ryland_moore

This is not a new concept and is all over the outdoor industry. From NOLS, to Exum, to others as well, you have to go through a training course to prove your abilities and learn the ropes so to speak. It is also a way to weed out those who are committed to this job as a career and those that are just looking for something to do during the summer. I am surprised the NPS doesn't require their rangers to pay, but in a way, they already are in geting all of the medical training that they are required to have. There are even folks on this site who have paid groups like Mountaineers and Mazamas to learn new skills, I just see this as a way to get paid back.

Damn, mullets are versatile! All business up front, and all party in the back!

If you own more dogs than teeth in your mouth....same goes for junk cars than teeth in your mouth....

If you think a wife beater and blue jeans is the best way to pick up girls at the local bar.

Blades sunglasses with mirror tinting and any neon colored rims

If you can tow your home with a truck, you are WT, if you can't well you are wealthy WT or you just live in a "modular home".

Would love to, but have an all day conference on Saturday! Could do it First weekend in Feb. though. Weather? who knows this far out. Go get it, sounds like the weather is shaping up!

Muffy, I am sure that most of the guys will stay true to you on this site! I know I will! No offense Jason! See ya Monday.

Me too. At T-Wall outside Chattaboogie, it was common to see PWT climbing. It even went so far as to coming across a rope hanging on a climb we wanted to warm up on. Since no one was around, we walked along the cliff to see if we could find the owner. As we rounded an arrete, there were 3 good ol' boys hanging out on another climb. "Is this your rope over here?" we asked. "Oh yeah man. You're more than welcome to take a go on our rope. We'd just lefted it up 'cause we's fixin' to get back on it. But you can use it now." replied the skinny one donning a wife beater, cut-off jeans, and a bilboard foam/mesh construction co. cap. I looked at my buddy and he looked at me. The rope we had observed did not appear to be your typical dynmaic climbing rope. It was completely white and beared a few scars throughout its length. As my buddy and I pondered and tried to figure out how not to appear rude in a reply to their offer, one of the guys climbing yelled down from up high on the climb, barely visible through the maple tree branches that typically obscure your view of the upper cliffs in the south. "Hey Timmy", came a voice from above, "Ya ready?" With that the belayer's friends grabbed on to him, one especially large, and held him down. "Yeah, We's ready!" Replied Timmy. With that, the guy jumped off and took about a 30 foot screamer, coming to a hault only 5 feet off the deck. As he stopped, we witnessed a tight jerk in the rope and a whiplash effect to his neck. He was wearing gloves, a handmade Colorado harness made from webbing, and donning the most perfect mullet I've seen in my 4 years living in TN. (that is a compliment to most down there).He untied, walking a little funny, muttering something about chafing and his neck being wrenched, but needed to crack open a "cold one" and everything would be "a'right." My buddy asked,"So what kind of rope y'all using there?" They all turned to the skinny guy looking for a response. He replied," Aw, that's just your basic tree climbin' rope. After we nick up the rope a good bit an it needs a retirin' I just take 'em and use 'em for things 'roun da house an' climbin' rocks n such. We ain't fixin' to get on that one over yonder any time soon, so's ifs you's awnt ta, you can use it." I looked at my buddy and he at me. "Thank you, but we had our eyes set on another climb further down the cliff face. Have a good day!"

Good point. It was osmething I was willing to deal with. When you say Makalu's are you referring to the grey ones? I typically would not trust this boot on anything other than mild glacier walks and no altitude. Maybe you have some strong feet, but I own a pair of Makalus and the only thing I use them for are on extended backcountry trips. They have never held a crampon that well for me and are not made for higher altitude or cold weather climbing. You dais you had overboots which was good, and I suspect you lucked out with weather, but I saw a guy down on Aconcagua with these boots and super gators on and he lost his toes to frostbite being stuck in a storm at 20,000 for 3 days. The Nepal Extremes and others of that calibur run around $400-$450/pair. These are leathers, but are constructed for cold conditions unlike the Makalu's and other leathers of the Makalu's calibur. I spent 6 months in S. America with plastics and never had any problems. I just had an extra pair of trail running shoes with me that I used on approaches for climbs. A buddy of mine actually did the entire walk into Aconcagua basecamp in his plastics! He even pulled off a sweet V4 boulder problem in them at 13,000'! I couldn't even do it it tennies! When it comes to footware and mountaineering, this is the last place you want to skimp (maybe other than glove systems) for the Andes. Yes, it can can be still and balmy at 18,000'. But do you want to have to turn around and head back down to the huts on Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, or Cayembe b/c you have cold feet? I say plastics or Nepal Extremes are worth their hassle of bulkiness and cost. Also, if you aren't going to climb the enitre time, you can leave your gear with the owner of the Youth Hostel you stay at. I did this with all my axes, boots, etc. While we wnt down to Bariloche to rock climb and do the Paine Circuit down in Patagonia.

