Thinker

I knew it was time to replace my BD Bod one day when I realized it was at least 5 years old and I wasn't comfortable risking a big fall on it. It really screwed with my mind the rest of that climbing day....time to get a new harness.

Folsom is really just a suburb or 'next door neighbor' to Sacramento. I have a bud who lives there and seems to enjoy it. The nearby Calaveras Dome has been on my 'to do' list for quite some time now. It's only 100 miles from Sacramento to Lovers Leap and South Lake Tahoe climbing. There should be tons of good rock climbing within 100 miles or less.

This is a scan from Model Flyer (Oct 2002) PLANE (OR) SLICED An Australian doctor allegedly destroyed five light aircraft, when he lost control of the Piper Saratoga that he was attempting to start. The 50 year old GP strenuously denied the charge in Adelaide's Magistrates Court recently. Apparently, after finding that the onboard starter battery was flat, he attempted to start the engine by turning over the prop unfortunately, it is alleged, he had left the brakes off! The engine started and the aircraft started to move forward, travelling 150 metres before clipping four stationary single engined Piper Warriors, before smashing into a Piper Seminole (shown in the picture), which was parked just 25 metres from the airports fuel supply. Estimated damage was judged to be in the region of half a million dollars (Australian).

TR: Mt Constipation -- Solo Who really knows what starts us on these kinds of journeys. Like many others, I’ve been to the mountain before, enjoyed the views from the trails around the visitor’s centers, and even ventured higher onto the snowfields without the proper knowledge. But as the years passed and my skill level and tolerance of pain increased until finally one day the mountain called me. I rarely go into something like this with a fixed schedule worked out. I like to ‘sneak up’ on the mountain, experiencing the transitions from rain forest, to alpine forest, to alpine meadow, to desert, to snow gradually and deliberately…and this trip was no different. I took about 6 days to make the approach and on the 7th, everything felt right for a summit attempt….which by then, given the bloating and extra weight, was a wise decision. I arose at the decidedly lazy hour of ‘mid morning’, but since there is really no objective danger on Mt. Constipation, it was fine to travel as I felt fit. And besides, on momentous days like today, a man truly does want some solace at this summit. I started out with a light summit pack, my trusty boots, an alpenstaff, and plenty of good reading material. The journey that day was contorted and bizarre, but all that much more memorable. The first people I met on the trail were medical doctors from Seattle. They noticed the wheezing in my lungs and obvious pain with each breath and expressed concern. I noted that I’d taken 6 days to make my approach on Mt. Constipation and nodded appreciatively. To appease them, I allowed them to give me a CAT scan with a portable unit they happened to have in their pack. They felt very justified when they found evidence of severe pneumonia in my right lung (read, the bottom of my lung was filled with pus and other nasty goobers) and fluid outside the lung. The promptly referred me to a specialist friend of theirs who was just up the trail a couple of floors….err….thousand feet. Said specialist took pity on me and drilled a hole in my back between my ribs so he could ‘sample’ the fluid outside my lungs. Again, I was appreciative, but had a larger mission to accomplish. I thanked the kind doctors, downed the antibiotics they gave me, and continued on my way. Another thousand feet of elevation gain! Hallelujah! I feel SO close. I must sit down for a minute and try. The sound of Blackhawk helicopters buzzing me from every direction erupted as soon as I took my comfort….and the smell was horrendous, sulfur from the summit cauldera no doubt. But still, it was all just gas and innuendo…..worse than those conniving bitches Minx and Muffy…..always flirting and teasing, but never coming through! Ah, I must continue on, striving for the apex of this dastardly mountain. Hours go by, thousands more feet of elevation gain below me, and something tells me I’m there. Ten more rushed steps to the summit cauldera and it’s TRUE. As the gravity of the situation slowly settles upon me the mountain gurgles and rumbles, deadly vapors are all around me. If it weren’t for the light breeze at my back I’d surely be dead now. I didn’t really think the thought of TRASK would come to me at this moment, but as I gazed into the churning cauldron just inches below my feet I had to laugh….I tell myself that this is far worse than anything a giardia ridden Trask could generate after a weekend long bender at the rocky mountain oyster eating contest and Jagermeister drinking fest….not that I truly want to find out. My stay on the summit was long and tiring; I think it lasted 4 hours. Nausea, clarity, visions, terror, thankfulness, bliss, and comfort continually cycled thru my emotions. But as the sun rose to a beautiful day I felt refreshed and ready for my descent. The glissade down was several magnitudes of order more refreshing than the sunrise, as I had only my shorts over polypro that day. Somehow, it was appreciated though. At long last tucked snugly in my bed, I realized that many people don’t ever make it that far up Mt. Constipation. Most are happy to stay within their comfort level…and should. But for anyone needing to spice up their life a bit, I highly recommend taking that LONG approach and heading for the true summit. As I drifted off I remember wondering if I’d have pleasant dreams or nightmares……but really, what is the difference. They’re both expressions of something we’re trying to get off our chests or out of our brains....or out of our bodies in some way or another. Now, as I sit at home and contemplate the journey, I wonder if it qualifies for any sort of record, like the slowest ascent of this peak, or the most time spent at the summit. I wonder what the current record really is. Do I even qualify to challenge the record if I didn't set out with the intent to do so? For that intrepid subject, I'll have to defer to the expert Dan -....Dan, if you want GPS logs of my trail, statetments from the medical doctors who treated me along the way, or verrification from the summit register (I left some TP with my DNA pasted to a page in the register), samples of anything for your trusty companion dog to track, or explanations of any of the abbreviations I used in the summit register, just let me know...I'll do my best to help you doccument everything on your webpage, right down to every last thing I ate during that 6 day approach. I think that would make GREAT content for a dedicated page on your website.

