ken4ord

Wow, that is like a dream family vacation. I look forward to vacation like that sometime, thanks for posting.

Ah, at least you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Me, who know when I will return, but I will.

I have been out of the PNW for over three years and was only living there for 1.5 years, but I will always be a cascade climber. I love the PNW way too much to give it up. I still read the guide books, still look at Schurlock photos for new route possibilities and read all the TR's with jealousy.

Alright, it was freaking awesome time even though we weren't able to finish the race. We seemed to be plagued with mechanical issues. The first race sprint that we were in we lost the exhaust, that was fun to deal with. Basically when we got to the top of the course we needed to remove the smoking hot pipe from the car and secure it in about 10 minutes for our start down. Leave the pipe get a penalty, get help from someone get a penalty, late for the start get a penalty, we managed ok, it was an easy enough task. Our first time was 3:30 for 4km uphill course. Everytime we did the course we were knocking off a second or two. On our 5th sprint the clutch went, so we weren't able to go beyond second gear. We made it to the top in 4:40, our day was over. Our fastest time was 3:25 which means we were averaged around 70kph. There was only a few straight stretchs where I could look over at the speedometer, at one point I saw it at around 120kph. Most of the time I did not have a chance to look at the road or the speedometer and had my eyes plastered to the race notes and went by feel where we were on the course. It was freaking rad, now I need to figure out a way of affording a $20,000 race car and all the fees that go with rally racing. Now that I have my license for the season hopefully some of the other guys will need co-pilots. Well here some pictures, obviously there are not many action shots cause I was busy most of the day. Guy's car at the house Pulling in for pre-race inspection Drving the road section to the race course, even this is considered part of the race and you are alotted 25 minutes to make it to the start. Guy waiting for the start. On of the competitors at the start of the downhill sprint.

God damn that just looks like a ton of fun. Good work.

I have always wanted to keep climbing until later in life, so I have never really put my neck out on the chopping block. Though for some it may seem I have. I don't find myself turning around because of Simone, but because I don't want to fuck up. I am definitely climbing less than I used to in Seattle, mainly cause there isn't too much real rock climbing around. I think if I was in Seattle most likely I would be climbing a little less, but I would definitely try to plan weekends with other parents so that I could still get out climbing and still spend time with Simone and Misti. Simone at 1.5 year old has already has an interest in climbing, she like hanging out by the climbing wall and tries to get on it, but the holds are to far apart and it is overhanging. So if we end up moving in an area that has climbing hopefully she would get into it. I could never think about quitting climbing for safety reasons, climbing in my opinion is a lot safer than other sports I like. I definitely have toned down my riding, though. I try not to worry about leaving Simone one parent down, because there are so many different ways of doing that outside of climbing, it doesn't make sense to, I could find a reason to worry about everyday activities. I think mom's tend to worry a little more than dad's, in general, but that doesn't mean you have to follow the norm. Though in order to enjoy yourself you do have to remove 'what-if' thoughts. I am not sure if Misti would sign up for a 7 day paddling trip on croc and hippo infested water, I think she would be thinking too much, where as I think I will find it relaxing quite enjoyable adventure.

Ditto, I used to love going up there and go climbing. I remember fondly all of us ice junkies waiting to see who would get the Dike first for the year. I almost made it up it in Oct. but got a little sketched and retreated. Also to as stated the ice does funnel done the route, so the other option to a rediculus a.m. start is go mid-week or go late. If you go late and parties are still on it, climb some of the other not as popular winter climbs up there and finish with the Dike. Thanks for the TR and blast to the past.

Nookie? What's this "nookie" thing? Where can I get some? its that thing you have when you send the kids to the grandparents house for the weekend Lucky you. Grandparents that will actually *take* the kids off your hands for a while. Definitely lucky, it takes 30 something hours by plane to get to the grandparents house. So we just have to wake up early to get some morning 8D

lit No shit, sucks to be them.

Sorry for the dumb question, but...are those screws or rods in your neck? Both rods with screws in the end. btw knottygirl very nice.

50 long sli-R Stay OUT SLOW HOOK-R over and medL Stay OUT 100 med-L 100 Bridge & 50 OPEN HAIRPIN-L med-R 100 R~med-L 150 HOOK-R and long med-L (green fence) 50 sli-R over crest 80 SHARP-L Keep center 50 med-R 50 straight over & 50 sli-R Keep L 100 sli-L 50 HAIRPIN-R~sli-L (eucalyptus) 100 sli-L TIGHTENS TO HAIRPIN over onto gravel 200 med-R~HOOK-L and med-R~long sli-L sli-R 50 sli-R over small 100 sli-R (piketekes) 50 R~HOOK-L and R 150 sliL sli-R & HAIRPIN-R … over FlyingFinish Well living in Rwanda has been quite the adventure, now adding to the adventure list is rally car racing. Lucky for me my friends co-pilot is missing in action so I get to co-pilot. It should be fun. Only working a half day today so that we can finalize my race notes for Saturday's race. It is an uphill course and we will probably average around 70kph, I freaking can't wait!

