Peter_Puget

Hey Bob what routes?

Matt has chosen some good options. To them I would ad that in the roof area to the left of Boredwalk are a couple of other fun routes. (.10a, .9)Still further left is the Magic Bus 5.8 and just to its left is another 5.8 (I haven't climbed this one) still to the left is another short bolted pitch. (5.8) These are all fun knob climbs and are easy to squeeze in at the end of the day. Big Tree 1 is a great climb however Matt doesn't show my favorite variation. Variation: From the top of the first pitch move right and then up to a LFC. Climb the LFC unitl it is possible to traverse left to BT1. There is a super exposed traverse crack which is really fun. This climb is atypical for Darrington because it is primarily a crack route until the top of the second pitch. PP

What does wankass mean? What do you like?

I have the 38 guide and the 32 one sounds like it is structured the same way. I agree the flipping back and forth to get info on a climb is a pain. The map and approach info is quite good – I have never become lost on the way to finding one of the new crags and the photos make route identification a snap. Overall I think the 38 guide is pretty good and can’t wait to get my hands on the 32 guide. PP

you forgot .. D Catching the Kerry lie machine in action!

Don't you mean Taxes, Lies and Heinz Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Senator Kerry's campaign cites me -- "conservative economist Kevin Hassett" -- as an "expert" in support of its plan to change the U.S. corporate tax code. Had the Democratic presidential candidate immersed himself in my often tedious writings on corporate taxation and seen the light? About time! Alas, it was not to be. Kerry doesn't get it. In fact, his proposal makes a bad system even worse for most U.S. multinational corporations. But the story does not end there. He also shamelessly included a loophole that is designed to give billions of dollars in tax breaks to the few companies -- including HJ Heinz Co. (as in Teresa Heinz, his wife) -- that are organized in a particular way PP

Hmmm I own at least 22 Friends.....

Link

I have two 32 guides right now I guess I'll have to buy 2 more! I am kind of a guidebook junky.

I have purchased 4 different guides to Smith over the years plus at least half dozen photocopied updates/guides. When will the madness end?

What's it like?

Anyone seen the new Si guide? I heard it was out but it isn't at the VW or REI.

That thread was about alot more than sandbagging!

The print out of that guide has almost been a marriage buster for me as I am constantly leaving it on the bathroom floor. After spending a winter reading and dreaming I am still finding little things hidden in the artistic flourishes. The ornamentation doesn’t interfere with the utility of the topos at all and give it a style and character a cut above standard topos. Reasons to buy the guide: 1 Best topos of the area. 2 Most up to date info regarding fixed protection condition. 3 Best approach info. If you just want to test out the area, check out Mattp Darrington site. PP

30 years for me and I have almost zero natural ability but I still think rock climbing can be fun as all get out.

I think that when compared to the past more climbers with natural athletic ability are being introduced/participating to the sport. This is a huge change.

I have no idea. I would say that what I meant to suggest is that performance is a relative concept. Perhaps climbing certain 5.12 trad today given the changed enviroment is no different than leading a some .9 in the 60s. Trad can be easier or harder than a bolt protected climb. For example Phoenix in Yosemite requires less commitment than many sport climbs.

I think in many ways the quality of the climbing experience has changed. Socially it is easier to get information and hear about what others are doing. Gear wise tremendous changes in protection and shoes have dramatically changed the sport. These are both the result of and cause of increases in the number of people climbing. By centering the discussion around “performance” without regard to the whole picture divorces the discussion from reality. Take a rack of hexes and lead Twilight Zone and then take a rack of TCS and lead Tips. Then discuss performance. Or take a pair of shoes with sticky rubber and lead A Question of Balance and then put on a pair of EBs or PAs climb it again and compare performance. Heck try EBs on any of the Static Point routes. This site is not really an RC oriented site and does not reflect the true nature of WA climbing. I was at Smith a few weeks ago and witnessed a couple Seattle area women flashing hard .11 on lead (both placing gear and bolt protected). Seattle area men climbing 5.12 and 5.13 bolted routes. None of these people post here on cc.com. They are also very nice non-bragging types.

The crux may come low ( one move kinda thing) but turning the roof seemed hard to me too. IIRC there is a jug that is hard to find. I got beta (to the left to the left) yelled up at me as I was reaching around.

YOu guys crack me up! Especially you liberal nice guys! By the way this corp shill was just reminding everyone that the dividends had already been taxed once at the corp level.

Corps don't pay taxes people do! By the way imagine if the current trand continues and a wealthy class of Uber rich appear. Fabulously wealthy they pay only a small percent of their almost unimaginable wealth to the treasury yet they also pay 100% of the federal taxes...yes imagine.. ...Imagine there's no Taxation It's easy if you try No poverty below us Above a few people in the sky Imagine all the people Working for themselves Imagine there's no tax freedom day It isn't hard to do Nothing to shelter or defer And no evasion too Imagine all the people living life in peace You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope some day you'll join us And the world will be as one Imagine no IRS I wonder if you can No need for tax enforcement A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope some day you'll join us And the world will live as one ....

J_B you do a pretty good imitation of Jim! PP

Note that to the right of the paper are J_Bs favorites: the top 10% 5% and his fetish of choice the top 1%!

Darrin - The American common man is a fool because he/she naively believes in the potential for upward mobility which (CBS asserts) no longer exists at least in relation to the believed potential. His argument as to the reasons for the dimished potential is of no consequence. What is important is that the common man doesn't see it. I never imply he must hate democracy. Here is what I said: "this contempt can get pretty close to ultimately hating democracy itself " I stand by this. Whether or not it applies specifically to CBS I don't know. I was not implying that he felt that way. I was stating flat out that some on the left do feel that way. The rest of your post is silliness to be sure. PP