carolyn

Thanks for posting the pic. It brought back good memories... This was the first peak I ever climbed....a mere month and a half ago. Looks like it still has nearly as much snow! I have soooo many photos of it (and others). If I only knew how to post some, I would. Oh well. Thanks again! carolyn

quote: Originally posted by Dru: I think we just got a "quarter inch of rain" in 5 minutes this morning, flatlander. Better YOU than ME! We've had numerous days in the past month where we have gotten nearly a foot of rain in less than 12 hrs....so a quarter inch on top of that is damn near close enough to make me have to swim to the crag. look at this...Im starting to debate over who has received more rain...time for a

Thanks for posting the article Carl. Do you have the link to the article by chance? Last weekend I walked into the store I do some part time work at (a locally owned, mom and pop outdoor retailer) only to have one of my co-workers share his story of spending an hour or so with this guy, setting him up with ice climbing gear...spent time showing him how to use the reverso even...gave him A LOT of personal attention. When all was said and done the customer said, "Thanks a lot for your help. Now I know what to purchase off the net." My coworker is a rep for grivel and a few other companies, so he had more than one reason to be pissed. I, myself have run into this from time to time as well...especially when trying to sell boots or shoes....spending time to size their feet, running around to get their sizes, letting them try a pair out in the cave or ice tower... I dont blame the customer for wanting to get the gear at a better price online. Heck, I started working at the store because i COULDNT afford gear at retail. There may be people here who disagree with me, but I think it would have been much more appropriate for him to just say thank you for your help and leave. Without supporting the smaller gear shops by purchasing gear thru them, where are you going to go when you want information on the gear your oogling? Where are you going to go if you want to see it before you buy it? If you want to try something before you throw out the bucks (gear isnt cheap any way you look at it). Easy access to route beta? etc. (ya, ya, I know...a more experienced partner, someone else who bought the sheeet before you, someone who has been there before, blah, blah, blah ) ah, maybe Im talking out my Just wanted to share my initial thoughts on the subject. next....

For what its worth we were able to escape the predicted quarter inch of rain today! Managed to get a few climbs in.... however, this was after an evening of pessimism...and till sunrise! Next time I choose to be a bit more optimistic....climbing w/a hangover in 100 degree heat is much worse than wet rock. Question....Although I was witness to a thunderstorm while in Portland last month,I hear they are rare. Is that the same in the seattle area as well?

okay, this post is somewhat pointless...more or less a vent. Why does it always decide to rain on the days I can get out to climb? (can you hear the whining tone? ). And Im not talking just rain...downpours, thunder, lightening. Climbing wet rock was fun and challenging for a while. Now its getting OLD! At least on ice, winter storms (out here anyway) dont affect your ability to get out and swing some tools. I think I like ice better! Thanks for hearing me out... now Im going to go watch yet another amazing light show in the sky (something positive HAS to come out of this summer's weather!)

TG...I can relate. Altho we dont have any mountains around here, I learned while on the OB course last month and backpacking around here that I prefer to be by myself when travelling on foot...even if it takes the extra work. I dont however, mind someone WITH me...someone to meet up with at the end of the day or check in with periodically. For me its more that I enjoy going into my own world when hiking, not so much personality conflicts, different goals, etc. Actual climbing is a different story...I do enjoy climbing with other people. As a newbie, I havent been too picky with partners because I feel I can learn from everyone and anyone (even if its learning how NOT to do something). Ya, sometimes I get irritated with minor personality defects...but hey, Ive got plenty of them myself and I expect them to deal with me. I guess its important if you dont know already WHY you climb and why your partners climb to figure that out. Are you both out to have fun and enjoy being outside? are you both trying to challenge yourselves to the max? Are you going for speed records? If your not in synch with goals, then difficulties will definately arise. Can you comprimise your goals from time to time in order to get out and climb more often with others? Maybe even consider taking a newbie under your wing...they might be more open to developing your drive, ethics, and goals as they learn from you. Just some thoughts. -c

