[catwoman]

MtnGoat is always hungry to heat up an argument. After all, look who always starts threads that are of political nature and controversiality. Believe me, I don't take his hits personally, but for some reason, he seems to take everything said personally (or maybe it's just what I say, I don't know), so gets upset. Take a chill pill, Chris. Many of us do! lol And I hoped that people noticed the little I flipped, which is somewhat designating of just being a smart-ass. Yes, I adhere to my statements in that post to some degree, but I don't generalize. Men - they're all such hotheads! (oops!)

[MtnGoat]

"MtnGoat is always hungry to heat up an argument. " no, I'm merely unwilling to look the other way when someone ranks on folks with differing views about recreation! "joyrides" are as valid as *any* other form of recreation.

[Randy]

A social along the upper MFK would be splendid. Remember a grand road in style. Stories, memories...ahhh.... Anyhow, nice commando camping action at the end with plenty of spread-out factor. Straggler action could be a problem though. In any event, the gating of the MFK road requires a social.

[Backpacker Joe]

Tally ho. Damn good reason (although any reason is a good one) sounds like a deal (if everyone else digs the local) TB

[MCaver]

I'm game for another rain social. That was excellent. Despite the scuffles here and there online, this is still a great group of people to chat with over a campfire. Can we get Craig to deliver another truckload of wood?

[hiker]

Thread driftback. Remember folks, alot of people that live at resorts barely have the energy to hike 18 holes. I have to wonder where they are going to get the water from. It's going to be sad to see the area change though. Thread doubledriftback. As far as Baker and Rainier go, it is highly possible that one means snowcapped thunderking and the other bubbling fire cauldron. Most names have some sort of origin and the fact that they are are attached to a European doesn't mean they have no other significance. Of course Baker could also mean he who sits at home while big mountain is named after him Overpopulation, underpopulation, the important thing is to have a population that is good stewards of the land and that care enough about each other to deal with societies problems and help out the neighbor in need.

[catwoman]

Hiker ..... true, but the more population you have, the more there becomes "competition" be it of land, properties, belongings, partners, etc. And the more you crowd a space, the less friendly the inhabitants become.

[hiker]

Cat, some of the friendliest people I've met were when visiting Japan which is definitely one of the more crowded countries. I think the friendliness of a people depends more on the values lived and promoted by the community than by the size of the community. Size does present challenges but also presents opportunities. If there are onlly a few people in my village, we all have to treat eachother well just to survive. If there are many people in my village maybe we don't have to treat each other well (or do we?) but then you miss out on alot because you can't have things like symphonies, Forest Services, maintained trails, theatre, etc. It didn't take alot of people to kill of most of the buffalo in the 1800's. That is an example of competition getting out of hand with only a few people. Again I think it depends on the values of the community more than the size.

[rubberlegs]

Hmmm... Stefan talking about overpopulation. Oh, and congratulations!!

[Steve]

New Zealand is starting to look better the more I live here. They have not even broken the 4,000,000 mark for population and they have 50% more area than Washington. I hate driving around here now and I thought it was bad 15 years ago! I found out that our vice president's (Boeing structures that is) vision for engineering is to see employment cut by 50% in the next 3-5 years so I guess that will make my career decision easier. And I could end up relieving the local population density problem.