Bronco

>An Irishman named Murphy went to his doctor after a long illness. The doctor, after a lengthy examination, sighed and looked Murphy in the eye and said, "I've some bad news for you... you have the cancer and it can't be cured. I'd give you two weeks to a month." > >Murphy, shocked and saddened by the news, but of solid character, managed to compose himself and walk from the doctor's office into the waiting room. There he saw his son who had been waiting. > >Murphy said, "Son, we Irish celebrate when things are good and celebrate when things don't go so well. In this case, things aren't so well. I have cancer and I've been given a short time to live. Let's head for the pub and have a few pints." > >After three or four pints, the two were feeling a little less somber. There were some laughs and more beers. They were eventually approached by some of Murphy's old friends who asked what the two were celebrating. Murphy told them that the Irish celebrate the good and the bad...He went on to tell them that they were drinking to his impending end. He told his friends "I've only got few weeks to live as I have been diagnosed with AIDS." > >The friends gave Murphy their condolences and they had a couple more beers. After his friends left, Murphy's son leaned over and whispered his confusion, "Dad, I thought you said that you were dying from cancer? You just told your friends that you were dying from AIDS!" > >Murphy said, " I am dying from cancer, son. I just don't want any of them sleeping with your mother after I'm gone."

good article al! I'd like to go against convention on the sprayboard and give a thumbs up to REI for supporting Gary Brill's Avalanche training class which was well worth the money and I'd highly recomend it for anyone.

I know its not a "climbers" brand but Eddiebauer revolutionized down clothing and aparantly still makes some worthy cloths. Down Jacket for $59.99 - Check it out. http://www.eddiebaueroutlet.com/product.asp?product_id=20306&nv=443|449

nice job on keeping your team together and reaching the summit TG!! (good TR as well) I know it's tacky but, maybe you were supposed to be there too give the portugese lady some help instead of on the route you wanted to be on. Here is a link to an article about climbing Aconcaeagua incase some of you may not be in the know (like me) http://www.climbing.com/Pages/feature_stories/feature209.html pretty funny stuff. sounds like Mt. Hood or Rainier on a sunny summer weekend.

18 seems like a trick question. What the hell else are you supposed to use, a rock? your hand? your #5 camalot?

quote: Originally posted by Cpt.Caveman: .... Ask Bronco about me taking some good zingers last summer at Index I think it did some good for his belief that pro works seeing it first hand...... Thats my preferred method, watching someone else take repeated falls above my head. Looking forward to watching you this season from above.

quote: Originally posted by Matt Anderson: ....As far as little exercises I use to get past the irrational fear? I do these: I start up a pitch with good gear and jump. Make sure your partner knows your purpose, so he won't let you weenie out of it. Jump multiple times over different pieces of gear. If you want to progress beyond that, have your partner start calling out where he thinks you should fall. If you protect so that the falls are always ok, you'll start accepting that doing it anywhere (so long as the gear is adequate) is ok. No disrespect, Matt Anderson, but, as my dear ol' mom likes to say: HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND???

go out too the crags and find yerself (stalk) some mentors. the more the merrier because you can take the best from each of them. once you get "in the loop" experienced partners will appear like clockwork. save your grandmas money for a better cause you moocher.

The waist belt is removable on the Ice pack. I woulden't buy it without trying it on though. Just my $.01

dgbsstt: I'd greatly appreciate it. You can send them too me at: rpmcousa@aol.com mattp: the road is gated just after it crosses from the South to the North side of the N. Fork of the Skykomish which is 6 or 7 miles from the Blanca Lake Trailhead if that helps. It also looks like you could beat brush and follow the Troublesome Creek drainiage to Blanka, but, bring your chainsaw.

Dru - you're lucky they didn't arrest you on the spot. That guy is a known felon (breaking and entering WI 3),wanted in 3 states (is canada a state yet?), armed and dangerous (with a cell phone)!!! He has allegedly been a mennace to sport climbers as well!!

wow miker, I was able to shave about .1 off of my first score after 10 tries but I am a wanker with a .27 personal best. have a good weekend guys.

