carolyn

My intuition tells me Molly is not a ghoul, but a t...r...o...l...l.. Maybe related to chaps?

Reminder to self: Skip pages 22 and 23 - sensory overload! Someone let me know when we get to 24, please!

well lookie there! Hiya fern!

I've only glanced at responses, so I may not be addressing the original topic to the tee. I agree with fern on this. I do think there is a fine balance that has to be made. Pullups alone will not make you a great ice climber. neither will technique. I watch a friend who is SUPER strong, yet he often struggles on anything more than a 3. I see how he climbs, and if ONLY he would allow himself to be open to different techniques, he would be a monster! I am a weakling compared to him. The amount of pullups I can do - ha! Im not saying I am "better" than him. However, the technique I have learned over the years (and need to keep learning) has allowed me to bank on my strengths , which I implied earlier are not pull ups. Recognizing and using MY strengths allows me to conserve energy, thus climb longer or harder. Strength in ice climbing isnt just about pullups,either. Core, grip, and calves are vital. Work on a rounded training involving all the necessary muscles and technique is what will help you see an improvement. (now, to take my own advice )

night! night!

did seth shaw die in a cave or on a wall on denali? I think caves are becoming more popular as there is a bit more "sport" developing in ice climbing. More people exposed to those elements will only increase the injuries/deaths. someone took me climbing on some seracs on Mt rainier years ago, when I was first starting out. Glad I didnt know how dangerous it was at the time or I would of crapped my pants. Climbing has its risks, obviously. Choose how much or little you want to accept and go with it, keeping a smile on your face all along! Still sad outcome.

ativan=sleepy, sleepy!

Ya, it works when I remember to take it!

It only takes me an hour (or longer) to post, cause I cant sit at my computer long enough to type more than a sentence or two.

ya, I heard about this. Totally sucks! Best wishes to family and friends during this time!

Hell, Im still terrified of down (ask anyone who has climbed with me what a yodelling chicken-shit I am! ). Fear is good because: 1. If you can not let it overcome you, then it serves as a good safety measure. 2. You can still do things, despite being afraid. Fear doesnt have to be seen as something to limit you. Its something to work WITH and use to help you gain confidence in your abilities. Damn, Im glad Im not the only one with that name! You should see some of the stunts I've pulled off - and I dont even have an excuse! That said, it adds humor both to myself and others during the day.

Ya! Get goin Kurt!!!!

Not in the mountains, but Braille Book in Yosemite was quite the challenge. I dont think I was mentally prepared for the approach due to kurt's sandbagging....Grrrr! It involved a lot of whining. By the time we got to the climb, I had doubts I could even climb it. definately not swapping leads after the 2nd pitch (sorry kurt), cause the climb itself was sandbagged as well (IMHO). Annoying guy climbed under me the entire time. Like literally-pushing me up the route, non-stop talking. Finally let him pass. Last pitch was awesome, disappointed I didnt lead it considering the exposure and ease. Then we had to get down. More whining. Kurt loved me. Another happened this summer on the N.shore in MN. Beautiful day. All about doing new routes, as its easy to stick with familiar ones. First to lower for this climb (and yes, this was just toproping - but know if you cant get up your swimming accross Lake Superior). Im feeling confident as Im told its within my ability (sandbaggers!). Struggle at the crux. Hand starts spurting blood (I rarely tape). Friend sends down tape. Start struggling again and literally within what seemed to be seconds clouds and wind come rolling in and whipping me off the rock. Im not little, tiny thing, either. So for the wind to whip me like this, it had to be pretty strong. Here I am in my tank top and shorts and the temp has probly dropped 30 degrees. Occassionally I am able to get back onto the rock only to be pulled off, dangling over an endless sea of water. Looking up I see a bunch of folks, now wearing parkas, watching me and yelling, "your almost pass the crux". Fuckers! turns out one of the guys watching had the FA 20 some yrs ago. Needless to say, Im starting to have a hard time breathing. I think Im starting to have an asthma attack. Fortunately I had just gotten a chalk bag with a pocket in it to carry my inhaler. Few puffs and it gets a bit easier to breath. Now Im just fuckin' pissed and Im NOT having fun. At the same time my friend is trying to drop down a rope for me to pull up on, but the wind is blowinging straight back up the cliff and into the bushes. 20 minutes later, Im finally able to reach it and pull myself through the crux. Climb the rest of the route, completely emotionally and physically exhausted, all along leaving a trail of blood (didnt tape very well). As I top out, I hear a ....that was a (insert climb rating). Aaaaahhh Shit! Atleast one grade over what I have ever climbed. Somewhat proud, yet extriodinarily humbled and exhausted we decided it was time to hit the bar. Just in time - for the rain to start pouring down. I cant wait to go back and try it again!

aspencir, I dont live in the PNW. I actually live in MN. I think American Alpine Institute , American Alpine Int'l, or RMI would be just fine. If you have a few people, rather than signing up for a summit climb with a random group of people, maybe ask if they will provide a personalized climb for you and your friends. I could be wrong, but Im guessing it wouldnt cost much more and you would have things tailored more toward your needs. Have fun!

