Matt

Caveman-- After almost a year of use do you still love your Integral Designs Unishelter bivy sack? I'm thinking of getting one...

Four number 3's and a big bro? I'm writing all of this down. Thanks for the beta!

Nice job! What kind of gear did you use? Did you pound some pins or use all passive pro?

Fairweather, This quote made me think of you. The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter. --Winston Churchill

ChrisT-- If he's like me he wants some off set aliens, a 4.5 camalot and a pair of good gloves to wear ice climbing. Maybe a titanium ice axe? Extravagance! RE Kitchen gadgets, juicers are cool. So are dehydrators for preparing backpacking foods. Maybe a fuzzy logic rice cooker?

GW (Greg W), Don't you find it ironic that it's a Republican Administration that is making government bigger (Dept of Homeland Secuity) and taking away our civil liberties (holding of prisoners w/o due process)? Where is all the Republican outrage at the Office of the Vice President denying the GAO access to public information and a Bush appointed Fed. Judge upholding this secrecy? We as a people demand transparency in government and those in public office must be held accountable! Once again, partisan politics have nothing to do with true ideology. Republicans need to open their eyes and see exactly what they are supporting!

Shalom Dwayner, That was the answer I was looking for. A wall full of bolts is more than just an eye sore-- it is an impediment on my experience and an infringement on my right to find wildness in wilderness. However, a well placed bolt is like manna from heaven. Used sparingly, it has it's place. Once again, thanks for the intelligent response Dwayner. Greg W, let's have an eastside drink up! Bygones? Just trying to still things up around here. Isn't it time someone made the argument that telemark skiing is better than randonee?

Are you insinuating that I am Harry Pi? Sorry Caveboy. Wrong again. That was a fun troll.

You are the pussy Caveman. I know you are afraid of me. And by the way my dog would stomp your dog too. Bring it on!

Favorite Pub Club thought: In trying to figure out why so many right wing political conservatives are also anti-bolt (see RETRO thread), we deduced that these "Greg W" types must see bolts as similar to welfare. Are bolts the same as welfare?

Useless bit of knowledge: Khan Tengri means "Lord of the Sky" in Mongolian. It is also supposedly the cheapest 7,000+m mountain to climb in the world. Poiyekholie! (sp?)

erik you suck!

Check out this: http://www.edmunds.com/used/1990/toyota/halfton/index.html Edmunds is a good site.

Sweet photos! I especially like specialed's picture of Erik and Wallstein hanging out drinking beer in Zion! Erik's chillin' like Bob Dylan! Whatcho been smokin' Erik?

weekdays at Index!!!!

I don't think bouldering in the gym will help you lead Davis-Holland at Index. Maybe it will help you climb 5.10 at Smith, but not Index. As for helping you climb 5.11, I don't know. I have climbed only a handful of 5.11s-- maybe a dozen. Followed TimL up an awesome 5.11 in Yosemite-- South by Southwest. So maybe following stronger climbers helps. I have done a few 5.11s at exit 38, though I don't really think they are 5.11. Maybe if I didn't have to work and I had no interest in sex I could devote all my time and chi to climbing then I could climb 5.11. Mostly all my climbing partners are 5.10 climbers so I don't find myself pushing the grades. Only once this past year I attempted a climb really at my ceiling with a partner who I knew couldn't bail me out if I failed. Even then it was a crack and I knew I could just aid if I couldn't get up it. Serenity Crack I would like to try the second pitch of Japanese Gardens. I am tired of doing just the first pitch, only to look up, wishing I could go on. What's the secret for 5.11 mojo?

MtnGoat-- I'm curious, do you think it's worth it to sacrifice American civil liberites in the name of Homeland Security?

quote: Originally posted by Fairweather: Matt, you may just take the cake as the biggest hypocrite on Cascade Climber. What arrogance! Do I get some kind of award or prize for this?

quote: Originally posted by mtnnut: The other choice not mentioned is shorty approach skis that you stow on your pack for descent. You really wouldn't have to even take the skins off of these, and would get to choose whatever snowboard that you want. Appears as though some of the folks seeking out performance for steep descents go this route. These shorty skis look pretty cool and allow you to deal with rolling terrain like the approach to Joffre where a little glide that will put you far ahead of snowshoers. Looks like the shorty skis take mountaineering boots well too and allow edging power, which split boards do not. Anyone own these shorty skis?

Fairweather, please read this. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/134577992_taxintro17m.html An interesting fact: [in Washington State] The higher your income, the less of it you pay in state and local taxes. The lowest-income people pay more than 16 percent, according to one study; the highest, less than 5 percent.

quote: Originally posted by AlpineK: I think you need to take the first step Fairweather and admit you have a problem. It's ok just say, "Hi I'm Fairweather and I burn petroleum."

Fairweather, What is driving you so crazy? This thread is about closing city parks, not German cars! Whatever, I sold the Audi a long time ago so you can't buy it from me. What can I say, I'm a compassionate conservative I guess I'm just a little more compassionate than you and MtnGoat. I want my park back!!! Can't you see that all your anti tax ranting has resulted in a closed park? Have you ever seen those "mobile homes" that public schools use for extra classrooms? That's another result of anti-tax sentiment of the far right. Ever been to Washington DC and taken a ride on the Metro? We should have a Metro in the Seattle area. Why don't we--- because of freaks like Eyman.

Wo xiang ta bu zai zhong guo. Dui bu dui? Zenmeyang?

quote: Originally posted by iain: volvos are way overpriced. was the 240 rear-wheel drive? We used to have a stationwagon 240, built like a tank. I agree that volvos are overpriced, but I know why-- it's because the average volvo will go for 18 years/300,000 miles which is pretty impressive for a non-Japanese car. I think the 240s are legendary for superior reliability-- much better than the 740/760 versions. If I had the cash I might go for the T5 station wagon, but I don't... VW Vanagon/Microbus types are way cool, but the engines suck. I still haven't figured out how a 5 cylinder engine works I find it somewhat ironic that many people have said, "Just get two cars." This, in my mind, is the ultimate American decadance shining through. Sure, I'd like a Subaru WRX to drive to work, a VW Camper to take on those month long trips to the Valley, and a vintage 70s Toyota Land Cruiser for those weekends at Darrington when I want to have real 4WD to get that last 1/2 mile up the logging road. But isn't this a little too much? When do we say enough is enough? There are no good choices. Matt, you know this better than I do-- life is full of compromises and sometimes "ok most of the time" is the best we can do. Maybe you should wait until they come out with a hybrid engine that can be retrofitted into the car of your choice. If there are any mechanical engineers out there, listen up! I want a hybrid engine that gets 60-70 miles per gallon and can be placed in a 70s Toyota land Cruiser! It better give me 200+ hp too! And super reliable!

quote: Originally posted by Fence Sitter: i'll start paying more as soon as the bastards that make millions pay their fucking share... seriously...what is the big deal with nto jsut having a blanket % based tax strategy? wouldn't that make more sense? but no, and dont blame this on the mainstream conservatives either, yuo think those multimillionbucko demos are pushing for a huge hit to their millions? think again... the obvious solution to this problem is to make all politicians middle class so they push for benefeits for the middle class... I totally agree fence sitter. That is why a income tax is more fair to the average joe than a sales tax.