goatboy

Anyone here ever climb the NE Couloir on Draqgin-tail? That thing looks do-able and fun.... - Steve

I have some loose relatives, now that you mention it... Vantage is loose if you're used to granite, but on the well-traveled routes, it's generally fine. Wear a helmet, don't be dumb, watch out for the other climbers (or folks hiking along the gravel-strewn rimrock above) and you'll improve your chances tremendously...

Hey ALL You can Eat, Your website -- and the photos of the Ptarmigan -- are absolutely spectacular. Nice work!

Hmm...I've only been there a few times (in the fall) but according to the Needles guidebook (by Moser, Vernon, Paul) the "ideal season" is May-October....sounds like you've been snowed in in May, though, Pink... Are the Southern Sierras having a big snow year this year?

May should be a really good time to go there....

Wondering how Kearney's book "imitates" according to jerseyscum???

Hmmm....I have no idea. I wasn't around here then... Either way, it's worth seeing...

Pacific Science Center has a short IMAX film about the eruption(s) of Mt St Helens ... pretty cool! It's not a cheesy, over-dramatic narrator like you so often get on such things....pretty intelligent commentary and awesome images of various eruptions, crater, ridges, etc... I recommend it.

Are you asking for specific places (i.e. GPS coordinates) or general principles (i.e. a tight drainage directly below corniced slopes above)? Perhaps you could post what you generally understand about avalanche dangers/terrain here in order to help people better understand what sort of answer you need.

Sounds good. Come do a Seattle show, though...

Thanks for the very good presentation tonight. Great photos and good stories. Inspiring stuff.

Women Climbers NW

Looking forward to this presentation tonight... Wondering what order the two shows will appear in?

Best wishes to you, MH! I hope to see you walking on a misty forest trail someday! Thanks for the wise words and encouragement to carpe diem. - Goatboy

Trip: SW Colorado - Ouray and Telluride - Many Date: 1/22/2007 Trip Report: SW Colorado is a lovely place to visit, and the Ouray Ice Park in particular is a wonderful place for skill development. I recently spent a week there with my wife and another couple, and worked on all kinds of skills, some of which was refresher, some of which was new. Refresher skills included: leading easy ice (WI2-3), placing screws, top-roping harder routes (WI4-5). New skills for me included learning a bit about mixed climbing (on TR) and making Abalokov's (which I knew in theory but had never actually practiced doing before). Highlights of the trip: 1) Great company 2) Very affordable trip! Under $250 per person for the entire week....unbelievable!!! 3) Fat, fun ice at Ouray and outside of Telluride 4) A fun night in Durango to top things off Ice report: Ice Park is crowded on weekends, but very reasonable midweek. Great ice conditions, the fattest I've seen there. Telluride/Ames area ice is incredibly fat right now, more than I've seen in the past. For example, AMES ICE HOSE is incredibly fat at the moment, especially the cruxy first pitch. We didn't climb it, but we did climb nearby Ames Falls. Camp Bird Mine Road area is also much fatter than usual. See more detailed conditions report at ICE CONDITIONS LINK The reasons the trip was so affordable: 1) Used frequent flier miles to get plane tickets from Seattle to Grand Junction. Got picked up in Junction by friends who drove from Utah. No rental car needed. Bought beer and groceries in Junction (rather than at the absurd Ouray rates for food). 2) Rented a cabin (through the Old Victorian) and cooked all meals there, except for 2 dinners total on the whole trip. We ate like kings. 3) Had breakfast every day either in the cabin or at the free Old Victorian continental breakfast 4) Capped the trip with a great dinner at the Steamworks Brewery in Durango -- fun place, great Imperial IPA and buffalo wings... I have tried twice to upload photos but for some reason there's a problem with the photos at the moment -- so sorry, none at this time -- will try later. Overall review: Really great trip, excellent weather and conditions, and a very good place to build skills and experience AS LONG AS YOU AVOID THE CROWDS (i.e. Ice Fest and Weekends in general) Gear Notes: Exactly what you'd expect. Approach Notes: Be aware of Avy Conditions for backcountry routes -- not an issue at the Ice Park, however

All I can say is...wow!

What does it mean when Kevbone says, "all the crampons on???"

How long was the approach to the Pearly Gates? About an hour?

Thanks for all the great info and advice. I am afraid if I ran a coffeeshop I would drink all the profits!!!

Thanks for the thoughts, folks. Good suggestions, JayB! G-S, your line about the lottery is classic. Other input and opinions very much appreciated...

Trogdor, do you mean an online sales outlet for internet sales, or an online presence in terms of marketing, community, building local connections, etc?

I want to get some thoughts from this community on the idea of opening a Mountaineering/Adventure bookstore somewhere in Seattle. The vision is to open a store that sells outdoor adventure books/maps and also serves as a caffeinated hang-out place for climbers during the day, and perhaps the occasional slide show or presentation during the evenings. There could be coffee, wifi, photos on the wall by local climbers... The strengths that I see of such a venture would be the community it both creates and taps into, the enjoyment of the work, and the great market that Seattle represents for such a business to succeed. The problems I envision are the high cost to start such a business, the competition (i.e. Mtneers bookstore, REI), and the high cost of real estate to rent or buy in Seattle. In order to combat the competition, I bet location of the place would be very crucial to its success. Any thoughts on the best location? I appreciate any responses that help me better assess the viability or strategy for such an enterprise. Thanks in advance. - Steve "the goatboy"

What are you concerned being liable for? No certification will protect you from gross negligence, for example...

Seems like the terrain often provides "protection" regardless of the number of pieces you have in. On Forbidden, for example, there are many blocks and towers which the rope might wind around and through, which can create rope drag while also making the equivalent of a "piece" of pro...same thing with the granite of the Stuart Range...