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marcus

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Posts posted by marcus

  1. Interestingly, Diamox is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency solely because it can mask the detection of performance-enhancing drugs. From the WADA website:

     

    Pros:

    prevent detection of banned substances

    produce urine excretion to reduce concentration of banned substances

    weight loss

     

    Cons:

    blood pressure drop

    cramps

    death

    dehydration

    dizziness

    electrolyte imbalance

    headaches

    heart failure

    kidney failure

    muscle cramps

    nausea

    potassium depletion

    volume depletion

     

     

    Anecdotally, I once took Diamox as a prophylactic measure at altitude but found the side effects were insurmountable. One week later with sufficient acclimatization time, I felt and performed much better without it.

     

     

  2. Supplemental oxygen is a powerful drug with distinct and undeniable performance-enhancing properties. Offering such substances up to clients on high-altitude expeditions only allows and encourages them to climb even further past the envelope of their limited skills sets. This to me seems less than responsible.

     

    As for climbers claiming first or notable ascents using supplemental oxygen: it certainly is cheating by today's standards and should be viewed as such. The fact that most people beyond our community do not and never will understand this fact doesn't negate it. While early ascensionists in the embryonic days of high-altitude mountaineering used supplemental oxygen as a matter of course, to continue to do so into the 21st century only degrades the accomplishments of those who followed in their footsteps, raising the bar and moving our sport into the modern age.

     

    Recreational climbers using supplemental oxygen? The mountains provide an opportunity for each of us to explore parts of ourselves we might not easily access in everyday circumstances. 'Good Style' means different things to different people. But please clean up after yourselves!

     

    MFT can be a real lightning rod with his polemical manner of speaking. But this controversy didn't start with him - so focusing solely on his own actions or spicy choice of words only delays your facing up to the truth.

     

    Deal with it.

     

     

  3. Benjio-

     

    Deepest condolences to all of Nate's family, friends and his brothers & sisters out at TVFR. This is indeed a sad and heavy reminder for everyone to remain always vigilant with their safety systems - at the crags or on the fireground - and to savour each day as a gift to be lived to the fullest.

     

  4. 'Gato Negro' on the Whine Spire of Silver Star is in fine condition right now. The rock is dry and currently the descent gully is snow filled for easy travel back to the base.

     

    Note: We linked and combined some pitches with a 70m cord, which also proved a useful length on the 2nd rappel.

     

    Enjoy!

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