David_Parker

I'm leaving tonite. (Monday) Call me at 206- 842-5626. Might be able to help you out.

Peter, I notice you live in England. I don't know if you are from the UK, but I find we Americans could learn a few things about "access" from our former brethren. We in america are much to litigeous and this seems to underly all our really stupid decisions when it come to access. I live in an area where the houses are fairly spread out, but it seems impossible to make a decent trail network because of "private" property issues. I found it refreshing that in England I could go for a long walk and cross numerous private parcels of land without being chastised. There were gates and stiles and as long as you respected the system, there were no problems. I'm sure you have "bad apples" too, but it seems this system works and has been for hundreds of years. For some reason we feel our access laws need to be revolutionary instead of evolutionary. Too bad! You used to be able to drive all the way up to the Olympic hotsprings in the Olympic Forest. Then the road washed out and they decided not to fix it. The walk in became a few miles longer. But to me, the effect was hugely positive. No more keg parties, broken glass, fat rednecks who got out of breath in 50 yards. The olympic hotsprings are still fairly crowded, but the area is not destroyed and actually improving. This is one case where what Retro refers to is quite valid IMO. It's amazing what a few miles will do to keep the riff-raff out! [ 03-08-2002: Message edited by: David Parker ]

Classic! To you young'ins out there. Leave the sport climbing mentality in the gym! This is why the attitude "the leader must not fall" is paramount in ice climbing (and alpine).

And you can climb Drury falls in 2 pitches (with a little rope stretch)! [ 03-08-2002: Message edited by: David Parker ]

Why can I lead WI5 with relatively no fear, but am so afraid of the surgery? I haven't been able to make the move. I just figure if I wait a few years, the procedures will be more reliable at a higher percentage. I'd hate to be the one in a hundred botched case! Does anyone know the percentage really of success to botched? I suppose it's no worse than flying in an airplane!

quote: Originally posted by ScottP: There is a correlation between proper spelling/grammar and credibility in written communication. If credibility is a concern (as I am sure it is for some), such things should be considered. Yes and no. When I went to college, I had no computer. Always the difference between A's and B's were the spelling mistakes in my papers. The profs liked my content, but discounted for mis-spelling. I always thought that was bullshit. I liked my physics teacher because he didn't care if we didn't get all the math right as long as we showed we understood the concept by coming up with the right formula or equation. It wasn't a fucking math class. Thank god for spell check. If they add that button here, then there will be no excuses....but until then, I'm with erik! Oh, and don't spell erik "eric"! He doesn't like it!

I'm pretty much with you Retro. But to not allow foot traffic up that dirt road is #$@$$@% ludicrous!!!! Hell, we should be able to ford the stream if the bridge was gone. This is one stinky RAT with a hidden agenda. And to think they can (try to) charge us for NON-ACCESS!!!! Not for a mili-second would I let this stop me from walking up that road if I really wanted. Fortunately, I've had my days in the enchantments and there's plenty of other cool stuff. But Tripple Couloirs and finishing Ice Cliff Glacier are on my list and if conditions are right, up that road I will go. FUCK 'EM!!!!

quote: Originally posted by Dru: think global, buy local. support your local growers... We already do. We're just bringing it back to consume it where it came from!

It seems everytime I go to Canada or Mexico, I am faced with the dilemma about whether to leave the "green" at home or risk the border crossing. Usually my concern is "higher" going to Mexico or when I re-enter the US. What really are the ramifications of getting caught? Can they take your car or your possessions? Anyone out ther been caught? What do you do to hide your stash?

Introducing pot smoking into this thread could threaten the "Saturday at Camp Muir" to become the longest! I'm starting a new thread to occupy you boys!

quote: Originally posted by trask: I have an idea. Why not just lay off the shit while visiting a foreign country. Or would that put some of you into withdrawls? If so, I wouldn't want you holdin' my rope. Hey Trash, I think you jump to conclusions a little too quickly. Personally, I don't even smoke unless I am on vaction. Withdrawls aren't a factor. For some of us, it makes long car rides and approaches a little more tolerable, even enjoyable. Get off your "high" horse. You better stay away from camp Muir on Saturdays too, or someone might offend you. PS: check out Trash's photo on his profile. He obviously has his head up his ass!

Awh, geez! I thought hiding da stash in my gun barrel was a good place! Maybe not?

Veggie, one of the best posts I've seen...thanks. As a side note I know a couple guys who have done all the peaks in the Olympics. Though Mt. Olympus (7965') doesn't even make the top 100, these mountains have long approaches, involve serious bushwacking and have more vertical than many of the Cascades and also feel very remote. A notewothy accomplishment.

