sketchfest

I carry a multi-tool on my harness when I climb outdoors. It has come in usefull on more than one occasion including the tightening of loose nuts when I get to the hangers and opening that beer when I get back to the car.

I would like to say thank you to everyone for making this such a plab event. I would especially like to thank the host and hostess, Tim and Becky for putting the word out and making it all happen and their gracious hospitality as usual. TG, I'd like to thank you for the most excellent beers even though my climbing partners wish they had never heard of Terminal Gravity Stout. I met a lot of folks from the site and the weather was perfect for climbing all three days that my son and I were there. Sounds like everybody made it home safe and that's the perfect topper to a great weekend. Looking forward to climbing with some of you in the near future.

Steve, I am leaving PDX Friday morning and can fit a barrel or two in my truck, this would ensure that Rob will not consume the majority of brew before he arrives, leaving little for the rest of us. I only have the groups best interests at heart.

Oh, and for the record (I know this will come as a HUGE surprise to many of you), they weren't wearing polypro over shorts, and they weren't wearing gaiters... But were they wearing shorts over polypro?

Stamstad is a real ultra endurance freak. Back when I was doing a lot of mtn bike racing, I would read these stories about him dominating events like the Iditabike up in Alaska, riding through sub-zero temps. Hats off to John!

That is by far the best single move on that entire climb

Where on the knee does it hurt? Inside, outside, under the knee cap?

I thought about that, but never tried it. How did it work? It actually worked pretty well not to mention that my front yard is kinda steep in spots so it really helps keep me from slipping underneath the mower. You do have to stamp your feet to get any real penetration, but all that did was draw extra long stares from the neighbors who already think I'm a freak.

Tied my dog up at Broughton with a #2 stopper so I could climb and she wouldn't jump on everybody. Wore crampons while mowing the lawn to help aerate Used rope and harness to belay my brother-in-law while he repaired damage caused by 24" of snow on the roof Not climbing tools, but used seatbelt buckle to open beer, when rack was to far away (10' behind me)

Congratulations Tim and Becky! Glad to hear that the firsties aren't breaking your will to teach Beck. Looking forward to seeing you guys in a couple of weeks at da rope-up!

Anybody headed down to smiffy this weekend and need an extra partner? I'm thinking about heading down tonight after work, staying at the bivy.

I was flying in a small private plane from Portland to Boise when the radio went quiet for about 10 min. when it came back we were being ordered to land, along with all commercial aircraft at the nearest field that would accept us. Air taffic control would not answer our requests of "why?" It wasn't until about 2min before landng in Baker City that we finally heard that an airplane had crashed into the trade towers and that a national emergency had been oredered. as soon as we were one the ground, we watched, in horror, as the first building fell the ground. I will always remember 9-11 because of the personalism attached with being in the air when it happened. The sunrise over the eastern skyline was amazing that day.

Crickey, try to share a little freindly beer info and get your head slammed, cause I shoulda posted in spray. Whats wrong E, you wake up on the wrong side of the bed today?

I am not a beer connoisseur nor would I classify myself as a total beer snob, but I would always prefer to drink a micro-brew vs. a mass produced ""American" lager. If I'm buying off the shelf at my local neighborhood food peddler I will purchase something from the Deschutes Brewery and if I'm buying a pint somewhere, I generally look for something brewed on an even more personal scale like Terminal Gravity. However last night, on my way home from work I stopped to pick up some chips and salsa for Monday nights game and grabbed a 6-er of Eel River Organic Amber Ale. Before last night I had never heard of this beer, nor had I ever knowingly consumed an "organic" brew and as DFA might recommend a nice Pinot or perhaps a quality Cab/Merlot mix, I highly recommend this beer from Eel River, even if it is brewed in Cali. The only caveat to this is you might need to take a second out on your home if you intend to get drunk because at $8.00 a 6 pack its a little spendy.

I'd like to ask funguy, but that beyotch is still in Europe and he won't be back until two days before we head for olympus, guess I'll have to go alone hoo,hoo

Yeah, that's the one. Thanks Iain I should have know you would be the first one to answer Boyer was an animal...6hrs, that's pretty impressive!

Does anyone have any info on this trail. I would guess that right now, what with the mtn being so completely melted out, that if you made this journey you could do it without ever setting foot on snow. But I'm curious to know how high and how low the trail goes or if the elevation stays fairly constant. Thanks for whatever info yous gots.

If someone says, "Oh damn that trail was steep, our elevation gain was 520' per mile." Is there a method to calculate the average gradient of that trail that would equate to 45, 50 or whatever degrees?

I'mmmmmm comin' out - better get this party started! NAME THAT TUNE Pink!

Let's do it on Saturday, I'll drive up from Portland.

Still interested!

Hey Fence, I'm down in Portland, but looking for a long, moderately paced ride for Saturday. How far are you thinking about riding? What time are you thinking about leaving..etc. I could drive up early Sat.am or Fri. night after work. I 'm wanting to ride 50+(more would be better) -Sketch

Lemon, I highly reccomend the Surveyors Ridge trail, start at the top and ride down and back, it makes about a 25 mile single track ride with sweet views of the North side of Hood. T.H. is at about 4k and drops down to 2,500k. It's pretty rough in spots right now, but definately worth it.