catbirdseat

Just buy your pass at the store in George. The town needs your business and they know exactly what pass you want the minute you walk in. They know climbers when they see them. Regarding the "dustbowl", the dust isn't perhaps as bad as it once was thanks to all the grass that was planted recently.

Oly, I don't think either of us have been around to remember DonkeyPunch. I thought he'd been banned.

If anyone has the beta for Hindquarters, I'll take it too. It's been a couple years since I tried it, but at the time that bulge seemed like an enigma.

One of the guys had had brain surgery. The surgeon probably scooped out a fair amount of prefrontal lobe, I'd say.

Stiff for it's grade, but still a lot easier than X-Factor (or especially Cutting Edge). They used to be 5.7 and 5.7+ respectively. I think Yoder has them both as 5.8's now.

I seldom get out there, is all. Guys like Sobo are out there all the time. One of the nice things about the place is it is relatively free of unsightly webbing and I like it that way.

I don't get it. I feel like Selkirk.

Cheers, Paul.

This is the Squirrell line of helicopters. I recall someone flew a Squirrell high up on Denali to rescue Dick Bass once.

Aye, carrumba!

Sounds like he was rappelling just for the heck of it. I can't help regarding rappelling as a sport to be just plain bizarre. To me it is a necessary evil and the scariest part of climbing.

Damn, Pax, you got me all excited to do that route again!

Get outta here, Martin. Tangled Up in Blue is fairly rated. It is harder than Air Guitar, but AG is soft. TUIB will seem harder if you aren't good at stemming. If you are really good at it, and I know you are, it will seem quite easy.

No, it would take a chastity belt.

What's the difference between Mick Jagger and a Scottish Shepherd? Mick says, "Hey you, get off of my cloud!" The Scot says, "Hey McCloud, get off of my ewe!"

That's one heck of a booty. Too bad the pink thing got in the way.

Case 1: Do nothing. Keep the cam. Case 2: Give it up and expect a beer in return Case 3: Keep it Robin Hood would keep the cam. Jesus would give it back but the grateful recipient would have to listen to a sermon.

I believe that there are perhaps as many as two more short pitches after the 5.6 chimney. AlpinFox, correct me if I am wrong. I haven't actually done them. Somebody ought to come up with a name for it. It's like a big clam. The chimney is fun on lead, but less fun if you are following with a pack.

I'm not absolutely certain of the route name, but it is a 5.8 double crack climb. It's a fine route, I would recommend to others. The anchor I found is like this: two bolts about 24 inches apart, each bolt has a welded cold shut with a length of chain about 8 inches long attached. The chains need to be at least doubled in length, otherwise they are worse than useless. We left some webbing and an aluminum rap ring on it. It would be great if someone would take care of this next time they visit. All it would take would be two 10" pieces of chain and a pair of quick links.

I can do Deception Crack, 5.9 on Eightmile Rock and it is easy. Likewise Classic Crack, 5.8+ is very easy.

You are in the same category as Dr. Flash.

Professor, as a 5.13 climber, you can't tell the difference between 5.9 and 5.10. It's all the same to you. If you are a 5.9 climber as I am, it might be hard to tell the difference between 5.5 and 5.6, but I can tell the difference between 5.9 and 5.10.

A lot of people are buying the new Montrail Splitter shoe and most I've talked to have been very happy with them. They are designed to be an all around shoe and are comfortable enough to wear all day, if sized right.

You got it! It rained a little on Saturday afternoon, but it was beautiful on Sunday. Ran into Leland and Dave W. Climbed lots of great routes, including Jam Exam and Inca Roads.

Maybe he'll start working on obscure 6,000 m peaks that have seen no or few ascents. The air is thick at 6,000 m compared to 8,000.