tasmith513

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La Sportiva TC Pros Mens size 40.5. Really good condition. Broken in, but with fewer than 20 pitches climbed in them. Nice shoes, nothing wrong w/ them, but just a tad too large for me (they stretched a little bit). (Photo below) $90.00 I live in Twisp, so if you are climbing in the Methow this weekend and want to try them out first, I have a climbing wall in my garage. I'll take care of shipping as long as I can send via United Parcel Service. Other modes buyer will pay shipping fees.

Pete is correct. Although officially part of Okanogan County search and rescue, most of the mountain rescue personnel are Paramedics and EMTs from Aero Methow Rescue Service. (We were all very pleased the NAS Whidbey helo was able to make the pick...otherwise it was looking like a long night for everyone)

I spent about two weeks in Barcalona a couple years ago, and we got by great with the guides published by Roxfax on the Costa Durada and costa blanca. That covers just about everything around an hour's drive south of Barcalona, including Siurana, La Mussara, and Montsant, et al. I would highly recomend any of these areas in that area, as they are almost all made of impecable stone (mostly limestone or limestone conglomerate)and on top of that, include some of the most picturesque and ideal settings for climbing that I've experienced. I can't recall if rockfax has an extensive guide to the Montserrat climbing or not, but rockclimbing.com probably has something. Its a huge hunk of rock though, and depending on what sector you visit, you can either climb well bolted 5.11 and .12s, or clip scarry ring pitons half a century old, while overlooking the monastery and all of the related infrastructure for the tourists who visit there. The rock isn't near as nice at Montserrat compared to the other places though. Its interesting though--a very compact conglomerate that reminds me of fused, sharp gravel or something. But as I said, depending on your transportation situation, I recomend going south, finding a hostel in Cornudea, and spending a few days hitting all of the awesome limestone cragging around there. If you are looking for climbs more in the 5.9-5.10 range, they exist too, there are some nice ones, but most of the pitches are predominantly 5.11 or harder. And when you are done with that, you are right in the middle of Catalonian wine country... so there you go! What more could you ask for? If I ever get hitched, thats probably where I'll honeymoon! Have a good time!

I'll be headed down to the Eastern Sierra in about a week, and was looking for some intesting and enjoyable cragging besides Owens and all of the bouldering in Bishop. I know there is some great cragging to be found in the Mammoth area, but most of it is kinda high. So does anyone have any beta on the amount of snow this year that may stop me if I try to get to Clark Canyon, Benton Crags, Rock Creek, etc.? Are there any crags someone would recomend for this time of year? And would anyone recomend checking out the Alabama Hills or anywhere else down south by Lone Pine? I'm going to track down the Marty Lewis guidebooks, so I don't need specific route beta, I'm just interested in current access conditions and any personal recomendations. Thanks a ton in advance for any beta. cheers, TA

...and as for ice in Mazama...Not worth the trip yet. The Standard looks climbable from the road, so does The Bear, maybe, but LEAN. Nothin up at Gate creek yet. So not too much yet in general, but getting there. Inversions are sometimes pretty good to the ice down in Mazama.

John, Mark's TR is of the ice that forms up at the WA pass roadcut. Last year we were lucky enough to have it form before the highway closed for the season, but by now this year you need a sled to get there. My buddy Ottis was up there this weekend, and said there's ice beginning to reform (I guess what WAS up came down during the inversion)and with the cold temps we've been having this week, by the weekend there might be something to climb. But again, you need a snowmobile or a friend with one to get to it (or a lot of extra time to skin ten+ miles up the road) As for Mazama ice, I don't know first hand if anything is in yet, but last I heard its beginning to. I'd call the NCMG office. I'd say that between the Washington Ice book, and what beta Jason posted here, you have a fairly complete description of everything that's out this way (at least, so far). I'll try to find out myself this week if anything is coming in by Mazama, and post here if there's anything to report. -Tom

