Figger_Eight

score: 17655

How about getting some rx sunglasses with dark lenses like Oakleys?

Right on Matt. 70% of deaths caused by avalanches are a result of trauma, not suffocation. They're pretty much just body recovery tools most of the time.

quote: Woofle balls and silly 18lb stoves dont usually get bought by real climbers. You're only a new dog owner now...but you'll soon learn to appreciate the woofle ball.

quote: He kept asking us 'Cam Hooks?' with a silly look on his face. I think that's what Julie was trying to explain. They no longer deal in equipment that only a minority of climbers are interested in. If I needed cam hooks, ice tools or screws, plastic boots, etc, REI would be the last place I go. Everyone pretty much knows that by now, so if it shouldn't come as a surprise that happened.

I can french in my Arctis Exped's fine...and they aren't so shabby at frontpointing either. You really have to crank the laces. They weren't as good as my old Scarpa plastics, though.

Sorry...I can't do it Saturday.

So...Class 4+ means it's serious enough for most people to be roped up (class 5), but the rock is so rotten - why bother. Right? [ 11-15-2002, 02:00 PM: Message edited by: Figger Eight ]

damn...me either.

quote: i've never heard the term "sandbag" used outside of climbing, so i always assumed that it's stemmed from the experience of getting on a climb and having it be so much harder than you were told that you feel like you're climbing with a big ole bag'o'sand tied to ya... That's where I thought it came from.

That 'trail' can be a pain in the butt for sure. It's funny how many people have climbed a relatively hard route, then get injured on the way back to the car. Hope he has a speedy recovery.

Get one of these, Matt.

I like what you're saying, but those are all famous last words too.

quote: 4x4 does not help as much as many people think in snow. when you go to whistler, every vehicle in the ditch is an suv cause they all think that 4x4 got them covered. but you will spinout just as much with 4x4 as otherwise. Yup...you're absolutely right. However when the chains required sign lights up over the passes, or up to Paradise, it's so much nicer to shift into 4 wheel drive than to have to put chains on. I almost got an Outback this summer. The Toyota and the Subaru dealerships were right next to each other. After test driving the truck I walked across to drive an Outback. Just then a little old lady pulled up in one, exclaimed it was perfect for her and told the salesman she was going to buy it. I promptly turned around and bought the truck. (Okay...so I have issues...)

I went through two subarus wagons before I got my Tacoma and I don't think I'd go back. The soobs were great ('89 wagon and '90 legacy) and I could get anywhere I needed to go, but having a truck with high clearance and a bed where I can chuck loads of gear, a dog, and move it all to one side so I can sleep back there makes it worth it. Also, not having to pull over to put on chains because I have a 4x4 makes it worth it.

quote: Make a "trip Report" or apparently useful beta which is actually totally false*. Then sit back and wait for some sucker to believe your useful beta and get in trouble and then for the name calling to start For instance if you drove by Drury Falls and it was half frozen write a detailed trip report about the difficult mixed climbing you encountered and shiny fresh titanium rustproof bolts you placed as you climbed leashless to send the first mixed ascent of this testpiece. rename the climb. say there was a logjam and you could walk across the river. rate it m7+. say there are 6 other lines up there you saw that you plan to go back and rapbolt. illustrate your TR with some pictures you cut and paste from the Petzl website. $5 bucks says TLG shows up first.

Start your dog early by not encouraging it to bark at every friggin thing that moves. Also, try to expose it to as many people and other dogs as possible so strangers aren't something to get excited about. I have a dog that will never be off leash so she stays tied up when I'm climbing, but she usually just chills and falls asleep.

Woton says it's in January...now you say it's this weekend? When is it?

Finding climbing partners at climbing areas can be hit or miss. The problem is the consequences can be disastrous. That said, I've met a lot of cool people at crags. Dude, I'm not so sure this is a great place for an 6 year old...most of the guys on here act like they're only 5. [ 11-12-2002, 04:54 PM: Message edited by: Figger Eight ]

As long as you're working to complete (or near complete) muscle failure, your muscles are going to grow even if it's less than a minute.

quote: defend yourself with ice tools when confronted by the PinkertonsI was going into Canada through the Idaho border crossing when the border patrol guy asks to look in my car. He digs into my gear pulls out my ice tools and angrily says, "I thought you told me you weren't carrying any weapons!". It took about fifteen minutes of explaining before he let me go. Canadians... [ 11-12-2002, 11:46 AM: Message edited by: Figger Eight ]

There are pros and cons to both places (I've instructed at both)... Index: you're climbing actual routes on actual rock. The rock might be drier, and shit...it's at Index, not Parkland. When the instruction is completed, people can dink around at a real climbing area. However, depending on the instructor/student ratio, effective teaching of more involved scenarios might be better elsewhere. Spire Rock: made specifically for larger groups. It is slicker than snot when wet though, but there are easy enough routes where it doesn't matter. There are cracks from offwidths to thin fingers you can play around on, and practicing gear placement on lead is less intimidating knowing there is ankle deep gravel on the ground if you blow it. I guess it depends on how many people show. I might suggest Spire for a group larger than 5 or 6. If it's smaller, Index would be the place to go. My 2 cents at least.

During wrestling practice in college my ear nearly got torn off. I needed 12 stitches to sew the upper portion back onto my head.

I'll be nice to you today, Caveman, because it's your special day. Anyone else who disagrees with...you're still a tool.

MattP is right. You guys are a bunch of tools. to the vets.