2024

[Overlander]

I really like the Olympic Penninsula. The east side of it really doesn’t get much rain.

And where else can you see Ocean, glaciers, and authentic rain forests all in a 1 hour drive?

[jhawks99]

The city of subdued excitement itself

I like that area. Great Jeeping to the east too.

it's beautiful, rains a lot but its really pretty. The north Cascades are rugged and thick. Highway 20 is a great drive. Lots of hiking, camping and offroading areas.

Went off roading and hiking around Mt Baker. Nice area. Didn't see Bigfoot, but I'm sure he saw us.

[ousdahl]

omg can't believe 99 just assumed Bigfoot's pronoun.

sorry, wrong thread.

[ousdahl]

and yea, olympic peninsula is special, for the reasons overland mentions. Some of the best and coolest natural beauty anywhere.

It's also kind of a weird place - super rural and remote, lots of poverty, lots of drug and alcohol problems, that kinda stuff.

Some of the most prevalent indigenous communities and culture retained in the lower 48, which is kinda cool. But also means random casino resorts and such. They can kinda be bitter toward white folks too, not that Qusdahl blames them.

The east side doesn't get as much rain. Some really cool little towns too, with cute little victorian architecture overlooking the sound back toward Seattle and stuff.

The west side is rainier, and way more remote, and way less going on. Some logging communities and some reservations, that's about it. The town of Forks is a goofy place. You're prob either there to fish, or to do Bigfoot and/or vampire tours, but I imagine the latter might be waning since the passing popularity of the Twilight series.

That said, check out the Hoh national rainforest. Not much else like it anywhere. Ridiculously green, ferns growing on moss growing on trees in every direction, emerald colored rivers (sorta) full of salmon and steelhead and seals, blacktail deer and Roosevelt elk and feral llamas wandering around, bald eagles everywhere, plus you're right by the ocean and the Olympic mountains and those natural wonders.

[Overlander]

We have our yearly vacation with 2 other couples in June, got a Vacation home on a badass lake in the Penninsula.

Last year, we did Couer d’Alene.

[jhawks99]

We hiked in the Hoh too. I never knew there were so many shades of green. It was November and it didn't rain. We had the whole park to ourselves. So cool.

[TDub]

I like that area. Great Jeeping to the east too.

it's beautiful, rains a lot but its really pretty. The north Cascades are rugged and thick. Highway 20 is a great drive. Lots of hiking, camping and offroading areas.

Went off roading and hiking around Mt Baker. Nice area. Didn't see Bigfoot, but I'm sure he saw us.

I skiied Baker every weekend for 4 or 5 years.

My dad and I also summited Baker 20 some odd years ago. Bluebird morning when we got to the top at about 5:45 am. Unbelievable view.

[Overlander]

it's beautiful, rains a lot but its really pretty. The north Cascades are rugged and thick. Highway 20 is a great drive. Lots of hiking, camping and offroading areas.

Went off roading and hiking around Mt Baker. Nice area. Didn't see Bigfoot, but I'm sure he saw us.

I skiied Baker every weekend for 4 or 5 years.

My dad and I also summited Baker 20 some odd years ago. Bluebird morning when we got to the top at about 5:45 am. Unbelievable view.

The most badass view I have ever seen was from Cougar Peak in northern Idaho.

A panoramic view, from which you can see peaks in Washington, Idaho, Glacier National Park and even Canada.

It was a son of a bitch to get to, but so worth it.

[TDub]

Went off roading and hiking around Mt Baker. Nice area. Didn't see Bigfoot, but I'm sure he saw us.

I skiied Baker every weekend for 4 or 5 years.

My dad and I also summited Baker 20 some odd years ago. Bluebird morning when we got to the top at about 5:45 am. Unbelievable view.

The most badass view I have ever seen was from Cougar Peak in northern Idaho.

A panoramic view, from which you can see peaks in Washington, Idaho, Glacier National Park and even Canada.

It was a son of a bitch to get to, but so worth it.

