DPS

I'm curious, what do you have against the idea of access to health care for all Americans? I happen to be a sick guy fortunate enough to have excellent health care coverage. Even with really good coverage, I have spent > $10,000 out of my own pocket for health care over the last 6 months. Once again I am fortunate in that I can afford it. What are ill people in this country without good insurance and high paying jobs supposed to do? Please tell me.

Thanks for the well wishes!

I'm sick. Sometimes really sick. I spent 3 months last summer in the hospital. I am on a large regemin of drugs to keep me upright, one of which as a side effect causes weakening of the tendons. Because of this I am not able to run. So instead of running I have been walking and biking for exercise. On my walks I now have time to say hello to everyone I meet and sometimes learn their stories. I make it a point to greet everyone I meet with a hearty "howdy" or "good morning". I like to mix it up. Not everyone appreciates being greeted while hiking, but I think doing so makes me a happier person. In fact, I now fancy myself an ambassador of sorts. If you run into a middle aged guy who seems oddly friendly, say hi back. It makes me happy.

I am guessing Klenke is the youngest person by half to finish these lists. Good going!

"What? Do you want to live forever or something? "

Last climb I did I loved my food selection: Trader Joe's Brown Rice Torillas Trader Joe's Dutch Gouda Cheese Salame wraps with above ingredients Trail Mix Trader Joe's pre cooked indian style rice with lentils rolled in above mentioned tortillas

Pro Mountain Sports sells an Evazote foam pad that is similar to the MEC ones, except they come in grey.

Plus you very nearly died.

I LOVED those things. My parents only let us have them when we went hiking.

Good luck, the North Ridge is a great alpine tour!

Rainy Pass repair in the U district.

Used to be Index when I had the guns for it. Now its 11worth cause there is more easy stuff for me to climb.

Assuming this is not a troll, I would say that you may want to choose easier routes for your first time up Rainier, especially if you are new to Mountaineering. Routes like the Disappointment Cleaver or Emmons Glacier are probably more appropriate. Later in the season an obvious boot path is established making it fairly easy to not get lost. Of course wanding the route help ensure you can get back down in case of poor visibility.

I would go with a light weight soft shell like Patagonia's Guide Pant.

I think this is especially true of the Cascades.

172.5! Lost five pounds by not eating after dinner.

We climbed Buckner on Sunday, I suspect it was your party that DirtyHarry saw.

Climbing unroped high on Coleman Headwall on Baker, hurrying to get out from under the seracs we heard a large 'boom'. I thought a serac cut loose and was going to wipe us off the face. Then I saw two fighter jets fly low overhead. Scared me pretty good.

We did the approach via Boston Basin. After rapelling onto the Boston Glacier we saw no running water until descending into Horseshoe Basin.

Diedre, St. Vitus Dance, Snake, Banana Peel

Way to go Joe!

My partner had the camera, when he sends photos I will ask permisison to post them.

Except for several small snow patches, Sahale arm is melted out to the glacier. There is still a lot of snow on the glacier though, I would personally opt for boots, but that's just me. The arm is incredibly beautiful right now. Enjoy!

I missed that, must have been buried by snow still.

Trip: Mt Buckner - North Face Date: 7/12/2008 Trip Report: Before I got sick I would have done this route car to car, but my new reality is that I am slow and have to take it easy, so we planned on a leisurely two day tour. We took our time getting to Boston Basin and had a nice chat with a friendly ranger. Learned a bunch about the history of the park, the work he does, etc. Saw 15 people coming and going on the Quien Sabe glacier. Dropped over to the Boston and saw no one until we got back to Cascade Pass. We camped on a level spot in the middle of the glacier. The next morning we walked to the face and climbed climber's left to avoid a series of cracks. About 2/3 height, we stopped a belayed a funky down climb into a strange deep, steep walled trough in the snow that went all the way to the rock. We climbed out the other side and made a belay. Another 1 1/2 pitch through a constriction in rock band was the crux: hard, dirty black ice. We simuled to the summit, screws and pickets were both useful. The descent was down through horseshoe basin and up to Sahalee Arm, with a lunch break below the final climb. The arm was freakin gorgeous! We admired all kinds of alpine flowers and lush greenery. The descent from Cascade Pass was enjoyable. In the parking lot a family from out of town struck up a conversation and asked me to name all the peaks in the view shed. I happily obliged and took photos of them in front of JBerg with their camera. Then they asked to take photos of me with their family! All in all one of the best trips in recent memory. Gear Notes: 50 meter rope, two tools, 4 pitons, 4 ice screws, 4 pickets. Everything was used. Could have used 6 med-large nuts. Approach Notes: Up through Boston Basin, over the gunsight notch climber's right of Sharkfin Col, cross Boston Glacier, descend Horseshoe Basin and Sahalee Arm. Chat up girl to get ride back to our car.