JRCO

Does any one know of a site for great deals on ski gear - both downhill and tele?

I think Beck is on to something. Maybe I am not crazy Erik.

I think Erik, Highclimb, and Capellini are hiding something.

A few years ago while climbing at Fossil Rock I over heard some local Yelm climbers talking about a place called "Little Yosemite". It was a big secret that only a select few people were supposed to know about. It is supposedly located some where between Yelm and the Nisqually entrance to Rainier. Any one have any info?

The floods probably cleaned all the trash out of the river through town though.

I went to Bolivia in 1995. I stayed in La Paz for several days. As I recall the Lonely Planet guide to Bolivia had all the information you would ever need to find cheap eats and sleeps. As far as climbing, we did not climb but I did check out quite a few of the mountainering stores. I would recommend not trying to buy any climbing gear or your high altitude food in Bolivia. Bring it all with you.

The tails work great and allow you some flexability in your snow shoe use. Atlas does not have this option

I was belaying my partner a Vantage while he was trying to work his way up some climb on Power House wall. He sunk his fingers in a pocket and was bitten by a bat. He continued on and finished the climb. I refused to even try it.

I have the atlas snow shoes, they work great. My partner uses the MSR and they seem to be a little bit more sturdy. I would try renting them both and see what you like best.

Can I go to? - Wait I have kids and a mortgage - Can I stil go.

As you walk up the road past the lower Elinor trail head, you come around a bend in the road that crosses the creek. At the bend walk up the creek about 10 yards, cross the creek and follow the tree line that seperates the road from the clear cut walking on the clear cut side of the tree line. You will see little red tags that mark the trail. The trail continues along the tree aline gradually gaining altitude until you hit a prominent ridge going up through the clear cut. Look for the trail and more red tags on stumps and what not. The trail continues up to the uppper Elinor Parking lot.

I believe there is actually a marked trail through the clear cut. It says a bunch of time

Or you could have a brand new one for $119. http://www.campmor.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prmenbr=226&prrfnbr=5009530

Mike, It's to bad the one incident sticks in my mind more than the many other times that Park Rangers have been more than helpful.

The funny thing about the incident on Hood is I was next to the chair lift. I admitt I did not have a backcountry permit but neither did the crowd of people downhill skiing next to me. Frankly I just forgot to get the permit in my haste to catch the chair lift to avoid some hiking. I was more than apologetic to the ranger but he conintued to brow beat us for 30 minutes on his authority in the mountains. Finally we told him we would walk back down the mountain and get a permit if he would shut his mouth.

Speaking of permits and climbing rangers, what kind of authority due rangers have if they catch you without a permit? Can they give you a fine? Can they force you to leave the mountain? Can they arrest you? I met a ranger on Hood who thougt we could do all of the above.

For all you Colorado climbers, Bent Gate in Golden rents them if you would like to try them out.

I thought the saying was a 5.10 climber has a job. A 5.12 climber does not.

JayB - I too have climbed many of the South Platte runout slabs. My thoughts are why even bolt the line if your fall will result in death regardless of the bolts. I don't climb those routes unless the runout parts are supper easy. Even then it scares the hell out of me.

How about that little friction move on the West Ridge of Prusik?

Wear your helmet. I think most of you out there rely on your brain to fund your climbing habit.

I believe there is a book and a PBS show called "Skiing the Cascade Volcanoes" that my have some info.

Thanks Erik and monkeyboy. I will give it a try. If you don't hear from me after this weekend call 911.

If you read the little book that come with your petzl ascender, it says it can be used for rope soloing a fix line. Has anyone done this? If not, what is the set up with a gri-gri.

So I have trouble finding a partner lots of time. Any suggestion for rope soloing? Fix a line and use a jumar?