b-rock

Cavey - Yup, was there last fall. Saw at least the National Geo series there. 200 baht (about $5), along with every other peice of software, right there on Ko Sahn Rd. Of course, that's not all one can buy there...

philfert - thanks, i'll dig real deep.

What's the official line on this one - I guess it's a no go? Anyone hassled for sleeping in the car? Nearby in the trees? Thanks y'all.

Hey Freeman - shut the frick up with your whiny attitude. There was plenty of good, on topic info along the way. BTW, thanks for the post! Slaphappy - You say the slope was tree covered. How dense were the trees? [ 01-16-2002: Message edited by: b-rock ]

quote: Originally posted by JRCO: Why can I get a digital cell phone for $69 but a digital avalanche beacon costs $300+. Good question. The technology in there is super simple, at least with the past models.

Just took an avy course (US Level 1) with MountainSavvy (great class). We spent the better part of last Sunday practicing both transceiver searches and probe searches. Got good at finding a shallowly burried trasceiver in under three minutes. Probe lines? We couldn't hit shit. The stats on finding a victem within the first three minutes is right on. I see know way one could locate a burial in that time without a transceiver unless there were some really obvious visible clues as to where they stopped. My 2 cents.

Thanks. What about the AAI / Mountain Madness / RMI courses - anyone ever taken them? I was on a guided RMI two day climb and learned jack shit. The 'on to Everest' comment seemd right on. I wonder if their 'more intensive' alpine mountaineering classes are more of the same (case in point, for RMI, the pre-req to the Denali climb is the week long mountaineering course). Go figure. Spray on!

Thanks, I know of Mountain Madness, but who is AAI?

Thanks. Have car. Works good. I drive fast, though. Definately interested in climbing peaks in general, just the volcanoes are all the ones I can see from here, sometimes. Scree sucks. My upper body strength sucks crap. I try though. Almost all my wall climbing is indoors, and most of that just bouldering. Would love to climb some rock. Anyone have thoughts on the Mazamas?

Ok y'all, here it is, the newbie post. Relatively new to the NW and itching to climb some of the big beautiful volcanoes out here. I'm fit, have tons of backpacking experience, tons of downhill ski experience (w/ some semi-foolish backcountry adventures) and a few of the walk ups - Helens, Adams, S Sister. Oh, and I'm one of those assmunches who paid RMI to guide me to the top of Rainier last September (really thought I'd get more instruction and less babysitting, but that's my own damn fault). So how to get the skills? I'm comfortable with crampons and self arrest but that's it. Got book smarts and have learned about the basics - running belays, crevasse rescue, etc. but have no practical experience. Classes? Mazamas (I'm in Portland)? Ugh, cough, Mountaineers (sorry, new here but stumbled on the thread)? Have many friends, but none with more experience than me - though willing to learn, so good books and ease into practicing and learning skills. Thanks.

Had memberships at PRG, Club Sports (was Sports Nation), and Stoneworks. PRG is close to home and has great routes, but the hardcore there are a little much to take, crowded, stuffy too. Stoneworks is extremely friendly with a lot of thought put into their routes, but small and full of kids. Club Sports, where I climb now (company got a corporate discount here, many facilities besides climbing) basically sucks for routes but has amazing potential, mostly because its so huge. Lots of chumps and kids, but a handful of talented climbers train here. Very expensive ($200 to join, $68/month) but you get much more than just the walls.

Check out the north cleaver for better winter access (and turns). You should be able to park off of state 23 and make a couple mile slog up a forest road (snowmobile winter rec) before heading for treeline. Skis and a rope? I've had luck getting towed by random snowmobilers...