miker
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Posts posted by miker
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Let the rivers dry up.
More rocks to climb.
mike
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Sleestacks!!!
Yes, that brings back some memories.
In the LAAAANNNDDD of the Lost! sung with feeling.
So where are all the cool messages, was thewre a big flame...I mean fire?
miker
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Four years had passed, four years of constant reminders. Every glimpse of a rock face, every postcard of a mountain, every carabiner keychain a reminder of that day. Looking in the mirror........I had to wonder if I still had it in me. Sure, accidents happen and people die in the mountains, but it wasn't supposed to happen to me. And it wasn't really my fault. Even my friends have told me that over and over again. But then why does it plague me so. Why does my gear just sit in the corner? My old partners don't even call me anymore. Deep inside I know I have to climb again. That's what Kristi would have wanted….
Things seemed simple at that time in my life when she and I first met, I was youthful and full of energy ready to conquer the world. Looking back now though maybe I was too careless, blind of my lack of abilities and too willing to take risks. I promised myself to change my ways when I first took her climbing, but I didn’t and my recklessness led to my demise…
Remembering is like a dream. Dreams are surreal in color, things are out of place, but in the dream they are natural, the way things should be, the way they have always been.
It was supposed to be just something basic. Kristi had been pestering me to go for weeks, so I finally hit the books (Beckey, Volume 3) and found something that would be challenging and suitable for both of us, but not too far out there. Kristi was a very good climber. She pulled down hard at 38 and plugged the pro on Davis Holland. I thought I was a stud because I ran laps on Godzilla. (It didnt matter that even after 2 years of trying I couldnt pull the opening move of The Second Pitch.) This was going to be no problem.
Like all trips into the mountains, this one started with us hastily packing the Subaru on a lazy Friday afternoon. Getting to the North Cascades was going to be a casual drive, we were going to miss rush hour.
After two hours of driving, we pulled in to the burrito joint in Burlington for an early dinner and a beer. Or two. Beers seemed in order as we were thirsty and having fun, and we knew we'd still make it to Washington Pass before dark. The mood was light; the Mexican
beer was dark; I was horny.
On the way out of the restaurant, we ran into an unlikely pair -- the mischievous Ray Borbon and the notorious sport climber "Lambone." They too were headed for the pass, but their agenda was different than ours. Different, to say the least. It involved a croquet mallet and ball, but beyond that they would not say, and we didn't want to know.
Liberty Bell looked gorgeous in the late afternoon sun and I pointed out one of the 50 crowded climbs that I was gonna do someday. We pulled off and geared up quick to take full advantage of the daylight and crystal clear skies. Kristi was a climbers dream date: gorgeous, easygoing and able to carry her weight and more without a problem.
We wanted to get ourselves setup for a solid push tomorrow up Early Winters Spire. We had heard there was some steep sections of ice, but everyone assured us it would be no problem. As we hiked in I was preoccupied with thoughts of my warm tent and how Kristi and I would make it warmer...
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OK, so Mr Blister said he would post 4 hours ago and still nothing. !!!!
And I don't know who Alex is, but that was some nice prose, mabe we can slip him/her in at the end.
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OK, I will be away from computers for 1-2 days so if Mr Blister does post, please pardon any delay in my story posting.
I promise nudity and explosions, really, and it might even be germane to the plot.
miker
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MR Blister???
I am all ready to straighten out the confusion, but it ain't my turn yet.....
Maybe this is a ghost story???
That would be way cool.
or not.
miker
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I would like to offer up this thread for those of us who check in every 10 minutes and need more to read. I have already had a couple slapsticky/funny story ideas that I wanted to throw out, but probably won't throw out in the REAL story thread, which will remain sacrosanct. This is just a thread for funny alternate choices/timelines/dare I say flamy material.
EXAMPLE:
Four years had passed, four years of constant reminders. Every glimpse of a rock face, every postcard of a mountain, every carabiner keychain a reminder of that day. Looking in the mirror........I had to wonder if I still had it in me. Sure, accidents happen and people die in the mountains, but it wasn't supposed to happen to me. And it wasn't really my fault. Even my friends have told me that over and over again. But then why does it plague me so. Why does my gear just sit in the corner? My old partners don't even call me anymore. Deep inside I know I have to climb again. That's what Kristi would have wanted...........
........I mean she was the best dog I ever had, why did I think she could lead 5.6??? I mean she had the green camalot in her teeth at the crux and was ready to place it and then we realized our mistake, NO OPPOSABLE THUMB. I am gonna miss her.
No offense to dog lovers everywhere. I could change it to my pet possum, but that detracts from the *cough* 'style' of the post....;P
OK, story mangling is GO!!!!
miker
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I'll take you up on that next week Capt my capt.
It was definitely a fun time had by all. Holly brought the pretty puppy and Lisa celebrated a belated bday.
mmmmmm beer.
miker
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Well I have always climbed shit. All over the cupboards of the house, and any tree that I saw. The first time I used a rope and all that fancy stuff was in high school when my uncle, a climber since the olden days, took me up to Windy Point north of Tucson on Mount Lemmon and taught me some stuff. The scariest thing was belaying him for the first time up a 5.10 something which looked way harder than any tree and then he falls at the bulgy crux a little runout and swings down and into the wall and seriously tweaks his ankle. I lifted up about 6 feet and was seriously thinking I and or he was gonna die.
So anyway, that was my first experience and the next time I got around to it at CalTech in Pasadena I started hanging out at there little climbing gym and then went outside with a climbing class and from then on I was hooked and have worked my way from sport to trad and I did my first aid climb last week (City Park) and in the next month or two I will move on to the big walls.
