catbirdseat

That seems like a fair policy, actually. I think I'll adopt it as my own.

What about Dwayner? Or are we talking about today's posters only?

Dru, if your screw or picket pulls out, the effect is the same as if you sling broke.

This sort of picket placement is often much more practical than a typical Tee Deadman when you are on a very steep slope. It's much easier to cut a vertical slot for the cable than it is to cut a horizontal slot for the deadman.

By happenstance I saw the tail end of Studio 60 on the TV. They featured a five-piece jazz ensemble doing a benefit concert for New Orleans Hurricane relief. What caught me was the incredible musicianship and overall tightness of this band. It sort of blew me out of the water. Click on Watch Highlight next to the picture of the trumpet player Troy Andrews (Trombone Shorty)

Dru, I know you are in tongue-in-cheek mode here, but I should point out that there are two issues to consider with screamers. The first is the ultimate breaking strength of the sling once it has been activated. But the other issue is the activation force and the energy dissipation. Is the device going to reduce impact force as much as it did when it was new? It would take a more sophisticated test to do that.

I don't think it was a case of immaculate conception.

You know you want one.

I detect the distinct scent of sour grapes in the air.

Ordinarily, I only climb waterfalls frozen from the purest mountain spring water. Occasionally, I lower my standards and climb frozen artesian water. But this time, I was really slumming it with Weekend_Climberz.

Cor blimey, what's this world coming to?

I thought that you had to be logged in to get access to a user's profile. Can spambots create accounts so they can log in and get email addresses?

You can bet that the Mafiosos will be pulling batteries on their phones. Another method would be to carry a metal case into which you drop the phone. The case would act as a Faraday cage and block all radio signals.

It was either "A Fish Called Wanda" or "My Pet 'alibut Eric". Customer: Hello, I would like to buy a fish license, please. Shopkeeper: A what? C: A license for my pet fish, Eric. S: How did you know my name was Eric? C: No no no, my fish's name is Eric, Eric the fish. He's an halibut. S: What? C: He is...an...halibut. S: You've got a pet halibut? C: Yes. I chose him out of thousands. I didn't like the others, they were all too flat. S: You must be a looney.

Well you seem like the kind of guy who could use some drugs. How do you know these e-mails are related to your photos on cc.com?

Hey! I happen to think 1960 was a great year!

How about "A Fish Named Wanda"?

That dude hits HARD!

Strong is out with a sprained ankle. X-rays look good. No word on whether he'll make the game against Arizona.

Damn, Dru. Can't we just have fun with this?

No it's not like Herpes. There are carriers of MRSA, but it is possible to get rid of infections, given the right antibiotics.

So those other flows down the valley weren't quite in yet? If it wasn't in then it wouldn't be now, as it's warmed up a bit.

I guess I am a bit more modest than you WC. I'd say that 50 days would be "fairly experienced", not 5.

Yes, we saw your pick holes but no screw holes so we knew you soloed it. I guess that various flows come in each year depending on the vagaries of weather and water flow.

We spoke to two climber briefly as they were on their way out. That must have been you. We are fairly inexperienced at water ice so our little flow, whatever it was, was just right for us.