nhluhr

Lowa Civetta size 48, asking $100 Vasque M-Possible size 48, asking $150 Vasque Radiator, size 40, asking $150 The vasques are very lightly used (just dusty from trail/rock) and the lowas are only slightly more used (but almost totally in snow).

I always wake up with dry gloves...Just have to keep them on my chest while I sleep.

Don't put too much value in the result of the weigh-in. You may or may not have lost weight depending on dietary changes but you can be SURE that no matter the result, you have traded fat for muscle, which is progress.

I'm not convinced about some of the other things you said, but you definitely got the kern (inner core) and mantle (outer sheath) mixed up You're right. We should just call it core and sheath. Fixed my post.

Liner socks will almost certainly solve your blister problem. If not, the problem will solve itself as your feet toughen up. Keep up the great work! I'm excited to see the one-month result. Also, no photo record of your physique? That would be a great way to help yourself see the progress.

Oh and, there's a video out there that Mike Barter has linked to that details a special way to munter which twists the rope opposite the way the rope would normally twist and thus mitigates most of the pigtail.

I was under the impression that rappelling, period, twists the rope... maybe i'm wrong. No, you're absolutely right. 95% of ropes out there have a kern-mantle construction. The kern (inner core) is the primary load bearing component of the rope. The mantle (outer sheath) is primarily for handling and protection. These two pieces are not bonded to each other. The construction of the kern is generally spiral while the mantle is generally a woven symmetrical design. This means that when they are heavily loaded and stretching, you get a relative torque between the kern and mantle. If the torque is great enough, it causes the mantle to slip on the kern. This produces pigtailing, regardless of flaking or proper handling. Certain types of belaying or rappelling can exacerbate rope twist while others minimize it, but it is near impossible to completely eliminate it.

I recently read "The Beckoning Silence" by Joe Simpson and in it, he talks about the first attempt to make "Touching The Void" into a movie. The directors were insane, wanting to cast Tom Cruise as Joe, wanting to give them radios to talk to each other since they didn't know how to portray the feelings of isolation and conundrum, etc. Hollywood sucks.

Look, neither is truly BETTER than the other for any of the tasks you describe. The Mac definitely has a better touchpad with its gestures and whatnot (but you have to get used to the lack of a 2nd mouse button and thus easy access to context menus... which are now queued by gestures which might be tricky to master) whereas the PC is likely going to be a lot easier for you to use thanks to familiarity right out of the box. Ultimately you should shop on desire since both machines are fully capable of doing what you want. Let your emotions make the decision since there's no rational/logical argument for choosing either one. The price isn't even all that different anymore for top-end PCs vs a Macbook Pro.

I like FF as well and will continue to shop there... I just also like my 4th Amendment rights :lol: I am commencing the "lighten up" as per above recommendation.

Funny that you think this about me...

While visiting the Seattle area earlier this month, I made it a point to stop into Feathered Friends. My first visit was a delight. The guy who helped me was extremely knowledgeable about everything I asked and made very useful recommendations on various things. I didn't buy everything we looked at but I did spend a couple hundred $$. Both my girlfriend and I walked out talking about how good the guy (and other personnel) were and how much we were going to shop at FF once we move to Seattle in December, and we wanted to get a FF Nalgene to spread it around. I stopped by again a week later before I was leaving town and it was a different guy at the front desk. I was just looking to get a gift for my girlfriend and unfortunately they didn't have what I was looking for in stock. Now, I had no issues with this other salesperson, but a couple other customers came in, one of them wearing a very typical school style backpack and the guy at the desk made them check the bag in. I found this offensive. Why treat (potential) customers like criminals? Instead of the arcane bag check or putting up anti-shoplifting cameras, why not just engage the customers as they come into the store? And I'm not talking about "hi is there anything I can help you with?". That is not engaging. That is triggering a reflex answer of "no, just looking" - even if the customer really did want something specific. Instead, converse with them about their interests, the awesome trip you did, the trip they are about to go on, how gnarly the suncups were on Adams last week... whatever. TALK to them. That way, they not only see you as people (instead of guards) but they also have fond memories of your shop and are more likely to buy from you instead of your competition across the street. Plus, if you engage them in such a fashion, they'll start talking about what it is they want and you'll be able to demonstrate your superior product knowledge, further cementing the customer-salesman relationship. If this person you're talking to just really wants to steal something, your presence will quickly deter him. This is a LOT better way to spend your day than sitting behind the front counter flipping through magazines and webpages. Security is for after-hours, not for preventing shoplifters. Customers remember good service.

Love my Arteryx A300a. The leg and waist loops do NOT cut into you at all. They've really got it right.

As said above, if it's cold enough that you need a down layer on, you will either be sitting still in camp or it will not be raining.

Just did the Kautz Glacier this past week and yes, it was heavily suncupped in places but the ice chute was filled with penitentes which made it probably a good bit easier to climb/descend.

cellphone-based GPS receivers generally have no mapping unless combined with Google Maps which requires an active data connection (cell signal) to update maps as you go.

Petzl Tikka XP is excellent. Single LED that is extremely bright, momentary boost mode for burning retinas, and a little flood/spot slider that is foolproof.

I have the following Boots that I (and my girlfriend) want to sell, since we found out they don't really work for our feet: 1pr Vasque Radiator size 40 1pr Vasque M-Possible size 48 1pr Lowa Civetta size 48 Both of them are relatively new with only minor signs of use. Make an offer that you think is fair and maybe you'll get lucky.

what we need is a webcam at Camp Muir so we can see the upper mountain! :lol: Just go for it!

I think the rope looks like an "Edelweiss Discover 8mm x 30m Super Dry Twin Rope"

Mike, thanks for taking the time to do these videos. My girlfriend is a complete newbie and I'm afraid that I lack the ability to really teach her. Your videos are a huge help!

I've been looking for an additional partner or two for the July 6-8 window but that could possibly be moved back to July 5-7. Planning on Fisher Chimneys.

not if he is implying he wants only an individual... a sole climber -Pro Grammar Nazi.

Washington DC just passed a resolution to charge 5 cents per plastic bag at stores.