dryad

It sounds like you already have experience roughly equivalent to the basic course. It's possible to get basic equivalency if you really want to take the intermediate course, but if you want to focus on climbing rock, you might consider the crags course. Someone who has taken the crags course should put in their $0.02.

I'll go do Saber with ya sometime. Happy leading!

For general tourist info, check out the Rick Steves guidebooks.

I was wishing I had an ice hammer to pound some turkey breast fillets for a roulade. I had to settle for a nalgene water bottle - not nearly as effective, took lots and lots of pounding and still couldn't really get them flat. That nalgene does make a good rolling pin though.

Yes. atomic tourguide = BD arc ascent to the Marmot store salesguy who told me this and didn't try to bullshit me when I couldn't see the difference between those two.

Go climb with a bunch of different people and try out different ones and see what you like.

Went cragging in 11worth and dirtied up my gear some more. Good times.

Need suggestions for any besides W.Butt of Blueberry Hill. I'm looking to go places to practice leading AND not bore my partner too badly. Thank you!

I rate myself "newbie gaper", and will continue to do so indefinitely.

Good: positive attitude, good sense of humor, encouraging, brings beer. Bad: gets all pissy, bitchy and abusive when something goes wrong, he gets sketched, or drops some gear down a crack.

In chronological order: 1) 1st alpine climb 2) 1st trad lead 3) 1st leader fall

Catbirdseat is just a shady character all around!

Same concept as last time - I'm looking to get out and practice leading some more on easy trad routes this weekend (9-13 and/or 9-14) - R&D, Saber, GNS, things of that nature. If you want to go someplace with some harder pitches (up to 5.9) that you can ropegun for me, all the better.

Sierra Designs Alpine Start served me well all last winter. Nice and light, 3-layer fake gore-text. I got mine at TJ Maxx, go figure Or if you're a mens medium, I have a blue North Face gore-tex to offload. Couple years old, with all the bells and whistles ($400 retail). Too much jacket for me. And too big. Price negotiable.

I don't have one, but always wanted one. Any suggestions?

You guys are so cute!

Hey Gary, you missed out on the fingertip traverse! You went up and left from the fixed pin instead of right. The traverse was fun, especially once I got around the corner and had some airy moves. I know I was sewing it up more than I really had to but our middle person was very grateful for it on the traverse. And catbird, you may have proved your manhood by leading that second pitch in boots, but you made it look HARD! And it's sweet of you to chestbeat about my minor accomplishments on my behalf.

Hi folks, just thought I'd post to add to the chick count!

So does this make Rainier a crag? Lots of people there to hear you scream. Oh wait, Rainier is a hike, nevermind.

Check out Rock Empire.

Forgive my naivete, but what exactly do you mean by "non-technical"? You have to rope up to cross glaciers on Sahale and Logan, right? Doesn't that count as technical? Or does technical mean that you're placing pro?

BTW, I forgot to mention that leading trad I love it!

After doing a number of different things this summer, I reached the conclusion that I get the most bang for the buck fun-to-effort ratio with "alpine cragging" at places like WA pass and Darrington. What are the rest of you most into?

I got an invitation to go climb this sucker this weekend and was wondering if it's any good. Comment on anything and supply any beta you desire - approach annoyance level, rock quality, scenery, whatever. Also, isn't it kinda smoky out that way?

I was just at Mt. Erie and the ratings are WEIRD. We didn't have a guide book, but there were some other people there who had the Smoot book and we took a brief look at it. It had Leaning Crack (the one with all the salal in it) and Psycho Crack (just left of Leaning crack) both as 5.6. Leaning Crack is MUCH easier. I'd be willing to believe that one's 5.6, but Psycho is more like 5.8. I'm not just saying that because I suck. The 2 guys I was with thought so too, and they're both better climbers than me.