bolt_clipper

You guys are quite entertaining.

Rats are parasites?

Huh? How would that happen? The belayer stands twenty feet away from the ice, so he gets pulled in when the leader falls? Clarification?

"There is no such thing as bad weather, only inadequate clothing." -Sir Rannulph Fiennes.

The Grivel gizmo might work on the Rage or Shrike though. Where can you get these? (I assume REI doesn't have them)

I was going to buy at Barrabes, but Marmot had BD Rages on sale for $150 each. I don't pay tax (I'm from OR), so it was one hell of a deal. Oh, Muffy, what local shop in Eugene are you talking about? REI sucks, and I don't know of any others.

I was wondering about that too. I've got the Rage, with the 'pinky fuckthing', but seems you definitely want something that will create a sort of pinky jam. Will Gadd wrote about hot-rodding tools-with a drill (!). Dunno about that. Why don't you just epoxy viper fangs to some old tools, see how that works. Interesting topic.

Oh, God, let it freeze!!!!! Driving to Hyalite or Vail ain't an option. Maybe we should all go to the Big Four Ice caves and have a

I read that review...it's full of hype. The Arc'teryx shell is nice, but the fit is no better than, say, the Sierra Designs Peak Bagger, which I scored for $99 at Sierratradingpost.com. I think they're all waterproof, but the three-layer fabrics are more durable and more waterproof and more breathable than the two-layer coated fabrics. I must say, I am very happy with the SD, and shelling out $300 for a light raincoat isn't an option for me.

Thanks for the info. Damn, now I gotta get to some ice. NOTHINGS IN!! (I think)

Being a newbie ice climber, I have a stupid question. How sharp should my picks be? I have read some conflicting advice, and was wondering what people with experience say.

Make that ZebraZion at Smith. There usually isn't much traffic once you get off the ground.

ice tools! I know I wanted some when I was eight-I wrote about it in school.

Just bought a Golite 6-Month Night. It is VERY puffy, and the fit is way better than any of the others that I've tried, like the Wild Things or Patagucci Puff (?). For $100, it is probably a good deal. Once I've used it I'll write more.

Boulder in the gym a lot....just ask DFA.

I have a solution to the problem described by the honorable god MF Twight: cut out the windstopper fabric covering the ears. Replace with regular 200 wt fleece, and presto! you can hear things again. Yes, you will need a sewing machine, and no, you won't look as cool as DFA in his Prana beanie.

Screw freshiez, where's the ice?????

There's windPROOF and wind RESISTANT. Very different: windproof means warm, wind resistant means cold when it's windy. There are no industry standards, unfortunately.

It's been getting rather cold here in Sea-town. Some kind of ice has gotta be in (other than the ice caves). Anybody? Please?

If air can pass through the fabric, then it is not windproof. Breathable, yes, but then so is mosquito netting.

Shades of Twight...too bad nobody died.

Thanks Lambone, I didn't get to climb much more anyways, as I sliced my finger open. At least I learned something: ice tools are sharp! I should stick to the gym.

I think I might have met you. Were you with the two other guys and a two dogs? I was the dorky-looking kid in the blue and yellow jacket.

Big Four yesterday, no screws, so no TR, so less fun.

Go to REI now!!!!! Stinger picks for 7 bucks each!! They have something like several thousand and are going fast!! Primo condition!