Le Piston

That was great! Thanks for putting those clips together. I really enjoyed seeing those.

Thanks DPS for the blog...hope you get feeling better. I'm old school and love knickers for summer climbs. I found some Ibex Schoeller fabric ones at Value Village for $10. I also found some Cloudveil soft shell pants that have snaps to roll up the legs for instant knickers (found em at Feathered Friends)...they work great.

Nice work gents. I was up there watching the sun rise without a partner (he chose to be with his girlfriend over climbing with me). The NE buttress looked good...glad someone enjoyed it. It got a bit windy later in the morning. Thanks for the TR. Took this on the hike out

Try to Google Providence Regional Medical Center Everett or www2.providence.org/northwest washington. The web site has a place "Careers"...click on that. There is a drop down screen for Career Areas, click on New Grad Nursing. It will give you the particulars (starting wages, etc) and icons for applying or getting more information. I unfortunately don't have any contacts there, but you can e-mail your information and I'm sure they'll get back to you. My first nursing job was with Providence (back in the day) and I enjoyed working for them. Good Luck! By the way, Everett isn't a bad location for climbing access in Washington.

Nick, I live nearby in Kent and "moderate" is my middle name (really it's Michael). I tend to like alpine rock and mountaineering, but will do moderate sport routes and willing to learn better ice climbing technique. I have wheels and gear, but usually only weekends free. PM me if you'd like to meet and talk over the beverage of your choice.

A lot of great pictures so far...keep em' coming. I'm sharing a couple...more good memories than great climbing shots. I had great times in the Enchantments in Fall and Dragontail/Colchuck early this year.

Another relic from my past. It's got the biner hole. I got this for $10 at an REI garage sale in the early eighties...even back then I considered it quite the deal. I only used it a few times, then was given an aluminum shaft axe by my brother for Christmas...my first step toward lighter weight climbing equipment.

Great collection of big wall hammers! I like the nice selection of kids movies too in the man cave...I'm glad I'm not the only one!

I still owe you beer from last winter...I haven't forgotten. When the ice is fat and the snow is firm I'm heading your way. By the way, you inspired me to buy some skis...just waiting to get them and learn to stay up on them. Cheers! Rick.

I think you're right about the biner hole...this is a 1940-50's era axe with a leash glide ring.

I might just be interested...the price is right. I'll give you a call when I'm not at work.

I agree with ScaredSilly on the flower. As I remember Salewa used a bird symbol (Eagle I believe). I know Edelweiss makes ropes, but don't know about ice axes. Ask Dane!

Congrats on graduating! As a fellow RN/Climber, I wish you the best of luck finding a job. I don't work at any of those hospitals mentioned (I'm at Valley Medical Center, Renton, WA), but I'll keep my ears open. Get your resume ready and keep at it!

Try Amazon.com...that's where I got my Canon (at a very good price too!)

Another vote for the Canon Powershots, though it really depends on what features you like. I have the Canon A1100 IS. Like ericb, I love the light weight, AA batteries, optical viewfinder, and good picture quality (12.1 MP). I can easily take pictures with it one handed. Good luck finding your perfect climbing/skiing camera!

Another of the Saturday visitors...a beautiful day to be in the mountains! Lots of powder...floatation a good plan. I mainly wanted to see how Chair Peak was looking. I'm thinking a few more melt/freeze cycles and things will be shaping up nicely.

Awesome pictures! I've always wanted to climb there...now I've got to go. Thanks for the inspiration. Can you provide the same stellar weather for me?

Thanks for the great TR and pictures. I love that area too...been too long since I was there (1992). Now you've given me an idea for my next climbing trip! I need some gelato!

Right all around. The MSR Thunderbird...my brother worked at MSR and got me a lot of my gear for cheap (helmet, stove, etc).

Is this one of the tools you were asking about?

I've enjoyed seeing all the pictures of you guys "back in the day". For another stroll down amnesia lane...my first climb of Mt. Shuksan. Ah, the days of strap on crampons, tied runners, and hair on the head!

Very cool. The approach drive looked scarier than most of the climbing. Beautiful scenery! At least the mountain didn't look like Waddington.

Like Quark, I'm another of those who almost always bring synthetic insulation for my clothes and down for my sleeping bag. I do own down jackets, which I tend to use on clear cold weather trips. If it gets wet and nasty, I either hunker down and stay dry or get the heck out of the hills. For the Cascades, I prepare for wet and cold...and synthetics work much better when wet than down. Personally, I've had no problems keeping my down bag functionally dry(there is always some condensation, perspiration, etc.)...even in some pretty gnarly weather conditions in the Cascades, Olympics, Canadian Rockies, and Alps. I much prefer the warmth-to-weight,durability and loft advantages of down sleeping bags over synthetic. Dane makes a good point though...you can make most anything work if you use good sense and have the will.

Eddie Bauer had had some sweet sales. I scored a Downlight Sweater (usually $169) for $70 this summer...used it on several trips and very happy with warmth to weight and quality. If I didn't already have a burly hooded down jacket, I'd be all over this too! Thanks Dane, but my wife would kill me if I bought another one.

I like the Canon A1000 IS for climbing. It is very compact, takes AA batteries (which I have anyway for my headlamp), has an optical view finder (great when glare is an issue), and takes great pictures...even one handed. I keep it on the strap of my pack while climbing...very handy. I also have the Canon G11, which has a great wide angle lens, optical view finder, and manual as well as auto controls (nice for timed exposure shots and such). I find it a bit heavy and bulky for climbing though and usually use it for scrambles, hikes, and easier climbs. All the cameras previously mentioned would take great pictures for you...it's a matter of finding the features you like. Good luck!