re: ALT, i got it years ago but wasn't too impressed...although i listened to it again last night and enjoyed a few. it's a very raw, quickly created disc, and some of it could have stood to be polished a bit, but there is some nice stuff on there. in general i like the second half of the album much better. i love the 'you make a piece of art, throw it the river, you don't give a shit...you make a piece of art, put it on the wall, security guards can guard it' one.

as far as climbing steep rocky places go, well, that's kinda what they're there for! and, really, a fear of heights can perhaps be overcome, but it's as natural as breathing. i certainly suffered from it myself last weekend!...

i mostly stick to class 3 scrambles, but there was a 45-foot section of class 4 mixed ice and rock on the NW arete that i got myself into like a cat and a tree, and as i passed other climbers' discarded protection (i was free soloing) i realized that i was a bit of an idiot, especially since i was alone and the rangers didn't know my intentions. no matter, if i had fallen it probably would've been it...but, man, the view and belly laughter on top was something else. cloudless, clear, windless and warm. achingly beautiful. i stayed on top for an hour, had lunch, did some ritualistic stuff, etc.  the personal significance of the activity on that particular day (saturday august 30) had a lot to do with it. she got my heart but i got the camping gear, and with it i can make the necessary repairs, so i do. as far as metaphorical activities go, climbing peaks is hard to beat...

there'll be a bit of a write-up in the new edition of Gerbils Quarterly (GQ), of which i'm nearing the completion. i'll guage my perceived obnoxiousness on this board by the total lack of requests i get when i announce its availability. :)

good advice on the canyon hike, too; tons of water and enough salt and calories are vital. go for it, Kevin!!!!