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That has to be the sketchiest advice I've ever heard of from one of those columns. Pray tell what conditions would this be useful in?

Did I delete your question? NO. No - but the moderators have more spray on this than anyone else The Kicker skin idea isn't bad - but it won't last long. Even with the nice metal taper, snow builds up fast under my kicker skins. Save up your scraps - after 3 or 4 pairs of skins, you've enought ot sew them together for a real ghetto skin!

Monteith's original ain't bad. If you don't want to get funny looks drink Speight's.

http://www.alpineclub.org.nz/ The club office in Christchurch is open weekdays - informative, not the friendliest. The also have all of their pubs for sale. And Wanaka rocks.

Or maybe your clock radio doesn't have to still reliably work after going thru a huge slide. Or function in wet and cold conditions. How much did you pay for your last cellphone? It functions in all of the above. And it's alot more high tech, alot smaller, and cheaper than a beacon.

An oxymoron?

The markets getting short - REI needs door handles for all the new stores!

He can have my support. He has to earn my money. And $67 a month for the winter is to rich for my blood, and is somewhat unique to PRG. I've been to a number of other gyms around the country that offered discounted 6 month memberships.

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Marylou- If the information is "out there" why don't you share it with the rest of us poor plebes who are not part of the elite outdoor media circle.

I would guess Spray's a definite part of the race.

I've the guidebook at home - I can loan it to you if you'd like. There's a guide service (Alpine Guides http://www.alpineguides.co.nz/ ) located in Mt. Cook Village.

You don't want to stop on the road to Arthur's Pass?

erik- You do realize many of those east side "matchstick" forests are older than some of the "old-growth" on the westside? And that the definition of old growth has constantly changed downward, pushed by the evil enviros?

Here's a link to the Online Version of the Arthur's Pass Guide: http://www.softrock.co.nz/mg/mghome.htm It uses the Modified Mt. Cook rating scheme - which is a NZ comprehensive grading scheme. I climbed/hiked Mt. Aiken - same difficulty as Avalanche Pk (1-) Which is on the left of the ridge in the front of the above picture.

At this juncture it may be worth noting that Bridgeport is owned by Gambrinus - the same people that import Corona. Celebration ale's good stuff!

Man was not meant to live like Veal.

My point is the ratio of Healthy trees/fire danger trees has to be high - logging isn't that profitable. Without any allocation of funds this is just a logging bill - a give away. As for 100 years of Sierra Club - they didn't start lobbying until the 60's (if they'd lobbied earlier, we'd have Hetch Hetchy)

erik- The problem is the logging companies are supposed to pay for the thinning by selling the trees they thin. The ones that aren't economical to harvest. So how exactly, are they going to make a profit without cutting down the large, healthy trees that aren't a fire risk? For a scary thought my Grandmother thinks the Healthy Forest Act would have prevented the Socal fire.

I've an Arc'teryx Sirius. Packs up tiny, not bulky. Awesome jacket - and widely available for less than retail now. I must say I'm at a loss as too why you'd wash your Softshell that regularly. Unless it really stinks - just rinse the dirt off.

I just got back from the South Island on Sunday. Awesome place - well worth going. For none technical climbs on the South Island check out the Arthur's Pass Area - plenty of very scenic climbs, of minimal difficulty the Mt. Aspiring area's good too. The Mt. Cook area is awesome, but more technical than either of the 2 mentioned above. I just finished posting some pictures in the gallery. I also have a couple guidebooks, and can recommend a few more. Oh - stay away from the Great Walks. The scenery isn't any better than the others. The trails just easier, and there are more gapers.

I don't know about Canada, but it's that way in France. Unless you have rescue insurance (available at a nominal charge). Instead of charging for helos, how about charge for rescue insurance - like Colorado does.

I don't think there are many climbing ethic discussions that haven't descended into oneupsmanship and childishness (Robbins vs. Harding anyone?)

I find if I'm overheating enough to need pitzips, I'm rarely wearing a shell. Before watertight zippers became common I liked the "Corevents"/Napoleon Pockets, because the storm flaps over pitzips reduced effectiveness. Now, with watertight zippers, I like pitzips.

So your finally getting those implants?