DPS

Mark, Both RPI and CSM are excellent schools. Congratulations on being accepted to both, it is quite an accomplishment. My family is from Colorado and my uncle went to the School of Mines and now my cousin, Dr. Ryan O'Hayre, teaches there. If you want to talk to Ryan about the local scene there I'd be happy to arrange an introduction. He is a climber and nice kid in addition to being a top fuel cell technology researcher. Dan

My running partner's son is going to school in Illinois. He said the cheapeast way to ship his stuff was by train.

I recently got rid of my hard shell pants. I like soft shell pants for pretty much everything.

What Jon H said. Many folks feel that the plastic 'Scottish' toe bail is better than wire bails for use with overboots.

I try to be unconscious as much as possible.

Good work Layback. I was worried that I might someday be confronted by the backsides of a dozen lovelies ahead of me on The Tooth.

I said sorry. Sheesh.

Does that make it a "bush tit"? Is that safe for work?

a key takeaway here pictures or its not true Boom! Cherry bomb: http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/download.php?id=5744775157_846e3568f6&p=713290 (Sorry Anita)

And at least the WAC has pretty girls.

I live in Issaquah. I could be very wrong on the bird identification. I took orinthology sometime during the Bush I administration.

This will sound weird, but it totally works. Buy 6 mm cord in your choice of colors. Cut two laces to length. Pull out the core. Fuse sheath ends with a lighter, and use the now flat sheath for the laces.

that brings all the birds to my backyard http://www.themountain-life.blogspot.com/

I don't need a helmet. I have a hard, hard head.

I recall from a zoology class in college that spring was a bad time to get bitten by a rattlesnake because their venom sacs are full after hibernating.

Amen.

In my experience, insurance companies would throw their own children under the bus if it was good for the bottom line.

My understanding is that Monika died skiing Red Mountain.

I wonder if this will cause any outdoor gear manufacturers to reconsider making their gear overseas.

"The issues addressed in any lawsuit are often complex and sometimes, as is the case here, have broad impacts beyond just the parties." The legal issues and ramifications may be complex, but the right thing to do seems pretty clear cut to me. I stopped shopping at REI for major purchases years ago, now I won't be buying so much as a fuel cannister or sunblock there. "The right to have a court or jury consider this question is important to all companies, big or small, that sell products under private labels." I read this as: "we are hoping the courts will find us not responsible for the shit we put our name on."

Common sense tells me REI is liable to Monika and the bike manufacturer is liable to REI, but I doubt the laws follow rules of common sense.

The + is for the slippery 5.10b crux that starts 20 feet off the ground and ends 20 feet below the tree.

I'll take the lower right square for the win.

I've done both. To me Saber feels like a solid 5.7, Midway solid 5.5, both in the same vein that Dog Leg Crack is 5.8+. Probably no individual move is harder than those ratings, but the routes may feel somewhat more athletic and technical than routes of the same grade at Vantage or Little Si.

I did Casaval Ridge over Memorial Day WE, 2009. I had a blast and recommend it. It really was not difficult. There was a section or two of exposed, steepish snow and some scrambly bits on rock. My partner had almost no prior mountaineering experience and he was comfortable climbing it ropeless. That said, we did meet a party from North Carolina who felt the 'Catwalk' was too exposed and traversed climber's left to finish via the West Face. A rope and a few pieces of gear, and of course the skills to use it all, could be helpful in a few spots to increase the saftey. I met a party on the way down pitching out a section (I was downclimbing). Also, there always seems to be a question about where to camp, whether to carry over or downclimb, etc. The tatic we chose worked really well. Here is a link to some words and images from my ascent: http://themountain-life.blogspot.com/2011/02/absolute-beginners-guide-to-mt-shasta.html