Fromage

Better close up photos of the picks and handles:

Leaves are turning color, ice is not far away. Get yourself some nice tools in great shape. Cash price picked up $240 for the pair.

I just used one of these for a week in Greenland. I wouldn't pay $500 for it.

Have you been in a Vireo? While the shoulder girth is designed to accommodate a parka, the hip and foot girths are the narrowest of any bag FF makes. If you haven't tried one out yet, it's a good idea to climb inside one. The narrow lower half of the bag paired with no zipper drives some people nuts. Other people don't mind, or are willing to accept the snug fit for the weight savings.

It will feel a little weird at first but you'll adjust. I climbed the NF of Gannett Peak in WY (800 feet of alpine ice) using a Grivel Air Tech Racing 58cm axe in one hand and a Grivel Rambo 2 technical ice tool (50cm) in the other. One was light and a little longer, and I had to give it a swift swing to get a good stick, the other was a trusty, stout technical ice tool. If I had to do it over again I'd take a pair of matching Aztarex or something comparable, but at the time it was fine. The combo worked okay, and since the steepest part of the face was only 60 degrees I felt comfortable with the setup. I don't think I'd use this combo for anything more technical than that (NW couloir of Eldorado, for example). Your combo, however, sounds more appropriate for moderate alpine ice routes with those reverse curve picks. Why don't you take a quick lap up Observation Rock in Mt Rainier NP this weekend with those tools? You'll get a nice taste of moderate alpine ice, conditions will be good, and you can find outwhat the different lengths feel like for realz.

I have a set of barely used Quark Ergos if those are along the lines of what you'd consider. Picks in excellent shape, handles minimally but effectively grip-taped. Send PM if you are interested.

Well he probably wasn't wearing a fake shearling-lined Russian tank driver hat, was he? And I bet he didn't have TWO pillows. These dudes clearly know how to send the big walls in comfort and style.

Got this in the mail yesterday. Pretty cool. On the back was a coupon for 20% off anything in the store, so I know what I'm using that for. Twine rope looks pretty solid. This is most likely in the "Beyond" section of the store.

Sold.

If your slings were even grazed by the Silver Bullet you are in big trouble. Now your gear, like the beer, won't slow you down, which is exactly what cams are supposed to do, isn't it?

Pack is still available.

http://featheredfriends.com/Picasso/Bags/Product/-40Degree.html [img:left]http://featheredfriends.com/Picasso/Images/Bags/snowyowl.jpg[/img]

There's only one crag in the lower peninsula. It's about 30-35 feet tall. Sandstone. Toprope only. Bring your own carpets to protect the edge of the cliff. It's borderline choss, but it's all there is.

Snowy Owl or Snow Goose? Those are pretty different bags.

Oooh, an Irbis!!! I'll give you $8 if you can place that screw in water ice on the first try in less than 2 minutes. That Ushba, on the other hand, looks like a better deal.

If anyone wants Kodiak's Gri Gri I'll offer up a Petzl Freino autolocking carabiner for an extra $15 as a package deal (retail is $47!!!). This is the belay biner that Petzl makes specifically for use with the Gri Gri. It has an extra gate on the back of the spine to guide the rope over the rounded surface of the Gri Gri when lowering a climber. I'll leave the carabiner with him so you can check it out with the Gri Gri. Product link on Petzl website [img:left]http://www.petzl.com/files/imagecache/product_outdoor_slideshow_image/node_media/freino-1_8.jpg[/img]

Sold.

I've used a Spot for years, have an older version. I like its simplicity. Reliability has never been an issue for me, but as with many gear experiences, your mileage may vary. I became a fan of the "everything in one place" headlamp design after ditching my Petzl Zoom way back in the day. The extra strap, remote power pack, etc. wasn't worth the hassle to me. I find the light projection of the Spot to be powerful enough for my needs. Unless you are caving or working search & rescue I think the main LED can handle most climbing situations. If it's so freaking cold that my headlamp isn't working then I'm either at home drinking beer or hunkered down in a giant sleeping bag. Is 4oz going to be THE determining weight factor? No. The way I look at it, though, is if you can save 4oz in 4 places then you have saved a pound. The more places you can save weight the greater the cumulative effect. A headlamp is a relatively inexpensive place to save weight, compared to a sleeping bag for instance. But then again, if you're sweating it over 4 ounces then maybe you need to train harder. Everyone here can stand to lose 4oz off their bodies. I know I could benefit from losing a bit more than that.

Used a couple seasons, in great shape, no scratches on lenses. Includes removable side shields and hard case. These are the Category 4 Altichromic lenses, which are the highest category for protection (5% visible light transmission). $60 cash local pickup or will ship for extra $5 and can take PayPal. Can meet downtown Seattle during weekday business hours or further afield during evenings or weekends.

I should also add that the hip belt size is medium, which makes it well suited for tall skinny guys.

Photos now added.

I'll take the probe. And by that I mean I'll buy your G3 avalanche probe.

Gene speaks da troof. If you need to get to your homie in the crevasse, a 30m rope doesn't give you a lot of spare length to work with. The 30m rope is ideally suited to skilled climbers experienced in self-rescue who probably won't fall into a crevasse and won't get hurt if they do. Feathered Friends sells 8.4mm dynamic Sterling rope by the foot. Or at least they used to. You could walk in there and say "Cut me 39m off that there spool" and you could have your own custom glacier line. Edit: Gene, remember- you're not a victim until you're dead. If you're hurt you're a patient.

If you descend 9,000' on Rainier in those boots your toes will be mashed. I wear Scarpas that are a hair too small for my feet and I have lost count of the number of toenails they have claimed. It's in the double digits. You will appreciate the performance fit on ice, however. One option would be to rent a pair of plastics for your Rainier trip for your feet to flop around in and then save your sweet new Scarpas for Frankenstein, Dracula, and Pegasus back east.

Responded to your email about Quark Ergos.