AlpineK

A few years back 2 friends and I met up with 2 rangers at the Colchuck lake parking lot. My buddy, "M," who was the most vocal got a $100 ticket for not signing out for a day hike and I got a warning for being uncooperative when I calmly explained how silly I thought registering for a day hike was. M was suppose to go to court in Yakima. M was thinking of paying up, but I told him I was taking the day off to go to Yakima with him. The court date got rescheduled twice because the rangers had to go to Yakima from the west side too. Finally the prosecuter dropped the fine to $50 and begged M to pay even though she admitted he would get off. M payed up, but I think the whole thing cost the government more than $50, and it certainly caused the ticketing rangers some stress. My moral to this is, "fight the power."

I would judge Who Cares and Curt on an equal basis. I think they are both from Colorado. I lived in Boulder for a few years and met many climbers convinced that Colorado was the only place good climbers lived and quick to be judgemental on other climbers and their style. In a just world they would both be stuck on a ledge together waiting out a week long storm. This whole discussion started because two people misjudged the conditions and their experience. That being said I think everyone, no matter how smart or experienced, is capable of similar mistakes. Too bad they weren't more lucky.

Self employment rules. Work hard make some money and then tell your customers your booked up for the next few weeks or months.

You silly boys! Take some skis in the winter. I've skied the slopes below the north face. They are loads of fun plus you can be back to the ski area in an hour. I'm concidering a ski decent of the north face in April. Anyone interested? I'll be out of town for the rest of the month, but send me an email. kurtfick@qwest.net

Mar 3-4, Drove through 5" of new snow to the Eldorado parking lot. We camped in the Cascade pass parking lot and skied to the pass and down on Saturday. High winds kept us in the trees on Sunday. We skied the southwest spur of Sahali to within 500' vert of the Boston Sahali sadle. High winds and windslabs kept us from the sadle.

The human population on earth is too big and growing, and people living in 1st world countries consume an excessive amount of the worlds resources. Therfore, I'm all for people climbing after or even during earthquakes. Thumbs up on any other dangerous activities you can come up with Spock's Brain.

Highclimb, If you climb the north ridge on the Grand Valhalla canyon approach is technicaly harder but safer. The Grandstand approach is easier but their is lots of rockfall.

Highclimb, I've been to the Tetons a couple times. I've never done the Black Ice Couloir, but I have climbed the north ridge and north face of the Grand. Both are great routes. You need a strong stomach to climb the guano chimney. Wet birdshit is slick.

Does anyone have information on the condition of the Cascade River Road? How far up it can you get without a monster truck?

There's been a bunch of new snow in the Cascades in the last two weeks, so conditions may be much better than Atle experienced.

We used a Warmlite tent on Denali in '87. I think they are great if you set it up correctly. The wind blast from an avalanche broke the center pole. At the time we left it set up half-ass while we were moving loads. Later in the climb we were forced to use it as a bivi bag and a windstorm (100+ gusts) riped a huge hole in it. Set it up nice and in the right direction to the wind.

I refuse to pay user fees. Large companys that log and mine get subsidies from the government to rape and pillage our land. Why should we pay for recreation. Limiting use is fine, but you shouldn't have to pay.

SHW, Did you have any idea about the bee's nest you were playing with? I agree totally with Lowell S. The mounties have done a lot to be admired; however, their climbing class and other classes are an objective hazard in the Cascades. SHW please don't become part of the problem. PS Stay away from those WACky people too. there may be only 300 of them, but they have chosen the dark side of climbing.

SHW, I took the mounties basic class years ago, and I've also helped instruct the WAC's class. I highly recomend learning climbing some other way. In both clubs most of your teachers were students the previous year. You aren't going to learn much from folks like that. Also the mounties are pretty goofy; you can spot a group of them a mile away. I recomend taking individual classes from places like the Vertical World. There are some good glacier classes out there too. Once you get some basic knoledge try and find a partner with your skill level and go climbing. Start with climbs you both feel comfortable with and have fun.

Alex, I will worship your god if: 1) you ski on double camber skis. 2) you wear leather boots. 3) you have three pin bindings. If you don't your just an alpine skier with bad equipment. My advice is lock'em up and rip.

I'm looking for backcountry skiing / ski mountaineering partners. I have a lot of BC skiing experience and a good deal of motivation. I'm on randonee gear but I ski with tele or snowboards. Lets rip it up. I don't like tele guys on a holy crusade