catbirdseat

Greg, you are starting to sound downright respectable.

If it walks like a goat and it talks like a goat...

I didn't mean to kill the thread. What was it you were saying about twists?

Some of you guys are completely missing the point of this thread by arguing technical points that have already been addressed in other threads. JayB had some good points. The tone of the interventionist and his sincerity can make all the difference. People don't want to be embarrassed in front of their friends. A sincere person who was truly concerned about someone's safety would walk over and say something in a low voice that no one else could hear. If the person being addressed declines to take the advice no one need be defensive because no one else knows what went on. Go back to what you are doing and forget about it.

My enjoyment IS more important than yours.

It would be cool if you could elaborate on what factors made it not "feel" right. Was it pretty much the snow conditions or was it really one of those intuitive things were the voice says, "something's not right here"?

Matt, I think you misunderstand me "in a big way". In the previous example, people put slings around the tree to top-rope Dogleg Crack. They generally remove them when they are done and walk off. I no longer carry brightly colored slings for raps, only black or olive drab.

Nice TR, Matt.

Jake, the harm done depends on the size of the tree. If it is a small tree, pulling one rope could cut through the bark enough to harm it. If it is a large tree, as at Alphabet Rock, it might take hundreds or thousands of pulls. You can see multiple grooves in the bark of that tree. I don't think people should ever get in the habit of putting the rope directly around a tree, even if it is a big tree with thick bark. It's bad for the rope, bad for the tree, and just plain lazy, poor ethics. Pope, I DID say something to the guy. He just didn't know any better. No one had ever told him it was not a good thing to do. I let him rap off using my rope from anchor of that retrobolted top-rope route to the right- the one you mentioned. AlpineK, give yourself a pat on the back from bringing Pope out of retirement.

Were you able to reach the Hardscrabble Lakes/ Dutch Miller Gap trailhead by car? Since you mentioned bikes, sounds like you didn't.

If I see someone belaying from their gear loop, I might say something. Otherwise, I mind my own business.

I still see people rappelling from trees in the Icicle by putting their ropes directly around the tree without slings. Happens all the time at Alphabet Rock. They rap even when there is an easy walkoff.

Your sentence is quite ambiguous. It needs some punctuation or something. It can be interpreted in one of two ways: (1) Before I post something, I wanted to know if it would be okay for me to slam a local shop for something. I think many of us would feel (that to do so would be) really bad in this forum. (2) Before I post something, I wanted to know if it would be okay for me to slam a local shop for something (they did that) i think many of us (in this forum) would feel is really bad. I'm pretty sure you mean (1).

Many Americans think that all nuclear power plants are alike, and that what happened at Chernobyl could happen in this country. That is not true. The US has never used graphite moderated reactors. It was the graphite fire and steam explosion that accounted for the wide dispersal of radioactive materials. There are now designs for small modular reactors that are completely incapable of meltdown, even if all the water is drained from them. A power plant would consist of a large number of these smaller units. It is highly unlikely that they will ever be built.

This is WHY they call him the Thinker. He does some of his best thinking in this very private space.

Lots of novices do it and survive. You'd be all right if you stayed on one of the two main routes and climbed in close proximity to other parties who could render aid if you got in trouble. I'd still recommend a rope team of three, rather than two. Practice the following skills: Ice Axe Arrest Team Axe Arrest Prusiking up a rope (garage rafters) Building Snow Anchors Rescue Pulley Setups Go to Mt. Pilchuck or Paradise and actually practice this stuff until you can do it in your sleep.

ncascademtns is into it (geocaching) with his kids.

Thread resurrection has gotten out of hand. Along with the steaksauce, another sign that the end is near for CC.com.

Walk across the street to Duckboys.

Actually glucosamine is a component of hyaluronic acid, which is present in skin as well as synovial fluid. The stuff is ubiquitous.

This is the best I could find on Biscuit. Click on "images". Much more impressive than Vince the Pug.

A sort of moving top rope. All you need is a couple of the little guys on each of two separate strands, playing leap frog as you ascend. They'd have to be fast climbers, though.

I looked into Pharmacy School. They told me that despite having B.S. in Chemistry I'd still have to take the full three years. Screw that. Doesn't pay all that well, but at least you could get a job just about anywhere you wanted to live.

The solvating power of supercritical CO2 is weak for hydrophilic substances, such as ordinary dirt. It would do a good job of removing grease, however.

This Dog Can Ride a Skateboard