fracisco

Let them take SnowCats! You can get more people in a SnowCat, they tend to stay on major trails, and they burn diesel instead of two-stroke gas/oil mixtures. Everybody else can learn to ski or snowshoe.

We recently replaced a 2-stroke outboard motor with a 4-stroke. Much quieter, runs smoother, pollutes less, smaller horsepower rating, but it feels just as powerful as the 2-stroke. I don't feel as guilty running it all day.

I have a PH-163Q ballhead. I like its fit and finish. I don't have big telephoto or zoom lenses (nothing larger than a 70-210mm), so I cannot comment on well it supports heavy loads. I like the QR plates because they are light, and they have a ridge along one edge to prevent twisting if you shoot vertically. I wanted a lightweight, somewhat compact kit, so I teamed the PH-163Q with a Bogen 3001 tripod legset.

I have never operated a Arca-Swiss or Kirk BH1, so I cannot comment about how the Velbon stacks up against those pieces of hardware.

If you have a PalmPilot, try the following tide software called Tide Tool:

http://www.toolworks.com/bilofsky/tidetool.htm

Good stuff. I've been using it for a couple of years.

I think a Yashica T4 and an Ultrapod II will point you in the right direction, and all for ~$175.

I have a Canonet QL17 which I love, but have not had the chance to take it into the field. I once took my Minolta SRT-101, but that is a pretty heavy piece of metal. I would consider one of my Minolta X-700's with a 50mm all purpose lens, as it's neither an expensive setup, nor very heavy.

The nice thing about a P&S is that you can have it in your pocket, or in a "pouch" that is daisy chained to your shoulder strap, and it is very accessible.