texplorer

This is sounding like a classic sausage fest!

Good point Marty, Looks like you have done some sick routes. I'm not quite as experienced and am limited to mainly Oregon as far as climbing but here's my fav's so far. Sport -Vomit Launch - Smith Trad -Moonshine Dihedral - Smith Alpine Rock -N Ridge - Stuart Alpine climb -Jefferson Park Glacier - Jefferson

I've got two words for your gear woes my friend. -PRO DEAL Yes, quit your job for that start-up and go to work at a gear store or climbing gym. You'll get almost all your gear at half price. The down side - you eat ramen every day and have to hitchhike to the crag. . . .but you'll have sweet gear!

Isn't it interesting how everyone has bias' toward the crags they have climbed at the most. Perhaps that is where they ticked their first 5.10, .11, or .12 and they have special feelings for those climbs and areas. Lots of factors play into the mix. eh

Your were bit lucky on the rock. Let's hope the sprays that are sure to follow have as docile a bite as the rock had upon you. PS I have done something similar before. Scare the crap out of you!

What is the date and time on the class?

In my experience the biggest talkers are the worst climbers.

Found a couple short pitches of ice in Snowqualamie this weekend. I am not a great judge of vertical ice but it was climbable and plastic since it wasn't in the sun. I think this year the area has different conditions due to lack of normal snowfall levels. I am sure one of the guys I climbed with will be one sometime later today to give a little more in depth beta. Seize the Day

So I have studied axes in the catalogs for a while now. I am new to this stuff so I wanted to know what you guys think are THE best tools to buy for vertical ice and also what would be best for steep mountaineering routes.