miker

Ah but the wolf is a pack animal more so than the mountain lion, so they should be able to take them. Especially with the +1 claws of Lion-smiting.... "Hello my name is mike and I am a geek..." miker

Thanks all, those were all pretty much my thoughts and yes the comp liability does cover this. As for a good sign to hang up, I will have to think on that, maybe something like... "If you are stupid enough to get killed because you were doing something you shouldn't oughta have been doing the management takes no responsibility for putting ou back together and might even charge you for bloodstains." maybe a little rough how about. "Climbing kills, get out!!" Again not people friendly. "Be Careful the world is a dangerous place and you might get a booboo..." Also the mattresses idea is the way to go, I was actually thinking about futon matresses maybe as those are easy to find and they are IKEAriffic. What is the best disclaimer anyone has seen? miker

OK, here is the question. I am buying a house and am planning on building a climbing wall. Now if I have someone over and we are climbing and they break their leg, head, coxcyx, et al what is my exposure to liability? Should I have everyone sign a waiver? I ask this because I am looking at homeowners insurance and they have some level of liability and amount they will pay for a friend who hurts himself on my roof or whatever. Any lawyer types out there or just someone who watched a lot of LA Law or runs a climbing gym and knows something about this? I kinda like the idea of a waiver although I don't know if it would really stand up in court as it is not a business but my own home.... On a related note, what is the best way to use half of my 2 car garage for the climbing wall? It looks like 10x20 and 7 or 8 feet tall right now, I might raise the attic a bit to give me more upward mobility. miker

I have the REI half dome...not sure if it is plus 2 or not. I bought it mostly for the price and it was smaller than my uber dome tent from the late 80s. It assembles easily enough and is a comfy size for two with some junk(I am 6'2" and do not quite touch at each end. The outside vestibules under the rainfly are nice, but are not on the ground cloth so I use an additional ground tarp just to keep things dry/cleaner. Not a bad tent but it is no Kelty or high end tent. For the price and functionality I give it a B+. miker

When I Fall I look straight in the window, try not to look belowPretend I'm not up here, I try counting sheepThe sheep seem to shower, off this office towerIt's 9.8 straight down, I can't stop my knees. CHORUS:I wish I could fly, from this building, from this wall.And if I should try, would you catch me, if I fall. My hands clench the squeegee, a seclar rosaryHang onto your wallet, hand onto your rings.I can't look below me, something might throw me.I curse at the windstorms, that October brings. I look in the boardroom, a modern Pharaoh's tomb.I'd gladly swap places, if they care to diveThey line up at the window, peer down into limboFrightened of jumping, in case they survive. And I wish I could step, from this scaffold,Onto soft green grass and shopping malls,And bed, and my family, and my pastor and my grandfatherWhose dead. Look straight in the mirror, watch it come clearerI look like a painter, behind all the grease.But painting's creating, and I'm just erasingA crystal clear canvas, is my masterpiece.

Oh yeah the snow was fun. Good climbing in Indian Cove though and the weather stayed calm enough so we did not get chilled. Going back in 2 weeks, it better be warmer this time!! Climbed on Pixie Rock, Fuedal Wall and King Otto's Castle. Fun 10s and a couple top roped 11s for us to work on. miker

OHHHHH!There clickable....duh! nevermind, not worth the price. miker(this whole internet thingie is so complicated........ )

So what do ya want for em? I'll give you a buck each. This is like ebay right, the highest bid wins?? But seriously, how used are they and what are you expecting for the 36 biners? miker

Just got back from JTree myself. The snow was impressive on Monday, yes I said snow!! But we still got a classic climb in that afternoon up in Indian Cove. Due to the chill we spent our two days in Indian Cove and had fun on Pixie Rock, Feudal Wall and My favorite of the trip. Sweat Band on King Otto's Castle. An excellent 5.10c sport climb. Even though it is sport it was bolted on lead and the bolts are spaced quite far apart. I go back in three weeks and am hoping for more warmth. See ya thereMiker

Thnaks for the info guys and I know all about the fickle weather of JTREE. In the past two hours the online forecast has changed up by five degrees and the rain went away, so.... But all good places and some I haven't been to. Will let you know the results next week if I ain't blowed away. mikerp.s.-have a good St. Pats

OK, I wanted to ask this under a new post as the other one is getting a wee bit long. So I am leaving tonight and will be at JTree Saturday thru Tuesday, but it is gonna be chilly and maybe even a little wet . Any suggestions as to what to climb in the cold? I know Indian Cove and the lower entrance are at lower altitudes and are a little warmer, but anything specific which will get the morning sun so I don't freeze off me fingers? I'll let everyone know how the trip went next week. Climb on. miker

Well I am gonna be out there this weekend (Sat-Tues) and hope to have a s%^tload of fun. Has anyone done Figures on a Landscape? It's out on North Astro Dome near Solid Gold, 10c-d, 3 pitches. My uncle has done it before and says it is the best climb in JTree, hands down, or more precisely, hands on anything you can find. We will be hanging around the Hidden Valley campsite somewhere so if you see me say hi. I'm the tall guy with long hair... miker

