Bill_Simpkins

Here's another (come on! lets see a few!) Mt. Larrabee Every time I touch a rock, They slip and tumble down, They go a block, or more Before they settle ‘round. If I had a quarter, For every one knocked loose, I’d be giving an order, For a case of good Chartreuse. Finally when the goal is reached, I realize why I came, For cliffs drop far below, To glaciers doing the same. Looking down the path I led, I wonder why I choose to tread, Mountains made of dirt and choss, Next time I’ll climb the hills with moss. It’s now time to go back where, The cold lakes hide, past the rim. For when I get to over there, I will take a chilly, well deserved swim.

Let's hear your rhymes for a Cascade Mountain. Here's one to start it off. Luna Peak from Ruth Mt. Luna seems so far away It glides in the mist, It sleeps in East, It silently sits, In its realm it will stay. Within the sea of peaks and valleys, No other can compare. It’s spine a stairway, To the faraway air. Someday I will meet you, Someday I will hear, The rivers roar below From atop your perch from over there.

Bjork has some great lyrics, and music.

" In the wooden chair Beside my window I wear a face born in the falling rain I talk to shadows from a lonely candle Recite the phrases from the wall I can’t explain this holy pain Six days ago my life had taken a tumble The orders came from high above they say A need to use me once again they’ve got my number Further the cause boy yes you know the game I’ll wait here for days longer Till the sister comes to wash my sins away She is the lady that can ease my sorrow She brings the only friend That helps me find my way I search the past back to a time When I was younger A target for the new society Picked to displace the leaders Countering objectives Of this new underground reality Waiting for days longer ’til sister comes to wash my sins away She is the lady that can ease my sorrow My love for her Will help me find my way My mission saved the world And I stood proud My mission changed the world It turned my life around I look around my room is filled with candles Each one a story but they end the same I’ll hide away in here the law will never find me The walls will tell the story of my pain Waiting for days longer Till sister comes to wash my sins away She is the lady who can ease my sorrow She sets the pace for my delivery of pain They’ll say my mission saved the world And I stood proud My mission changed the world The underground will rise and Save this world we’ll all stand proud Our mission changed the world, we’ll change the world We’ll all stand proud" Queensryche, "The Mission"

Old news, but thanks! Theres lots of buoldering out there if people have some time and patience.

Who cares? What can I do about it anyways? I've never blown an aid placement nor broke a hold due to my weight. I've learned to climb and do whatever I do at the weight I'm at. I place gear based on what I feel will hold me. Plus 175 is the weight of the "average" climber right? Well 200 is just 12.5% heavier. You guys act like 200 plus pounds is an astronomical difference or something. 12.5% is peanuts.

Seriously though, I like the different types of climbers. I love watching a featherweight glide up a steep route. I also like to see raw power or grace. The heavier (not fatter) you are, the more technique really matters. Good climbers come in all shapes and sizes. As far as safty, I think the gear can handle it, you just have to make sure there's good gear off the belay and that your belayer can handle the fall, which are things all climbers should do anyways. Theres no way for me to get much lighter and be healthy so I never worry about my weight. I just have fun doing what I can do. Thats all I can do.

No lard. BuLGIng muscles only. My legs weigh more than you guys. You are all girly girls. I have to watch where I step so I don't break you in half.

hahaha

Have you ever listened to him? On the contrary, he is usually very upbeat and optimistic, so I don't know where you are getting this. If you want to cite a right-wing talk show host who does actually whine a lot, try Michael Savage. As for Rush, it is ironic you mention him today in this context. I happened to catch him 20 minutes this morning on the way to work. He was laughing and reading from Maureen Dowd's column in the NY Times from 12/05/04 "Jingle Bell Schlock" (http://www.nytimes.com/top/opinion/editorialsandoped/oped/columnists/maureendowd/). Now, if you want to talk about whining, THAT would be a place to start. In fact, one could extrapolate her obvious unhappiness with the holidays, and life in general, to many many liberals in our society, who seem to find no joy or happiness or GOOD in anything. I listen to him almost every day. He's a talking advertisement for the republican party. He also bends the truth as much as possible. He's very smart, but he's a weasel. He reminds me of a car salesman or the guy trying to sell you a stereo at the electronics store.

You can be over 6 feet tall, weigh over 200 pounds and be in really good shape. Theres a difference between "fat" and "burley".

GWB snorted cocaine, was a drunk driver and belonged to Skull and Bones. Then he ran a few corporations out of business. Put that on a resume and try to find a job.

Rush Limbaugh (sp?) whines all day along with his gazillion dittohead followers. He never says anything that would do any good. He just whines and complains. I really don't care if republicans or democrats win. I just think all the voting issues should be looked into until everyone has full confidence that it is accurate. If there is a difference between the orginal count and a recount, something is very wrong. They should not stop investigating until they know exactely what happened. If not, then our system is sloppy.

That's funny stuff, because it's sooo true. I don't understand the whole PC movement. I mean, it goes both ways. You can say stuff not to offend people, but isn't restraining what you feel somewhat offensive to yourself? My opinion is: Say what you feel, or keep it to yourself. Both methods have its rewards. To me, people that are very PC, are just liars.

Went there yesterday. The snow was sweeeet! The groomed runs are in great condition. Hit one rock when I went into the woods. Go get it.

haha. When I'm in prima shape, I weigh about 5-15 pounds less. Me and the other climbers I know that weigh about the same are by no means fat or have any handicaps. Weight does not keep me from pulling 5.12's, it's my technique and lack of consistant training that hinders me. Of course I get jealous sometimes when the scrawny little bastards can campus the entire route, but us fatties, we get more chicks.

Thanks for the correction. I heard it from someones mouth. I should have checked it out for myself before spraying about it.

You fall on an 8.3mm rope in the mountains many times? dude. that is hard core Yes I have. But my point is that an 8.3 mm rope can hold me just fine. The persons question had to do with weight. I am a big guy. I was relating experience. I have never fallen on mountain "route" with a 8.3 mm rope. But we have stopped and "cragged" at a cool looking spotsomewhere on the journey, where I have fallen.

I am 6'2" and weigh 210 pounds. I usually climb on a 9.6 mm rope while cragging and climb on a SINGLE 8.3 mm rope in the mountains (unless partner requests a thicker one). I have fallen on both many times. One thing to remember is that skinnier ropes have more stretch and can put less impact force on the pro. The only reason I sometimes use thicker ropes is for jugging and top roping, just for wear issues. I place pro like anyone else. I also run it out like anyone else. No worries. I also know a guy who weighs 220 pounds and had no problems. He is a strong climber. There is a guy from England who climbed 5.14 and weighs 240 pounds. I'm sure he has fallen alot to get where he is.

Good investigative work!

You know it's people like all of those described above that help make life interesting. I think in a lot of ways, we envy them. Cheers, to fearless wanderers.

I heard of a guy from a local source who would walk around on the glaciers on Mount Baker and preach to climbers. He was dressed in slacks and suit jacket and no gear at all. I was told they watched him standing on part of the glacier when an ice wall callapsed almost all around him and he stood there unharmed. hehe

Be careful to pull on the correct strand of rope while doing the "leave no sling behind" rap trick off a bolt. I got the ends mixed up and got my rope stuck once (got it back). This is one to practice a few times at home first. But it is a cool trick. Usually if I can't finish a route(too hard or wet) and have to bail I just aid to the anchors (pull on gear or make atries with shoulder runners).