curtveld

...how many wraps it would take to make a swami belt comfortable...

Nice TR & photos! Thanks for the link, Stephen.

You really don’t need much info to hike at JT - just scan the desert for something that looks interesting and start walking! Wonderland of Rocks is a huge matrix of domes and boulders, criss-crossed by sandy washes - a great place to explore. If you want to gain some elevation, Queen Mountain is cool. Both have tons of climbing, if you want to pack your gear. The Vogel guides have good overview maps that will help you find your way around.

Oh yeah? And probably not the only Groucho line Woody snagged, either.

As Woody Allen said: Not sure I'd want to join a club that would allow a person like me to become a member.

Must be a really welcome break from reanalyzing your Olympic hockey breakdown.

IMHO the problem isn’t the spray game, but ignorance as to where to play it. Any CC regular should be aware that the Info forums are meant to be primarily informative and spray free. An occasional wise-crack or unrelated tale is all part of the ride around here, but I guarantee that some of the recent jabs in the Newbies forum have scared away some observers thinking about posting. Why not make a clear VISUAL difference between spray and non-spray forums, like there is now for the Freshiezone? Ultimately this won’t prevent all bad behavior or do the moderator's jobs, but it could help buffer readers looking for info but not abuse.

Not to mention "No Child Left a Dime"

Aside from the standard climbing (Scurlock!) and weather sites mentioned, TIDEPOOL.ORG is great for PNW and environmental news.

Looks like a bunch of ants under a magnifying glass...heh, heh, heh...

Peoh Point, I beleive. Don't know about any climbing history, but might be worth a look.

I was thinking of the Bedal Creek approach. Either side would involve a couple of miles of road walking, not unreasonable access for winter. AndMatt, the washout I know of is on the Mountain Loop - I drove past the N Fk. Falls trailhead without any probs until hitting snow @ around 2000'. Some big crags with ice above the trailhead for the fired-up bushwhacker, too!

You should be able to get reasonably close to Sloan coming in from the Darrington side. Was snowfree to Bedal a week or two ago, and the washout is right below the peak.

Yeah Taco Lobo definitely wins the authenticity award in Bham. Everything’s good, but the tamales are truly outstanding. The kids like it too. After we took em to Mexico, they turn up their noses at “tacos” made from ground beef or crunchy “shells”.

And Canadian uber-curler Shannon Kleibrink! She’s so famous now she’s thinking of quitting her job at the cosmetics counter at the Bay. The training demands for that sport are phenomenal.

It's NEVER the wrong time to tell the tale of a cool climb in a far-off place (Peru?) with such gorgeous photos.

I'm going with Index or Baring.

You’d think so, wouldn’t you? Thing is, Erie doesn’t have the same kind of issues with hungry coyotes hanging out at the top of the crags as they do over in Vantage.

Yeah, I was thinking of the summit wall, with its easy climbs and fabulous views. Given a little caution it sounds pretty reasonable, especially since the major concerns are behind once you reach the belay ledge. Now all I have to do is get the kids as fired up to go as I am to take them! Thanks for the info, guys.

I've thought of taking my kids there, but recalled that most of the approaches & belay sopts have some exposure (probably more troublesome to me than them). What did you find?

VM is one crafty species - I'm told the stems can photosynthesize during winter. If you choose to put it in your yard, you better not change your mind!

I guess I'm the odd guy whose feet were treated right by plastics (Asolo Supersofts - long out of production). After years in leathers with many "waterproofing" products, plastics first allowed me to spend a day or more in the snow with warm and semi-dry feet. Of course, if you plan on doing much climbing, you will eventually want both kinds.

Hmmm…the type of climbing you describe is where I would be MOST likely to wear plastics. Why are you targeting non-plastics – long approaches, scrambling, weight?

My new goal: Climb something Sky and his friends can't ski!

Nothing like a little conjugation after a day in the mountains, eh? Good day's work!