Coondog

Ditto to JayB's comments on Michael's blow-out clearance bonanza -- great gear at great price, arrived via mail shortly after we spoke. Thanks Mike. --cd.

David Parker & the other Garmont fans- How waterproof have you found these boots to be? Worthy of multi-day trips filled with stream-crossings & rainy bushwacking??? Just finished bushwacking my way out of Ptarmigan traverse early due to weather & people having to return to their stupid jobs, and my feet got absolutely destroyed by my Sportiva Makalus... in fact, I seem to recall swearing to either burn them or turn them into planters... though they'll probably really end up on a shelf at 2ndAscent soon... Point of story: roughly 300 miles in my Makalu's, 4 pairs of socks in rotation, moleskin + 2ndskin + neosporin + voodoo & my feet got shredded --> Makalu's suck... maybe I'll feed them to some friendly local snafflehounds... Thx in advance- --cd.

Forgot to mention that I've been told by a couple folks not to dink around and just go sink the coin into some Oakley A-frames. Apparently the goofy looking scoops do a fair job of preventing steam-up... or maybe I'm just a sucker for their marketing... --cd

Won a pair of bugz at last years WarrenMiller fest: Agree they fog really easily if you're sweating at all, e.g. self-powering up mt to ski down. Work okay for those lazy-ass chairlift days though... Plus, they're red, so I'm all color coordinated & sheeit, which is key. --cd.

Godzilla == radioactive snafflehound. And, you ain't that hard, don't get so full of yourself... although that's apparently a big part of this thread... in which case I should say something like "I am the SHIT! I lead Godzilla my first try!" Time for me to let computer collect more dust than my climbing gear... suggest more folks try same strategy, whether "gear" equals quickdraws or microaliens... --cd.

Will never leave my browser on cc.com again... especially when out enjoying a sunny day...

Maxim tech cord works well, but seems damn stiff for tying and slick -- recommend 3" tail. 22-25' of el cheapo 7mm comes in handy for all sorts o things. Anybody seen these wonderful webolettes cheap anywhere yet? Seen them in use, and there's definitely no better way to secure your horsecock, they're just spendy... --Unemployed Coondog.

Just back home, outta the shower & cracking cold bier #2 after being first group to summit Shuksan this morning... and enjoyed some delightful hail at the base of the summit pyramid on our way down... Then confirmed the rumors that my nickname is in fact a climbing term courtesy of the 'sport-climbing terms' post... huh, who knew. Sleeeepy time now. --coondog.

Caveman-- Just back from Jasper/LL/Banff area, and you should know that snow-level was down to 4000-5000'. Not much, but 2 days ago didn't look to be stopping anytime soon, as evidenced by the hail & lightning. Enjoy those July/Aug freshiez on your super secret can-rocks first ascents. --Coondog.

quote: Originally posted by Dennis Harmon: I firmly believe that so-called "sport climbing" together with rampant bolting of my beloved rock is spelling the death of my beloved sport, and that it is being done, largely, by an entire generation of spoiled youth of this country who have only taken, and taken, and taken... and have never been required to give anything back. Dennis, if you want to see less bolts, teach a gaper how to place a hex and how to get comfortable leading runout over a placement without worrying about falling to their death. Climbing grand-wall at Squamish a few weeks back some hotshit kid saw us headed up and actually told us "you're taking hexes? there's no where to put hexes up there on those cracks man." Frightening... Seems pretty simple to me: if people are afraid of using trad pro, they're goin to want bolts. And there's not really any policy-maker saying "thou shalt bolt here, but thou shalt get thy ass a massive fine for bolting there..." except natl park rangers I guess... For what it's worth, I'd be happy if I never have to use a hammer either. Wanted to tell you that if you want to bitch about Gen X-ers who don't do shit, you can kiss my ass, if you can find it after I get done working my 70-90 hours a week and driving an hour each way, but I don't want to offend your or anyone else. --Coondog.

Thanks for the info Steve & Glen... can't wait... especially when it's raining here... --cd.

Just came down from Colchuck yesterday and met a couple guys headed in to climb this route, and they mentioned that 'half' of it had fallen, & I understood them to mean as a result of the earthquake a month or so ago... they mentioned they'd gotten the latest beta on the route and GirthPillar from the gear store in Leavenworth, and that the owners had all the latest goodness on the route. Might be worth a call to check. --Coondog.

Swami-- I'm going to be in AK from roughly 7/8-ish through 7/20. Very interested in climbing while I'm up there, so please drop me a line re: what you're interested in climbing & when. Alpine rock and/or ice would be great... Pretty much as long as I don't have to go fishing & the whole time I'm going to be happy, but very interested in climbing while I'm there. --cd.

Will be wrapping up a 2 month or so climbing roadtrip in Yosemite mid to late Sept, and plan on staying there 3-4 weeks. Looks like I've found a wingman for my roadtrip, and we'll be looking to climb a couple wall routes and generally mosey around and climb whatever in TM or elsewhere. Guy at Index was telling us about some 'Third Pillar?' full day 5.9 arete just outside the park that's outstanding that I wish I hadn't completely blanked the name of... Anyway, will be there & interested in pretty much anything. --cd.

You need to try being a high-tech burnout: I've already been off nearly 70 days, and my biggest question now is whether I really want to start looking for a job maybe in late September, or just blow it off til next September... too busy climbing to think about it much though. Now if I could just stop forgetting to file my stupid unemployment claim each week... think I could handle a minute and a half of work a week.... --cd.

I'm headed North and if I'm toting all my gear that far, I'd damn well better get some climbing in. Just need to find more people to go with. Interested in alpine rock & ice, if there is any given all these "too warm in Alaska" posts I've seen... Any Alaskans or other North-bound roadtrippers out there??? --Coondog

Couscous is the ticket: light, easy to cook, high carbs & glycemic index... like to spice it up with something from the bulk spices section, summa the greens littering Muir snowfield from people not roasting in the hut, add some tuna or maybe salami... Ummmmmmmm. Ate different couscous for 4 dinners straight on a trip a few weeks ago and didn't die, so it's got a lot going for it. Or cheese fondue. And I like a Nalgene of riesling to wash it down with... --cd

Sleeveless- Was on lower Coleman ice 'bouldering' & top-roping a few weeks ago before climbing n ridge. 20" of fresh snow in the week we were there, so think you'd want to be roped up. I can email you a couple pictures of the seracs if you want. --coondog

Gainfully unemployed climbing (& other pursuits) bum, and need to find other folks open next week... would like to try OuterSpace or some other multi's... so blow off work and go climbing, you know you wanna. --Coondog

Newly unemployed and planning on being that way through summer... So need daytime climbing folks to head out with. Definitely interested in the climbs at the Spires, and cragging wherever. Probably going to Alaska in late June for a few weeks, and definitely interested in City of Rocks and the Tetons. Drop me a line <jeff_coon@yahoo.com>. --Coondog