Dennis_Harmon

Reply to Jay B, There is nothing that I have to prove to you,lad. And there is no route descriptions, (beta) as you say, that I'm willing to provide you. Any information that you could get from me that you couldn't get from a guide book would be antithetical to you're adventure anyway. Good luck and God speed. Dennis

Yes, I've got to agree. Posting here is not a right... but a priviledge. This is a private forum and if I get too outragious please let me know. I do have some strong feelings about the way that climbing is evolving, and I don't always employ the best tact. I'm an old fart (44) and I've never been known to be "polically correct." I still enjoy being here, and thanks for tolerating me. Dennis

Dear Dru, We realize that our scuba tanks and weights and lack of chalk could be considered antithetical in the ethical discussion of Scuba-Climbing in relation to conventional climbing, but we also know that we are far more innocuous than you are. We still haven't drilled bolts. Dennis

Jon and Gimpy, Points taken and thanks. Dennis

Apine K, I never knew them to be "bad," as in your words, but mainly selfish and un-trained and too damned many of them. The kid they were hoisting off Mt. Hood was supposedly a 'critical patient,' but it seems he didn't have a problem appearing on the "Today's Show," along with his wife two days later and I noticed that they never addressed the extent of his injuries. He was the injured party when the helicopter crashed. Do you suppose that there could possibly be too darned many cell-phones, climbers, and helicopter crews waiting to rescue them? Just a question. Dennis

ADR-901, I argree whole-heartedly, but it ain't gonna happen because you're dealing with an entire generation of people who see climbing as nothing more than a means with which to further their resumes. These people do not have any real appreciation, or respect, for the mountains. They are just going to continue going up there and dying, in droves, and make us all look like ass-holes. Dennis ---- "Alive people are always smarter than dead people."

Trask, Yes I'm sure that you're correct in that I should have referred to SK as a lassie rather than lad or laddie. My mistake once again, and my appologies for not knowing that she was a she instead of a he. Silly me. Dennis

SK, Sorry if I implied that you're a lad. I meant to mean laddy, and if you're qualified to scuba-dive at all, and can climb as well, please do come over and we'll take you down on some really radical routes. Don't, however, bring your cordless drills with you, because we still haven't figured out how to operate them underwater. DEnnis

It't all good, Jon , because I know that I'm going to get kicked off this forum someday because you had, "an in-box of complaints," or that you'd received a request from, "several moderators," to do so. Silly me. I just thought that we still had free-reign of speech on this forum... even if you did have to deal with knuckleheads. Dennis

This is just 'frigging great.' In a time where the government is ever encroaching on our individual liberties, we're going to further their ammunition by going to the mountains and getting hurt and dying up there, requiring helicopter e-vacks while they crash on nation-wide television, ad. nauseum, all the while the the whole world watches? Generation-X people should give up the sport of climbing and perhaps take up scuba-diving, sky-diving, or something other than destroying a sport that they never should have been privy to... to begin with. Dennis

Apine Tom, Yes, I guess that I would die in order to further the advancement of a new age alpine/nautical sport like Scuba-Climbing (although I wouldn't like to.) It is very dangerous and not for everyone. First of all, it is entirely possible to drown if you start breathing too hard and run out of air in your tanks. Therefore, you must have excellent underwater and climbing breath control. Just like the sport of cave-diving, it is not for everyone. But, if you have any further questions concerning the exciting new sport of scuba-climbing please PM me. Thanks, Dennis

Darn it, I guess that I'd better moderate my comments as well because I tend to upset people. I firmly believe that so-called "sport climbing" together with rampant bolting of my beloved rock is spelling the death of my beloved sport, and that it is being done, largely, by an entire generation of spoiled youth of this country who have only taken, and taken, and taken... and have never been required to give anything back. But, I have always thought that freedom of speech is still in effect, regardless how stupid and vulgar it may be. Dennis