I am going to be at Blewett pass over the weekend with my wife/potential belayer and wondered if my ice tools and rope were to "accidentaly" get into the truck do you guys know of any decent short pitches of ice on HWY 97 between Blewett and Leavenworth??

quote: Originally posted by miker: Has anyone tried the Kelty Redwing 2900? I am interested in a good pack for rock climbing hikes, no alpine. It looks good, but I have never used a Kelty pack and was curious about there 'rep'. miker(97 posts) I had one for a couple of years and for some reason, it always drove me nuts. It was always a little too small to get everything into or a little too big and snaggin on brush or getting in the way. The compression straps dont work great but, it is very cheap and hard to beat the price on the REI outlet website. Still, I'd say keep looking. On a different subject, I'm looking for a very small, light, summit pack like the BD Bullet or Lowe Attack Summit, something around 1 - 1.5 lbs and less than $50. I may just get an Eddie Bauer book bag for that matter. ($19.95) I am such a gear slut!!

nice auto sig hank!

Dru - it sounds like a more serious problem than you alude too. I have a similar problem myself. "These cheap, piece of garbage *shoes*!! if only I had better/different *shoes* I could climb 5.10 without any problem. Just look at the *shoes* so-and-so has and he can climb anything" *insert any peice of gear* cams, helmets, tools, whatever. Whatever it is quit whining and blaming your gear for your poor performance and just admit it - the climb was just too easy for you to bother to pay attention. Thats what I do!

I was messing around in Dillon MT over the summer and found a Patagonia Outlet store. The short of the long is you can call them at (406) 683-2580 and see if they have a particular item and if they do, they will ship it to you and save you some $$$. I ordered a new Dimension jacket on Monday and recieved it today for $154.95 plus shipping ($5.00) and tax ($10.00). Not bad.

maybe you shoulden't drink so many mickey for lunch w/Dwayner

quote: Originally posted by Bronco: ......... From HWY 2 its about 4 miles and 2,000 - 2,500' gain to the trailhead....... What a bozo that dude Bronco is. From what I hear, he is such a bad climber, he brings newbies to Index and has them wear cowboy boots so he can look good. Scott - After reading these other posts, I checked it out and it's at least 6 miles from the gate to the TH.

scott- FS # 62 is less than 10 miles from Zekes Drive In east of Goldbar. The gate is about 100 yards off of hwy 2 and the reason you wont make it much farther than the gate is we have about 10" of heavy wet snow near Monroe = probably alot more at the gate on FS #62 which is not plowed to my knowledge. From HWY 2 its about 4 miles and 2,000 - 2,500' gain to the trailhead. From trailhead to the summit is only about 3 miles and another 2,000' elevation gain. You can stay in the trees to avoid avvy danger until you near the summit. Watch out for walking onto major cornices extending north and east along the ridge and at the summit. It's a long way down. Take ski's if at all possible, most of the terrain would be skiable. [ 01-30-2002: Message edited by: Bronco ]

The black diamond snow pack II is on sale at the REI outlet if you like it. I have a BD Ice Pack that seems fine, but, it's nothing special. My next pack will be a nozone from arcteryx You really are a menace.

quote: Originally posted by hakioawa: ........Agrument for argument sake can be fun at times. But somtimes it gets a little old. I keep waiting to hear an argument about benefits of right vs. left handed belaying. Right hand is the only way!! Only losers use their left hand!!!

They overlooked the great bolt/no bolt war of 2001 in the Cascade Range. And the skirmish on the upper flanks of Mt. Rainier over who owns the Muir Hut.

quote: Originally posted by mtnrgr: What is the best cord to sling BD hexes? I recently purchased a few, but the 5mm cord I have won't fit. How do you fuse Maxim tech cord? The core won't melt with a regular lighter. check this out: http://www.cascadeclimbers.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=9&t=000086 and I ended up using 5.5 spectra for mine with a double fishermans. Experiment with your lenghts as it is a personal preference matter. The holes are tight and kind of bothersome for feeding cord though, but it will work just fine. A small propane torch works pretty good for melting the ends if you have one.

I am trying to catch Caveman and Dru but don't tell them. Have a good weekend!!