All great places.


What lake you going to? Pleasant? Quinault?

You been out to Neah Bay or Cape Flattery yet? its worth the drive.

[Overlander]

Lake Cushman.

I have not been to those places…I will definitely check them out

[TDub]

ah Cushman is a good place, particularly the west side where there's less people.

[Shirley]

So decisive, and principled.

Or, not ready for prime time?

DeSantis changes his tune on Ukraine, calls Putin a 'war criminal'

After having downplayed Russia’s war against Ukraine as a “territorial dispute” in remarks to Fox News, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis changed course in a new interview by calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a “war criminal” who needs to face consequences for his actions.

...DeSantis argued that his earlier statement to Fox News host Tucker Carlson had been “mischaracterized” and that his “larger point” was that he doesn’t think Russia can “take over Ukraine” or “threaten NATO” even if the U.S. doesn’t escalate its involvement. He said he wasn’t suggesting Russia’s invasion was justified.

[...]

[ousdahl]

well, if Russia can't take over Ukraine or threaten NATO even if the U.S. doesn't escalate its involvement, then why'd the US escalate its involvement anyway? And for years before Russia tried to take over Ukraine, at that...at least this time around.

And, if Russia can't take over Ukraine or threaten NATO, then why all the NATO pearl-clutching? And - here's another one of those elephants in the room - why is Russia slowly taking over Ukraine anyway?

sorry, that's sort of for the...uh, other thread.

but, yea, over a year into this with no end in sight, I'm kinda curious to see how the issue of Ukraine plays in our own '24 elections. I guess it's at least...interesting?..that DeSantis is doing an about face. But public support for Ukraine is slowly waning, and, fast forward another year and a half, with likely still no end in sight, to our own elections, and who knows what the popular view on Ukraine will be next November.

but, that's prob moot. Most Americans just don't care enough about the Ukraine war either way to have it be that big a factor in our own elections.

Indeed, our own elections are still more likely to come down to far nobler; far more pressing; and far, far more imperative issues, like, "well at least he's not the other guy..."

[KUTradition]

asa hutchinson now throwing his hat in the ring

trump
haley
hutchinson
ramaswamy

[DCHawk1]

asa hutchinson now throwing his hat in the ring

LOL


Also, you left Tim Scott off your list.

[RainbowsandUnicorns]

asa hutchinson now throwing his hat in the ring

trump
haley
hutchinson
ramaswamy

Trump won't get my vote
Haley won't get my vote
Hutchinson won't get my vote
Ramaswamy won't get my vote

DeSantis won't get my vote
Pence won't get my vote

Johnson won't get my vote

Biden won't get my vote
Harris won't get my vote

Bozo the clown will get my vote over the 9 people I listed above - and many other who may run.

[TDub]

asa hutchinson now throwing his hat in the ring

trump
haley
hutchinson
ramaswamy

Trump won't get my vote
Haley won't get my vote
Hutchinson won't get my vote
Ramaswamy won't get my vote

DeSantis won't get my vote
Pence won't get my vote

Johnson won't get my vote

Biden won't get my vote
Harris won't get my vote

Bozo the clown will get my vote over the 9 people I listed above - and many other who may run.

don't you dare suggest possible voting for a 3rd party candidate Gutter. ZSN won't allow any thoughts outside his narrow spectrum of opinion.



Also cracks me up that....of course th hard core Republicans aren't very tolerant of other views. But the people who preach and preach tolerance, and March for tolerance and talk ad nauseum about tolerance (all good things btw).....are absolutely intolerant when it comes to anything outside their bubble of thought. Its a little Alanis Morissette.

[MICHHAWK]

demonrats are the most intolerant animals on earth.

[KUTradition]

demonrats are the most intolerant animals on earth.

i’d rather be intolerant, than unethical and lacking any semblance of integrity

[DCHawk1]

demonrats are the most intolerant animals on earth.

i’d rather be intolerant, than unethical and lacking any semblance of integrity

Guess wut?