catbirdseat

So what is your point? The Basic Course is not a climbing class, it is a mountaineering course with all that entails: fitness, route finding and navigation, equipment, weather resources, roped travel, crevasse rescue, etc. It is up to the students to become good climbers on their own. The mountaineers just give them the tools to be safe.

It will be pleasantly cool and good for climbing if it doesn't rain. I'll go with you if I can't find a partner for Vantage or Tieton.

There's been a change in the Prophet. Our formerly mellow yellow is on eveybody's case all of a sudden. What's going on? Erik, have you cut back or what? Did the price go up?

Ade confided to me today that he'd made the whole story up. He was truly amazed at the response. It was quite entertaining.

The climbing partner (who shall remain nameless) who I had lined up at Pub Club last night didn't show so I prevailed upon Ade to go with me this morning. He and I went up to Darrington and climbed Westward Ho, 5.9. Ade led the odd pitches and I the even. They all seemed about the same difficulty. If that is the only route you do up there you don't need much of a rack. I got in a supplemental blue Alien on the second pitch and 1 inch and 1.5 inch cams on the last pitch. Ade noticed a few 1/4 inch buttonhead bolts to the right of Westward Ho. They are few and far between. The route looked too sketchy for us to try. There does seem to be more gear placement opportunities there than on Westward Ho, but still it is severely run out. We were wondering if the route had a name and what the history was. I should think with some upgraded bolts it might be a worthwhile climb. We were done so early that we decided to go do the West Buttress. We started it on the second pitch. Ade got to lead the 5.9 pitch (#3) and liked it. We trundled a couple of big loose rocks on the middle of the fourth pitch. They made quite a noise. Saw some rocks spontaneously fall down onto Westward Ho from the ridge above and were glad we weren't on it at the time. We were going to rap the route from the top of the fourth pitch, but said "what the hell" and finished at Blueberry Terrace descending via the rap route that starts at the big pine tree with the orange and yellow slings. Ade trundled some rocks while rappelling and they sailed off to one side of me by a good margin. They made quite an interesting whirring noise as they soared by. It was rather hot up there and the one liter each we brought didn't go far. We were parched when we got back to our packs. The additional liter we had stashed there tasted great, as did the sodas and beers in the car. Cleaned up a horrible mess some other climbers had left at the camp site. Someone took a shit not five paces from the fire ring, and tore up some clothes for TP and fucking just left it. In Darrington we bought a gallon of water that we made short work of. It was a great day.

This is what comes from consolidation. We never should have allowed all those oil company mergers. There are only one or two major players in each market now. They can charge what they please. You can all thank the Republican Party.

Seawolf, did you get your Ph.D in "vomitology"? Seriously, you must be working on something like bulimia research.

The climbing partner I lined up at Pub Club didn't show. Who want to go do a four pitch 5.9 slab climb on Exfoliation Dome (Blueberry Hill) today? We need to leave by 8 or 9 am.

All of you who voted for Tim Eyman's various initiatives can go look in the mirror to see who is to blame.

Aparently urine is actuallty really bad for your ropes. the link that fern posted (referenced above) is probably where I learnt that, but I am too lazy too check. In the respect that it doesn't do much for the smell (and feel- yuck), it is really bad, other than that, I doubt it.

Dustin, the EDK has been debated previously on cc.com, ad nauseum. You can do a search and turn up probably several threads worth of discussion. I use the knot now myself almost exclusively.

Dude, do you realize that you are taking away Attitude's only reason to live?

What are they waiting for? It's time to put those rats to work on the real thing!

"Dribbles"? Erik you are much too young to have prostate problems. At your age it should be like a fire hose. Looks like I got a by accident. I'll take it.

I'd like to take two or three days to do the route. I can leave Friday, if necessary, to ensure getting the necessary permits. PM me if interested.

What a difference a day makes, Twenty-four little hours...

Good job, guys.

The good thing about the story, Kurt, is that I didn't have to use the spurs. No damage was sustained by the tree.

I've heard it said that it is much, much more difficult to obtain a drivers license in Germany.

That scrawny bird might have offered two bites. Ever had squab?

The forbidden glacier looked more VOLUMINOUS in the past as opposed to "volumptious". I think Josh was thinking of the word VOLUPTUOUS. Of course that is a very good word too and I can understand why he might like a similar sounding word like "volumptious".

I got home from a bike ride and had just put my bike away when I heard the bird squaking across the street in the park. I went over there and it turned out he was high in a big cedar tree. Fortunately, there were branches low enough that I could reach them while standing on the fence. I climbed up about 30 ft and there he was. He hopped on my finger and up to my shoulder and stayed there as I climbed back down. He's back in his cage eating like a horse. Poor little Booger. No more outside trips for him until his wings are clipped.

Have you noticed how some people like to cut off semis? They change lanes like one car length in front of the truck. If the traffic slows the guy is dogmeat. I call it a suicidal tendency.

This was a big step up for dryad and something of which she should rightfully be proud.

Vomit contains hydrochloric acid. The longer you leave it on the rope the more damage it will do. Soap and water will do the trick. If you want, you can add a little baking soda to make sure the acid is neutralized.