pope

Dwayner, check your messages.

Now how did I know I'd get a dumpster story? Dwayner, you sure seem to know an impressive number of details about this story. How is it that this memory is so vivid for you? Was she your first? Your last? Both?

And while we're at it, these Boreal Fire shoes have caused me to consider retiring my EB's....something I thought I'd never say.

Outerspace's spectacular 300-foot crack is easier than one might think. There is gear available every six inches if you carry a rack big enough. The only challenge is that these pitches are very long, and their difficult sections require several pieces of the same size. Carry multiple cams in the two-inch to three-inch sizes, and save weight by learning to use hexes before you go. The Smokebluff suggestion is an excellent one; these cliffs are a superb place to gain confidence and experience, with excellent gear and grades similar to Index but softer than Castle Rock. The Smokebluff Connection and its variations will not disappoint. Closer to Seattle, I'd say that if you can lead Index's Godzilla competently, then Outerspace will be quite reasonable. Also, consider the quality pitches of the GM/Heart of the Country connection. Toxic Shock is a crack climb worth the hike. In Leavenworth (say you find yourself there celebrating Hitler's birthday), if you can lead Classic Crack, the long pitches on Outerspace will not challenge you, although the crux traverse pitch will provide entertainment. Many agree that Orbit is more serious than Outerspace. The U.W. rock has got a variety of crack climbing challenges; you will likely meet a character there who will be happy to coach you through the fundamentals of crack work.

I must agree with Imer Bone, when he says that pea gravel is softer than a big old pad. I once popped off the tower at the U.W. wall while reaching for the notch. Although I'd never want to experience that again, I walked away with only a bruised ego and a load in my shorts. Pea gravel has amazing abilities to absorb energy.

I've satisfied a number of women up in those canyons, simply because that's where I spent the majority of my time starting at the age of 18. I'm not looking for guilt analysis. God knows that I'd have felt just as guilty saying no to all of those ladies. What I'm wondering is, does anybody have any "hot spots" for taking that special somebody around Leavenworth? Maybe you can alert me to a suitable location of which I'm not aware. Don't even mention obvious spots like Muscle Beach. Oh, and uh, Charlie: Any suggestions that involve dumpsters would not be useful to me. [This message has been edited by pope (edited 08-05-2001).]

You can't put a quick-draw in a crack. This mountain is bigger than I am. Rope up, and that's for real.

OK. I'm quickly running out of new and exciting locations around Leavenworth for getting intimate with the belay bunnies. I can't believe I've exploited every reasonable romantic niche that Icicle and Tumater canyons can offer. When I visit an old haunt with a new hotty, I'm overcome with guilt, like God is trying to tell me something. Ideas?

My high school geometry instructor had climbed Rainier, and the stories he used to share got me jazzed up to have an adventure of my own. I checked out a manual from the library, ordered an ice axe and a pair of Dachstein mits through the mail, and picked a target. The day after I got my driver's license, my buddy and I headed up to Mowich Lake in October. With fresh snow on the road, I put the car in the ditch three times. We scrambled up Faye Peak in hip-deep powder. On the descent, we triggered a small avalanche and jumped on the back of it for a ride (Chouinard had made it sound like this was a good idea), then got lost in a blizzard. Fun? Put it this way: I returned to Puyallup knowing what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

New things that I like: Friends. Yeah man, they seem like a big improvement over trying to fiddle a hex into a parallel crack.

Lance...he bad. He real bad. However, my hero is Dirk Diggler.

I'd charge a bit more than $0.02 for that sound advice.

Rafael, That the bolters of DDD are superior climbers does not weigh in on my opinion of their act; I never approved of the action, and I put a fair amount of effort into trying to convince people that such actions aren't right, no matter who is responsible, no matter what their abilities. Fact is, the guys who did this are superior climbers, and they're super-nice, high-quality individuals who've got a vast amount of experience in the NW. Their opinions might not agree with ours, and their actions might seem thoughtless, but they nevertheless deserve a little respect. My point was that restoration is appropriate, but maybe all of the posturing about it is unnecessary. If you really want people to be kind to the rock, you've got to get them to believe that your motives are in the interest of preserving the rock. When we make a big show out of our chopping party, one is left to wonder whether the effort is sincere.

Cavey, If I were Donna I'd date myself.

The sum of your parts is no greater than your hole. (Diggler)

There once was a bitch named Donna, who fellated two Brits and all sorts of fauna. An act this obscene, she did perform in the latrine, whilst Pope did crap in his pajamas.

Once you get past the smell you've got her licked. (Jerry Mathers) When I come home late from a big alpine climb, my wife always waits up for me, greets me at the door with a kiss, and has the hot water running for me. She expects me to do the dishes just like any other evening. (Marc Twight). Men who sleep in tents lead sheltered lives. (Fred Beckey) Throw caution to the wind and proceed with reckless abandon. (Dale Ernhart) You can check out of this world at any time. When it's my turn to die, I want to know what it's like to have really lived. (Big Lou--who else?) If there's grass on the playground....oh, never mind.

Remember when climbing was dangerous, gas was cheap, and sex was dirty?

I once had a fellow football coach tell me that soccer is not a sport. He said, "Sports require hand-eye coordination." I thought about this a moment, then asked, "I don't know a single fat chick who can't find her mouth with a corn dog." Sport climbing is neither.

If you're going to crap in your tent, don't miss the crap bag. (Donna)

Bivouac: that's French for mistake. (Big Lou) Lou requires an odd number of skis. (Dwayner) No snowflake in an avalanche ever claims responsibility. (some drunk) Carry bivouac equipment and you will bivouac. (Chouinard) Even more he like the title of "leader", as if that make him leader. (Andrel Meyer) There is probably less to discuss than we might think; there is certainly more to think about than we'll ever know. (pope)

You fu@king morons. Pope ain't Donna, but he tried to do her once.

Stefan, I was his mentor. But the Professor did throw around this quotable: The mountains don't care.

My mentor in mountaineering used to say, "If your feet are cold, put on a hat." Here's another: If you've got an ounce of loser in you, the mountain's going to find it. Anything to add?

Last night I observed the scar left from the bolt that was chopped out of DDD. It needs a patch, but the damage around the hole is superficial and should eventually match the rest of that lichen-covered wall. Hey Cavey, I understand that you're proud of your involvement in this restoration, and trust me when I say I endorse the activity. If you need a beer or a pat on the back, however, keep it among friends. You didn't really need to go posting photos of your buddies pulling bolts. What the fu@k is that? Is it restoration or some kind of publicity stunt? I respect your action, but I also have immense respect for the guys who placed the bolts, inspite of their action. Your swagger lends no dignity to your quasi-environmental stance.