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Good. I'd called Metsker's Maps in SEA and the fellow said they had this book but claimed in wasn't topographic. Looking at the Backroads Books page for sw BC I see this is not true. It is, in fact, topographic. Thanks for the tip.

Good, but I'm looking for a regular ol' book.

For the last fifteen years I've been using a Delorme atlas/"gazetteer" for Washington. It's ~110 pages of 1:150,000 topographic maps with a key to corresponding USGS maps. Great stuff for the big picture when looking at cascade climbs. What I'm looking for is a BC equivalent. Anyone have any experience or recommendations? I'l;l post back later with my internet searching results. dave

Any east siders over there have any insight into the conditions for this year's Hog Loppet? I've been watching the weather but could use a local's read on the situation. thanks

The (granted, subtle) difference is the DOT is authorized to say what happens on the road, the ski patrol is granted the authority to say what happens ->within the ski area <-... Again, I'll admit this is something of a nitpick... and a diversion from the original topic. Sorry.

I'll assume you're poking fun at me (you? never) but still respond with one word: jurisdiction.

I bet two things are going on here: 1. I think the DOT wants to keeps pullout open for emergency vehicles and "let your kid puke/I've got a flat tire/I just poured hot coffee on my lap" type parking/pulling over: short term, not in the way of the plows. As to why for the last four years and not now, I bet it's a combo of lost patience and an increase in the number of "long term" parkers. 2. I think it's been discussed here before, but I didn't put my two cents in the first time. Hitchhiking on Stevens pass when there is no shoulder, on a blind corner, than nearly always has water (sometimes ice...), on a corner posted at 60 (warned to 45?) sems like a bad idea. It's siomply a matter of safety. A skier may be willing to take that risk, but the state/DOT are authorized (and in my opinion reasonable) to say "too dangerous".

What I'm getting at is they are permitted to impact the ski area, and if their "line of fire" extends beyond their permit area, somethings wrong. I have been (sort of...) I have work professionally falling trees and was constantly irritated by people wandering through my falling area. So I understand they (the patrollers) really are just concerned for my safety but still have a problem with the ski area impacting an area they have no permit for. I think this is a troll-like comment, but I'll bite anyways. I consider such "bonus acres" to be something akin to "bonus access" from roads in wilderness areas. No thanks. I'll accept my hazards and manage them on my own terms.

on a related note: mt baker ski area / BC policy (another thread in cc.com)

I was reading the avy discussion in another thread and remembered a little run in I had a few days ago at the ski area. My friend and I got up to the area around 6am on Friday (Jan 4th?) for a short dawn patrol ski tour action. The intended route left the upper parking area, paralleled the Blueberry cat track and Bagley creek towards the visitors center above the Bagley lakes, and down into the bagley lakes bowl, then returned. Just a get out and skin type tour. I've done this sort of tour (and it's many extensions) many times and firmly believe the short route is p9ssible and safe in high avalanche conditions. The problem arose when we passed some patrolers loading Chair 1. They told us they were on their way to bomb the chute, pan face, etc. and we were not allowed to access the backcountry. I told them we'd be off the cattrack, and they told us we still couldn't go there because their bombing could set off slides on Mt Herman. They repeated we were not allowed to access the backcountry and left. I didn't want to push the issue, and resigned myself to driving back to town for the late start to work. But as I drove down, I got more and more frustrated. 1. I don't think they had any authority telling us were we could ski outside of the ski area. The upper-upper parking lot is a DOT facility and "open to the public." 2. They are authorized by the USFS to bomb in the ski area. I talked to a FS employee a few days later and casually asked about the where they were allowed to bomb abd it's impacts on the BC. The FS told me their bombing was not to impact the BC. I'm fully aware it's better to be alive and wronged than dead and right. The general thing that bugs me is that the ski area seems to think they control the bc access (I will conceed that their presence is alot of what makes it possible, but it's not within their "ownership") and that their avy control would have impacts it's not allowed to. Flame on, bitches.

