genepires

nice write up Rad.

In the movies, heros always fall through the floor slats and the vines that span the canyons always fray and snap when you get to within 10 ft of the other side. Good luck figuring out how to make it do that.

I think you missed out on an opportunity for a crazy 3 way. bun-chick-awow-wow.

here is the real problem. "dirtbag climber bum" There are plenty of options in winter as described above, but they involve either money (think lift tickets, gas and possibly lodging) or the very real possibility of exposure to avi hazards. Neither of these is the usual mode of operation for "dirtbag climbers". I would say that knitting is the cheap way to spend your winter dirtbag, but I swear my wife spends more knitting than our mortgage. Probably better off buying a seasons pass at your local ski hill.

wether or not you catch heat for breaking off the loose rock, good job removing the questionable rock/bolt. to bad you can't mail that rock/bolt to the female climber who fell on it repeatedly. this short story is worthy in a climbing magazine.

blah blah blah..... (reference to raindawg, not the OP)

another awesome job!

but texas is so texas. I do wish for a snowy winter though. Just not a snowy fall but I never get what I want.

+1 for the public service attempt. evolution stopped centuries ago. They will breed while the smart ones perish.

BOOO! Not ready for summer/fall to be over. (sorry about raining on this forums good news)

If you are looking to climb cascades in spring and winter, you should take a avi course and learn to backcountry ski. Maybe a better use of your $2000 is to buy good ski setup and a couple ski lessons at a local hill if you are not a good skier. While I can't speak for all guiding outfits, but I think that a course for avi control is going to be superior to a avi section in a winter mtneering course. If you are looking for summer climbing skills in a winter time training session, I do not think you will find it. They are completely different situation and might as well be in different continents. The crossover is minimal and not a efficient use of your money. Now if you got lots of extra cash floating around........... Are your rock climbing skills good enough? Maybe a couple days rock climbing with a guide would do you more good. Same with ice climbing. Based on your goals, basic competency with rock and ice is so much more important than winter climbing skills.

It depends on where your skills are now and what your goals are. A denali prep course is a prep for denali. The skills you learn on a denali prep course may not be functional for your cascade goals. your money may be better spent on a solid summer mountaineering skill course if that is lacking for you.

I have a pear biner to use as the "belay loop".

BD alpine bod?

I am gonna round up a bunch of raging assholes and be at your place at 4:30am.

You are right that any leader who condones or supports violence should not be allowed to represent workers. I like how people think that union leaders rake in the big bucks. I can't speak for other unions, but our leaders (of our local 191) make a whopping 10% more than the working journeyman. I can understand Bronco's dislike for unions but I just don't get the typical anti-union sentimentality. What did we do to so many people?

No union leader is going to condone that violent behavior because it does not support their goals. Once again, there are bad apples in every bunch but that doesn't mean we should throw out the whole bushel. You bring up an interesting question. What would happen if there were no more unions? I believe that most people seem to think that things would go along same as ever or get better. Unions are on the way out but look at how our work force has changed. People regularly work more than 40 hours and not spending time with their family. Wages are stagnant or dropping when compared to actual purchase power. Pensions are gone. Medical is becoming too expensive even if you got it. From what I see, the things that unions fought hard for are being taken back. Without unions around, your 40 hour workweek and overtime pay and everything else that we call workers rights may disappear. The only organization that lobbies for workers rights (union and non union workers) is the unions, especially state workers unions. Without unions, who will lobby for us? How long till all workers rights are taken away? Anyone who seriously thinks we don't need unions (and their occasional stupidity) needs to seriously think about where we would be without because you may get what you wish for, good or bad.

pm

that is very messed up and no one should be subject to that. every population has some bad apples and that is about as bad as it gets. That attitude does no one any good. One of the goals of our union is to organize all electricians and beating up "scabs" does not help us in that regard. Our union has had some dirt that you describe in the past but with current competition, our less understanding elements are forced to play fair in that hope to organize the entire workforce. Organize all workers means more work for all of us. The best thing that union guys can do is to be a good example that union is a good thing for society. I firmly believe that union work is good for USA and "the rising tide lifts all boats". I am always very nice to iron workers. They are a rough crowd but mostly good men. (at least the one I have interacted with) Would hate to be on their shit list though. Oh yeah....you're a corporate shill.

nice job Chris!

OK, I take back calling everyone pansies. Just wanted to grab attention.

my internet skills are what they are. I make no excuses about that. No reason to cry about it. the video is very good though. worth the 7 minute investment. There is a 30sec commercial you gotta wait through.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Cj6ho1-G6tw&vq=medium I know something like this was posted before but this video is just too cool. Climbing may be rad but this guy makes what we do look lame. sorry I could not embed it easily for you but my internet skills are weak. enjoy gene

I am a union electrician and have never seen the sense of entitlement, irrational and irresponsible behavior that you described. Fact is we compete with non union and cannot have these attitudes you speak of. This goes for all the construction trades. So please offer some situations you have witnessed these attitudes. As for inflated labor rates, you get what you pay for. While I have not worked non union, I have talked to the state electrical inspectors and they are always pleased with our work.

full on value! We did the approach, decent thing too. Hike up from hairpin, hike out blue lake trail. I thought it would be a stellar idea to stash a bike at the blue lake trailhead for the ride back to the hairpin. We walked for awhile till someone gave us a ride.