I am sure ice is building, especially after the "cold snap" last week they had. But definately not in. Ellensburg may be in being in a canyon and all but doubt it. We have a little homemade ice wall that looks a little chandeliered up at Willamette Pass (elev. 5,000') and isn't quite ready. I am using that as an indicator of whn stuff might be ready. Give us a report if you go out there and find out differently. (Actually just PM me and don't tell another soul).

If you are dead set on leathers, that is fine, but I definately preferred having plastics on Cotopaxi as well as other mtns. in the Andes. I am sure Nepal Extremes would be fine, but why shell out the big bucks? I just find plastics more comfortable and warmer. May be a mental thing as well.

Awesome Erden! Team Rednecks on Ice will be happy to form a procession line for you and your new bride at the Kahiltna Airport!

You don't necessarily have to give them too much money. I had friends who just spent a month down there after sailing there. Only thing they paid for was a minimal docking fee. They already had all of their supplies and to hell if they were going to drink the local water. They dealt with their saltwater converter on board, as nasty as it tastes....

Who's Adam that soloed it in the story?

Did ya tell them your phone number was 867-5309 too? This actually worked on a double bagger we had the unfortunate privelege of meeting in a bar to get her away from us. Unfortunately Muffy, she was a blonde.....

So who all will be up there this Spring? Me and PeteA will be up there starting May 16th. We will be down (at the latest) by June 12th (I pray that it doesn't take this long!). So I was wondering if there will be folks up there we could do a Denali/Talkeetna Pub-club afterwards to celebrate the thawing of our bodies, and beers in our gullets after a 3 week hiatus. Anyone interested?

Don't know about the climbing, but the saltwater fly-fishing rocks! That's what you get from a few decades of no boat ownership and lack of a fishing industry! Climbing in Cuba good? I could picture limestone cliffs, but sandstone? All the stuff I have climbed in the Carribean (small sport routes) have all been limestone. Beta?

I still do!!!! Unless I am in a foreign country and then I am an investment banker from LA........

A Horny homemaker using the "rhythm method" spells trouble to me! So how many ChrisT juniors you got runnin' 'round them parts anyways? I hear another large Catholic family on the way! Yoga pictures? How'd I miss that?

Daler, you may have had good experience with them, but I have had trouble with setting small, standard stakes that come with my Mt. HW tent as deadmaen. They melt out easier, have less surface area, especially in fresh powder, and are harder to work with in very cold conditions. Bronco's link is what I use now as my four corners and on the main guys in the center of the tent. I use smaller stuff sacks on the upper guys, but still carry a dew stakes in case I need one (although the last few trips I've done, I haven't used the stakes once. You may be right and you have been to AK a lot more than I have. I will probably bring them, but for convenience, only use my system unless I feel stakes are warranted. Thanks for the insight!

Nick, I don't think you will be using "stakes" on Denali. You will probably be uisng stuff sacks filled with snow as your "stakes" to anchor down your guy lines and base. Coupled with a screw or two or maybe a picket or two in bad conditions for the base, you won't need tent "stakes" on Denali. At least as to how I define stakes. Ie. the ones that come with the tent.

I am the oldest....

Hey DFA, tell your wife to call the L.E.A.D. program in Eugene. They are a non-profit that take underpriveleged kids out climbing, Mt. biking, tele skiing, hiking, ropes courses, and kayaking. Run by a bunch of competent folks down here. I volunteer for them on a semi-regular basis. Good folks too. If you want their number, PM me.