Some say the correct Shawangunks pronunciation is "shongums," which leads, inevitably, to the contraction "The Gums."

And why aren't the adirondacks "The Ads?" For the same reason the Gunks aren't "The Shwans?"

I think there are more ways not to blend in than meet the eye. Viva immiscibility.

on the subject of "warshington," i have a theory i call the conservation of consonants.
When R's disappear in Bahstin, and people pahk there cahs, the R's reappear in the midwest, when people warsh their clothes.

How dare you stoop so low as to call me a law enforcement officer!

P.S. I knew I'd get grumpy ole Strat to bite on this one. He is predictable afterall!

I never said I was local...did I????

No... But you're pretending to be one!

Damn right. And I wouldn't hesitate to do it again and again and again. Someone has to stand up for what's right!

Do it again!

Regarding the "Burgundy Bible", I usedthat book for research more than any other, and there have been very few times that I've been unable to find a route. The style of that book takes some getting used to, and you just have to be willing to put in the extra work and time to find your routes. Sometimes it's wrong, but I *still* manage to find the routes.

You mean like willing to wade through beaver ponds and whatnot?

Beaver ponds are the bane of every north country cartographer and orienteering course setter. I can see where they would be a pain trying to approach seldom visited climbs. They can appear overnight and once left for a season will easily grow beyond belief. I know more than one orienteering mapper who kicks down fresh dams on newly mapped terrain.