chelle

So do we need more debate or can are we meeting at the Blue Star? I vote yes for Blue Star.

I hope they were smart enough to get mostly cash rather than stock options.

Was it a climbing accident or something else?

Matt: Actually a little bored and pretty much caught up. Been studying on my breaks in the am.

Erik - I'll buy you a beer. Can't make it till around 9 though. I have class until 8:30, but I'll blow off some homework until tomorrow...it's still early in the quarter.

Why not post the cams and nuts here?

Nope. These are the only lenses I have for the camera body.

Wayne1112 and I tried to join you guys at the Jolly Roger around 7:30, but the place was closed. Guess we should have checked on line one more time before heading out. Oh well...we went downtown and hung out at the Elephant and Castle before dancing our tails off until 1:30 am at the Super Diamond concert. It was a great show. Hikerwa - where were you and Steph? We looked for you guys, but that place was packed. Happy New Year!

Here's a link to the dispatches on MountainZone for a climb a friend of mine is on. They hope to climb a new route and then ski down. http://climb.mountainzone.com/2002/story/antarctica/html/dispatches.html

Selling my autofocus 35mm SLR and two Tamron lenses (28-80mm & 100-300 zoom). 4 yrs old. Takes great pictures. $500. (paid $850 new)

Why use seam grip? Won't that part of the fabric be the only waterproof section. Schoeller is not waterproof...

Agreed that I can get some good climbing in during school breaks, but gone are the days that I could head to the Yosemite for a two week trip and decide mid-way to stay for five instead. At least for a couple years.

By Muffy: Yep! Everyone should do it at least once in their life. After a year traveling and climbing I'm heading back to school, so I can get a job that pays well and will give me the flexibility to climb once I get out. Kinda sucks short-term though being limited to school breaks and summers... Won't make it back to Yosemite next year until it's almost too hot to climb...

Posted by Bronco: I totally agree with you on this one Bronco. The more I step out of the comfort zone the easier it is. I got in a kayak this summer and tried to run a section of the sky. A little over a year ago I was so terrified of water I hyerventalated swimming in a lake when I couldn't see the bottom any more. Personally though I find it easier to confront fear when I have someone I trust to help me through it. In the mountains I need to know I'm with a competent partner if I'm pushing my limits.

Is the weather getting to people? So much disagreement about where to drink tonight. A few good places have been listed. Let's make a decision. Where to drink tonight?Ballard Alehouse (ok food, good drinks, plenty of space and parking)Schultz's (great food, good drinks, bad parking, but across from BigTime for after pub club pool/shuffle board - once they stop playing the string cheese stuff...)Targhees (downtown, bad parking, stiff drinks)Alki (parking ok, cheap burgers, cheap beer)Nickerson (bad parking, expensive drinks and food) I don't know any of the other places. At this point I vote for the Ballard Alehouse, the Alki or Schultz's.

This year has been one fun climb after another. Here are a few... Climbing up Cathedral Peak with DaveW, Sayjay, AlpineK, and another friend in Toloumne. Wandering around the beaches of Thailand expoloring caves and tripping out on how cool the rock features are. Climbing the Groove Tube. Hanging out with Erik on some cliffs in Toloumne looking at some distant meadows and watching little puffy clouds form and dissipate in the wind. Then trying Erik's new sport, downslabbing. Imagine crab walking head first down a low angle slab and only using "real" climbing holds. Lots of laughs. Climbing the West Buttress route with AlpineK on Exfoliation Dome. Doing my first cam hook moves at Index and feeling totally secure. Hanging in Squamish with Jeff Hansel, Crack, and DrJay, cheffing out amazing dinners on my two-burner stove after climbing all day. Running down the trail after summiting Half Dome via the Snake Dike route completely elated after bringing my climbing full circle. (My first time up Half Dome via the cable route was 13 years ago and I saw people topping out with ropes and gear. I really wanted to try that...) What an awesome year I've had! Thanks to everyone on this board I've climbed with (couldn't name 'em all).

Not only did they do a $2.50/pint drink special just for our group, I also remember that they had pitchers a couple weeks later when we went there after the Dr. Houston video at UW. And the food is great. But whatever, sounds like people want to go elsewhere... So...where is Targhees?

I'll vote for Schultzy's. Maybe Jon and Sayjay will be able to join us too?

Enjoyed holiday festivities at a couple of parties on Sat. After rehydrating from my drink consumption, sent some boulder problems and top rope routes at the gym on Sunday afternoon. Had to get a fix since even aid climbing wasn't sounding too good this weekend...

Hey Pete! I think Wallstein has an inside scoop on where to get them fixed. Cheers!

Way too hard to park in that neighborhood IMHO! How about the Blue Star?

Thanks, Dave. A part-time job is perrrfect. Anybody want to get me a scholarship? Dave, I got you a dehumidifier/air cleaner for you and your housemates. Maybe it'll help you rent that room.

Rrroooww. Where'd that little laughing icon go???

I heard there was an interesting discussion about whether girlfriends who climb are better than those who don't. Took place after all the chicks had left though... Would've liked to be a fly on the wall for that one.

Interesting perspective, Dru. Good post!