Brewer

edited cuz.

It's too bad you don't have anything I need, because I'm up to my ears in beer. It's not Bridgeport (think "big, but not as far south"). For example, if those were Turbo Express screws, I would have no problem trading 4 cases for a single one. That's how much beer I have [access to]. But, alas. ps, "cask conditioned bottles" is an oxymoron.

PM'd about the stoppers and hexes

Wow, that sounds like quite a story he's got there. I can't wait to hear the details. I've got a 60L pending shipment, but it sounds like he's up to his neck right now, so I'll try to be patient... still trying

Marmot Mountain Works in Bellevue, WA carries some. VERY few sizes left as they are discontinued, but if you have huge or tiny feet you can get them on sale!

PM sent

The most important things when shooting panoramas (to make stitching easier) is to: >keep all camera settings the same between each photograph >rotate the camera around the "entrance pupil" or "nodal point" of the lens (which is in a different location for each focal length, focus setting, and lens; it gets confusing) >not use a polarizer The first eliminates problems with different colors, brightnesses, and other factors that will make each picture look completely different once they are side by side. The second eliminates parallax, which would make stitching them together a real headache due to the amount of distortion you have to use to "fix" the images so they line up. The third helps to eliminate the issue of "sky banding", where half the sky is dark and the other half is light, so when the images are put next to each other your sky looks like a zebra. There is a lot more to it than this, but these are the basics. If you want more [excellent] information, check out this site: http://www.tawbaware.com/maxlyons/ The software he uses is about $35 or so, but you can try the free version for awhile before deciding to pay.

A good friend of mine has access to a freeze-drier used for food science research. We like to make: Chicken Tikka Masala Green Chile Stew Dahl (can you tell we like Indian food?) Schezuan Beef all sorts of other stuff (ie: nearly anything). Meals for two weigh barely 200-400 grams, you can eat it right out of the bag, and GOOD GOD does it taste divine!

awesome find, thanks organdonor!

Maybe I should have put this in the Climber's Forum. Or is it just a boring and pointless topic? Or is everyone already on Holiday?

Hey, I've been doing some searching for useful weather links around the web, and I thought that I would share what I found that I thought would be helpful, and ask if there are any others that people like to check which might supersede some of these. This is just 20 minutes of looking around, so there may be other, better ones. Intellicast Jetstream Forecast Western Pacific Satellite Imagery NOAA Satellite (IR, Vis, Vapor) NOAA Geostat. Sat. Server PNW Snowfall Forecast Western US Snow Quality Forecast US Wind Forecast US Wind Chill Forecast PNW Precip. Forecast Tomorrow Night's Cloud Cover (would be nice to find more local forecast) Park-Oriented Forecasts 5000' winds aloft 10000' Winds Aloft Any others you use?

Can't tell from the photos if that is mine (or at least has the same color pattern) but it resembles the "classic blue" pattern. Not terribly useful if my rope is "classic blue" is it? Makes it sound like there are dozens of other models with that pattern... I guess I'll be dipping it to see.

That sounds like a good tool, too. I currently have an older version of DeLorme's Topo USA (3.0) which does pretty well for backcountry topo stuff. Fairly customizable, and gives good elevation profiles for routes and such. Also interfaces with GPS units, but I've just started exploring that feature. At some point I may upgrade to a newer version.

Actually, as I look around some more, this Black Diamond Sphynx 32 looks like it could work. Very minimal on the external features, but it is hydration compatible, is just over 3 lbs, and stripping the aluminum frame takes another pound off. And it's far cheaper, so that is good.

Are USGS Quads appropriate/useful for mountaineering? Are there many people who use them, or are there more useful map systems out there...? (I realize, of course, that guide maps, photos, etc are also important)

great, thanks eric. that's the kind of input i was searching for. also, perhaps i should ammend my first post by saying "getting into alpine climbing, and perhaps some big volcanoes". there is somewhat of a difference, yes yes? i'd much appreciate it if someone who stumbled upon this thread who has used a Naos would chime in, but if there is no such person, then oh wells. thanks again.

ok, then it isn't for summits. anyone else?

The Bora 80 thread below inspired me to start this thread. Been backpacking for years now, starting to make the leap to alpine climbing (PNW Cascades). I have a Bora 80 that is a few years old, but in good shape. I am looking to supplement it with another pack used for shorter light and fast trips or for summitting. The Arc'teryx Naos pack has been intriguing me for awhile now, especially the 45 or 55L. Does anyone have any experience with it? If you don't have any experience with it, but have plenty of experience in the hills, perhaps you can look over these links and give me your impression of what its performance or hinderances might be. http://www.arcteryx.com/product.aspx?Naos-45# http://www.rei.com/product/733753 Thanks a bunch.

Thanks for the interest and the replies. The "markings" on the end consist of a wrap-label telling me it's a 10mm and 60m. That's it, I think. I will follow up on sending a photo to Mammut, and I will probably dunk it and see what it does. Maybe it will be obvious, maybe not. Thanks again.

Back in 2003 I purchased a 10mm 60m Mammut rope (long story, but this was before I knew anything about mountaineering - and I'm still learning). IIR, I paid between $115-150. Basically, I want to know if the rope is a dry rope and if it can be identified by the color of the weave. Is there a way to find out? Can I soak the rope and see if it takes on water? /noob, thanks

I picked up an older model a few years back (when it wasn't an older model) and I love it; no complaints. It is quite comfortable, and has plenty of good features. I'm pretty sold on Arc'teryx products now, and am looking at a smaller Naos for taking into the mountains on those wetter trips.