1. I don't have all the information, but I'd sure like to know more. 2. I too believe that when you make the invetment of going to a local shop like LMS instead of a mail order or big store, you are justified in getting better service. Guiding a customer through the purchase, from start to finsih, is the base of customer service, and it sounds like LMS botched it. If they say "you chose the wrong binding, you'lll have to eat it," I think they have established their CS level, and it's pretty low. I wouldn't even expect to get this at REI. 3. I bet this comes down to an employee with just too little xc ski experience. 4. I'd think someone @ LMS or someone close enough would read this BBS and should post a responce. Like I said in 1., I'd like to hear more about this.

I ride a bike and I drive a car. I try and consider the other user (car whenI'm biking, bike rider when I'm driving). I follow the fed/state/municiple rules outlined for my appropriate mode and expect other users to do so. If your not following the rules, you're on you own. I ride/drive defensively for those incapable/unwilling to follow the rules. I try to not road rage (on my bike or in the car). It doesn't really do any good. It's really not that hard if you let go of your preconceptions and ego.

http://www.google.com/mars/ like google maps, not google earth, but still pretty cool.

Kurthicks: You're on, assuming those aren't the plastic snakeskin kind. Furry, right? Anyways, after this message I'll check your profile and call if it's got a number, otherwise call me: 360.715.1198, or cell 303.818.8568 Bug: sorry, your price is nice but kurthicks seems to be local. PeterC: You're obviuosly a fool who I'd never trust my skiing option to. Somebody aright above me: Thanks for the info, the can thing peter talked about looked like a pain in the butt, and I'm not making extremo skins. They'll probably be most used on steep section of road... dave

$50 for the skins? dave

$50 for a pair of skins? I can get new ones at REI for $75. Granted, I'm looking to chop 'em up and your's are pretty nice, but $50 is better than nothing.... dave

I'm not Hanible Lector. I'm looking for one (or two) skins to make kickers with. Also, If you're looking to do the same, get in touch with me and we could split the cost of some cheapies. I thought I saw some older BD's at REI for around $80. dave

So where does the carbon go? I know very little about biodieel, but I'm pretty sure it's a hydrocarbon. Any insight to share?

Don't be a loser, eat at Winn's. $3.50 for a deluxe w/ fries. Hop up to Red Apple (AKA Fairhaven Grocery) and grab a six pack. Old Town for a nice relaxed eat (at least on weekdays!) and Dimond Jims otherwise. Note: Boundry Bay has great food, but their beer selection is limited (no light beers) and makes you fart alot.

I climbed stuart as maybe my first "mountain" when I was in high school. It was a blast and I see it all the time and think about how much of an adventure it was for me. I'd never hiked that hard and the view was great 360! Yeah, it's a walk up and it may have some choss, but it's got it's merits.

My girlfriend had cold feet problems. Someone recommended changing up the footbeds in her shoes. I think she used some suprefeet and it worked really well. It took care of her cold feet problems (or at least she's not getting cold feet that much more than I am...)

On a related note, anyone know about the USFS rappelling a fire in the enchantments? I'm pretty sure they don't do anything w/ S&R, but buddy w/ the wenatchee raps was sent up there a couple of days ago. There haven't been any lightning storms roll through lately and it isn't exactly prime fire season up there... Also, my thoughts are with the families affected. Very sad.

Amen. It's not that hard to watch your speed, and if it is, a few tickets should help encourage you. As a bbicylist, I'd like to see more people held accountable for their unsafe driving. Good advice.

Personally, I think it's bullshit to be looking at her stuff. I'm sure the school district has a policy that a teacher CAN do this (maybe with some reason to suspect something "bad"?), but you were straight up snooping! If you don't think it was snooping, why did you dig into it? Cause you could? That's snooping! Bullshit. She may have disrespected you by bringing it and not paying attention, but punish her "by the books" and not by invading her privacy. Confiscate and return or destroy. Bullshit. Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Watched an interesting video about the Ashlu river and a dam being built on it. Warning: This video contains kayaks and yaker's in action. the video link here