sketchfest

My vote would go to Yuma, AZ...there is just no reason to build a town that is lower than sea level!

The whole route looked really good and I didn't see or hear much of anything coming down either of the gullies all day. The conditions varied between bullet proof and super soft sugar, to breakable wind crust, but all in all the going was pretty easy. As to the road, well those conditions varied as well. As soon as I turned off of the highway the pavement was pretty icy and once I turned up towards Cooper Spur there was snow, by the gate I was in 4x4 and within another 2.5 miles there was about 2" on the ground, after a few more miles there was almost 6" and some of the drifts were scraping the bottom of my truck, so if you've got a 4x4 be prepared if we get another dumping this week. The ice fall was indeed in te middle of the Elliot. btw: thanks for adding in the pics.

I was up there today, the weather was awesome and not another sole on the mtn. I took a few pics that might help you guys plan.(they are in gallery cause I don't know how to add them in) I think that the conditions were pretty sweet today and the mtn let loose with a huge serac/avy, but I wasn't able to get my camera out quick enough to show the size.

Take your rock boards!

Rob, you are NOT allowed to disagree with me! Anywhoo, granted I only make it up to French’s about once maybe twice a year, but when I was there on Labor Day weekend, I saw some new trail work had already been done, by whom I don’t know. This work included some trail improvements and a few “climbing is dangerous…” signs. I guess my thought is that the area is pretty small, the parking sucks and any improvements that might be made could have some negative impacts on the area. A few could be: increased usage of the area/overuse/environmental impact, (again, it’s a small climbing area) another reason for The Tool to issue tickets for lack of NW Park Pass participation and I’m sure I can think of some others later, but it feels so damn early right now I’m having a hard time focusing.

woman in the meadow

Just curious, but do they really need to make any "improvements" up there?? The rock just isn't that big and most of the belay stances are already leveled out and clean. My guess is they just want to do some work up there so that they can have better reason to enforce the NW park pass.

uuuhhmm, I heard it could be hard to find...

Now that is absolutely, 100% standup! I don't know you, but Good job Michael!

I’ll add my .02 to this. PRG was the first gym I ever went to and in the beginning it was a great place to climb. There were guys like Dave Sowerby cranking extremely hard stuff, yet he would still offer friendly and helpful advice to noobs. Over time the gym got crowded and I moved to the other side of town and I started going to Stoneworks. From my first day in the door I was treated like I’d climbed there for years and it’s been that way ever since. Yes the gym is a little small (although they recently expanded) and they can get hugely crowded, especially on a Jr. climbing team night (which is starting up again tonight) but you can’t beat them for quality or routes. Hands down Stoneworks is the best gym in Portland, truly a climbers gym.

I can't wait Steve, your brew the house! Here's to you

Yeah, that's what I want to know...were in the hell was the grand master of gaperdom, Mr. Timmy??

For a swanky place to eat, drink and look at pretty people, try Oba's on 12th. Manzana's (just one building away from Oba's) has all you can eat chicken and dumplings on Sundays. I think a guy of your caliber would really enjoy Mary's club down on Broadway though.

Jarred, I don't know if he still has it, but this guy was selling one in the yard sale. http://www.cascadeclimbers.com/threadz/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/398476/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1

It seems like the ladies were a bit uptight...hhhmmm, I wonder if they were part of the group mentioned in the other Smith thread. Noise at the Grasslands is inevitable any more, whether it's from some friggin drum circle, technofreakravers, or a bunch of rednecks boasting about the fact that they are from such-n-such and you're not! Simple fact is G-lands is free camping and you never know who's gonna show up, so either be prepared or do like some and continue on up the road and find a better spot.

Yeah Bill the pro on WR isn't all that great, but decent enough when you need it. Besides how's a guy ever going to ascend to true NW hardman status, such as yourself, if you don't push yourself once in awhile?

Bill, I'm hoping to be there around 4:30 tomorrow, I'd like to lead white rabbit and birds of Paradise before it gets dark. What area where you thinking about??

Be careful how you throw down that challenge. It’s never wise to underestimate the skillz of the Gaper-T; besides I hear he’s been training this year!

Fred's in T-Meadows, saw him Monday morning behind the wheel of a scubaroo with a wild eye's looking passenger. Wonder who his victim...err..partner was? I hope I'm still cranking when I'm his age

Sharma doesn't seem to think so.

Oooops, sorry!

I was thinking about Spiderman as well. I have found a small horizontal crack about 5 feet back of the anchors and to the left (facing the route) that I can fit a couple of pieces in and then tie off to my the back of my harness, this allows me to sit down and belay my second without worries of being pulled off the top.

ChrisT, you'll probably be better off dropping some coin on it now, brand new. Craig has had his for 5 years now and it's still going strong, it's even keeping up with I.B. classes.