I learned to rock climb at index and in 11worth. When I went to Yosemite, I thought the grades were easier. I'm not qualified to rate climbs because I'm always confused. My $.02.

quote: Originally posted by Dwayner: Some of you guys act like the Mountaineers have some sort of priority over climbing areas. Baloney! If you add up all of the weekends the various Mountaineers groups are in some of the prime areas for taking beginners, it's a whole lot of days. I teach small classes a few times a year and these guys are almost always there. Go climb somewhere else, you say? Why should I? As I said, they go to some of areas that are perfect for beginners in any number of different ways. Do what I do. If you feel like climbing in Leavenworth or the Tooth or wherever, just beat the Mountaineers to the crags. Get up an hour earlier and start climbing. They show up, they act as if we're climbing on their crag, and then they must wait until we're done. We're very polite unless they jump in our face and then we leave when we're done. The mad rush to make up for lost time usually follows. I've seen rented school buses pull up in Icicle Canyon from which a division of Mountaineers emerge. I used to put up with their nonsense until one Saturday morning I showed up at a lovely little area to find a couple of dozen Mountaineers swarming over it. I asked when they would be finished and was told that they were using that crag for the entire weekend. No sir! As things tranpsired, they only used it for a portion of the next day...the afternoon.By the way, I saw the giant group at Spire Rock this weekend: a whole lot of new Mountaineers in the making. And one of the "instructors" (a graduate of last year's basic class) told me that they try to keep the group sizes down: only 8 - 12 people on the Tooth, etc.OY! Yeah, and you have a right to be on the train tracks when a train is coming, but I'd suggest getting out of the way! [ 03-04-2002: Message edited by: David Parker ]

Another thing I heard a long time ago is that the weight of all that ocean water actually compresses the sea floor and buoys, if you will, the continental land masses. While I'm not sure if I believe that, I will say that the bottom of the ocean surrounding the Hawaiian islands would not be this new datum. Therefore, it would not be correct to say Mauna Kea is the tallest summit when measured from ANY "datum". It is the tallest summit, however, from it's head to its toe. Attempting to calculate the height of the mountains on earth after removing all the earth's water is rediculous! Take away the water and this is no longer earth, nor would we be here to even think about it! (and why that quote above by Klenke didn't appear in bold is beyond me!) [ 03-04-2002: Message edited by: David Parker ]

I'm no geologist but somehow they determine where the base is and how it sets on a land mass that is not part of the mountain. The himalayans sit on a rather high plateau. Denali's base on the other hand is not far above sea level. The St. Elias Mountains are also TALL. I don't know about that river vally next to Dhalaguri, but I'll bet it is still pretty high above sea level. Personally, measuring the mountain from the "center of the earth" is of no meaning to me and I think it is a rediculous technicality. Measuring mountains will always be controversial, but I believe the fact that they extend under the surface of the water doesn't disqualify them if that's were you have to go to get to the base. [ 03-04-2002: Message edited by: David Parker ]

Klenke, nice to see you use the proper term "highest" to describe the elevations of the mountains. As a fellow "stickler" for details, I am chagrined when people, especially climbers intermix highest, tallest and biggest. I believe Mauna Kea (Hawaii)to be the tallest volcano (and mountain) on the planet, coming in somewhere at 31,000 ft. Of course this is measuring the mountain from the ocean floor. The tallest (base elevation to summit) mountain above sea level is Denali. Everest is of course the highest (raw elevation) above sea level. Correct me if I'm wrong!

When I read this topic I envisioned video promoting a plan to build a new cog railroad like the one on Mt. Washington in NH. You just never know these days. Whew!!!!!!!

Taking out that large life insurance policy was not a good idea. It's obvious she's trying to kill you. My wife tried to kill me once. She had the rope running through the locking biner but not the ATC. She dicovered the mistake when I asked for tension before having her lower me on a TR. I rapped! I share your concern. Now I don't climb with her anymore (very much). It's a lot better that way!

