JackY

"Was there a point hidden in there somewhere? " Did you read the same rant that I did?

Send it to me and I'll pack it up real neat for ya, and, ah send it right back. I put the rack in a stuff sack, it keeps the "package" in place.

"If you bring emergency gear it will slow you down, then you may actually need it."

"when the going gets weird the weird turn pro"

Good points by all. I've always been a fan of using skill, determination, strength, and shear will over technical aids. But in defense of modern gear, it does open up more possibilities for those of us that have to spend the week flying a desk.

I also had a chance to try a pair of quarks this year. What an amazing difference from my pulsars. The quarks are an order of magnitude more efficient.

Ivory flakes and a tripple braid (daisy chain) before it goes in the top loader

Cluck, I'll be voting for Dean.

..the following were true? "I was especially surprised to find that some of the biggest tax breaks for the rich are not even in the tax code, and that the IRS was completely unaware of many widely used tax fraud schemes. But what surprised me more than anything was the realization that our tax system now levies the poor, the middle class and even the upper middle class to subsidize the rich." -David Cay Johnston

If you're a Led Zeppelin fan get the DVD's out last year.

SEE THIS MOVIE!

Ingredients for a thunderstorm: 1. water vapor 2. unstable lapse rate (temp change vs. alt.) 3. initial lifting (mountains, fronts, surface heating) Add and stir vigorously. The water vapor is required to fuel the storm cell. As water vapor condenses into water droplets it releases energy, latent heat of condensation. This creates a self-sustaining heat engine fueled by water vapor

When I go to the store I'm guessing that I can't just say "hey, how about some HC?" What's good, What's not?

What's your favorite meal when out over night? No yaks or Sherpa support.

Anyone have the chance to fall on a tricam. I don't know why but I have a hard time trusting them. Sometimes thought they are the only piece that will offer any pro at all, even if just psychological.

This tent looks like a good light weight/low cost solution, but no vestibule? Can life go on with no vestibule?

I witnessed a very close call on a bolted climb. The sling on a draw uncliped from the biner attached to the bolt hanger and the climber hit the deck/was caught by the rope at the same time, just a sore back and some bruises but very close to much worse. This was on a friction climb and I think that what happened was the rope dragged the end of the draw that it was clipped to above the bolt, the biner on the bolt was oriented with the spine horizontal and the gate up, and the sling was pulled up the biner and was around the gate. When the climber fell he pulled the sling off the biner. Also it was at the fourth bolt that this event occurred! It was run-out above this bolt and he had pulled up some rope to clip the fifth when he fell. It's easier to see what happed at the bolt if you grab the nearest draw and work it out. Has anyone seen this happen? Any ideas for preventing it?

OK, I ordered a Petzl basic ascender and mini-traxion and I plan to attempt to use then as Hummerchine describes. Anyone have any more advice etc. thanks, Jack