catbirdseat

The pebbles are effective. It will be a pain in the ass dragging mats around. Too bad they can't figure out a way to clean the gravel. It would take some sort of invention, like a combination rototiller/vacuum cleaner. Here's a chance for a patent if you can solve this.

Some people have more tolerance for wet than others. Alex made the transition to suction cups once the water started coursing down the rock.

I believe you meant to say "transplant". A Freudian slip possibly?

The horse got out of the barn a long time ago when the government allowed all the big oil company mergers. Now that there is reduced competition, you see the result.

Since you are from Frogland, we'll excuse your spelling.

Each new generation needs to have a talking to. They aren't born with ethics. Ethics are learned.

Yeah, right. Not basic. Not many people do it at all, even though it frequently makes a lot of sense. I wish I had used that tactic on Dark Rhythm. It would have saved a lot of time.

If you rap of the end of your ropes, you are in good company. Some very, very good climbers have died that way. A friend of mine likes to have the first person tie into the ends of both strands and be lowered. Then the second rappels. That way no problems with: 1) uneven ropes, 2) tangled or hung-up ropes or caught by the wind, 3) not reaching the next station.

Whatever, Harry.

When people start meeting each other through this site and go climbing together, as we do at Exit 38, then it starts to become more than just a website and more like a club.

We stayed a long time, probably until about 8:30 pm. We figured you bailed and went home.

I think they rigged up some sort of trolley system to support the litter as they brought it down the steep trail. There were ropes running all the way up from the road.

According to the person I spoke with at the Leavenworth Ranger Station, the gate should have been opened as of yesterday. She said you can drive about half-way to the trailhead. I can't confirm that the gate is actually open.

Hang on to that license long enough and a car will happen along. Want to buy an old Honda Civic SI with no stereo? Good gas mileage.

No rock pro where you need it. It's pretty straightforward except for one short sketchy spot. Go through there early before missiles start dropping off Gibraltar Rock.

Abandoned by the one who stole it.

Damn, that's a good question.

To be fair to Dru, he said the guy had been climbing for less than one year.

Grist for the mill.

You are, also, typically tardy to scheduled events. I think that is because he has difficulties with holding a driver's license and an operable vehicle at the same time. The two have to be in-phase, you know?

If not smart, then certainly well-read.

So you're holding back on the good beta. Shame on you!

I know that in the sailing world it didn't take long for sailmakers to discover that kevlar did not like the over and under that was typical of woven cloth. The fibers quickly broke down. They found they could laminate tapes made of linear fibers to a mylar sustrate. The Kevlar was much happier in that arrangement. When it came to cord, the solution was to mix Kevlar with other fibers so as to separate them from each other. This was done first with polyester and then with Spectra. This mixed type was quite successful. It was extremely strong and low stretch (good in sailing, bad in climbing), durable, and could be spliced. The other strategy was to arrange them in a bundle of parallel fibers (difficult to splice). I still have a pair of 60 ft 1/4 inch spinnaker sheets that are made of this mixed material. They are rated at 3,600 lbs and I've used them on boats up to 37 ft as light air sheets. They are murder on the hands when the wind gets up. Just put lots of wraps on the winch.

More like: Whine, whine (expletive deleted) TAKE!

Why not? Come along, we're friendly.