Here's another... Brrrring! The phone rings at FBI Headquarters. "Hello?" "My name is Sven and I'm calling to report on my neighbor Ole Olson. He is hiding marijuana inside his firewood." "Thank you very much for the call sir, we'll look into it." says the agent taking Sven's call. The next day FBI agents descend on Ole's house. They search the shed where the firewood is kept. Using axes, they bust open every piece of wood, but find no marijuana. They apologize to Ole and leave. Later that evening, the phone rings at Ole's house. "Hey Ole, dis is Sven, did the FBI come?" "Ya!" "Did they chop your firewood?" "Ya sure." "Good, now it's your turn to call. I need my garden plowed."

eh, being from Minnesota, i git all da good sven and ole jokes! [ 06-24-2002, 11:26 PM: Message edited by: carolyn ]

It seems that Ole was sitting in a bar with his best friend, Sven. "I chust don't know," Ole complained. "I come home and Lena don't have my dinner ready. Seems to me a man ought to be able to have a hot meal when he comes from work. It ain't right, you know." "Oh," Sven said, "I had a problem like that. I would come home and the house would be messy. I told my wife, "From now on, I expect the house to be clean when I get home!" "And vot happened?" Ole inquired. "The first day, I didn't see anything. The second day I didn't see anything. The third day, I see that the house is clean as a whistle." "Wow! Chust like that!?" "Yeah, just like that. I wear the pants in my family." "By golly, I vill try that myself!" exclaimed Ole. A couple of weeks later Ole runs into Sven, and Sven says, "So what happened, Ole? Did you tell your wife you expected dinner on the table when you get home?" "You betcha," said Ole. "Chust like you said. I told her what's what." "So what happened?" Sven asked. "Oh, pretty much like with you. The first day, I come home, I don't see nothin'. The second day, I come home, I don't see nothin'. The third day, I come home, I can maybe see just a little bit out of my left eye."

Thanks for the info Uncle Tricky! I saw a mass of ladybugs on copper peak a week or so ago...but no one could seem to explain their presence. Nice attention to detail with that first photo gary [ 06-15-2002, 08:58 PM: Message edited by: carolyn ]

