Donkeydonkdonk

This is SOP for the CBPS and not some dickhead trying to make life hard for you. I've made dozens of crossings at Surrey/Blaine, Alderwood/Lynden, etc. since 2007 and learned to have the letter and parenting plan handy when I brought my kid across the border with me. Think about it: Would you want your ex dragging your little bundle up to reside permanently at a grow-op in Lower Canuckistan without your consent, or even worse, knowledge? This doesn't seem like jackboot thuggery but a fairly prudent policy on their part IMHO. My experience with the CBPS is they are polite and professional and as long as you don't behave like an asshole, they are likely to leave you alone. Trust me, you are an annoyance, not a threat. Just don't say "eh". Time tested tips and strategies: have your shit (i.e. paperwork) ready beforehand--don't be the jerkoff digging for his passport at the booth as that's an instant pink slip to go inside and get fucked with. Roll down both windows on the driver's side of the vehicle (so they can SEE you're not hiding anything). Greet them, make eye contact, answer their questions in the most brief, to-the-point manner as possible. Try to limit your responses to "yes" or "no"; otherwise, do not volunteer information and stammer on about irrelevant bullshit. Common sense stuff... Be friendly and treat them with a little courtesy and respect. Believe it or not, those in Canadian border services and law enforcement are usually very decent, open-minded people much unlike their American counterparts who are mostly douchebags looking to avenge the countless wedgies they received in middle school. An aside: Canadian cops are cool--I know this is true because I had interactions with a few who could have been dicks and made my life miserable but instead they rolled their eyes, said "tsk tsk" and sent me on my way. In sum, don't be an idiot and you'll be fine.

I have very wide Donald Duck feet and narrow ankles. The only boots I found that fit are Scarpa Mont Blancs with Superfeet insoles. With any other brand of boot, my feet scream in protest within thirty seconds of donning 'em. I really have to crank the shit of the laces around the instep to prevent any heel-popping. (Thanks to the clerk at the store who gave me the 100 level course in mountaineering boot lacing!) You also got to love the hot orange/mango color. I have been plodding around in mine at work to break them in and the fatass cubicle commandos I work with stare at my kicks in amazement. Are those snowboots? I tell them yes and lumber away. Keep watching Jersey Shore, bitches. But I digress... To reaffirm what the above posters have said, in general, Scarpa tends to be wider, La Sportiva tends to be more narrow. I've had a mixed bag with Asolo: I've tried and worn several boots that ranged from too damn narrow to too damn wide (not mountaineering boots--just three season models). YMMV.