Ryan, I've been in that exact same spot, looking for the rap down to Wall Street. Our group had come up the Petzoldt Ridge, dropped down into a little gulley, and scrambled up to the top of the Golden Staircase. A nice flat area with a few big boulders and more than a few bivy spots carved out of virtually nothing. We tried a few ways up, unsuccessfully, and started looking for the way down. Eventually we gambled on a rap off a horn that paid off. We descended Wall St to the lower saddle and then on down to our tent further below. My partner had lost his headlamp and was operating on a little 'photon' light so the going was slow. All the little routefinding snaffus like that supposedly make us better in the long run...

That wasn't nice....this IS the NEWBIE section...

I rode the bus home from the hospital last night, after a full day of poking and prodding. One of my 'minor' symptoms was a 6+ day constipation, but I could feel it working it's way thru and hoped to make it home before the gates of hell broke. My bus pulled up at the stop, and just as I was ready to get on I had the urge to fart. Now based on the few farts from the previous hours I knew it wasn't going to be good. The guy right in back of me was edging closer and closer in line outside the bus....insisting it get on 'right now' with his body language. So I let er rip a couple of steps away from the bus and strolled on.... with Louie hot on my tail. I spied a comfy looking spot about 2/3 of the way back and made for it. As I passed the folks along the way I could hear more than a few of them groaning, someone even got up and opened up a window. I sat down in my seat, and about 3 seconds later the homies in the back started in with their routine, also openinig another window. It takes a truly perverse person to laugh at a time like this, and I did. I could barely keep my shaking shoulders from giving me away.

OK, here it is. Page 49 of Climbing's 2003 Photo Annual. I'm all doped up on Vicodin and pain, so I don't really care if it IS in spray. Spray away. The same thing can happen on a vertical crack. A cam can be placed and clipped short, and as the climber passes the cam the rope and pull it into a horizontal orientation. the next time that cam moves could be during a fall, as it is yanked violently into a downward orientation. All that movement bugs me (and others too) and I tend to put slings on almost all my cams. But I see SO many people in person and in photos who skip that step. What would Gollum do? (WWGD?) I'm outta here for a CT scan. Later on.....

edited: NOW I can't even find the damn photo, so words will have to do... A photo in an older (last year) climbing rag showed a guy climbing a crack that wandered back and forth (maybe 10 feet horizontally), and the cams were all clipped short so that the rope held the cams in essentially a horizontal orientation. 3 finger size cams between him and his belayer, all the same orientation. Discuss. Anything wrong with that. Any rules of thumb? I'll go look some more for the photo.

well, you don't see any 'frown' graemlins after my comment...

once again, my fantasy get mashed and shredded under Minx's spiked heels ......

