miker

Thanks Guys and gals, It was a good day although I did try to go in to Cascade Crags for a little exercise this morning and was rebuffed, due to the fact that they are replacing the gravel with a fine foam product of some sort. So I go have lunch with a friend, drop off my holy climbing shoes with Mazuta or hanuta or whoever the shoe place is down on 6th & Stewart, then I go watch the new movie Bandits and now I settle in with the wife for a warm winter snuggle. So who will I see at Smith this weekend? Anybody need a partner? miker

I could do that, just tell me where and when to meet peoples. I have the long drive from Everett, so anybody that wants to carpool on Friday would be welcome. miker

rockclimbing.com has some of that, although it may have a ot of the specific date posts, but it couldn't hurt to look. miker

53F in Leavenworth seems a bit chilly for my tastes. Maybe it will warm up.... *sigh* I should of stayed in Vegas, 85F, sunny, dry. miker

You're so right Dave. It looks wet and cold this Wednesday and even this next weekend. If it does not change I think this might be called off. I also have all of this weekend free and would like to climb then, but it looks cold and wet everywhere. Vantage and Smith look a teeny bit nicer, sixties with just scattered showers.... Anybody have any ideas? "But it's my birthday...almost." Also went toi Vegas this weekend and spent 3 or 4 hours scrambling and bouldering out there and salivating over the big rocks in the distance. Got got to get back there soon. Miker

I am going there tomorrow, but no partner. Anybody happen to be going the same way? I think I will wander around and look like a pathetic loser until someone asks me to climb...it has worked before. Or maybe I will just...gasp...boulder around. I'll tell ya'll how it looks. miker

So how does the Kong adjustable fifi work? I have the fifi hook and move it up or down the daisy as needed, what does the kong fifi do different? Miker

74th St Ale House sounds like a PLAN to Me!! I will see al there ~6ish. Cavie, you bringing the rest of the stuff you wanna sell?? Maybe we should have a big rummage sale tonight, I am looking to buy stuff, but it has to be good stuff. Miker

Any suggestions on where to go??? I always like Everett, cuz it is close to me and could even go all the way down to Ballard. Any votes from the Peanut Gallery?? miker

Interesting article, less ice for some of you, but maybe that means more rock for me ) Geologists Surprised to Find Glaciers By JOSEPH B. VERRENGIA, AP Science Writer ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, Colo. (AP) - Geologists exploring the rugged Continental Divide say they discovered more than 100 additional glaciers here in a single summer, a surprising find since glaciers around the world are shrinking in warmer temperatures. The results dramatically change the map of one of the nation's oldest and best-known national parks, along with the knowledge of weather and water cycles at high elevations. Previously, officials believed the park 60 miles northwest of Denver included 20 permanent ice and snow features, including six named glaciers. The new survey by geologist Jonathan Achuff shows there are as many as 120 features. Most are located in cold, north-facing pockets on the east side of the Divide at elevations above 12,000 feet. Most of the newly discovered glaciers are covered with rocky debris; continuous freezing and thawing splinters the brittle granite that forms some of the park's majestic peaks. Park officials say comparisons with historical photos suggest that at least some of the glaciers are expanding. Glaciers are barometers of climate change, and researchers said the survey results here contradict global warming trends. In Antarctica, the Pine Island Glacier thinned by 36 feet in eight years; the rate of ice-thinning is 10 times greater than the rate of snowfall there. In Africa, the famous white mantle of Mount Kilimanjaro has shrunk by 82 percent since 1912. A survey by Ohio State researcher Lonnie G. Thompson predicts the equator-straddling glacier will vanish entirely by 2015. Already, some rivers in Tanzania have dried up as a result, he said. Similar icy retreats have been measured in the Andes of Peru and the Himalayas of Tibet. Aerial photos over the past three decades show the number of named glaciers in Montana's Glacier National Park has dropped from 83 to fewer than 65. Perhaps the only major glacial system that is increasing in size today is in Norway. Coastal glaciers are more complicated, and some global warming models predict increased snowfall there as precipitation patterns change. In Colorado, park officials said subtle climate changes may be helping the formation of glaciers or at least reducing their retreat. The Divide already funnels snow from the West up and over ridges, where it settles in eastern basins just below the tallest peaks. Also, expanding development near Denver is sending hot air that helps to form additional cloud cover over the mountains in the summer. While precipitation hasn't changed much, temperatures have been slightly cooler in the past several years. ``We're not running quite in synch with global warming here,'' park spokeswoman Judy Visty said. Achuff and others are preparing expanded studies that would begin next summer, including the possibility of drilling core samples to the bottom of large ice features, using satellites to measure the glaciers' movements and seismic testing to determine how much ice and rock the features contain. Perhaps the most significant of the newly discovered glaciers is located beneath a boulder field near the 14,255-foot summit of Long's Peak, one of the West's most popular climbs. The glacier, it turns out, has been skirted by thousands of visitors annually. Previously, some geologists speculated that the boulder field was a ``rock glacier'' - a catchall term for thick mixtures of debris and ice. But the granite may actually cover up a thick ice slab, insulating it from the sun. ``There could be a large chunk of ice under there, perhaps several hundred feet thick and a mile long,'' Visty said. - On the Net: Park: http://www.nps.gov/romo Geological Society of America: http://www.geosociety.org

