David_Parker

I did Europe for 6 months with girlfriend in late 80's. I had been once before and traveled with eurail pass. I didn't like it. So for my six month trip I landed in Amsterdam, which is the BEST city to fly to. I bought a VW Bus for $900 and fixed it up into a camper by buying stuff at the huge flea market. We then drove that thing all through Belgium, France, Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia, Austria, Germany and back to Holland where we sold it for $1600! Then we went to England/Scotland and hichhiked. I'm telling you this is the ONLY way to go. No trains means you get off the beaten path and meet the real people. No Hotel rooms or hostels with other Americans and the associated costs of time and $ looking for them. We never stayed in campgrounds either. On Corfu, we parked it in a goat pasture and got jobs and hung out for a month. In Yugoslavia we hooked up with another Canadian couple and traveled with them for a week. They were going too fast for our likes. The slower you go, the less money you spend. Our Bus ran on LP gas which saved lots of $. I did the haute route, climbed in the Verdon, scuba dived in Nice,. and Greece and climbed highest Mts. in many of the countries: Olympus, Triglav, Grossglockner and almost Mt. Blanc. Had I known more about the Dolomites I would have gone there too (so I had to go back). Having Dutch plates was cool too 'cause nobody instantly recognized us as Americans. We did our cultural city things too (Florence and Rome are a must!) but to me meeting the real locals was the highlight. They always invite you to their homes and want to feed you! Doors open when you get off the beaten toristo path! That trip totally and btw, the is awesome in Germany, Holland and the UK. Ahh, to be 25 and single again!

I found this piton and 'biner at the base of Triglav in the Julian Alps, but I'm old school!

U-E, your comments are appropriate for professional photographers although even they are going digital. I don't think anyone here is looking to blow up their shots to fit on the wall in Grand Central station. They just want decent shots, light, easy-to-use camera's and the ability to share photos easily. Someone recently asked to see my shots from a recent climbing trip and I just handed him a disk. Pretty simple. I like my slr for what it can do, but my digital is the camera I grab for trips now.

I thought about that, but never tried it. How did it work?

No climbing, so I took advantage of the continuing summer and went And then I played my new sport (since 24 years): I didn't really take these photo's though, I'm just chestbeating 'cause I had so much fun!

It seems, at least the American Alpine Journal, is more about the raddest accomplishments or new routes all over the world by a significant amount of non-americans. I would like to see both what significant climbs were done in the NorthWest as well as what Northwest Climbers did around the world. I'll define NW by Oregon, Washington and southern British Columbia. Would that include the Waddington Range?

One way to compensate for slow shutter speed in digital cameras is to press the shutter half way to set the exposure and focus. Then when you fully depress, the camera fires instantly. The initial slowness comes from the camera needing to set exposure and focus first. This helps a lot for "action" photos.

BH, the quality difference between film slides and film prints is huge, even using the same camera. That is not what I thought you were talking about. You can get great prints from digital with the advantage of only printing the photos you like and trashing the rest. If your slr camera body died and you still have the various lenses, you might be able to find a used replacement at a good price. I still have my Nikon with a bunch of lenses and I wonder when I'll ever use it again. I didn't get an expensive digital so I guess if I wanted to do some sort of timed exposure of the stars or something, the nikon would be way better, but I really don't do that kind of photography any more. This is the website for one of my friends who has switched to digital. Many of the photos on the site were older slides and the newer ones are digital. See if you can tell the difference although admittedly on the web is not really the place to discern. http://www.bydalek.com/home.htm

I thought "trask" pretty much covered it.

Trask, I have 3 friends who are professional photographers and they have all gone digital. Granted, much higher end stuff than most on this board would be willing to pay, but digital is the way now. The issue at hand is that some magazines are not set up to receive digital images at high resolution and print into magazines so they still want film images. They are just behind the times or don't have the budget to buy the proper equipment. For the average climber who is used to shooting slides, the issue becomes how you show those digital images (as in slide projector) to friends. I'm not willing to fork out the dough yet for a digital projector. I'm sure the prices for those will come down soon though. Anyone shopped for one recently? BH, I and a few others have recently purchased the Olympus Stylus 300 which is weatherproof, small and light. Great camera at reasonable price for outdoorsy type. No complaints so far.

