AlpineK

My dad built the sled in the 50's for a trip to the Yukon. It sat in a bag for years till I reassembled it. After that I found someone to supply the glass and build metal props to support the glass.

I'm surprised it took you this long to do that Glad to see the post generated outrage from the target audience. More importantly still

Au contraire https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-scientific-fundamentalist/201003/why-liberals-are-more-intelligent-conservatives

I certainly hope you and your family aren't vaccinated. It causes autism ya know. At least that's what Jenny McCarthy says, and she knows more than most scientists. http://www.buzzfeed.com/ellievhall/11-things-that-jenny-mccarthy-has-said-about-vaccines#.sqJbKX5e

There are interesting climbing related topics we could be talking about of course. http://pataclimb.com/knowledge/puzzle.html

Uncomplimentary thread names from either side of the aisle seem to be standard practice in Spray. Just playing along.

Meanwhile http://inhabitat.com/house-passes-bill-that-prohibits-expert-scientific-advice-to-the-epa/

Fairweather, Your buddy James listens to rational scientists owned by the oil industry http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/22/us/ties-to-corporate-cash-for-climate-change-researcher-Wei-Hock-Soon.html?_r=1 [img:center]http://static01.nyt.com/images/2015/02/22/us/22climate-02-JP-ALT/22climate-02-JP-ALT-articleLarge.jpg[/img]

Think how happy you'd be if you moved to a state with representatives that supported your world view [img:center]http://www.veteranstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/james-inhofe.jpg[/img] No climbing, but you could drive your Hummer to Colorado each weekend and shoot things

Call it what you will, I still don't see the evidence. Being a wacko knows no allegiance.

The links you provide make the Hicks fellow sound disturbed and angry. Now how does this make him democratic or liberal? I don't see any mention of a party allegiance either left or right.

While having been there I'm not aware of cheap lodging in Zermatt. Never been to Chamonix. Verbier has some good skiing and it's on the rail line between Zermatt and Geneva. There's an old bunker in Verbier that was converted to a hostel. Lodging is pretty cheap at that hostel.

A friend got to the gate, and found it locked. After talking to somebody at the hotel or in some official capacity they got the gate unlocked. Basically count on 1/2-hour to find somebody with a key.

The older you get the more likely you are to fall asleep without . Then there's this Republican elephant in the room [img:center]http://thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Denier-Caucus1-02.png[/img]

Blodgett Canyon is cool. I did one 5.8 spire, but there's a ton of spires and or routes there.

Thanks. Could have happened elsewhere, but I've had a couple much too close calls in the Canadian Rockies.

2-Ton 3/4-inch zinc plated steel for $101.95 [img:center]http://www.sherrilltree.com/400_2tonblk.jpg[/img]

The complete N Ridge of Stuart involves a couple pitches at the base followed by running belays then pitch climbing on the Great Gendarme. Unfortunately past a partial ascent of Monte Rosa I lack any Alps experience. It seems like there's a bubble around the PNW. The further you travel the more it costs and the longer time you need to spend in a region once you get there. The Alps, New Zealand, and South America look cool, but travel costs plus taking a month+ of vacation is intimidating.

1) Have climbed. Robson, Wishbone Arete Denali, Cassin Ridge Edith Cavell, N-Face Oubliette Mtn, E-Ridge Grand Teton, N-Ridge Sir Donald, solo NW Arete (2-times) Shucksan N-Face (ski descent) 2) Capable of but have not climbed. Forbidden-Torment Traverse Mt Temple, E Ridge Gannett Peak, any route Pigeon Spire, Standard Nooksack Tower 3) Admire but will never climb. Mt Alberta, N-Face North Twin, N Pillar Southern Alps, Mt Cook + a few more

Could mean lots of things. While you sound like a grumpy guy maybe your not a guy

Based on these TAY comments on the Chiwaukum range (NW of the Enchantments but east of the crest) crampons seem appropriate but skis may be questionable. http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=33557.0

Trip: Muir Snowfield - Muir to Nisqually Chutes Date: 1/25/2015 Trip Report: Skiing has been on the sparse side this winter. After deciding we had to ski something Cman and I headed for Paradise and Muir since it seemed like a sure bet. After seeing a lineup of cars and fans going to SeaTac to wish the Seahawks a Bon Voyage we did have second thought about our objective but those faded. We got a slacker 10 AM start from Paradise and joined the herd of skiers. Sunshine didn't suck, but there were some winds up high. After a brief rest at Muir we were downward bound. The upper field was the best with a thin breakable crust, but the crust thickened with elevation loss. [img:center]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eb894QXT5kw/VMqyghPmcPI/AAAAAAAAFSo/I-LWfcmU6Uc/s1152/1-WEB-DSC02033.jpg[/img] Cman at the top of the Chutes [img:center]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xBk08L4bkz4/VMqykT3jyxI/AAAAAAAAFS4/3x6cxexz2-4/s1152/4-WEB-DSC02036.jpg[/img] Der Chutes [img:center]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Z_QNONHVUJc/VMqyfuVjH2I/AAAAAAAAFSg/3l8b9jKQx_0/s1024/10924620_10204042678683361_7465168281814209453_C.jpg[/img] The best snow in the Chutes that day was on skiers left. [img:center]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f-9m115IUBg/VMqyjwYhOZI/AAAAAAAAFSw/L9WvC8EA_WE/s1152/6-WEB-DSC02038.jpg[/img] Looking back Nice Spring conditions in January Gear Notes: Sliding on snow is fun

Only problem is HWY-20 is a State Highway and not part of the park. My dad used to approach climbs at the pass via Cedar Creek before the highway was there.

Off hand a 20 mile dirt road that isn't listed on brochures (Cascade River Road) sees a lot less traffic than a paved and publicized road (Paradise Road). The park service used to keep the Paradise road open if snow wasn't in the forecast not too long ago.

If I were to hazard a guess, the park service can only keep the road open when there's staff on hand to monitor the road and respond to problems/accidents. They may not have the budget for overtime hours or an extra shift. Just my guess. The consequences of decisions like that aren't what people who get up early and stay till after dark like or want.