Chop all fees Gridbolt all fee-grubbing rangers But seriously I do not seem to have any access issues, the connection seems really good and I can read pretty much all the posts except some of Cavey's garbled drunk speak, wait you mean he normally talks like that? miker

A family trip to Darrington sound like the shit. Thanks for the response guys. miker

So I will be turning 30 on Wednesday Oct 17th. I would like to be on a wall that day. Anybody interested in a quick jump onto Town Crier or a run up something at Darrington, I want an all day climb? I have most of the rack required, another rope would be useful. Oops, I guess I should have posted this in the Climbing Partners Needed section. Cest La Vie Turning 30 way to soon Miker Oh Yeah and Kudos to Beck and all who showed up at the Fall Roundup out in Leavenworth, it was great to meet everyone and drink and climb (not necessarily in that order).

You can't get much better then hot lizard love!

Green Dragon is on Upper Town Wall in Index just to the left of Town Crier.

Well, I do not believe they have Guinness, you will have to settle for their brews which usually includes an excellent Chocolate Stout and or Porter. I will bring some extra Guinness for the weekend though to keep us all in tip top carbo-loaded shape. miker

richard, you should come to the ropeup out in Leavenworth. A chance to climb with a lot of people and get to know some partners. I am sure someone can give you a ride. I could even give you a ride if you could make it up to Everett on Friday. miker

Led a gorgeous trad 5.8-9 in El Dorado canyon just outside of Boulder Colorado. Some of the most excellent rock I have ever been on and the people were excellent. Must have been 30 people in sight and nobody waiting in any lines. Could spend a month up there and still not do everything. Have got to go back. see ya'll this weekend if not before. miker

Well there ain't many chickens amongst us, but I am sure we could sacrifice a plate of wings to your preferred deity or deities. Which came first, the chicken or the egg??? .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. the rooster ;P miker

OK, you mangy bunch of climbers, is there a pub club tomorrow?? If not I propose one up north at the flying pig brewery in Everett. A chance to get an early start on drinking for the rope-up and if people want to hook up for rides and what-not we could do that too. I myself have an empty station wagon leaving from Everett about 3:30 on Friday. So is anybody in for tomorrow night???? miker

6pm will be the time, if you're early drink if you are late, drink more, if you are on time then you are to anal and need a drink. miker

But you gotta admit that the Evolution traverse or ridge that Pete's article was about looks kick-ass. You climb up 3rd, 4th & 5th to get on the ridge and then follow it for miles with the hardest moves being 5.9, basically lay a couple of El Caps down in a line and start going. It is one long summit @ ~13k Pete did it in a day, but I se myself taking a more liesurely time of 2-5 days. The biggest problem I see is the hauling on such a route. Have to trim down that backpack and hope you have enough water. Now I do agree on the general proliferation of ads and minimization of articles, but considering I paid next to nothing for a years subscription I figure they need the advertising to keep up. I think I am for the bird on the cover, but I am just a dirty birdy myself.

I am there with an extra rope or two, beer, a stove, and a desire to climb. I do not have a bbq but will bring a Costco size batch of meat for barbecuing or making aluminum foil pockets, whatever people like. Some kinda marinade will be involved to enhance said meat. Any prefered meaty products? Titties and Beer does sound like fun though. miker

I third that opinion on the Aries flaring crack thing. I led that last month for the first time and I didn't whimper, but I did yell a blue streak. The next set of moves under the roof made it all worth it though. Also Whodunit at Taqhuitz, add a number grade onto every pitch and you are about right. miker

I have the same first aid kit right down to the percocet, but I also have the neosporin for when you get those nice scraped up hands and then stick them in a pile of bat guano sitting on a ledge. You can substitute whatever the grossest thing you ever grabbed in this spot, decaying wallrat, human shit...... miker