Alpine_Tom

"I think private corporations have done a better job of cleaning up because they have shareholders to make happy." I guess this is ultimately a matter of opposing faiths, but I've worked in enough private corporations (Boeing and Aetna, in particular) to assure you that the waste there is on a level that would make a government bureaucrat (or boss Tweed) blush. Back on the subject of parking fees, I remember a few years ago they were discussing charging admission to the Folklife festival, until they ran the numbers and discovered that it would take an admissions charge of $4 (if memory serves) just to cover the cost of charging admission. Once admissions fees are instituted, whether they're cost-effective or not, they become perpetual, and they can never be reduced. All they'll do is piss off people who feel like they already pay for the resource (trail parking permits, anyone?) and people who don't mind paying but don't have the cash on hand (my usual response to parking meters) and encourage people to demand more services (like mattp) for the money. And, keep out the few who truely can't afford the parking costs.

"I love politicians" That's an interesting group to blame. We're the ones who keep voting to cut taxes and expect more services. Maybe Locke's budget-cutting plan wasn't exactly what you (or I) would have designed, but it's hard to see where the money's going to come from to pay for all the benefits we continue to demand from government -- like free parks, subsidized ferries, smaller class sizes, more police, longer prison sentences, road maintenance, subsizided stadiums for the local professional football teams... Oh right, "waste, fraud and mismanagement." That should cover it.

Yeah, that's what I thought. Check this thread: http://www.cascadeclimbers.com/threadz/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB2&Number=52895&page=1&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

I'm interested. I tried it a few weeks ago and couldn't find the trailhead. Now that I got plenty of detailed information from those on this board, I think I can find it! I'll have to check my availability tho.

Hey -- it says "Zlib compression unavailable." I want my Zlib compressed!

Maybe it's time to post this in the Photo Gallery, so this thread doesn't get reproduced every few months.

I HAVE to know -- what the hell did you do to this bike? [ 11-26-2002, 10:28 AM: Message edited by: Alpine Tom ]

As a native Chicagoan, I'm pretty opposed to salt too. (I remember, as a kid, the jack falling out of the trunk of my parents' car, right through the floor of the trunk!) There used to be (maybe still are) car wash "clubs" you could join to get the underside of your car washed every day. The triumph of private enterprise, I guess. What I'm curious about is what "chemical de-icers" they currently use on the roads. Presumably they're less noxious than salt, but I find it interesting they don't specify what they are in that article. Any of you chemists know?

According to the P-I (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/96857_rainier22ww.shtml) MRNP is planning on raising the peak fee for next year. Hearings on the rate increase will be held next month in Yakima, Tacoma and Seattle. Makes me glad I popped for a one-year pass in September.

I think Billygoat’s right on; it’s time to get past Twight. How about doing Nooksak Tower in a day on Saturday, so you can get home in time for church Sunday morning? Has anyone repeated the N. Face of Little Tahoma? That might qualify.

I just got the following e-mail this morning: The Schurman Rock fundraising effort is at $83,000! Seattle Parks Foundation is raising $90,000 to renovate the Rock at Camp Long and is hoping to reopen it for public use in the Spring. We are asking you to donate towards the first manmade, all natural climbing rock in North America. Because REI is matching all donations dollar for dollar, your support will be doubled. A $50 donation equals $100! The local mountaineer community has been unbelievably supportive of this effort and is excited to see Schurman Rock reopen so all ages of climbers, beginners and advanced, can enjoy real outdoor climbing right here in Seattle. Please send your donation to: Seattle Parks Foundation 860 Terry Avenue North Seattle, WA 98109 Please contact me if you want more information. Thanks for supporting this regional climbing icon, Kris Sorensen Project Manager Seattle Parks Foundation (206) 332-9900 kris@seattleparksfoundation.org I don't know why I got it, maybe because I'd e-mailed various people at the City to ask why, exactly, Schurman Rock was closed down. (Turns out it wasn't because of the earthquake, but because of earth shifting problems that had been accumulating for years.) I assume "the local mountaineering community" is "The Mountaineers." At any rate, this is, I guess, good news, and anyone who wants to probably ought to contribute.

I've taken both these dogs on alpine climbs (the yellow one, Max, did a one-day Glacier Peak climb with me a few years ago.) Max started life a stray, and has been known to hunt and kill rabbits and mice at the tree farm across from my inlaws' home (where he lives.) However, I have never seen him catch or bother an animal on a hike. I expect that wild animals are a lot more aware of dogs approaching, and so they'll make themselves scarce before your average domestic dog is aware of them. Except marmots, of course, who seem to enjoy taunting Max (Maisie, the white one, ignores them) and then popping into their hole at the last possible minute. In general, I think, an older dog (like, 5 or more) is going to be a lot more mellow about hanging out in the sun at the crags (with a chew toy or a bone?) but a younger one will do the 20 mile hikes better. It's always good form, even if you're "sure" your dog is a perfect gentleman on the trail, to pack along a leash, just in case. And, has I think already been mentioned, a basic obedience class will go along way to helping everyone like your dog as much as you do.