No Kauculators my size (42.5) Anyone seen or tried these? I prefer 5.10 rubber to any other. Only other option seems to be Boreal. ALTIA: For those intrepid adventurers who climb cracks and off-widths. The Altia is our new high top, with fixed heel tension (for fit and comfort), our brand new ribbed heel with C4 tread (for heel hooking) and a die-cut EVA wedge (extra cushion for walking) and plenty of ankle support and protection. An exterior Stealth® rubber patch protects vulnerable ankle bones. Unlined leather upper Mesh tongue with leather reinforcements for breathability Protective Stealth rubber ankle patch Sizes 2-15

One thing you should be aware of is that the B-52 needs 2 locking biners for belaying 2 climbers (seconding) in auto-block mode where the reverso still only needs one. That seems a little more complicated.

As I have said many times in the past, just buy a boot made in Italy that fits. Brand name doesn't matter, it's just marketing.

RBW, what is contact info for that store? The mega is not my first choice. Ballet Gold or Kaukulator is better choice. No high tops my size at 2nd Ascent.

You could do multiple "theme" calenders.....alpine, sport, skiing, ice, etc. Or mix it up into one calander. I'll volunteer to be a photo editor as I'm not biased towards one type of climbing or skiing/boarding.

I can climb 5.4d in my barefeet.

As I mentioned, I had a bunch of rock gear ripped off. I had an older pair of rock shoes I really loved and they had higher sides which protected my ankle bones. I prefered these for longer alpine climbs. I don't see too many new ones available. I'll probly check second ascent, but would consider new ones if anyone has a recomendation. I'd also consider your old ones if you want to sell. Size 42 euro.

Dude, rasta bivy kit is WAY lighter!

This Land is my Land This Land is your Land From California To the New York Islands From the Redwood Forests To the Gulf Stream Waters This Land was made for You and Me Later, Arlo went on to say how his mom went to China in the Nixon era and they were singing the song over there. At first it didn't make sence to him but then the light went off. You don't have to go the short way to get from California to New York. It seems our government is more interested in going the long way. They are more interested in everything between California and New York the long way through Asia and Europe and across 2 oceans. It's like everything BUT America is important!

Excellent point of view Bug. Personally this is my take. Washington doesn't give a rats ass about what we think about paying to use public llands. They don't want to help with trails or other facilities and in their budget meetings they find it really easy to cut funds for such in favor of more "important" issues. "Just make them pay for it themselves". So they come up with fee demo and force everyone to buy trail passes and such. After a few years they say that the people "support" it so they cut funds further because the public now pays for it. A self fullfilling prophecy. I don't get why they continue to link the National Forest with National Parks. They should just separate the 2. Personally, I don't really object to paying to visit or use the National Parks because I know (for the most part) that thet are protected in perpetuity. Our parks aren't going to get raped for wood, oil, ore, gas or other resources. But I refuse to subsidize the National Forest and their mismanagement of resources AND funds. Once the fee demo becomes law, what will be next, BLM land. In the mean time Bush wants to further rape the land and collect $87 BILLION to fight terrorism. The terrorism is right here at home folks. We are being terrorized by our own government. Don't you see it? Why do you buy a pass (you passive, weak fuck!)? I only see the other side of all those signs!

I think Arlo Guthrie should be the spokesman AGAINST fee demo. Last night while you were drinking at Pube Club, I was at Benaroya Hall to see Arlo Guthrie and the Seattle Symphony. Great show, Arlo's really funny. Anyway, he did play one of his Dad's (Woody) songs which we all know and should be the theme song for anti fee demo. He told a story how when he was young and was made to change schools how the first day at the new school they all sang "This Land is my Land" and he didn't know the words. So he went home and asked his Dad to teach him the words and his Dad taught him a different verse to take back to school: This Land is my Land This Land is your Land From California To the New York Islands From the Redwood Forests To the Gulf Stream Waters This Land was made for You and Me As I was walking In the (insert "national") forest I saw a sign that said "No Tresspassing" (insert Fee Demo area) But on the other side of the sign It didn't say anything That side was made for you and me!

Sphinx, get a life or go climb something. Your posts are so juvenile.

We learned a lot this weekend! Kids can be the best teachers! 1: Dad's aren't allowed to belay their own kids. 2: If they sleep in the car, they'll be up all night playing games. 3: Sugar is aid 4. Rock shoes don't need to be tight fitting 5. playing is more important than eating. 6. When you have a bunch of kids together, Dad's have more time to drink beer. 7. If kids hear you swear, they don't care or pretend not to hear you. Climbing is all about having FUN!!! MORE PHOTO'S HERE: http://www.windermere.com/tid55836

I'm going to bring a little propane bbq which takes those canisters by coleman. Welcome to use it.