Thinker

the sling is locked into one end of the biner so it's pretty hard to crossload it. another thing I remember about the ones I had a few years ago is that I didn't think the hook that catches the wire gate was very 'positive'. I wasn't sure it would actually catch the wire if the biner started stretching/flexing under a big load.

I agree, it's not uncommon to encounter snow and or ice on the route that time of year. And sharpen your crampons!

I would call 'sling breakage' a perfect example of 'anchor failure'.

I bought a few QDs with the Trango Directionals on them a few years ago for a gf that was just starting to lead. I liked them and wish I'd have found a way to end up with them on my rack when we split up our gear. I liked the wire gates better than the standards. edit: not to be confused with these Trango Directionals.

OR has had a pair of 2Fs in their clearance corner for under $50 for months. I only saw one pair, though.

I have 1 or 2 guides to DT if you want to look them over over a beer sometime. DT is famous for eating rap ropes, esp if you bail in the middle of a route, i.e. not using the official rap anchors. Everyone HAS to do Durrance, but make sure you save an extra day or 2 to do several other routes that you'll no doubt enjoy more. If you have even more time, make sure you stop in the Black Hills of SD (about 2 hours away from the tower) for some even better climbing.

I like my Sunto Vector, but it's too big to wear on my wrist. So, I wear it on a lanyard around my neck or on a pack strap....puurrfect.

someone needs to tell those plumbers and refrigerator repairmen that they're hanging out. I'll bet most don't even know it. Imagine the job posting for the inspector's position.... Help wanted: Do you know crack? No, silly, not crack cocaine, BUTT crack. Seeking individuals qualified to identify illegal butt crack. Must be proficient with a tape measure and digital camera, and not be afraid to confront and cite angry trades people and gangsters. Compensation is on a comission basis of tickets written. Flak jackets provided after 90 day probation period.

relax, dude. I'm just adding to the body of info. You said you weren't sure if the book covered the areas in question, so I got out my copy and checked. peace out, bro! The 'Omak Bouldering' thread would be a good one to read. Lots of info for the county just south of Ferry, and I suspect those locals would be the best place to go for info if Marty comes up dry.

'Inland NW' does not cover those areas. closest thing along hwy 21 it details is Banks Lake. I'll bet Marty has beta on the rock you scoped, though. Seach for 'Omak' and 'Colville Reservation'. There are some local climbers there who probably know, but I doubt they'll give up the info unless you have some connection to them.

where was that again?

Grocery Outlet at 132nd and Aurora N has Cliff bars @ 2/$1 (that's 50 cents each for those of you who didn't finish grade school). 2 flavors: spiced punkin and caramel apple cobbler. "sell by" date June 2004.

There is anecdotal evidence that Native Americans may have done FAs of Mt Rainier and The Grand Teton. I'd venture that MANY FAs were done by natives for various reasons.

Idaho's City of Rocks South Dakota Needles (Black Hills)

why not spray while you spray?

Rock On! I finally got a copy and recommend it, too.

An area of irregular limestone in which erosion has produced fissures, sinkholes, underground streams, and caverns.

For Chevy S-10 and GMC S-15 Pickup, S-10 Blazer, & S-15 Jimmy 1982 - 1992 2WD and 4WD Found this floating around in my garage, long after I sold my pickup. Yours if you pick it up (Seattle Greenlake) or buy me a beer at Pub Club.

I just had dinner at some little Chinese restaurant at 90th and Roosevelt. The photos there by King Wu are amazing. I found em' on line, here are a couple of my favs.

I'd call that a bowline on a coil.

Hell, I've hauled overnight gear to the summit twice and spent 1 or 2 nights ON the summit each time. In my opinion, spending one night around 8k, and another around 10k or 11k is plenty of time to acclimate for most people. If you want to hedge your bets a little, spend an extra night at one of those camps and enjoy the scenery....14,000 is just not that high unless you hustle right up from sea level. It's really nice, too, not to have to hoof it all the way out on summit day. Consider spending another night at your high camp and starting down fresh in the morning.

Alasdair said: I have a whole pile of those nice yellow write in the rain notebooks, that I managed to get for free from this place I used to work. I think you know the ones I mean. They work pretty well. Indeed I do. The 'write in the rain' notebooks are relatively cheap. it's the frickin' pens that are expensive.

Insomnia struck this morning and I found myself pondering life's big questions... What do you use for a mountaineering/climbing journal? some type of bound book? any old scrap of paper? just your digital camera and TRs on cc.com? And....do you tend to write in your journal while you're ON a climb, or do you wait until it's over?

Insomnia struck this morning and I found myself pondering life's big questions... What IS the best way to mark climbing gear? How do you mark yours? I've seen someone go as far as laying all their metal gear out in the parking lot and spraying one side of it with purple spray paint....that was a little gaudy for my personal taste.

Dylan, I'm not so sure I agree with you....yet. What's your basis for making that statement? CO is the result of incomplete combustion (of either fuel type). It seems to me that complete combustion would be much easier to approach with the butane/propane mixture in the canisters than it would with the petroleum based fuel. Where's CBS when we need him.....