Serenity

I would say weather is your best predictor of having a successful ski trip. I would error on the side of good to very clear weather, and be prepared for less than ideal ski conditions. Sometimes the snowfield turns into a trap crust/sastrugi field, or gets so windblown it's an ice field. Also be aware of the prevailing tendencies for people to follow the fall lines and end up on glaciers to either side of the main snowfield. Also be aware that the snowfield while relatively crevasse free does produce some small slots near the Muir hut. Have fun!

Pay your bills on time and you shouldn't have too much of a problem. Works better than indignancy. I pay my bills on time. That was the point I was making.

SuckBM, Can you estimate the snow level from where you are at? How does the rest of the Teanaway look?

Uh yeah, it's a war. Ambush Injures Polish Diplomat in Iraq By KIM CURTIS BAGHDAD (AP) — A daring ambush of bombs and gunfire left Poland's ambassador pinned down in a burning vehicle Wednesday before being pulled to safety and airlifted in a rescue mission by the embattled security firm Blackwater USA. At least three people were killed, including a Polish bodyguard. The attack — apparently well planned in one of Baghdad's most secure neighborhoods — raised questions about whether it sought to punish Poland for its contributions to the U.S.-led military force in Iraq. But Poland's prime minister, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, said his nation would not retreat "in the face of terrorists." The diplomatic convoy was hit by three bombs and then attackers opened fire in the Shiite-controlled Karradah district. Polish guards returned fire as the injured ambassador, Gen. Edward Pietrzyk, was pulled from his burning vehicle. At least 10 people, including four Polish security agents, were wounded. U.S. Embassy officials dispatched Blackwater helicopters to evacuate the ambassador and others. Blackwater was not involved in protecting the Polish convoy. Pietrzyk, who was commander of ground forces in Poland before taking the ambassador post in April, suffered minor burns over 20 percent of his body, including his head and right arm and leg, said Polish Charge d'Affaires Waldemar Figaj. "They were waiting for us," Figaj told The Associated Press as he gave details of the attack. Shortly after the assault, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki renewed his government's offensive against Blackwater. "There have been 190 victims of Blackwater ... The kind of accusations leveled against the company means it is not fit to work in Iraq," he told a news conference. It was not known if al-Maliki knew Blackwater rescued the Polish envoy. It also was not clear if the 190 victims represented a new figure arising from an Iraqi investigation or a reference to the 195 incidents involving the U.S. security company outlined in a House report earlier this week. Congress is looking into Blackwater's role in a Sept. 16 shootout that left 11 Iraqis dead in a west Baghdad intersection and other incidents by the Moyock, N.C.-based company, which protects U.S. diplomats and others in Iraq. Diplomatic missions or foreign envoys in Iraq have been attacked at least seven times since the war began, including the July 2005 kidnapping and murder of Egypt's ambassador. Poland, a staunch U.S. ally, contributed combat troops to the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and has since led a multinational division south of Baghdad. About 900 Polish troops remain in the country training Iraqi personnel; 21 Poles have died during the conflict. Last year, the Polish government extended its mission in Iraq until the end of 2007, but has made no decision on next year. Pietrzyk was treated at the U.S. military hospital in the fortified Green Zone and later flown to Warsaw. "He is going to be fine," Figaj said. "He is stable, but he needs rest." Two Iraqi passers-by also were killed in the 10 a.m. blasts, according to an Iraqi police official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information. A Polish security guard, Bartosz Orzechowski, 29, died at the hospital, said Poland's Interior Minister Wladyslaw Stasiak. The slain guard had been employed by the service since 2004. Robert Szaniawski, a spokesman for the Polish Foreign Ministry, said officials "don't have the reasons for the attack," which destroyed three armored vehicles just a few hundred yards from the Polish Embassy. But Figaj noted that Poland is a "strong U.S. ally and you can make your own conclusions." Polish Foreign Minister Anna Fotyga said officials planned to move the embassy into the Green Zone. "Backing out in the face of terrorists is the worst possible solution and I trust that the Poles, who are a brave nation, will not desert the battle field," said Poland's prime minister, Kaczynski. "We must fight terrorism and that entails a certain risk." U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander in Iraq, issued a joint statement condemning the attack. "Poland has been a strong and steadfast ally here and around the world, and we commend its commitment to a stable and secure Iraq," the statement said. "We stand ready to provide any additional assistance we can." American authorities confiscated an AP Television News videotape that contained scenes of the wounded being evacuated. U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Scott Bleichwehl told AP that Iraqi law make it illegal to photograph or videotape the aftermath of bombings or other attacks

If you guys really want to be indignant, why don't you argue about the privatized outsourcing of your credit ratings to Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. Now there is an evil racket designed to suck you dry.

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Murray, That is an inaccurate statement. So many of these posts sound so ignorant to someone who actually knows and understands what is going on, so I'll explain a few things, AGAIN. Blackwater is contracted to TEMPORARILY provide security for Department of State. High threat environments require a unique set of skills. Basically deputizing former military personnel is cost effective, and once again I will mention that no diplomat has been killed while being protected by Blackwater. Blackwater does not train people with the sole purpose of providing them employment funded by the taxpayer. They perform training roles requested by government officials, oversight is provided by government officials, mission sets and ROE's are dictated by government officials with high rankings. If you are paying attention Eric Prince went before a congressional committee yesterday and represented admirably. It's the Federal Law Enforcement Officials IN CHARGE of Blackwater who are in the target sights right now. Bottom line is Blackwater has done a fantastic job at the task they have been assigned. Has it been a perfect run? No, not really, but it's improving all the time. Professionalismship, teamanship...

Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie

There is snow on Snoqualmie Pass all the way down to Mailbox Peak.

I respect your views SC. I see you think about them, and have a heartfelt approach to them. Best to you.

I like it! Looks like you got in right before the weather came in.

If the shoe fits then wear it.

What's funny to me is that some of the posters demonstrating virulent opposition to this advertising, represent a cross section of the population which is least affected or disenfranchised by the war. Yet time and time again, you seem to be the most virulently vocal about it. Coffee house life has been good. You staying warm in that hotspot? It's a good thing that there is in reality like 8 of you who have such little regard for anything other than listening to yourselves posture. The nature of society has changed since the days when barbarians used to swarm over the walls, and raze cities to the ground. At that time the profession of arms was a venerated and honorable profession. I also find it amusing that there seems to be a hint of isolationism in some of the posts made here. As if climbing is some kind of special secret club, that only a few can enter into. The owners of the website have the right to do whatever they want to. I don't always agree with the things they do, but I've learned over time to let them do their thing. You can bitch about it all you want. If someone is inclined to join an organization like Special Forces, which incidentally is a top-notch organization filled with people you probably would have a lot in common with, then good on them. If not, then the advertising has no affect on you whatsoever. Move on, and take a look at the gear advertisers. Support them.

http://blackblawg.blogspot.com/2007/09/next-target-of-anti-war-left.html

Towering intellect? I think you had a typo that should have read "towering ignorance".

tvashtarkatena, everytime you post this is all I see. It's fitting. You can now go back to your one hand clapping for eternity. *** You are SO ignoring this loser ***

BW has never lost a diplomat. I would call that mission accomplishment. The fact that Iraq is a war, that their mission is sensitive, and that they are frequently targeted might account for those types of statistics.

And there it is folks. Us versus Them via Kevbone's interpretation. Your sense of entitlement Kevbone is monumental. The founding fathers would be so proud.

R.I.P. Sad story

Maine looks sweet. Cool report, pretty unique actually.

I love nothing more than keeping my heart rate at 180 for extended periods of time.

L. Paul Bremer wrote an article into the Iraqi Constitution exempting PMC's from prosecution under Iraqi law. Uncle Jerry was no dummy. Put that in your pipe and smoke it Al-Maliki. I seem to remember him being there during the days at the house of pain. Hey Jens. Long time brother. We'll have to go bust up some line deckers in Lilooet soon. I know you crave logger/hockey player blood.

I agree about the picture in the rain, very cool!

Taken to PM.

Graham, Thanks for your input. No offense taken whatsoever, and I like debate. I just don't care for rabble rousing. I don't believe the average American really understands just how ineffective the Iraqi government is, nor how duplicitous the Arab mindset is. Until you have encountered it, worked with it, lived with it, you'll never understand. It's like KNOWING up is up, and down is down, and when you try and tell them that they have a million boring anecdotal stories to confound your logic with. You would be better of talking to a brick wall. They do this purposely to stall to better their position, and will continually, as demonstrated in the past, make concessions they have no intent of honoring. This has proven as fruitless for us, as it was during the Vietnam war. It simply allows the enemy time to regroup, and rethink its strategy. There are those who surmise Al-Maliki is working on Sadr's behalf, despite the fact that he exists due to our good will. He's truly a piece of excrement of the vilest kind. This is what you are seeing in regards to this latest Blackwater event. Our enemy clearly understands that their is a paramilitary force multiplier in their midst, in the form of a contracted force, made up of highly trained and motivated individuals. They know they cannot defeat the US militarily, they understand they can win through PROPAGANDA. This is an example. They don't belong to any treaty organization and the thought of them now playing the card they are playing, as the Shiites are losing control, is nothing short of laughable. It's power politics. In the end, I highly doubt their will be the prosecution of anyone, and it will end up costing us, the taxpayer, more money. A lot of these contractors will be folded into expanded FED/LE roles, given full retirement, training they won't need, etc. As far as the recent history of the dawning of close protection specialists. Long drawdown, mission curtailment, lack of foresight, lack of critical thinking, based in reality, federal law, etc. Long story short is partially this. Army CID was taken off the job of protecting Bremer because they were deemed incompetent to do the job. Their attitudes and demeanor, age, general lack of experience and firearms skills were not up to the tasking. It was painfully obvious to those of us who were on the ground at the time and observed this firsthand. The teams that were brought in did such a stellar job combined with an infrastructure, that fostered an environment of close cooperation. Marine security guards stand fixed posts, and guard embassies. They were seen as under trained for mobile protection. This is not to say they couldn't be brought up to speed, not by any means. However, the size of the military going into this conflict was inadequate, and their just wasn't the time or the vision to get this training done. Furthermore, the bulk of experienced operational types had neared retirement, reached retirement, or left service during the Clinton presidency. Their was a huge vacuum of experience and talent that was all the sudden needed, and being a FAG (Former Action Guy) was all the sudden back in vogue. Many did not want to reenter the service, because the service lacks initiative. I have personally made the statement that many of these types of positions can be folded back into a traditional system at the right time. The DoD and DoS is going to have to change in order for that to happen.