With a great forecast for Sunday/Monday Feb. 25/26, Lisa Garcia and I headed to Mt. St. Helens for a winter ski descent. On Sun. am we parked at the Marblemount trail head and headed up trail #244 on skins, glad to get away from the hoards of snowmobilers. It was no more than 2 miles to get out of the forest and the overcast showed signs of breaking up as we headed up to our base camp. We found a tent site between two trees on a small ridge around 4000 ft and made camp. Some other day skiers came by and I headed up for one run with them. They had already come down from about 5,000+ft and said it was all icey. Hoping for softer snow in a slight depression we ascended to about 4700 ft on a western facing aspect. There was a few fresh inches over boilerplate and the skiing was tricky because you couldn't tell soft snow from pure ice. The best snow was eastern slopes, especially under the cornices, but these slopes were also suspect. Low angle stuff was the best. That night the full moon gave a wonderful glow to the white slopes surrounding us and we went to bed thinking about the great turns we'd make the next day. Monday dawned cold with blue skies. There was also wind, probably about 15-20 mph. As we ascended and the sllopes got steeper, the desire to be on skiis began to wane. The skins were not holding on the icy sections and ahead, a party was carrying their skis. The wind held steady so we deliberated on wether to keep the skis. My main point was that I only care to ski if it's fun. I don't need to say I did a ski descent of St. Helens. Lisa was up for holding on to them for a while longer but we had to stop to put on crampons and put the skis on our back. Another 500 ft with no improvement and I made the call. It's windy, it's icey, and in spite of the sun, I don't think the wind and temps will make things better higher up. We dropped the skis. About another 1000 ft (around 6000) I regretted my decision. The wind stopped, the ice turned to soft snow and the temps went up. Who would have guessed? I had to go into anger management so we stopped to puff. Another party on tele boots caught us and they too were expressing regrets for dropping their skis. The higher we went the better the snow got and the hotter it got. By the top we were stripped down to fleece and you could have lit a match! (So we did!) It was agonizing to watch two guys who persevered on skis make nice turns for 2000 ft down the hill. It was easy to kick myself as we headed down until we got back to about 6000 ft. There the winds were as strong or even stronger than the morning and the slopes turned to ice again. I knew that ice went down to about 3500 ft. so I felt a little better because it was not fun skiing. Looking back, I realize how understanding mountain weather can be confusing. Standing at 5000ft on a cold, clear day with steady winds lead me to believe the wind wasn't going to be any less higher up. I now know this isn't neccesarily true! Next time I will think twice before dropping my skis. Heres a link to some photos:http://vtour.mywindermere.com/index.cfm?ln=StHelens&username=davepark [ 02-27-2002: Message edited by: David Parker ] [ 02-27-2002: Message edited by: David Parker ] [ 03-01-2002: Message edited by: David Parker ]

I did a little legal research once when my car got towed. That guy should get an attorney! First, the truck was on private property and apparantly with permission from the property owner. In this case, only the property owner or his agent can call in the tow truck. The police can not! Therfore the towing was not authorized unless the police tricked him into making some sort of statement that implied authorization. The guy could have said he'd deal with it himself. So he shouldn't pay the bill and if the towing was not legal, anything else discovered after the towing should be inadmissable in court. Now, I am not an attorney, but I know there are some CC's who are. What's you take?. This is the funniest thing I've read in a long time. I was laughing outloud!!! You gotta hand it those rednecks sometime. They sure can have "fun" with enough bud in them!

Now you know why I like to frequent taverns on the Olympic penninsula! You meet all sorts of fun people! Just can't pose as someone who cares about the environment. That guy may have been from New Hampshire. LIVE FREE OR DIE!

quote: Originally posted by Dan Harris: I'm happy an American won a gold medal, but hey, isn't blocking part of any racing where you are not restricted to a lane? Autos, cross country, etc. I've even seen blocking in distance racing in track meets. The stuff that happened in some qualifying heats and the medal race last week were much worse than last night.That is part of the event in my mind. My $0.02 worth. If you watched the Daytona 500 on Sunday, you'd see what happens when you try to block! (18 car pile up.) I think the rules are made to try to keep crashes to a minimum because they are so dangerous in STSS (and auto racing). Also, from my observations, most of the passing happens in the begining of the turns, not the staightaways. The korean guy blatantly moved in front of Ohno in the staight section, thus the foul. I don't think Ohno "sold" the foul to try to get a call that wasn't deserved. I think he HAD to pull up to avoid the crash and used his hands to show he had to do it. Without that block, Ohno wouldn't have lost momentum and would have toasted the Korean in the final turn. The judges don't get to review instant reply. You have to bet he's a little shy on crashing. That's why he hung in 5th place until the last 2 laps. I have heard that Ohno has recieved 16,000 email threats from Koreans today. Maybe we should send email threats to the Korean guy who dragged down Ohno in the first race! Give me a break. He deserved the Gold and the Korean guy was a total sore sport afterwards. Ohno had more to bitch about in the first race than this guy did in the second and Ohno was a true gentleman about it. GO APPOLO!!! [ 02-21-2002: Message edited by: David Parker ]

It sounds like he descended the Gib route as well. There are some pretty steep sections thru the Nisqually chute area, so I'm impressed. Of the two times I've done Rainier from Muir, I have descended the same way which I don't think is routine. I have come back down to the top of Gib rock and instead of dropping down to the right where Gib ledges route comes up (steep) I have dropped to the left, followed the base of Gib rock and then down thru Cadaver gap. Has anyone done this? I don't know If I'd do it solo though. I have gone this way because I have never done the Ingrham/ DC route and fear I would get lost on the way down, especially in a whiteout. Gib rock keeps me oriented.