another great trip out to the PNW! Started out in Portland visiting some good friends and family, while doing some training hikes, mostly in the gorge, for the outward bound trip. Daily schedule: early wake up call...long, steep hike....sit in a brew pub until bed time. Wake up...do all over again. Enjoyed some Terminal Gravity brew...and even breakfast with the man himself! Took a nice train ride to seattle. It was actually the only clear day up to this point, so I had some good views of hood, helens, adams, and rainier. Last fall there was very little snow on any of the mtns in comparison to what I saw this time. kinda kewl. Had a few days to visit with friends in Seattle before heading out to L'worth with Erik and friend. Ran into someone I climbed with last time I was here....brief encounter with the caveman...put my hand into a crack for the first time ...saw some of the great ice climbs you all talk about (although it was all running water at this point)...did my first multipitch (R&D)...full moon...drank some peach(?)beer and decided to stick with water for once in my life. Thanks Erik for showing me that rock can be a close® second to ice! I had a great time!!!!! Returned to seattle with enough time to unpack and repack for the next part of my trip.... For those of you around last year, you might remember I received a scholarship from OB to take a mtneering course. The course I signed up for last fall was cancelled...found this site...made contact with some of you....and...came out to OR and WA for a month anyway! I rescheduled the course for this spring. I was actually thinking as the course grew near that I didnt really "need" it. I had learned so much since my last trip...I have a lot more resources and people who are willing to teach me about climbing now...but...its free...what did I have to lose?!?!?! It turned out to be an interesting experience with lots of ups and downs. I figured it would be much more physically challenging. Not to say it was easy...it was challenging..but reasonable. The difficult part was being in a group of folks who were all fighting to be "leaders". In these situations I tend to back down. In this case, backing down meant losing some important experiences (ie/navigating, kicking steps, assessing situations, etc). Fortunately the instructors were aware of the group dynamics and allowed time for me to go off on my own and figure out how to get from point a to point b...to identify various features and safety...etc..Sometimes I was grateful for being in a group. Other times I wished more than anything to can them all and just be out there with a few friends. And frequently I wanted my own gear. We started with basic snow school shtuff. Climbed Silver Star. Crystal Clear Day. posthole...posthole...posthole Had some rockfall sweep my shoulder...had I not know what to do when I heard "rock" I would have absolutely experienced a helicopter rescue...Flashbacks of being hit by ice last season...acceptance (but not any less fearful) of climbing hazzards. Glissaded down, ripping my pants Moved over to the Copper Peak area. Climbed the finger (?). Climbing in plastics made it a bit more interesting(never climbed anything but ice in my plastics)...downclimbed to add a bit more of a challenge...oogled and ogled the route next to us (kangaroo?). Beautiful weather (again)! Copper Peak snow slog (getting a bit tired of postholing!) Great nap on the summit. nice feeling of walking off the edge of the world on the decent. Iffy weather, but still dry. Nothing better than decending uphill back to camp. (that just seems sooo contradicting! ) Solo psyched to have some 'space' and relax. kick a hole in the ground for my sleeping bag and pad. Set up tarp. Nap in sun. Wake up an hour later to incredible gusts of wind. Nasty looking sky. Rain. Snow a couple hundred feet above...erie, but kewl. Snow...rain a couple hundred feet below...UHOH! 22hrs...covered in sleeping bag...peering out every hour or so to brush snow off...cant see more than a few feet past my nose....keep head in sleeping bag....hear the wind come down the mtn....WOOOOOSH! Yell obsentities at the wind, like its going make any difference. This sucks! Back toward the road... Pass blue lake...f'in amazing! Felt like I was in the middle of a holiday card....beautiful snow falling...peaceful...liberty bell...early winter spires...dreamland! Last night out... lazy...dont take liners out of boots to dry...forget to bring into tent...snows 3 inches...FROZEN TOES on the walk out...(and I mean frozen...still waiting for feeling to come back in a few) End of the course run... 8miles(?) Knees and feet say NOOOOOO! Walk past specialed's mailbox..."Hey I know that guy!" Walk back toward his property. DOnt think anyones home. Was hoping for a big cup of coffee and a ride to the end of the run . Oh well! Overall, the ob experience wasnt too bad. Im not sure I was fond of travelling in such a large group. On the other hand, I learned a lot. The instructors were very respectful, patient, and knowledgeable. They answered a lot of my questions and elaborated on various technical skills which I already had some knowledge of. I was never bored! After the ob trip I managed to make it out to "Da Tooth" thanks to Eddie and Michelle. Yet another snow slog...but I was able to use some of the skills I had recently learned. I was coerced to climb in my plastics, which I thought was bad until I saw the poor kids who did the approach and climb in their tevas! Actually, I will probly climb a grade higher after spending most of my time on the rock in plastic this month. I had the opportunity to experience "waiting" for another group on a climb -not something you get here in MN. In this case, it was the mountaineers! I can definately see how annoying a situation like this can be. Fortunately these folks were pretty polite. Thanks again Eddie and Michelle! We returned to the city just in time for the pubclub at golden gardens. Great way to end my trip. Thanks Jay for the ride 'home'...and the tip on the airport shuttle! Im sure there is plenty more Im missing, but this is already long enough...and life starts again for me tomorrow too early in the morning...time to hit the hay! Thanks again all for great beta and hospitality while visiting your territory! -c

nice way to end my trip watching the sunset over the mtns, drinking a beer (and NO it was NOT a budweiser! - that was in Erik's hand), and meeting some more of you folks. when I walked out of the bathroom, everyone was gone...except for jay... he was stumbling around with his headlamp looking for me. Sheeet! Good thing I had his car keys, eh? Or I would have been left stumbling around seattle, gear in hand from earlier in the day, trying to figure out how to get back to where I was staying. made it back to my home territory last night, where the sun is shining...the humidity lurks heavily in the air...and the mosquitoes are now the size of birds! Gotta luv Minneeesota! Might try to write a tr later on for those of you who didnt hear of my month long adventure in the PNW. Thanks to those who contributed in making my stay yet another memorable one! chau! carolyn