You KNOW I'm still holding out for you.......because I know YOU'D carry it all to the summit where the views are better!

The last time I came off Rainier, the gf at the time teamed up with a rope mate's wife and met us in the parking lot with the ultimate yuppie tailgate party. Red wine, fancy cheeses, smoked chicken, tons of fresh fruit, pasta salads, and plenty more. That was a nice change of pace from cramming everything in the car and making the mad dash for the burger stand in Elbe.

That's my preferred method, too. But there are some circumstances that require a bit more flexibility.

(damn, I took too long composing the rest of my post and Daler beat me to the punch!) and I'm just REALLY good with Photoshop..... (It may be safer to say none of the Alpine Bods have a belay loop, or ever did..... but I haven't done the research to know for sure.) But seriously, I found when I bought a harness with a belay loop for the very first time, the LARGE lockers I'd been using with my BD Bod did tend to want to crossload much more than before. I found that the screwgates of the BD Airlocks http://www.bdel.com/images/gear/rock/detail/airlock2.jpg protruded enough that they would catch on the belay loops, spinning the biner into a crossloaded position. (Seems all the extra 'slack' in the belay loop allows the belay biner to dance all over the place.) Needless to say, this really bothered me. I found 2 solutions: 1)I replaced my Airlock with a belaymaster, which is a great product, but has a high futz factor on multipitch routes. 2) I replaced the Belaymaster with a MUCH smaller BD Enduro screwgate, which seems not to get caught up on the belay loop like the old Airlock. I've had such good results with this that I haven't broken out the Belaymaster for quite some time now. In addition, as noted on the 'cord for personal anchor' thread recently, when using a belay loop, I also clip my belay biner into my Fig8 loop where it's tied into my harness.....for a little redundancy (I clip my biner thru both the belay loop and the loop of rope). I figure that as long as it (the rope) is there, I might as well use it. CBS noted that he often clips his belay biner into the Fig8 loop alone on his Bod without a belay loop, using the rope as a belay loop. (at least I THINK that's what he meant.)

It's always handy to be near dogs (hers or yours) when the first few are passed, that way she's never quite certain if it's you or them. She kinda gets eased into the routine that way.

Scott said: Probably not. As a devout Jew, I would assume that he remained chaste till death. Thinker said: I beg to differ. As a devout Jew, marriage would have been of extreme social and religious importance for Jesus. In order for the man Jesus to carry any respect, i.e. have any basis for 'preaching' and teaching, he would have had to have been married. There is a growing number of scholars who believe that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, and that she was the holy grail...the one Jesus meant to pass the church on to. Peter was extremely jealous of Mary Magdalene (this fact is supported in the scriputes you have today), and the theory goes that he worked hard to exclude her from the church after Jesus' death. Peter was supposedly the first Pope (and most likely the leader of the Christian church after Jesus' death), and subsequent Popes worked very hard to remove all evidence of Jesus' marriage to MM from the scriptures. In addition, they rewrote the scriptures to subjugate women in the church, and in society in general....a very wise political move. I wanted to bring this topic back up, as it's quite provocative. I dug out a couple of websites that provide a fairly comprehensive presentation of the evidence for Jesus being married. It's quite the read if you're curious about it. http://www.grailchurch.org/marriedjesus.htm http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=36328 And a little info about the history of Mary Magdalene. http://www.thewhitemoon.com/mary/magdalene.html#SM Seems Leonardo DaVinci may have been a fan of MM. Recent restorations of his 'The Last Supper' indicate the person seated next to Jesus may have actually been Mary Magdalene, NOT Peter....in any case, worth a look if you like art or are intrigued by that old artistic trickster, Leonardo DaVinci. http://www.lisashea.com/hobbies/art/lastsupper.html (I really don't normally stay up this late to spray, but I'm in some pretty severe pain currently, despite the Vicodin....can't sleep)

Even though I've been climbing for many years, I still enjoy many of the threads here because people are willing to open up and talk about their opinions and experiences. Exposure to this wide range of ideas can ulitmately equip us to solve a wider range of problems if we take the time to understand the underlying principles. In other words, I learned a few things from this thread, too. Granted, there's nothing I'll run out and change tomorrow, but some of the ideas will help me evaluate risk better and give me alternatives when my default method is inadequate.

