out the window with the recent Montana decision... Sigh. Today, I'm happy. Nobody can kill this buzz. d

Yes crux, payment for insurance, OR, payment of a TAX (as defined by Chief Justice Roberts) levied for NOT aquiring health insurance in 2014 and beyond. Insurance companies have real incentive now to hold costs down for ALL who have health insurance, which by the way will be chosen from exchanges of providers, due to millions of Americans now who will purchase health insurance who didn't before. Also a boon to millions of Americans are the prohibitions on denying coverage for pre existing conditions and requirements for covering children up to age 26. Most of us know there is more good in this bill than bad, nearly 60% of Americans approve of this legislation in polls done not only recently but for quite a while now those numbers have held firm. Not the best deal but it is an improvement over what we now have. I was stunned that Chief Justice Roberts was the one to affirm it's constitutionality through the Government's authority to tax. Give this man credit for restoring some faith in this institution's ability to do it's job which is to interpret the constitutionality of laws. I am fortunate to have health insurance already, and I'm happy with this law. Is it prefect? No it is not. But, it is clear to me that it will improve the unsustainable health care system we now have, and this is the kicker, FOR THE GOOD OF ALL OF US. The President's correct in his assertion that it is time to move on. Any votes the House of Representatives take to try to thwart this law is wasted time IMO. d

Let me be the first to congratulate you Steph et al. Great TR & pics. I swear if I ever do Baker again it'll be this route. regards, d

It is a relative term. Reading Blakes TR for Valkyrie is cool and I view him as a 'young' guy. I meant old relative to guys Blake's age. I recall running repeats on Mt Si. There was a H.S. basketball team walking up. One of the players asked "Sir, do you mind telling me how old you are?" "40" I replied. He shook his head as he couldn't imagine how someone my age could run up Mt Si. Relative indeed. My climbing partners give me the: "man, I hope I'm able to do half the stuff you're doing when I'm your age"... Getting older is beautiful if a person takes good care of themselves along the way. Oh and a bit of luck comes in handy as well. d

You've probably already seen this, but I'll post it just in case. http://mountrainierconditions.blogspot.com/2012/04/ingraham-direct-2012.html Good luck, d

Buck, if my post implied you were being critical it was unintended and I apologize. You make very good points above. One of my regular climbing partners was on the Emmons that day and had encountered the group prior to their getting into trouble. He had positive comments about this rope team, how they were going, and their equipment looked to be well put together... His comment on surface conditions of the route that day up to 13.5k were that they were "not that bad" in his opinion. He had "good purchase" with his crampons. I trust his judgement on this but understand that it is subjective. I can relate to the fatigue that can visit a well conditioned climber on this route. While descending, tired, June 5th of last year, I caught a crampon heel point on my opposing calf (gaiter) and couldn't unhook it in time and fell forward at around 12,5k. I arrested my own fall but it was awkward and there was that crevasse just below where I stopped... My partner executed a textbook arrest above me in case I did not stop sliding too. So, all ended well that time... Yeah, all kinds of weird shit can happen up there... d

Unsafe for guided clients. Check. John made the right call for his group. That's his job. Unsafe for other competent, well prepared parties? I would caution against making judgements about others (yeah, even Texans) deciding to climb on in such conditions. We don't really know how/why they ended up in their situation. Buck's point is well taken that proper preparations are very important when alpine climbing. ALL gear needs to be field tested and checked. Seamstress' post is right on IMO. Sometimes things happen in the mountains that are unpleasant. Not saying anything about what may or may not have happened in this case but the fact remains we are imperfect. We pursue our avocation with utmost caution, preparations, and yet, sometimes, bad things happen... If we're lucky, we live, and learn... It's terribly unfair that this young Ranger perished. I'm very sad for him, his family, and friends. Let's not dishonor him by second guessing the group he was intent on helping. d

As long as it's not $30, it might sell... That number seems to be a problem for a lot of people... d

"Ya know Doug if I didn't know better I'd think you're pretty sick and tired of hearing my opinion." Very perceptive. "You are welcome to ignore it." I will try. No promises... "I'm not sure what it is about my opinions specifically that puts sand in your panties but I'll go ahead and apologize if I've done something to personally offend you." No apology necessary. Rather than get into a tit for tat, back and forth, ad nauseam over this one, I'll let our respective posts stand... In closing I will say I think the whiney baby forum is a sound idea. I will not rescind my nomination for mod at this time. I am open to other titles however for this forum. How about "barking across the border?" sincerely, d

All the Rangers I've met on Rainier are very fine people, skilled climbers, and public servants. I'm gonna resist the temptation to comment, and just say this news makes me very sad indeed. d

Probably none. I suppose any "substantive difference" might only be to the employees, and their families, who do not have the State jobs with accompanying benefit packages anymore... A fast disappearing breed of job in todays society... Not necessarily a bad thing IMO to have certain parks contracts for services competitively bid as long as previously bargained/signed contracts are honored. My question about a corporate takeover of the parks was related to dhrmabum's inference that "Wasn't it George W's intention to privatize forest recreation?" Posting something like that begs a multitude of questions...

This Washingtonian thinks our state will survive just fine without your "tourist dollars", your "facilities inspections", and, your incessant complaining. I propose a "whiney baby" forum be added to cc.com. It would be a catch all for this type of "discussion". It shouldn't be in a climbing forum IMO... I'll nominate KirkW to be the moderator of this new forum. Mods? Please? d I don't think, in this case, that there was much,if any, whining coming from KirkW. Nor do find the TR he linked whiny at all; rather, I thought it showed with ridiculous irony how f-ed up this whole fee situation is. . ie, a new shitter, closed, w/glorious signage all over, along w/ piles of shit some dog owner didn't feel like carting back in their car. Surprised someone didn't take a shit at the foot of the closed restroom door. . And, he brought up some good points: if people stop going to such and such a trailhead(s), due to shelling out the monies, the immediate area can suffer a decrease in $$. My cousin still goes to Hamilton, and he says he's noticed a visible difference in the number of cars now parked in the lot. This may or may not make a too much of a difference on the local economy, but I can't help think that the little stores, gas stations, etc, in any given area, now would lose a few $ w/ the loss of people going to any given trailhead. . You don't think, in this case, that there was much, if any, whining coming from KrikW? Really? ... For the record, my suggestion for a new forum, and nomination for mod thereof still stands. Further, I suggest the solution to funding our beloved parks lies not user fees and parking passes, but in allowing our elected representatives make the decisions on taxing and spending based on majority rule as was done in the past and as our State Constitution mandates. Super majorities only empower a minority to block anything and everything including raising revenue for the greater good of a state, or nation. Like it or not we ARE in this together. As long as we prefer representative government, this is how it works best. Sometimes, some must give more so that everyone can benefit. Privatize the parks? Are you sure this is what you want? Trust corporate America with our beloved parks now??? Count me out. d