After 3 and a 1/2 weeks out here I will be heading back to the midwest on Wed. Thought I would wrap up my visit by attending a pubclub... Any final decisions on where it will be? I dont know jack about the seattle area...Im staying around U-Village ( ?sound right? ) for the time being. Its possible I could find a ride to where ever people are drinking....although Im still not sure. Once the decision is made as to where it will be and if anyone might be able to help me find a way to and from, I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks! carolyn [ 06-10-2002, 12:52 PM: Message edited by: carolyn ]

Got it figured out...looks like I will be going to the tooth with some folks. Thanks all! -c

I think so...Erik was a KIND person and took me out to L'worth before my trip. Awesome area! FANTASTIC day!

nope... spent a week in portland...just got back from that 2wk OB course yesterday...I head back to MN on Wed. I just keep thinking I could be drinking this beer and listening to Dylan at home...I'd rather get out and do some more climbing while Im here and have the opportunity. anyone? bueller?

I thought I might need some more "recovery" time after being out for 2 weeks...but after 24 hrs Ive almost finished laundry, got some good sleep, checked email, drank some beer, ate some good food, etc.... now the sun is shining and Im antsy... might be able to get out to exit 38 this evening... would love to get some climbing in tomorrow(6/11)....any takers?

TG, I thought you gave those things up!

quote: Originally posted by Sparky: It would be so cool if a climber; perhaps a newbie or an out-of-stater, could ask an honest question of us, without our small-dicked spray obfuscating whatever right we have to be called "climbers". hmmmmm , i qualify as an out of stater AND a newbie... never had a problem with folks answering my questions in an honest and helpful manner.

Hey thanks for all the info thus far! I did a search on Ruckle Creek Trail and found this site. Looks like there is some decent info on that page. Im really looking to do an overnight or two...in the gorge do you need any particular camping permits? do you have to camp at designated sites or can you camp off trail? Im not afraid of snow either (hey Im from Minnesota! ). Keep the ideas comin' if you have more, please! Really do appreciate it. quote: If you order a Bud here, you might go home in a body bag I dont know, I felt much at home drinking my bud at the ta"VERN" accross from where I was staying last time I was in town. Actually, I am very much into microbrews and look forward to having some new flavors hit my tastebuds! I just like to joke around about the budweiser...because, well...its the king of beers!

I will be in Portland this Saturday thru 5/23ish and I have a few questions... (I know this isnt a "hiking site", but if anyone can help me on this I would appreciate it)... Can you suggest a 10-20 mile, loop preferably, moderate-difficult, with a bit of altitude, in the Hood or Gorge area? Ive had the Ruffel ridge trail (spelling?) suggested. The zigzag mtn trail also seems to fit what Im thinking (anyone been on it before?). Possibly looking to fill in another day or two and would like to hit a local crag...anyone interested? And hows about a pubclub that week - maybe wednesday? anyone plan on ? Mmmmmm budweiser! j/k...I promise to venture out and try a Terminal Gravity brew. Thanks! carolyn [ 05-14-2002, 09:17 AM: Message edited by: carolyn ]

iain- Macalester, eh? The cabooze?!?!?!? worked there for the first few months after I moved out here... Been at First Ave since then (7? 8? yrs later). Seems like Minnesotan's tend to migrate to portland and vice versa. Ya gots to admit...we have some pretty nice ice out here, tho

quote: Originally posted by Son of Caveman: TO THE RESCUE ( this was a pic. of the bud wagon with clydes but it stretched the board so I edited it). man did I catch shit for mentioning Bud. Shitheads Must of been your lucky day son of c! I mentioned drinking a bud earlier in the post... Didnt seem to get a rise out of anyone! ALthough, I like a variety of cool beverages, I stand by my bud any day! cheers!

bummer...gonna miss the festivities by a week. Oh well. I shall just sit at the dive bar accross from where Im staying and drink my budweiser in solitude Have fun!

I will be in the PNW May 18-June 12. I expect to have May 20-26 open. Im planning on being in the Portland area 5/18-22..Seattle 5/23-26 and 6/10-12. I have some options, but my schedule as of right now is pretty flexible. DOnt think I will have the luxary of renting a car on this trip, so transportation might be an issue. However, I would be happy to share gas expenses. If interested send me a pm or email. Please keep in mind, Im still fairly new to climbing. Thanks, carolyn