genepires

who would have thought that the aliens would have sold for obscene amounts when they were discontinued? Everything is a commodity and if there is no supply and any demand before november, then prices above retail could happen. But why would there be demand before next november? Maybe a trader from wall street would jump in and drive prices up.

the liners will pack in a little. Not much packing in goes lengthwise but you will notice the looseness in the width of the foot which good for you as this is were the swelling would occur. And yes, you do need to spend a fair bit of time in them for many reasons. Making your feet conform to the boot. (plastic boots don't break in, you do) Form tough skin on parts of the foot that need to be tough. (think blisters) Developing the right walking pattern for plastic boots. Getting in good climbing shape. Ect. ect. ect. good luck!

if the season progresses as it has been, dry sometime in july. the first 5 or so pitches are the drainage for a lot of terrain so they will be wet for a while after a rain. I remember wetness even after 4 days of good weather in the early summer. (if memory serves right)

I would bet the route is in great shape now. (based on past reports and how the season is hanging on cold) The icicle creek road is covered in mud from a landslide a couple weeks back that add a couple miles of asphalt walking just to get to the bridge to start the logging road walking. Getting to be a long walk in. There is a detour around the mud but I do not know if non residents are allowed to drive through it.

To many variables internal and external to be able to definitively answer this kind of question. But my one trip up denali was good with the same boot/overboot/sock and liner setup you are asking about. My boots and socks were new also and I believe they packed in to compensate for any swelling if there was any. Realize though that we had relatively pleasant early june conditions. Your situation may be radically different. (covering my moral/ethical ass) Your boot situation sounds adequate but don't go cheap on the other gear though.

need to recharge your shakra stones? I think your aura needs to be recharged at shasta, the center of the spiritual universe. Or maybe south central idaho. you dirty stinky hippie.

bad ass honey badger who don't give a shit.

sounds like a good pair up to me. awesome photos.

summit of cerro torre is the classic ice rime hell. I am sure you have seen the photos of such.

thanks everyone! that online guidebook looks like what I was needing.

Colin Haley is a rime climbing master. I think he just goes for it. Swim and aid off pickets. climbing rime is dangerous. If you have to ask, you don't belong there. Neither do I. good luck

your just getting old J. Welcome to my world.

I think the 65 cm tool would be a bit long for your stated goals of ice steps. Can definately make it happen but it will feel awkward. I prefer a 60cm or 55cm mtn axe paired with a ice tool like you are looking at. depending on your height and the angle of the gulley, 65 may even feel long for plain flat foot snow climbing. If money is not a serious issue and you are going to be making a habit of climbing hard mountain routes, consider a matching pair of alpine climbing tools, like the grivel air techs or aztarex. If it gets to point were I want a second tool, I like having somewhat matching tools.

why not actually climb? Just walk up the ski area. How far is this snow cat going to take you? How much time will it actually save? Is this even real? Me smells a troll.

most resole places do much of their business via mail. The $50 was for half resole jobs. Where is the hole in the toe? rand or sole?

yeah great photo. Among the many great elements, I like the way the jet contrails frame up the climber. Lines right to hand and heart.

prof resole is worth it. A new shoe costs over $150 and the resole runs less than $50. Resole kits are hard to get a good glue job on the edges. It really comes down to if the shoes fit you. ramusa (spelling may be off) did good work for mine also.

Karma? I was going to go in disguised as Sol to avoid the ticks but that appears to not work anymore. Which is good because I don't know how I was going to lose that much weight this soon. And climb that much harder. Never utter the name of the blood sucking demons lest they come looking for ye.

The first climb up a volcano is such a sweet experience. Everything is new and exciting. Remembering that feeling makes me want to take up something new. Or travel to someplace new. Good luck jamebill and let us know how things go for you. Send photos of smiles.

my only guidebook calls this area Lone Rock. This is the only place I have been to there. another crag there on mountainproject that looked good for easier stuff but don't recall the name. Crack House? Just north of castle rock?

From what I can figure out via the access fund it seems like most of the climbing in my primitive article guidebook is still open. Is it only the BLM land that is off limits? http://www.accessfund.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=tmL5KhNWLrH&b=5051885&ct=8163137

maybe a better question is if there is even climbing allowed there? What is the extent of the ban from last year?

I got a old rock and ice issue with a brief guidebook for the castle rock area just outside of the city of rocks. Dave Bingham has a guidebook for that area called "Castle Rocks Idaho". Is this the best guidebook for that area? What is better? (either book or online) Any recommendation for routes in castle rocks? Lone rock seems like the place for the moderate rock monkey. (5.10 and less) thanks in advance, gene

you didn't mention it but if you don't have a helmet of some kind, get that right now.

above plus add: good pair of approach boots (depends on fit and what the alpine rock goal is) good helmet good variable condition clothing (pants, tops) I like the c option best. But if you go via option A, get half of a aid rack assuming that your partner will have more than half of a aid rack also. Maybe get all of your personal aid gear and 1/3 of a aid rack, whatever than is.