It's all about progress, be it up or down, in or out, as long as you are moving you are alive.
mike r
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Well I must admit that Dynamite, Hollyclimber, Jules, and Lisa are all hotties. But Beck and 009 do have pretty tight butts.
So who has the best butt shot? You know the one I mean, where you're at the coolest tenuous overhangy section and your belayer takes the time to put the belay rope in their teeth and snap a gorgeous shot of your posterior.
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SWEET!!
No seriously a good chocolate stout can be quite sweet.
non sequitor
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I am in but is Sept 1-2 the best choice as it is Labor Day weekend and it might be a bit crowded anywhere a person much less a horde o' mad climber types can camp.
Were we talking end of September which seems so far away?
I am in for any type of camping drinking get together, but labor day weekend I will be up at Squamish trying not to look like a poseur, Ay.
mike
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I can tell a story....yeah...I tell good stories...
Like one time I was at band camp......
Sign me up
mike
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LAWN ORNAMENTATION
Rusty Cadillac
Majestic among the weeds
If you just had wheels
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So who's coming out tonight?
I will be at Cascade Crags from 5-7 and then I will be rehydrating..
.. at the Flying Pig from 7 til whenever.See ya there?
mike
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So anybody want to join me at Cascade Crags before going to the Flying Pig Tuesday afternoon?
I will be there from 5-7 or so.
mike
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Moose Drool!!!!!
and it is a really good brown ale, name not withstanding.
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Found a pair of climbing shoes by the railroad tracks at Index. If you can describe them to me you get them for the price of one beer next Tuesday at the Flying Pig.
Oh and if anyone wants the trip report...
Climbed G-M which was a nice little climb.
Led the first 5.8 part, easy enough, then my partner led the second, and I think most esthetic pitch with a cool overhanging crack/flake system. Then I got to lead the third pitch...OWs are sucky, especially when my fist just slips out and the layback was the only way to go. Had to pull up on a couple cams to finish
, but I will go back and try again someday soon.mike r
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I have climbed in the rain at Vantage, it usually ain't to bad as the place is so dry the water is sucked up by the rock like a sponge. But being 50 feet up a "dirty trad" stem and having the wind try to pluck you off the wall was ever so exciting.
Maybe I'll just climb the walls or find Cavie's high stash and get a little higher myself.
mike
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Yakima is rainy
Vantage is Rainy
Well Redmond shows 72 and partly cloudy....hmmmm So maybe Smith is the way to go. But the drive from Everett will kill me.
Maybe a carpool?
Still must discuss with wife, but please tell me if you are interested in a day or two at Smith this fine weekend.
mike "flailing blindly" reddig
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What is the *&%$*&% Deal. I check all the weather sites and possible climbing runs for the weekend and they all show rain. No rain on Thursday or Friday, then Rain on Saturday and Sunday, Then sunny and nice again on Monday.
ARRGGGHHHH!!!
Darrington-wet
Squamish-Wet
North Bend-Wet
The always dry fallback Leavenworth.....WET
Any ideas from anyone as to where I can go that I will not be washed off the rock?
I know that the weather changes here so often I should just wait for a few hours and check again, but it does not look good.
Maybe I'll practice ascending up to my ceiling fan and back down...
mike
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Anybody interested in checking out Darrington this weekend? Saturday and/or Sunday. I have never been there, but it looks like some fun long routes. I am thinking of a 6 to 10 pitch 5.8 or 5.9. Dreamer, Safe Sex etc etc.
I live up in Everett, but can potentially provide a ride to someone who is not to far out of the way. Someone who has been there before would be even better for ease of rock finding.
Matt P did say he would be out there this weekend too, so hopefully he can point us in the right direction if we are not sure what to do.
Anyhoo, rpely here or drop me an email at reddig@yahoo.com or just send up some smoke signals and I will answer with the drums...
Climb On
mike
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Slight headache? Definitely
Late for work? Absolutely.
Do it again? Indubitably.
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OK, we had a very impressive turnout last night of various malcontents, hardbodies and even some softbodies.
So Flying Pig next Tuesday, 7pm? With optional predrinking bouldering/climbing at Cascade Crags to build up the old appematite at ~5-7. I can give directions to Cascade Crags as well, but it is easier to just check their website. http://www.cascadecrags.com/
Address for Flying Pig and Directions
Flying Pig Brewing
2929 Colby Avenue
Everett, WA 98201
Phone: 206-339-1393
Heading North- Exit I-5 via ramp at sign reading "Exit 192 Broadway to Naval Station / Port of Everett" and go North for 0.5 miles
Continue on Broadway and go North for 0.8 miles
Turn left on Pacific Ave and go West for 0.3 miles
Turn right on Colby Ave and go North for 800 feet to 2929 Colby Ave
Heading South
Exit I-5 via ramp at sign reading "Exit 194 US-2 E Everett Ave. to Wenatchee" and go Southwest for 0.3 miles
Turn right on Everett Ave,WA-529 and go West for 0.9 miles
Turn left on Colby Ave and go South for 0.2 miles to 2929 Colby Ave
WooHoo!
Stealing fixed gear in the Alpine
in Climber's Board
Posted
What's cavey gonna do with a phone number. He just bonks her on the head with his club, er croquet mallet, er picket. and drags her the rest of the way up the mountain and has his way with her. The only commitment he knows about is the kind where you get the nice tight white jacket.
"There coming to take me away, hoho heehee haha"
miker