tomcat

I spoke too soon .. the second half hour is very interesting.

OK, I guess I should have expected this from Author's Hour, but this interview is D-R-Y. There's nothing wrong with history, but I thought it might be more like a bio about Beckey and the how he tics. Oh well, Beckey rocks nonetheless.

very true .. I definitely agree with the price gouging of probes.

I just wanted to remind those who may have forgot (I almost did) that Beckey's interview will be aired tonight at 9 on TVW (I think that's channel 23).

I think he was making a joke about the insignificance of a recall on an avalanche probe .. maybe I'm wrong, I apologize in advance if that's the case. I know I'd be pretty upset if I tried to locate my climbing partner in a debris field and my probe fell apart, not to mention how my climbing partner might feel.

Dru .. I couldn't have said it any better myself.

Sorry chucK, it's just hard for me to get motivated to climb on urban 'rock'.

How bout riding around the lake from Wedgewood? I usually ride through Bothell, Redmond, Kirkland, Bellevue, Mercer Island, then back home along Leschi/waterfront. A little wet for rock dont you think?

Good point Dru! Before anyone gets all riled up at me, I'm not trying to put down anyone's religion, just agreeing with a very clever point.

Maybe lazy was a strong word .. perhaps I should have said "less-qualified". I agree with everyone who has responded thus far.

It must be nice to live in Chilliwack! You've got a sweet group of mountains all around you ... how long does it take to get from your front door to the Depot Creek "trailhead"?

I currently use the same system.

Those are some sweet photos Savaiusini! Thanks for sharing .. I can't wait to get up there in June.

I anxiously await your response in Spray so we can prolong this discussion even more. For example, why you're contesting my posts when you feel the same way? http://home.attbi.com/~cspieker/stories/chairtr.htm It's all about short and concise, right chucK?

Quit bumming my trip ChucK.

Hey ChucK, by your logic this site is actually not a discussion forum, it's an argument forum. I do like to discuss and don't think others should be discouraged from writing TRs the way they see fit. Flame on brother man.

Before the internet came into wide use in about 1995, climbers obtained their "beta" from friends, climbing groups such as the Mazamas and American Alpine Club, and guides like the Beckey bible. Before these groups and the Beckey bible came around, climbers didn't have any beta to go on but a topo map. And before topo maps, well .. climbers were, in all actuality, explorers. But with the wide spread use of the internet and forums such as cascadeclimbers.com, people can obtain beta for climbs very easily, and as a result often know what to expect before they even see the objective. My question is do you think the ease with which we are able to obtain 'beta' is making us lazy or less competent as climbers? For example, do you think if we all consulted and analyzed topo maps instead of asking where the 'obvious gulley' is, that we may be better and more competent climbers by now? On the same token, do you think the ease with which we are able to receive 'beta' over the Internet has produced more skilled climbers by allowing folks to get more done, thereby allowing them to get more practice, thereby making them more skilled as a climber? How about a combination of both? I'm no exception, I sometimes seek beta on this forum, but I try to only seek beta about objectives which are a long way out, for climbs which are very involved, and when I can't afford to get turned away (like in the case of a trip up to the NE Buttress of Goode where there is a long approach, a lot of climbing, and a higher level of commitment). I like surprises on climbs because I think it adds to your experience level. I do, however, check on conditions before all climbs I go on .. this is an advantage of the internet that I'm not willing to give up .. I just don't have the time to climb all the things I want to climb, and make three or four attempts at each in the process. I know many climbers who feel like they're cheating by not figuring out where the 3rd class gulley is by themselves by looking at a topo map instead of getting detailed directions as if they're driving to Target. What do you think? Discuss.

I like your recipe PullinFool, you're a regular Betty Crocker! All that has to be better than the feta and beer I had!

Again, I disagree with the assessment that better climbers write shorter trip reports based upon the fact that the two are not related in the least. How do you know who some of the better climbers are on this site? How many people on this site have you climbed with to be able to make that assessment? Certainly you can't make that assessment by reading their TRs can you? I've read TRs from individuals who have well over 200 Cascade Summits that are long, detailed, and (to me) very entertaining. (Names not mentioned to protect the long trip report writers!) One certain individual I'm thinking of is most likely as good a climber as anyone on this site .. and far better than most. I only see a few people on this site voicing their disdain over the length of trip reports. I guess my only question would be how could you have enough time to make upwards of 1500 posts on this bulletin board (and spend countless more hours reading posts), yet still object to spending more time reading a "long" TR? How much more time could it take to sit there and sift out the stuff you're not interested in? Maybe 5 minutes at the most? You may have to sacrifice your next post in the Spray forum to do so, but we all know that climbing is all about making sacrifices. And as for the issue of respecting the reader, I disagree with that as well. I show respect to everyone (on the net and in person), but I write long trip reports and I don't feel I'm being disrespectful one bit by doing so. But I write my trip reports to share my entire experience with friend, family, and acquaintances, not merely to share facts about the climb that one could obtain from Beckey or other similar sources (or on their own by analyzing a topo map). Maybe I should start writing two trip reports .. one long TR and one short TR so I can write my TR how I see fit, yet not offend anyone at the same time. The way I see it, if I'm seeking beta for a climb and happen to stumble upon a trip report for that climb on the internet, then I feel pretty darn lucky to have someone taking the time to share information with me in the first place -- before the internet came around, climbers didn't have that luxury. If this reaches one more post, we're going to have to duke this out in Spray!

I was watching King5 news today and they were doing a story on the skiier who was killed on Crystal Mountain. The bureau chief chick (shes got like 3 or 4 names - trisha somethin somethin somethin) did a good job at reporting that skiiers need to ski with a buddy and she made it a point to stress that skiing with a buddy means staying close by and checking on them periodically. I thought this was very good, as someone above requested this.

Hey Dan, you'll only be a week late on Thursday.

I'm in for that .. I just sharpened my Charlet Mosers too.

damn .. I tried to edit it to make it sound better .. your DSL is keeping you on top of things!

My point is I like entertaining trip reports and am able to filter out the information I don't need. Your point is that you like short trip reports. That just sounds like a simple disagreement in opinions .. I don't think it has anything to do with me missing your point .. do you? Edited to say that bcollins was implying that those who have the balls to get up and do those things only write short, concise TRs so maybe you were missing my point AlpineK?

I like your attitude! You may not be a climber, but you are certainly a bonafied pub clubber now.