SK.... "The sage needs to know like water how to flow around blocks and how to find the way through without violence." -Lao Tzo Good quote SK, but where do you think that you'd be right now if all the U.S. veterns of all our wars had felt the same. How many mountains would you be climbing now, lad? Some things are actually worth defending, taking a stance on, and even dying for if neccessary. Most liberals, however, see the world in shades of grey and lack the gumption to take a stance or have an opinion about anything. With an opinion, you may actually be proved to be wrong, and God forbid that you might be found to be imperfect. I say Scuba-Climbing rules. Dennis

Yea Dru, but it's hard to use chalk and the rock tends to be wet... it all evens out. Dennis

For those of you still unawares, there exists a plethora of virgin rock in the area of Lake Chelan. It is ripe for development (sport routes included) but, unfortunately, it is all underwater. On the plus side, however, it is always nice and cool down there, unlike Vantage, and hardly another party of scuba-climbers is ever seen. What we've been doing is to both wear double steel 120's in combination with 80 lbs. of weight apiece, (this will vary, of course, depending on your body weight) descend to the depth we wish to climb up from, locate our chosen route, remove our fins and just "go for it!" We usually take a small rack and 6mm rope. We've found that large racks increase our negative bouyancy, so we try to stay light. Some of these faces are 2000 feet deep and without adequate bouyancy compensation, you could easily find yourself falling into the abyss. If you have questions feel free to contact via PM. Dennis

Better yet, Jens, just take up the sport of SCUBA diving. It is really fun because you get to breath underwater without drowning and see a lot of fish. Dennis

Dear Dick Noggin, Quite frankly I don't know if your cordless drill will work while underwater or not. I've never heard of anyone who wanted to drill bolts into submerged rocks, but I guess that if a guy strapped on enough weights he could do some serious bouldering down there without the risk of breaking an ankle. I'm always the first to embrace new ways of doing things. Maybe you could use zip-lock baggies. Dennis

SCUBA, as in Scuba Diving, stands for [self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus.] It requires one to go under the water with a pressurized tank of air strapped to his or her back from which the person then breathes with a hose (connected to the tank) called a regulator. It is a fun sport and you get to see fish and plant life and breath while underwater without drowning. Many people have given up "sport" rock climbing in order to pursue Scuba Diving because it is so much more fun and adventurous. Dennis

Trask, I appreciate the feed-back but, good God, lad, do you kiss your mother, wife, or kids with that mouth as well? I'm not a fundamentalist or anything, but you need to clean up your act, my man. Lizard Brain, Good point and well said. Never thought of it in those terms... and I kinda like it. Thanks. Dennis

Dwayner, I have to hand it to you, lad, your crafty ability to divert the conversation from something as vital as rampant bolting, to something as mundane as 'getting laid because you're a climber.' Just because you and Mr. Puget had a spat you're both going to sulk off and then honor us by coming back with this B.S. thread? I guess there's just no end to nepotism here in the Great Pacific Northwest. Dennis

Am I to understand that there doesn't exist any rock to climb/exploit on the western slope of the Cascade mountain range? I seem to recall a place called Index, and oh yea, another one just outside of a little town called Darrington, (the home of the Spotted Owl.) I'd just bet that there are other areas as well if only you'd take the time to go look for them. But, oh I forgot.. time is money and you mustn't take too much time out of your busy, busy yuppie schedules, or you might loose a dime. Better just go to Vantage. Don't forget your cell phones and cordless drills. Dennis

I, for one, am getting a little tired of this forum being dominated by the falling out of two guys who probably know one another a little too intimately... not to imply that either is homosexual, but I kind of find it curious that both would be so sensitive to one another's arguments that they would cease posting at exactly the same time. It's just kind of different, that's all. Dennis

Thanks Off White. Point taken. Dennis

O.K., maybe you don't suck, sloptroth, but every one else that climbs there does. Sport climbers lack balls (and ethics.) Dennis

Richard (Dick) Noggin, Yea, wouldn't want any of you knuckleheads to stay on your side of the range and destroy your own rock. Dick, did you ever hear of a sport called, 'scuba diving?' It involves lots of high tech yuppie equipment, (just like rock climbing) but it requires that you know how to swim. It tends to be a lot cooler though, as opposed to the terrible heat at Vantage. Just a suggestion. Dennis