So who had great V-day sex? I know I did. A bottle champange, nice candle lit dinner, all led up to a very nice time.

Finally getting around to talking about sex in here, besides just typing the word 'sex'. I definitely agree that the above can be true, but with most of my experiences it seems most people are interested in the orgasm without fully enjoying the ride. I think one of the reasons that I find it the greatest experience is it can involve all my senses and hopefully emotions as well, all at once. Hell yeah sign me up. BTW Raindawg, Dawg you sure know how to rain on a parade. Interesting article, though. Well did last for long, topic turned right around again.

Try Hash House Harrier's for some good drinking songs. I am always amazed at all the drinking songs they have. In case you don't know what Hash House Harriers are, they are worldwide group of people who are dinkers with a running problem.

Hell yeah, look like very nice area, it is amazing how clean the rock is down there, looking for more eye candy.

Well it looks like your true ultimate dream is now satisfied, congrats on sinking the hooks in and making it to spray.

Out on Cannon cliff in NH, there was a pair of jets blasted through the notch. We were slightly above them. Not too cool considering the cliff is notoriously loose after passed through there was two rock falls that I could hear.

I don't think any of those sports are thought to be safer that climbing, even by the general public. Even so, there are probably more number of deaths annually related to climbing than those other sports. Percentage wise, which the general population does not take into consideration, my guess is there are probably higher percentage of deaths related to those other sports.

I would say go to the Alpine Lakes area, you can spend several days on several peaks. During may you will have quite a bit a snow around which make some of the approaches and descents easier. In that area there is Dragontail, Stuart and Prussik which are the main classics in the area, there is also many other peaks and classic routes. Also you can get in active rest days between volcano slogging down in the Leavenworth area cragging. The North Cascades is another place where you can doing things in a day or spend several day ticking some peaks. If you go up to the Boston Basin area there are several peaks the more popular one are Forbidden and Eldorado. Both have really great moderate alpine routes on them. Another place in the north cascades is WA pass, though I think they normally clear the road in May. I have wanted to go then but I have not, it look like a great time to go and climb moderate rock surrounded by snow. TTT, I disagree about it boring people. I for one think that when people talk about the classic it is always a good reminder for me, what I have been on the adventures shared with others and future adventure that I need to keep on the list.

Ha that is what I thought too! That would be badass. Even though it wasn't winter time sounds like a good adventure

I am not sure if I agree with you and consider hours taking off on the bike and getting out climbing to be selfish. For me that is community service for those around me. That recharge is much needed and if I don't get it I feel pretty misreable which is not good for those around me, including my daughter.

Ha that is awesome. Simone at almost 1.5 hangs out by my climbing wall and grabs the climbing holds, but because of the height difference she can't reach the next set of holds. So she tries to heel hook onto the other starter holds, it so funny. Because she has shown an interest so early I decided to start building her own wall, with wood holds and closer together.

Ha, that is great man. They passed through Kigali early last year, I didn't get a chance to meet up with the crew on board, but I stay in touch with a few people who work with them sharing beta. Have fun.

Yeah I have to agree, booking in advance is a little more expensive. I guess it depends on your time schedule and personality. Haggling is way acceptable in East Africa and is part of their culture. I think the main reason mountain climbing is so damn expensive is because developed world doesn't know how to haggle and just accept increase with out hessitations. With haggling you need time, it's a game. If you change your mind and decide on Mt. Kenya, I know a guy who is way cool. It has been 2 years since I have been there and Micheal and I still stay in touch. The way I did it was to hire 5 porters up the mountain which most went home after we arrived at base camp. Micheal stayed on with us the rest of the trip, we all took turns cooking, I hung with the porters smoking, trading stories and cooking instead of hanging with package tourist. My buddy spent a lt time hanging with the package tourist and usually scored good eat, but I found them boring. The caretakers in the huts enjoyed having me hanging with them, in exchange I gave them food and medicine and traded stories. Culturally it was way more intersting cutting hunks of week old goat off the wall than it was talking to some dude who has 5-8 people hauling all their shit making all their food.

Yeah I been there and I suggest you don't do it. Seriously I have been living in East Africa for 3 years now, and it was the lamest experience I have had so for. There is only one reason why I suggest going for it and this if you are dead set on climbing the seven summits. If that is the case yeah I can reccomend some agencies. All it is thekking. The vegatation is somewhat uninteresting compared to other East African mountains. On the normal routes expect no mountain serenity since you traveling with 200-500 people (note it is difficult to arrange trip on the less traveled routes, though it is possible). Having a guide on the mountain is like having a dingle berry that you can never seem to get rid of. Seriously I thought it was sucky. Now Mt. Kenya was killer, I really would like to get back there and go climbing again, even after spending 13 days up there, there is still plenty to do. It is way cheaper and you can go up the mountain with out a guide if you want. Mt. Kenya also has real climbing. I have report from both in the international section. Soon there will be a report from the Rwenzoris. Another rocking place though don't plan on climbing, the trekking routes are great and the climbing has been taken over by vegatation. Then there are several other cool mountains to go to in East Africa that are all better than Kili. That's my $0.02 with some extra change. Your call.