Basic Information Name (if you wish to be cited in a way other than your username): D3 Age: 36 Weight: 205 Physical Height: 6' Name or Elevation of Childhood Town:* Wenatchee, WA: elevation 780' *Side interest, used to determine if childhood environment impacts ability to adapt to certain levels of height while climbing- see Adaptions to Altitude: A Current Assessment by Cynthia M. Beall. Climbing Information Typical Carrying Capacity (if known): 20 lbs day for day hikes; 35-40 lbs for weekend hikes. Years of Experience: General knowledge of "outdoor activities" and the necessary common sense that should be associated with it: 25 years. Actual practice: 10 years Highest Recorded Personal Height: ~9000 ft/asl Longest Climb (Guesstimate): ~50 miles Average Number of Climbing Partners: 1 Usual/Favorite locale: Wherever I my roam. Preferred Manufacturer(s): I'm not a brand slut. I try to buy the best quality product (regardless of who makes it) for what my meager salary allows. Personal Accounts - How often do you go climbing? With partners? Alone? Do you stick to areas you are familiar with or are you often in search for new conquests? I don't go climbing as much as I like (due to many reasons). Where I go is dependent on available time, disposable/discretionary income, childcare issues, weather, my spouse's mood at the time, etc. - What do you consider the bare minimum in safety equipment for your typical heights? The ten essentials. Any additional items that are brought are based on weather, environment, potential hazards, etc. For example, if I'm traipsing around places where toofless Jimbo Jenkins and family are cooking up meth in a travel trailer out on a dirt road in BFE, I've been known to bring along "extra precautions"--despite the added weight - On average, what does your climbing loadout consist of? I'm not familiar with this term ("loadout"). - Do you find the weight of your gear to be a noticeable encumbrance? Has it ever endangered your safety? Nope. I'd rather deal with "extra weight" to ensure safety, comfort, and peace of mind. - Have you ever sacrificed a piece of necessary (or unnecessary) equipment for speed's sake? What was it? Why? No. - What are some of the more notable injuries (if any) you have received while climbing? Where were you? In hindsight, is there anything that could have been done to avoid it? I poured a full pot of boiling water on my ankle when a (very shitty) pair of pot grabs broke. I was alone and about ten miles from the trailhead. Fortunately, I had some prescription grade painkillers in my possession which mitigated the pain and I was able to hump out the next day (and eventually get skin grafts). This situation could have avoided by not purchasing cheap shit when my life/well-being depends on the quality/functionality of the gear I use. - Do you insist on your climbing partners having matching gear or do you spread out necessities amongst the group? How much “personalization” is involved? This varies widely on the situation, the individuals involved, and everybody's respective skill-sets. - Has a climbing partner ever endangered themselves or the well-being of others? How? Was it an acceptable risk? Yes; too many to mention; never. - What constitutes an “acceptable risk” for yourself? Varies on the real/perceived "acceptable risk" - Has your safety equipment ever failed during a climb? What was it? What did you do? N/A - Why do you climb? To test myself physically/mentally; fresh air; to get away from (sub)urban areas/traffic/stripmalls/assholes. - Other comments: A lot of these questions could be made more specific to garner more precise, detailed answers to provide the type of data you are intending to collect.

Yep. The first one immediately adjacent to the P.O. The store was there the tail-end of October 2009. I think it was gone by the end of November the same year. I should take up drinking and working on expanding my googling skills on the interwebs. It'll give me something to do in the Yakisnatch. Thanks for your help

"Sven's" = Sporthaus on Summitview? When I first moved to the Yak in the fall of 2009, I was checking my mailbox at the post office on 3rd St. (right off of Yakima Avenue) and I stumbled into a mountaineering themed store to the right of it (if you're facing the post office). As I am always on a quest for footwear that don't fuck up my feet, I asked the guy in there what he recommended. (Of course I didn't remember what he said.) He seemed like a pretty nice dude. I went to follow up a month (or so) later and the store was gone and replaced by some new age patchouli-and-crystals bullshit outfit. Any ideas what this store may have been called (the climbing shop--not the indie Hot Topic) and where it went?

...in Central Washington? I need a good pair of non-plastic mountaineering boots for wide-ass pontoon feet. I live in Yakima and the only store that approaches my needs is Sportshaus which stocks one pair of mountaineering boots, in one size (luckily my own--11), and in a non-emasculating color. Unfortunately, the floor staff is manned with "um I don't know--this is Yakima"-types who seem to not be able to answer basic questions such as can you order different sizes/widths/brands/what type of crampon do these accept, etc., etc? The prices aren't that attractive at all as they have the "outdoor-adventure" market cornered in the Yak. Without the forethought of calling first, I drove like a bat-out-of-hell to the REI in Kennewick and I was disappointed that particular excuse for a store does not stock mountaineering boots (however, you can buy crampons, ice axes, cams, chocks, rope, and the kitchen sink). My inquiry to the sales staff was given curt, smartassed remarks which equated to a half tank of gas down the shitter. I grew up in Wenatchee, so I already know there isn't anything available unless something has miraculously materialized in the past couple of years. I doubt Ellensburg has anything either... Help? Are there any options to my gear woes besides a Saturday/Sunday in Seattle, Spokane, or PDX? Ordering stuff off of eBay just ain't an option as I don't truss dem bastuds with my money. Thanks y'all. Donk