Vickster

Invest in a Hilleberg you wont regret it. Maybe this tent is still available... http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/868773/Searchpage/1/Main/65654/Words/Hilleberg/Search/true/hilleberg_keron_4_tent#Post868773

I just hope he doesn't tax my boss out of my job. In all honesty, denouncing the water boarding of those 3 maggot heaps is enough to make me hate him.

I've seen cats so fat they cant walk...

A couple years ago I heard a guy had his boots stolen while he was sleeping. I guess the thief at least left his old crap boots for the guy to wear down. Had a damn raven steal a whole bag of freshly cooked mountainhouse chilimac from me... the 2 severing size... I couldn't believe he could get in the air with that load of food, but he did. Another raven took my pop tarts the same trip.

I've seen an XGK in action a few times at altitude, they look like great stoves. I hated my whisperlite... always having to replace seals and scrub out clogs in the fuel line. I switched to a Primus eta power and MSR reactor. I hate polluting landfills with my empty canisters, but they work so darn well!

I like the dude playing the woodblock. WTF! the big arm raise half way through the song ROFL

What the hell is "one single national roadmap"? I'm pretty sure Obama has no clue, they were just words that popped up on his monitor. Fact is... he should have that monitor attached right to his face like the Borg. Hillary used to be the Jedi master of baffling political comments, she must be friggen amazed by this guy. And to clear things up... would ONE reporter JUST ONE ask Obama "What exactly do you mean?" over and over until he gives a succinct understandable answer.... Lastly, the 2 torture dudes for the CIA come from my home town. I proudly say that people from Spokane know how to get sh*t done. And, go Mark Ferman!

About every other year I have had to either buy a new name brand pack or return one due to poor construction. I took a good look at Cilo Gear packs this year and found them to be a very one size fits all pack. I bet for most people a Cilo gear pack would be fine. Rather than buy another Chinese manufactured pack or a well made one that didn't fit worth a crap I went the custom route. I picked up an all Dyneema Mchale P&G for about $800. It is 4lbs with bayonets and 3lbs stripped. I figured I had already invested well over a $1000 in packs that are long gone now... why not invest in one good pack that fits and will last for a lifetime. The fit, durability, and weight combined together are impossible to beat. Some people get lucky with manufactured packs... I am not one of those people. All of Dan's packs are built like a brick shithouse. How much you choose to spend on fabrics and custom features is up to you. I think the Dyneema is the way to go. If your gonna go big, go big. A couple funny stories here regarding packs... -I went to Jim Nelson's store when I was on one of my backpack quests. He showed me a Monte Bell 50L. It was pretty nice, I ran around the block with 50lbs in it. When I got back and sat down I said to him, "You know, I really have my heart set on a Mchale pack, what do you think of them?" He shouted, "You could buy 5 of these friggen packs for the cost of one of his!" The conversation ended but in my mind I could remember at least 3 photos of Mr. Nelson wearing a Mchale pack while climbing. -A few months ago when I picked up my pack from Dan Mchale. He told me a story about how someone sent him a pack in the mail and asked him what he thought of it. He tore it apart with his bare hands and mailed it back to them. I've considered getting a cilo gear pack and mailing it to Dan, but I am afraid that what I get returned to me in the mail will not be marketable.

I had my Hilleberg Allak up at Muir a couple weekends ago. It was blowing 50-60 consistently and gusting up to 75 ish. I had to dig it out a few times during the night, but it held up great.

Does anyone out there have glacier goggles from http://www.atomefabrik.com/ and are they any good? I'm considering ordering a crazy pair of custom glacier goggles from this site but I do not want my eyes to melt. Thanks, Jim

Wonder if my curved Air Tech Evo would work in it... Id probably wedge it in and get it stuck!

I like this one...

I learned a new trick last summer when I got a half dollar size blister on my heal while breaking in new boots. It was a really bad one, like a blister inside a blister bad. This really does work... I've done it a few times... Step one, tear the skin off the entire blister as painful as it is (worst part). Step two, apply Banana Boat Aloe Sunburn Gel (green stuff) onto the exposed tissue repeatedly every half hour. When you go to bed put a big glob on and put a sock over it. The very next day you will be able to hike on that blister relatively pain free. You can also throw some Burts Bees foot salve on it to reduce friction if you like. Keep doing the routine and in 2-3 days the blister will be healed. In the past, the more I tried to protect the blister the longer it took to heal. This method is counter intuitive but I assure you it works.

Every hot climber chick I've ever met is a God Damn Lesbian so I don't care anymore!

I'm getting one of these soon they are 30L ish... http://www.mchalepacks.com/ultralight/detail/Merkebeiner.htm

Hilleberg Atko or Soulo. I'm 6'6" and they are the only solo tents I fit in. For a 2 person tent, spend that cash and get a Hilleberg Allak!

I got blown away in a ghetto tent when I was in my teens.... now I roll with a Hilleberg Atko for fair weather and my Soulo for foul weather. Good luck in that $20 pre civil war design.

Check out the Half Bag... http://www.wildthingsgear.com/prod_mtgear.php

I punched a hole in my eVent unishelter with my crampons when I staggered into camp and my bivy had a foot of snow on it. I duck taped it from the outside and Seam Gripped it from the inside. It worked great. There was still some evidence of a tear but no leakage.

REI Gear Garage in seattle, I have liners for years...

I take 100L pack and a small summit bag because I end up carrying other peoples stuff for them.

I love my Hilleberg Allak!

I use an Alit mitt outer with the alti glove liner, best of both worlds. Or I will use OR contact gloves for my inner and the cornice glove as my outer.

Right now I have the Volant, Icefall, and Rock and Ice Parkas. The Volant has been great for Rainier trips nearly year round. It fits well with a harness and you can move freely wearing it. I will use the Icefall if really cold weather is expected seeing that I am a wuss in the cold. The Rock and ice parka is so bulky it almost hampers your ability to move... only reason I got it is because it was a screaming cheap deal. From what I have heard most people go with the Icefall parka for Denali. It is a longer cut like the Frontpoint but it has more fill. I believe the Icefall is the number one jacket they rent for Denali trips. I can't really comment on the frontpoint, every time Ive gone to FF they havent had one in a XXL. Hope this helps!

For my lite synthetic jacket is use http://www.rei.com/product/753467 and it rocks.... got it for 30 bucks in the REI basement My heavier synthetic is The Belay jacket found here http://www.wildthingsgear.com/prod_insulation.php it also rocks... If I were to get a top of the line synthetic hoodie id probably go with the Wild Things EP Hooded jacket. If it is made anything like my belay jacket it will be good stuff. Jim