ScottP

"The way your dad looked at it, this watch was your birthright. He’d be damned if any of the slopes were gonna get their greasy yellow hands on his boy’s birthright. So he hid it in the one place he knew he could hide something: his ass. Five long years, he wore this watch up his ass. Then when he died of dysentery, he gave me the watch. I hid this uncomfortable piece of metal up my ass for two years. Then, after seven years, I was sent home to my family. And now, little man, I give the watch to you."

I took my last sip about 20 yards before reaching the parking lot. (I was well-hydrated throughout the trip.) How did you construe what I wrote as a "bitch"? I just found it an odd question and thought I'd share the experience.

Last Sunday as I stood at the top of the east face gully of Kaleetan, a pair of climbers appeared from the south. After the usual greeting, the woman asked if I was alone. After I responded that I was, she asked if I had water. Not like "We ran out of water, do you have any to spare?", but more like, "Do you have ample water to complete your trip?" Like the way your mom asks if you've had enough to eat. It reminded me of the time in the trailhead parking lot the night before a trip into Glacier Peak when a drunk walked out of the dark and asked us how many tents we had.

I've done a literal handful of first ascents of crag-like routes, and those I've done weren't on popular crags. My partners and I spent the time trying to do the routes in a style that befit our abilities, with little regard for what future parties would experience. A route I was part of putting up has since been retrobolted. At the time we didn't think this step-across move was that hard, just thought provoking. Others disagreed, asked permission, got it and now there's a bolt at the mental crux of the route. I guess the point I am trying to make is that in some cases, first ascents aren't for anybody but the first ascenders. On a popular/accessible crag you have to expect that what you clean and install will get used. If you're the FA and the courteous sort, you'll take that into account, but it's hardly an obligation. What others do after is pretty much out of your control anyway, so there's no point bitching about it.

yeast=fungus Wrong. Did you flunk high school biology? Truthfully, I don't remember anything from my high school biology. Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker's yeast) is not a fungus? From the phylum Ascomycota, which to my understanding is a group of fungi.

yeast=fungus

...or you can click on the name in the Last Post column.

Check out the Osprey packs I own the Eclipse series (42+5) and it carries as nicely as any I have owned in the last 20 or so years. Not a lot of extra "features" and not too heavy. Another thing I like about it is the "straitjacket" design that allows versatility in volume.

A rabbi and a priest get into a car accident and it's a bad one. Both cars are totally demolished, but, amazingly, neither of the clerics is hurt. After they crawl out of their cars, the rabbi sees the priest's collar and says, "So you're a priest. I'm a rabbi. Just look at our cars. There's nothing left, but we are unhurt. This must be a sign from God. God must have meant that we should meet and be friends and live together in peace the rest of our days." The priest replies, "I agree with you completely. This must be a sign from God." The rabbi continues, "And look at this. Here's another miracle. My car is completely demolished but this bottle of Manischewitz wine didn't break. Surely God wants us to drink from this fine bottle of wine and celebrate our good fortune." Then he hands the bottle to the priest. The priest agrees, takes a long pull, and hands the bottle back to the rabbi. The rabbi takes the bottle, puts the cap on, and hands it back to the priest. The priest asks, "Aren't you having any?" The rabbi replies, "No...I think I'll wait for the police."

(Soon to be deleted too...) My point is... Hyperbole is relatively easy to circumvent in a reasoned discussion. With some thought, the main points of an argument can be separated from it. Emotional, reactionary responses don't allow for that and stall the process of argumentation, making it a pointless exercise. You choose to debate Pope and then you resort to such tactics when things get tough. If he avoids your points, repeat them.

Your emotional, reactionary responses seem to be defensive posturing aimed at what you don't feel you can successfully counter with a thoughtful reasoning process. Unfortunately it short circuits the dialogue and not much is acheived in the end.

Resorting to name calling in response to a cogent argument doesn't help your cause. It lessens your credibility by insinuating you have no lucid response. In other words, your opponent prevails.

Without knowing your skill level/experience, I'd suggest for your first time go to 3 O'Clock Rock. There are stellar routes there, with minimal commitment, at a variety of difficulties. You can get a good look at Exfoliation Dome from there to see what sort of experience you will have if/when you go there. Silent Running, Under the Boardwalk/Kone, and Cornucopia are three I suggest as openers. Have fun. It is truly a unique and enjoyable place.

I see a resemblance.

In reality, "Marvin" is the name given to the benign growth on Jeb Bush's right shoulder.

Percy Shelley was a neurotic hack. His second wife, on the other hand...

The fence is easy to get around and there is no posting (that I have seen) that says you can't be there.

I take my kids there for toproping all the time. There are some fairly hard problems for adults too.

Love, exciting and new Come Aboard. We're expecting you. Love, life's sweetest reward. Let it flow, it floats back to you. Love Boat soon will be making another run The Love Boat promises something for everyone Set a course for adventure, Your mind on a new romance. Love won't hurt anymore It's an open smile on a friendly shore. Yes Looooooove! It's Looooooove!

There are some cool looking buttresses and even a small spire on the north side...

Every culture has extremists...