Too all my friends (and I think you know who you are)

Dude! You know that "y" thing is a minnesota secret. I dont know why you decided to leak it out to the press. I better alert MNclimbing.com about that. They are gonna kick your ass! Twit!

*** You are ignoring this insensitive, cruel bastard ***

kit, The first items you will probably acquire are shoes and a harness. When it comes to either of those items, the first thing you want to look for is the best fit for YOU. Then, look at your options and decide which one offers the features best suited to your needs. If you continue to climb you may try other things out and decide..."oh, I like 5.10 rubber the best" or, "slip on shoes are less of a pain, but I really like my ______, so I will keep what I have". When it comes to shoes, no matter WHAT the salesperson or others tell you, DO NOT get them excruciatingly tight! Even some of the manufacturers put that message on their boxes. They need to be snug for sure - heel snug (no slipping), toe at the front (not curling over), etc. the width can be a little more snug depending on the material, as most of them will stretch. Basically, if you get a very tight, uncomfortable shoe, you will not want to wear them. If you dont want to wear them, you wont climb. As you get more experience and your skills develop you then MAYBE want to get a more technical shoe, which will likely be painfully tight in comparison. Remember, get what fits YOU, not what everyone thinks is 'good'. Harness- Try on any and all. Make sure you have a place to hang in it before you buy it so you can see how it will feel. You need to be able to get it tight, but also have a tad of room in case you go outside on a colder day and want to climb in a few layers. Hopefully, the person in the store will be able to help you decide on the best fit. Look in the area and see if there are any harnesses made for women, as they have a different rise (length between legs and waist) more appropriate for a womans body (though not always). the only bit of hardware i can think of if you are starting in the gym is a belay device. Yes, there are many different kinds and brands. I think the common ones you will see are the ATC, GRIGRI, Reverso, and whatever that new BD one is. ATC's are perfectly fine. If you want more details on the differences, you can ask here, do a search, or ask folks in the local store. If you decide to go outside, I always recommend a helmet. There are certain situations that absolutely call for one and other situations where you assess your risk and use your judgement. Again, personal choice. With my luck over the years, I have decided that my helmet needs to stay glued onto my head when outside (im a magnet for falling objects). You are looking at approximately 200-250 for all of that in new gear. Check around for people selling their shoes. Be hesitant about buying used harnesses and helmets. Hope some of this helps. Keep asking questions because you can never stop learning! carolyn

I have a bowl and cup for about 2yrs. Use them all the time. They have withstood a great deal of abuse, temperatures, tasty and not so tasty food. Great gift - fun AND useful!

Maybe you can explain to your fella how important it is to you to get out and start learning these skills as well. It might mean he gets a little more time with the critter (which cant be all that bad!), so you can get out and do your thing. Family and friends are also a great resource, if they are available. Though it might be at a snails pace, its never too soon to get children in the outdoors. Its never to late, and there is never any reason to NOT do something you want to do. Its just sometimes it can be a bit more challenging! Best of Luck!

Yo, kev...other than the title of the thread this really had nothing to do with hood. Im beginning to think you are the one obessed with it all!

Couloir - your post was excellent! Not sure whether this will be looked at this again by icemaster , but just in case... The general public typically see's the climber who is on tv, the magazines, the movies, the news. They have flashy, shiny gear and do acrobatic type moves to awe and inspire you. Occassionally these pictures can be somewhat realistic. More than likely they are like the faces/bodies of models in the media. You are only seeing part of the truth, the rest is colored to draw your curiousity as an audience. Sadly enough, I think the media also portrays it as an activity that only rich or talented can be part of. this is the furthest from the truth. Anyone can do it -race, size, shape, ethnicity, gender, or financial status. There are many forms of climbing. Not everybody hits the hardest, steepest slopes. Some people climb once a month, some nearly everyday. Risks and sacrifices are weighed according to the personality and values of the climber to decide how much energy they want to put into it. Im not rich. I know very few climbers who are (though they DO exist)- Same as people who buy boats, motorcycles, or any other "expensive" hobby. I work work 60-80hrs a week for months sometimes just so I can take a trip somewhere for a week. To prepare for that I have to get out and train on top of it. I sacrifice things like a new car, or eating out regularly, new clothes, movies,etc. To see how the 'average' climber lives, take a trip out to Yosemite and visit camp 4, Joshua Tree and stay at Hidden Valley campground, smith rock, Ouray, the list goes on....In my opinion those are where you will see the 'average' climber. And no, the clothing and gear are not just dirty - they are OLD and DIRTY. If you dont climb already, maybe give it a shot. Like I said, you dont have to aspire to or actually climb the biggest, steepest peaks. Just climb!

Where is assparrot? Did Fern ban that fella?

I dont know if this question has been answered before or not. Im guessing so, but just in case...could someone please tell me what a kevbone is?

cluck, thanks for the information you continue to pass along. Obviously you have taken time to read some of this banter in order to respond to what folks are bringing up - brave soul. I hope those who have been involved in the rescue and chosen to inform or clarify are being heard. I also hope you are about to crack open a beer and find a way to chill after such a challenging week. Thanks for being there!