Excellent work... but I might check with Chris Tapfer or John Crock for confirmation before claiming the FA on that one! Ask John about his urban Palouse ice climbing experiences while you are at it... I too know the desperation that comes from being marooned in the Pullman. It drives you to climb at Granite Point! -TA

As of last Friday, my #2 (gold) camalot is currently a semi-fixed piece near the top of the double-roofs pitch on the NW face (Boving route) on SEWS. It definately qualifies as legit booty, but if anyone has better luck than me at cleaning it, and FEELS like returning it, I live just down the highway in Mazama. There is a growler of your favorite brew from the Winthrop Pube in it for anyone who can retrieve it as a thank you (the reward offer is of course negotiable if you don't like alcohol--but I can't see that being a problem with anyone here...) My digits are 509-996-7826, you can PM me, or you can probably just drop it off at the Store or with North Cascades guides if they're around. I really don't have any expectations, but thanks a bunch anyway! paz, TS

Was up there on Wednesday. The snow is soft and kind of in a crappy transition phase, melting out from the rocks and such. There aren't a lot of run-outs anymore if you slip--which is what my friend found out when he slipped coming down it, slided into and over some rocks and almost messed himself up real good. Be careful.

John Muir?

- you want to live in Mazama. - you think you have a snowball's chance in hell of making a living in Mazama. - you think you are the only PNW gaper who has ever thought of moving to Mazama. - you went ahead and did it anyway...

Thank you for all the input folks. Have a great one..... T.S.

Does anyone know if the mountain masters resole reasonably well? Or am I just better off getting a new pair? Thanks, T.S.

That's the one, Dru. Great book, but sort of expensive. It runs about 30 bucks U.S.--so it must be like $55 in Canadian play money right Dru? Nice photos you have in there there by the way...

"Alpine Select" by Kevin McLane has some great choices in it. Elaho publishing 2001. www.elaho.ca

Moon Rocks rock!

Got a great view of these flows (from a distance) on the Tieton Road near Clear lake on Sunday. From there they looked quite a bit "fatter" than in the pics by jstreet. Anyone been up there in the past week or so?

There is an unnamed 5.10 handcrack on the extreme right end of the Resevoir Wall at Indian Creek that puts Incredible HC, Supercrack, or any of the other "classic" handcracks there to shame. Two Timer at the Second Meat Wall is hard to beat as well. Of course, I bet (and hope) that I am yet to find the "best" 5.10+ crack out there--my scope of experience is still relatively small.

Joshua Tree=poor man's Patagonia I hear the wind dies down THERE at night too....

Yo Bug, Are you maybe thinking of Sidewinder? It sure sounds like it by your description. But the one I'm thinking of is more northwest of Hidden Valley campground if I remember correctly. Near the the Outback I think. Steve's Canyon or something like that? Well, either way its a great pitch.

As I understand, a tyrolean cable has been installed in the place of the old bridge at the Columns. The Columns and the Bend both opened up the week after Easter Sunday last year, but I'm sure it varies season to season. Moonrocks should be open year round.

IMO, it is really a pain in the ass to have a dog with you down there, unless you don't mind being cruel to your pet by keeping it couped up over half the time in your rig. I don't know how they used to be in the past, but when I was there in December it seemed clear to us that the tools were beginnig to crack down on all sorts of things, including dogs off leashes, slack-lines set up between trees, and extended stays in the campground. Several friends of mine were hasseled and in one case ticketed for having their pet off a leash. Also, yeah, the coyotes and ring-tails down there are fearless. Don't leave anything out that smells like food or it will be gone in the morning. I even had a box of climbing chalk disappear. The coyotes are another good reason to keep your dog restrained. My advice if one HAS to bring their dog with them, is to keep them on a leash at all times when around the popular campground crags like Hidden Valley, and only take them on the trails if you're heading out somewhere remote, like along Geology Tour road, if you don't want to get a ticket.