JasonG

Yep, i think you are right. I thought my heels were moving around too much with the Towers when I got them, but then they broke in real nice. Also, as they break-in, more of the tread will contact the trail. Or maybe you need to stretch your calves a bit more? They do climb pretty well.

WHAT??!!!!! THE ANDY KIRKPATRICK HAS JOINED CC.COM??!!! I think I need to buy a lottery ticket. This is truly an auspicious day. THANK YOU Andy, for years of adventure and alpine wisdom.

Yes, yes it is! And I think the Towers will break in nicely for you. The first fit you describe was similar to my boots and now they are really great. I would add that I always carry Leukotape on any mountain trip now. THE BEST tape out there for dealing with hot spots. Truly amazing stuff that will stay on for days and come off without taking your skin with it.

I do know that glaciers deep down move more like a thick liquid and are not broken (i.e., below ~30-50 meters). The ice at the surface is brittle and that is why the cracks form as it flows over the irregular bed surface. This also partially explains why crevasses pinch down and don't go all the way to bedrock, especially above the firn line.

I would say over the life of the boot. I think it is because the rocker gradually gets bigger as the boots wear in and the material flexes down on top of the toes? I don't know exactly why, but it sure feels as if your toes don't gain room over time, even after you've walked for a while in them.

Well, there you have it. Identical! I'll ask my climbing partner what he thinks about the durability of the cube. He's had them a few years more than my Towers. The other thing I would mention is that my LaSportiva toe boxes only seem to get smaller with time.....

I have had the Towers for a couple Cascadian alpine seasons and really like them. They seem just about right, but I still wish the uppers didn't have any of that mesh stuff on them. Not the best for abrasion resistance in talus fields. I think they are very comfortable on long approaches and climb pretty well to mid-fifth. I think the Towers have more rocker in the sole than the Cubes? I guess you would know if you've worn both. If so, might make the Tower the better choice if you are doing a lot of approaching?

The Coleman headwall is in the accumulation zone of that particular glacier, so I think the cracks are more a function of how much snow/movement is going on high on Baker. We've had some really snowy winters in the past 20 years and I suspect that this is causing the upper Coleman to move and break up a bit. This is more what you'd see in the situation you describe @aikidjoe.... Lots of cracks, but generally easily passable on a stagnant glacial ice remnant. But hey, this is just an educated guess from someone who isn't a glaciologist!

I think you stick with whatever company fits your foot and then choose the best model for your desires. Footwear has to fit otherwise the features are pretty moot. In my case it has to be LaSportiva. Nothing else fits as well from the major companies.

Sorry to hear about your loss.....Thanks for some insight into someone I had never heard of, but should have- it sounds like he didn't waste his time here.

You guys stumbled upon a little known rule built into the new software - the first Eiger North Face TR in the database gets automatic "Best of CC.com"! Enjoy your time in Cham and the views @Priti & @JeffreyW, we'll look forward to more radness later in the year!

So, are you guys Chamoniardes for the forseeable future? Or does it just happen that you are "stuck" in Chamonix?

Yet again, the dynamic duo with an incredible ascent!! Wow seems insufficient. Inconceivable? Thanks again for taking the time to post such detail and beautiful imagery for us armchair types to oogle. That climbing looks quite legit and insecure. Well done! Way to stay safe throughout a grand adventure.

And lucky! Can't forget that part. Without it, I wouldn't be typing this. Thanks for the great blast from the past, post some more stories please!!

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!

It is looking like I'll have to build that fence I've been putting off for years. I'm running out of slides to digitize..... first world problems for sure in light of what is going on!

Closer, for sure, thanks for the vote of confidence. The new camera really upped the number of keepers, but I need to figure out how to organize it around a theme or how to even approach it, what software to use, etc. Suggestions welcome! Truth is, it is also a bit daunting. But maybe one of these days....

We've all got low-T now. My wife says that's OK.

We've outlawed all forms of fun in WA

That is a pretty cool little camera, I hadn't even heard of those before. I guess I would tend to gravitate towards something like a Canon S120 (which I have), G7X, or Sony RX100V and put it on my shoulder strap or gear sling when the going gets too technical for my dSLR in front. But certainly something to keep in mind!

Ha! They have zero sympathy for my addiction and are always suspicious when I am around. And totally understandable about the larger pack. It certainly complicates things when they get that big! Hard to compete with the likes of BD for the price/effort.

Probably go outside. But this is a close second. Certainly better than working!

I'm always impressed by your creations @kmfoerster. So cool! Maybe a 50L version for people who carry too much camera gear?

Why does it matter so much to you? This isn't the AAJ, and a post like yours does nothing except stir the pot.... to what end?

Good luck with that. I doubt people will be locked down, legal or not, all summer.