Bill_Simpkins

Thanks Jim, If it could be tendontis, I wonder if large amounts of Vitamin B12 would work. I used to get it in my hands from playing too much guitar and the B12 got rid of it. Thanks for the input, I never considered that possiblility until now. [ 11-18-2002, 10:58 AM: Message edited by: Bill Simpkins ]

The inside of my elbows get strained sometimes. It is a broad achy feeling on the inside of my arm that renders me weak. This happens a couple times a year and puts me out of the game for about a week or two. It usually happens after a day of strenuous routes. Doing curls with light weights (25 lbs) and that seems to help a little, but it still happens. I also warm up and stretch pretty good. Any suggestions? Does this happen to anyone else? Thanks [ 11-17-2002, 11:50 PM: Message edited by: Bill Simpkins ]

quote: Originally posted by CraigA: Talk about a belay anchor!!! Good one!

Eiger Sanction. Loved the top rope scene. Cute women hanging out at climbs can boost ability! And Motivate. Clint let us in on that secret.

My Partner bailed on Leavenworth. I would still like to go. I mainly want to work on jam cracks in the 5.8 to 5.10 range in Icicle C.C., climb some easy to moderate multipitches, I will follow a semi-hard multi pitch and lead an easy to moderate, and maybe jump over to Peshastin for a little fun. I live in Bham. I have gear and wheels. I'll even be a belay slave, if the favor is returned.

Went off a jump on my BMX. Well, thats not a big deal but when I landed my foot slipped off my pedal and my crotchlanded on the bar when I hit the ground .to make things worseI was going really fast and there was a 45 degree, 20 foot hill ahead that went down into a small drainage ditch then a foot higher into a lower parking lot. Well, to make things even WORSE, my belt got stuck on the front of the seat and I couldn't lift myself off the bar . I went down this very bumpy slope(painful) sitting on the bar, then when I got to the bottom,the ditch gave me about two feet of air and I went slamm'in onto the parking lot stuck on the frame bar . That hurt.

My experience with routes listed as 4th class is this: They have been routes where the actual physical climbing did not require any special technique(like say as hard as really steep stairs or a ladder, or getting onto a bunk bed), but a fall could be serious or fatal and a rope is highly recommended. Sometimes class 4 has just put me on exposed ledges I can pretty much walk on, maybe using my hands for security. If the rock is loose, the route description usually(not always) says something about that. On the other hand if the rock is solid, it is sometimes stated. If nothing is stated I pretty much prepare for whatever, but the rock quality hasn't been an issue on that route. Sometimes I've done a route listed as 4th class, but was actually, in my opinion, more like low class 5. Others may have different views and/or experiences.

I just keep the water next to my body at all times. Either against my back in my pack, or in my parka pockets. Keep it in your sleeping bag at night.

Leavenworth: Gibson's Crack Saber (multi pitch) Mt. Erie: The Nose Allen Henshaw Pre-Memorial Route Index: GNS Vantage(Frenshman Coulee): Stokin' the Chicken ( Lots of 2-4" Cams or hexes, long sling for chockstone is nice) Squamish, Murrin Park, Sugarloaf(great for beginning trad!): Magnet Flat Battery Have fun, be redundent, don't forget to protect from a zipper .

For climbing I drive an 88 Toyota 2WD pickup with a custom bed in the back canopy , its quite pimp actually . Sleep wherever on trips , parking lots, trailheads, you name it. I keep all my gear underneath the bed. Good milage and I don't care about getting it scraped by bushes or bottoming out .

Yeah, just leave the hammer at home. I'll bring a sledgehammer and we can just use railroad spikes. You bring the boom box and I'll bring the Skynard.

Chock, chalk, oops. I never sed I culd spel! I don't go down there enough to know that people take the sign down a lot. If people take down the sign, how does a "new to the area" climber armed with a guide book, just checking things out, know not to climb there? That kind-of sucks. Well, plenty of folks have been climbing there anyways the last few days, at least by the look of things. Yors troolee, Cuzin Cletus

I was at Lower Malamute this morning. The trail had new ribbons and there was the only old TRESSPASSING sign witht the rules on it (don't tie to tracks, etc..) The "DON'T CLIMB HERE" sign was gone from the trail and the routes were all chocked up. I didn't climb, I just hiked down to check on it on my way from Whistler to B'ham. By the way, Whistler rocked on Halloween!!

I had to belay and rap off a small detached flake in Index. I went first. It worked out. Also have done "The Eiger Sanction Belay" (hip belay on a ledge, no pro) a few times because of no pro possiblities(none) on 4th/low 5th rotten rock. VERY last resort. [ 11-01-2002, 04:48 PM: Message edited by: Bill Simpkins ]

This is the descent route for the Northeast Buttress, but is still a fun day of adventuring. We drove the 4WD section in my 2WD Toyota, but we bottomed out a couple times. The road/trail after that is brushy and is wet in the morning. At the end of the switchbacks tend up and left to large talus and make your way to the col between Steinbok and Ibex(2-3 hrs from car). Sounds easy for Becky, except for the brush is very thick and the terrain is pretty steep at times. I got stung by 2 wasps and got laughed at big time by my partner as I ran from the nest at light speed. Once at the col(good rest spot), there is some route finding to do to keep things 3rd-4th class. We did not need a rope and tennis shoes worked just fine. Negotiate through the interesting slabs and brush to the top. I found the easiest route from the col was this: Head towards the center of the backside of Steinbok, head up and right a short ways, then go back left to the ridge. Be careful here, because the drop is big. Scamble to the top 20-40 ft. from the edge in a small gully. The veiw from this amazing chunk of granite is huge. It took us 6 hours R.T. (including the nap at the col). If anyone knows of a trail, PLEASE TELL! Thanks, Bill