Well I have used both methods for tying up my cordelette, which I always bring on the long trad routes for all the reasons listed above. I find the electrician's braid tends to be a bit more bulky than just taking 10inches folding it back and then wrapping it around tightly, then hook the biner through both ends and you have a little loop. It does take a little longer, but in general it works well. I also like having it along in case I need to cut off a piece to replace or reinforce a manky looking piece of webbing at a rap station. The webollette's do look nice but a bit pricy for a chunk of webbing. my 2cents miker

abababac I had a pattern going there, but then I got old.Would love to see the results of the survey Lame Bone.miker

So I went to visit my sis in New York this weekend and had a chance to wander around Central Park and try some of the boulders I had heard about. Rat Rock was cool with about 6 or 7 climbers hanging out and talking about the "east coast" scene and the Gunks and how it is way harder than anyplace else in the country due to sketchy pro and hard ratings and exposure. Anybody agree with that? The rock in the Park is interesting with quartz crystals and strange Lava looking outcrops. The one thought that kept going through my head is that New Yorkers have been scrambling over these rocks for hundreds of years, and it showed in the super glossy footholds of glass. Anyhoo, that is one more state I have climbed in, just 43 to go...

Well this thread is too long but here it goes. I weigh 210 lbs and have climbed with a 95 lb friend. When I lead I most definitely anchor her in so I don't just hit her on my way down. But depending on the location I will sometimes put a little dynamic"ness" in the belay by having her a little off the line of force so that she gets moved into the line of force when I fall. She understands this beforehand and is ready to move to that line if I yell take or gibber incoherently that I don't want to die. We make sure she will not get slammed against a wall and is ready for it. On a multipitch she simply belays from her harness through an anchor so that she does not get lifted up and only gets pulled into the anchor. But again that is highly dependent on all the things we have seen discussed here already. miker

Say hi to my mom too. She works at the U of A and has hiked over most of Mt. Lemmon. Excellent climbing up there, have fun. miker

Don't quote me on this, but I have seen many dogs at the easily accessed crags and the only place that specifically say no dogs are the backcountry trails like the boy scout trail and the like. Which is good as there are sections back in there that a dog can't really get through.But remember keep your doggie off my rope and out of my belayers butt. Unless of course my belayer is into that kinda thing... miker

Well I headed for 'sunny' california for the weekend. Arrived LAX 11pm friday night.Arrived friends place in Long Beach Midnight.4 hrs of sleep.4am head for Jtree.6:30 get to Yucca Valley have breakfast, it is 36F7:30 arrive at Hemingway wall, it is 45F and warming up nicely in the sun.Head up some 5.7, forgot the name, feeling unimpressive after 6 months of gym climbing, but make it 3/4 of the way, then on advice from the only other group around I turn right instead of left and end up trying to finish poodles are people too, which is only 10b, but I flail and fall and grab at my last piece to keep from decking to hard on the ledge below me, but the piece pops and I fall 25 ft. Good gash on the leg and ankle, Joshua Tree rock as always leaves a mark. Then I finish the route the proper way belay my partners up to the top, then top-rope that last section of poodles and the moves are so easy I slap myself. Then my buddies ask if I am ok with all the blood on my face...seems that I have a ding in my forehead which is bleeding like a mother. I believe the piece I grabbed, a red micro-camalot has made a nice triangular dent in my forehead. I'll put up some pics. Anyway, on to another climb, 5.6 so I can get over the 'blood-loss" and then I try to toprope a 10d, flail like a wussy boy and quit. Quick lunch break, then off to Echo Cove. Friend Matt goes up a 5.9 slab, which has texture, but little in the way of hands so he scares himself before making it up in style. Speaking of falling on slabs he took the best fall I have seen in a while and just slid down on toes and hands about 15 feet, no blood, no muss. I climb the 5.9 which was a stellar lead and then TR the 5.10a next to it which is even thinner, but all that thin stuff I've been playing on in the gym seems to have worked some magic. Then across the way to Boulderdash, an excellent wall with 5.7-5.11 variations on wonderfully featured rock, I climb 5 different routes on the same TR all excellent. Sun is starting to set so we pack up and I run up a couple boulder problems some guys are working on and now I feel studly. So for a day where I never led anything over a 5.7 I feel good, gonna have to push that a little next time...3 weeks from now. Now I am back in the cold and damp. miker

MAKE THE Baby Stop!!!!Its frenetic dancing is bringing on an epilleptic fit, which is not helped by the unpleasant afterimage of the barffest... just goto www.tubcat.com for a scary pic. miker

need to climb some rocksoon, the rain makes me departfor dry desert stone Joshua Tree callsmemories of textured stonemark my mind and flesh fingers twitch in timeto former classics completeand goals seasons past looking out windowswatching the rampant dampnessand checking flight times

As to the pee/poop question. I will generally poop in the recommended facility, but generally pee willy-nilly as I am to lazy to go back to the porta john(watch out below!) so maybe the question(16) could reflect that option? Overall looks good.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)

.17 seconds. Well the girls have always said I was quick... ....

Well I will be going to the Tractor Tavern in Ballard to check out the Paladins. A very cool rockabilly/old school band from San Diego. The cover is $12 and I think they open at 9 or 9:30. See ya'll there or else see you out on the slimy slippery cold rocks... I am getting really good in the gym, but I miss the sun and exposure. miker