JRCO

I took the avanlanche 1 class here in colorado a couple years ago. They pretty much gave the same statistics on being found alive if you are burried with a beacon. 90% of the class concentrated on avoidance. By the way, my new ski boots have avalanche transceivers in the heels. Don't ask me why. I did not buy the boots for that feature. I guess if some one zeros in on the beacons, they get free ski boots off of a dead guy.

Don't mean to rub it in. I took my $299 season ski pass and spent all weekend skiing powder at Keystone.

Everything from Buffalo Creek North is fine - Sphinx Rock, Bucksnort Slab, Cathedral Sprires, etc. I can not get a straight answer from the forest service on Turkey Rocks. As far as I know, this was ground zero for the Hayman Fire. All the homes in the area were torched. I guess the thing to do is drive back in there and see how far I get before I am stopped.

Tieing one end of rope to car and other end to neighbors christmas lights. Drive off very fast. Stealing bowling ball from local bowling alley. Rolling it down big hill in Olympia. Watching it make big hole in side of house.

Just a note to anyone planning a climbing trip to Colorado this summer. Due to the Hayaman fire the entire South Platte is effectively closed to climbing and it looks like it will be that way for the rest of the summer. There has also been a ban on any recreational use in several of the national forests for an indefinite period of time. There is also talk of limiting use in Rocky Mt. National Park. I think I will head to Wash. to due my climbing this summer.

While at the UofW in the early nineties, I saw a guy climbing at the practice rock with a ring on his finger. He was jambing his fingers in the little crack going over the roof. He fell, his fingered and ring stayed. Look for the blood stain next time you are there.

Your mama is so poor, I saw her walking down the street, kicking a can. I asked her what she was doing and she said, "Moving"

I seem to find a lot of stuff when I linger behind a group of Mountaineers. I have several cams on my rack that were left behind on the Tooth.

Charlie, Also check out the Ridge to River in Wenatchee. I think it is this month sometime. Not a triathalon but close. It is a blast. If you don't want to do it all your self get a team together.

Charlie, Check out the Black Hills Triathalon in Olympia. It is considered a sprint triathalon even though when I did it I came no where close to sprinting. I think the distances are 3/4 mile swim, 30 mile ride, 5 mile run. I think it is in August. Another popular one is the Wisky Dick in Ellensburg in July. I have never done it but it supposed to be tough. You swim the Columbia and then bike up hill to Ellensburg and then do a 10k run.

I just bought the petzl mini ascender ($55). It has a pin that locks the rope in place so it is nearly impossible for it to come unlocked. I also has big wide smooth teeth so as not to damage the rope in the event of a fall. I used it the first time last weekend and it worked great. It slid up the rope with ease and caught falls without any slippage. I would however recommend backing it up with something like a prussik.

My policy is through Protective. I think I went to Insuranceweb.com and had a bunch of companies give me a quote. I chose a 20 year term because I figured after 20 years my wife and kids won't need the money if I do the retirement saving and college savings right.

Here's my life insurance story. I have a wife and a daughter, so I felt it necessay a couple of years ago to get life insurance. The first guy I talked to heard the word climbing and wanted to charge me something like $100/ month for a $250,000 term life insurance policy. No dice. The second guy wanted to know more about the specifics of my climing. Did I climb routes with fixed anchors? Did my climbs require that I spend the night? Had I received any special training or was I a member of a climbing orginization? I answered all the questions in a somewhat truthfull manner. Leaving out the parts that might scare him. With the questions concerning higher risks that I answered no to, I had to agree in writing not to due any of those activities for the next two years. I ended up getting a $500,000 20 year term for something like $29/month. Now that I am passed the two year point I can do what ever I want and I will be covered (supposedly!)

Hey Dru, I think there is one crack there.

The closest thing you will get to climbing in Olympia is the concrete buildings out at the Evergreen State College. Closest real climbing is Fossil Rock. It will take you 1-1/2 hours to get there from Olympia including mt. bike in.

Has any on this board actually used an Avalung? Did it make you feel more secure? How was it with a pack on? From what I have seen you can get those things dirt cheap. Must not have sold to well.

Thanks epb, exactly what I was looking for.

Erik, if all these people have on you is your spelling your in pretty good shape. I will still read your posts even if you can't spell because I can't spell either with out my spell check.

While living in Olympia, I heard on numerous people going to Vancouver, BC for the operation. I heard it is a lot less expensive. Any one know the name of the doctor.

There are a few lines at Cushman Cliffs. It is mostly used for Mountaineers or SAR practice. As your driving along Lake Cushman torwards Stair Case look for a big rock out cropping into the lake on the left. Should be a couple picnic tables and a good size pullout. Climbs are up the hill on the right. Just follow the obivious trails and you will eventually find a rock to climb. Climbs are not hard. I think Alpine Experience in Olympia may sell a quide book. I have climbed there a couple of times on hot summer days. The swimming is great afterwards.

dr. Jay, How did your vision turn out. Any need for glasses while reading. Also is the fix permanent or will you need to possibly have another procedure in the future.

Also would be like to see posts from Cascade Climbers who have had this done. Any problems? How about the actual surgery. How long were you out of commission?

I also think there is an issue with being far sited in the future. I currently have prescription glasses and sun glasses. Both are a pain in the ass when climbing, skiing or mt. biking. I was thinking about contacts but those also can be a pain but they give you more options for switching eye protetion. It seems that laser eye surgery is the way to go but make sure they only do one eye at a time so that if they mess up you won't be blind for life.

I have not done it. I have had friends do it with excellent results but they were not climbers. I would defineltly look into how altitude effects the eyes after the surgery is done if you plan on going high in the future.

I have checked out Barrabes - good deals but not a wide selection. Any other?