Thanks Blake. This discussion has now apparently morphed into Christianity's classic circular argument about whether humans are saved by faith alone, works alone, or some combination of the two. Volumes upon volumes have been written on the subject, and I can not profess to understand the intricacies of them. I do however have an opinion about the issue that I would like to present before I take my leave of this circular argument. In my opinion, it sounds absurd to objective observers when a Christian claims that he is saved no matter what wrong things he does, how many times he does them, or how many times he plans to do them in the future. Whether that 'wrong' thing is something as simple as repeated drunkenness or someting as serious as murder (both of which are repeatedly condemned in the New Testament). Granted, under the Christian faith there is the provision for repentance and forgiveness. However, if a person who professes to be Christian truly has an active Christian faith, then his life will reflect it in general. He will not be living with his girlfriend (commiting fornication), will not be a serial murderer, and will not lie, steal or cheat....if that faith is true. If it is a false faith, then there's no telling what the person may do. Again, in my opinion, this relatively modern development in Christianity has allowed some of the most aggregious religious, political, and social attrocities to occur all over the world. With this attitude/belief/philosophy, there is absolutely no responsibility or accountability for one's actions. It seems all to convenient, to me, to separate faith from works. I can't help but feel that they were integrally associated in the original version of this religious philosophy, and that the reintegration of them would make for more healthy families, communities, and world relations. But hey, I'm NOT a religious scholar and will never know for sure the way it was truly originally intended. So, with that, I will take my leave of this part of the discussion. If I had been able to anticipate it would end in this classic argument, I'd have not pursued it so doggedly. I do appreciate the relative respect shown by all involved; emotions often run high and cause some interesting reactions in discussions of this nature. I'm actually very glad that I don't have an emotional or spiritual stake in this issue, as I renounced Christianity many years ago. I do still find it a fascinating subject in an academic sense. Scott, I look forward to having more beers with you at a Pub Club someday.

That is exactly correct. As for transgressions, we are too attempt to refrain from actions which may hurt the heart of God. Things which displeases him. THey are not required for salvation, that is a gift. Someone who beleives that God has saved him should love God and feel bad when they do something that displeases him. So, yes fornication is wrong, but no, you will not have your 'pass' revoked so-to-speak. Well then, in my opinion, you are NOT practicing Christianity in a form ANYTHING like that which was being practiced by 1st century christians. Paul advocated excomunnicating those who practiced sin (i.e. those refused to discontinue the wrong behaviour), and ensured that it was done. Your version actually seems like a very modern version of Christianity to me. How do you justify your statement about not having your pass revoked with this: Galations 5 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, 21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