quote: Originally posted by Alpine Tom: I've had a Casio Pathfinder for 6 months or so. It works okay as an altimeter, but it is awfully big and clunky, and more often than not, when I look at it, it's been bumped to the compass setting or something. Also, it seems to change altitudes abruptly when driving; I've watched it sit at one altitude for a long time, then jump 500' at a go. I've never seen that sort of problem at climbing speeds, though. And if you want a reasonably accurate reading, you do have to be prepared to calibrate it once or twice a day, but that's true of any barometer-type altimeter. The other problem with this watch is the band just sucks. It's fabric, thick enough to strap down loads on a semi, and maintains a perfectly circular shape, so it's not at all comfortable. I checked with Casio about the possibility of getting a replacement; they said "Unfortunately that was the only band Japan provided for the watch. It was designed specifically for the case." I was just in NYC, and thought I could find a replacement there (where else?) but no luck either. It was kind of cool to watch the "apparent" altitude in the plane, though; it was pressurized to around 7600'

I've had a Casio Pathfinder for 6 months or so. It works okay as an altimeter, but it is awfully big and clunky, and more often than not, when I look at it, it's been bumped to the compass setting or something. Also, it seems to change altitudes abruptly when driving; I've watched it sit at one altitude for a long time, then jump 500' at a go. I've never seen that sort of problem at climbing speeds, though. And if you want a reasonably accurate reading, you do have to be prepared to calibrate it once or twice a day, but that's true of any barometer-type altimeter.

quote: Originally posted by fishstick: Alpine Tom, My gut feeling is that you drove over the metal bridge that's normally gated (the usual parking spot) and continued up the road for an extra two or three miles. There is a quarry at that point, in the valley directly below the North face. GB That sound exactly like what happened. I guess I should be happy I turned around and didn't find some place to park up there. It would have been a long, cold night if I'd gotten gated in! Thanks to everyone for all the beta. It seems like this is one of the many cascade climbs for which the crux is finding the trailhead. Maybe if the weather holds, I can give it another go, with a mountain bike this time, and search for the elusive green orb.

If what you're looking for is hike guidebooks for non-climbers, you should probably have a look at the various "100 hikes" books, by Ira Spring. Specificially, "100 Hikes in Washington's North Cascades National Park Region." These aren't climbing guides, although they often provide useful information for hiking trails that form the approach hikes to lots of climbs. There's another book called something like "Don't Waste your time in the North Cascades" which I'm not familiar with. If you're interested in a bit more ambitious outings, "75 Scrambles in Washington" lists non-technical climbs, from the N. Cascades south. Some of these are multi-day outings, and it's a pretty new book, so I expect the information is more up-to-date than an older guidebook. I'm curious how you hit upon that area. Do you have a particular agenda?

quote: Originally posted by James: quote:Originally posted by Lambone: hmmm yeah, but what climber wears a 44" waist!!!!!! I got a pair of REI schollers for 100$...they are good pants. boner. dude. did you see the size range... 44-68! who the hell wears 68" waist!?! those sizes are not the waist measurements, probably euro sizing or some such thing. I don't know. GearExpress one time had a seat harness listed on their clearance page that was size XXL --seems like it was about a 48" waist. I remember at the time thinking: "I want that guy belaying me!"

quote: Originally posted by iain: Yeah, hell of a line they chose though. What a spectacular route, especially going in there pretty much cold as well. A true adventure. Robert Roper just published a sort of bio of Willi Unsoeld called "Fatal Mountaineer" that gives some really interesting insights into that expedition: why they chose such a tough line, the conflicts between amateur and professional climbers, and so on. The sections on French philosophy made my eyes glaze over, tho.

I called in sick today (cough cough) to take advantage of the nice weather and finally do the West Ridge of N. Twin Sister. Map book in one hand, red CAG in the other I headed up there. I think i got to within a few miles of the trailhead, but no further. What appears to be the correct road in the line drawing in the CAG turns into a gravel pit, complete with two-bottom dumptrucks. Is there a reliable resource for figuring out the approach? There was a lot of discussion about both N. Twin and S. Twin here last year, so I assume it's done at least occasionally, especially since Beckey gives the route such a ringing endorsement.

quote: Originally posted by Alpine Tom: quote:Originally posted by philfort: quote:Originally posted by Goat Boy: Where can one find a map of the cave system? Does it change significantly from year to year? The book "Challenge of Rainier" has a very basic map of the caves (and a whole chapter devoted to them). There's a good story about the furry alien beings that live in them. A little late, but here's a scan of that map from Challenge of Rainer.

[ 10-11-2002, 03:44 PM: Message edited by: Alpine Tom ]

quote: Originally posted by philfort: quote:Originally posted by Goat Boy: Where can one find a map of the cave system? Does it change significantly from year to year? The book "Challenge of Rainier" has a very basic map of the caves (and a whole chapter devoted to them). There's a good story about the furry alien beings that live in them. A little late, but here's a scan of that map from Challenge of Rainer. [ 10-07-2002, 06:12 PM: Message edited by: Alpine Tom ]

quote: Originally posted by mattp: quote:Originally posted by Cpt.Caveman: Nisqually is the shortest approach. Cant be it. Maybe it COULD be. You don't know the guy's skill and condtioning level. I once took four days to climb and descend the Kautz. It was a great trip! I expect it'd be pretty tough to do the east side routes (Tacoma Glacier, etc) in a day car-to-car. Though the record for Lib Ridge is 21 hours car-to-car, so there's probably someone out there who could do Tacoma Glacier in a day.

I've soloed stuff that I wouldn't do now. Like my winter solo climb of Big 4, which looking back just seems like asking for disaster, and soloing Fisher Chimneys, with a nice long crossing on the crevassed upper Price Glacier. I don't know if it's because I'm getting older, or becoming more aware of the dangers. Ironically, I'm probably a better (certainly more experienced) climber now than I was then, so it would be safer for me now than it was then. Go figure.