No, where I don't understand you is the seeming rejection of the need for Christians to live a life based on Christian qualities. The way I read your statement is this: It doesn't matter what wrong things I do, how many times I do them, or how many times I plan on doing them in the future. As long as I ask for forgiveness, all is good and I'll be saved. Take fornication as an example, because it's been one of the most difficult ones to deal with throughout the history of the Christian church. It's well documented (if you consider the Bible documentation...and I think it's a safe assumption that you do) that the 1st century congregation dealt with such matters routinely. Also, let's assume for a moment that Paul echos the sentiments of Jesus as he tries to take care of the infant church after Jesus' death. Paul talked about fornication over and over in his letters to the congregations. 1 Corinthians 5:1-6 1 It is actually reported that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not even among the Gentiles, that one [of you] hath his father's wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and did not rather mourn, that he that had done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, being absent in body but present in spirit, have already as though I were present judged him that hath so wrought this thing, 4 in the name of our Lord Jesus, ye being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 9 I wrote unto you in my epistle to have no company with fornicators; 10 not at all [meaning] with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world: 11 but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat. 12 For what have I to do with judging them that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Put away the wicked man from among yourselves. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 9 Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. 13...But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body: 14 and God both raised the Lord, and will raise up as through his power. 15 Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? shall I then take away the members of Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid. 16 Or know ye not that he that is joined to a harlot is one body? for, The twain, saith he, shall become one flesh. 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own; 20 for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body. 1 Corinthians 10:6-14 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer. 11 Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it. 14 Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. To the Galatian congregation Paul wrote: Ch 5: 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, 21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. 24 And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof. 25 If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk. 26 Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another. ************** (as I'm sure you're aware, this is just a fraction of the references to fornication in the NT.) Paul, and others go on and on about this topic and others regarding the necessity to couple a real effort to lead a Christian life to the faith required for salvation. I am, of course, aware that the NT supports forgiveness for sins like this....but THE big question arises: How much is too much? At what point does it become hypocrisy (The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness. source: dictionary.com)? Gal 5:21 gives us a clue to what Paul thought when he says: "that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (The dictionary.com defintion of hypocricsy also, ironically, contains the word 'practice'.) So what constitues 'practicing' sin? Dictionary.com defines practice as: 1 To do or perform habitually or customarily; make a habit of: practices courtesy in social situations. 2 To do or perform (something) repeatedly in order to acquire or polish a skill: practice a dance step. 3 To give lessons or repeated instructions to; drill: practiced the students in handwriting. 4 To work at, especially as a profession: practice law. 5 To carry out in action; observe: practices a religion piously. So, it would seem to me, that for one to genuinely be able call himself a Christian, he would NOT be practicing fornication (or any of the other works of the flesh cited by Paul.) And as I said in an earlier post, I've only met a handful of people who I feel pursue a truly Christian life. So what about the other 'Christians'? If they rationalize away their wicked behavior and continue it, then they are hypocrites in the fullest sense of the word. Now, if you would have told me that you believe in a "Christianity that's been updated for a modern world" that would be a whole different issue. But I found it especially interesting that you said you feel you're pursuing a brand of Christianity very close to that of the 1st century church. And, as I said in my earlier post, I don't know a single thing about you and your lifestyle. But if you DO practice any of the works of the flesh, then I think you need to reconsider a few of your basic premises. Nobody who 'practices' sin can command Christian respect until they repent and discontinue the wrong actions. What's your take on that? (I don't typically go around trying to point out things that will overload the average "Christian's" mind, but since you've been so vocal here, and knowing how thick skinned you can bein the spray forum in general, I thought you could probably take it and, more importantly, possibly provide me with a few new insights.) PS, did you ever find a copy of the Q gospel for me? I've edited the post a few times to correct citations, add sources, correct spelling and spacing, but have made no substantial changes to the text.

O.K. My take on this (granted it is not orthodoxy, but what is?) is that you are not saved through works, but through faith alone. This is the only religion where this is true. Works are meant to glorify God and to help reach a sense of enlightenment through simplification of one's life. I feel that living my life with my friends (whomever they may be) is the only way to fly. Christ dined with sinners, talked with prostitutes and embraced tax collectors, women, children and anyone else who would listen. That is my thing. It is not about actions so much as what is going on in one's heart. Some people find drinking evil. Mabe for them it has that effect, but I find that it is a great way to loosen up and let people see who you really are without the glimmering facade. Really, I feel that the greatest way for people to understand your position is through your actions. I am not stating that I am any better than anyone else, but I feel that in my heart, I try to be like Christ who I model my life after. God cares not whether you suceed in being a holy man... In fact, he states very plainly that it is impossible for us. What he does care about is that we try and believe that no matter how bad our transgressions, the birth and death of Christ pays pennance for all. Again, it is a very different theology where works are independant of one's salvation and that is one of the reasons that I am attracted to it. Hmmmm....that sounds very much like many of the modern day interdenominational church sermons I've heard....and definitely NOT first century. So do you have a code of conduct that you recommend to new Christians?

And, if I've already pissed you off past the point of discussion, I'd like to know that, too.

Scott, somehow I missed your reply to this posting of mine earlier. Do you concur that living a life filled with Christian qualities is more important than debating points about doctrine? I'd love to hear how YOU decide what qualities to focus on in your Christian life. Most people take their direction from their local religious leaders who tell them to tithe, come together for fellowship, put money in the collection plate, love their neighbors, love Jesus, have faith, allow monthly electronic funds transfers from their checking accounts, and go to war with peace of mind when it's their time. Since you stated earlier that you stand alone and worship as the 1st Century Christians did, I'd love to hear how you prioritize your Christian duties, and what you base that on. With all due respect, Thinker

who'd have thought she has the time to do all this.... web page