olyclimber

I haven't been there, though I was thinking of checking it out, as I live over by there. How tall is the wall? I did see an posting on REI's bulletin board a week or so ago that was advertising a free membership to their clubs for someone if they were willing to teach rock climbing for one night a week.

www.cheapholds.com I have no idea how good they are, but it appears they ship internationally. gearexpress.com has a good deal, but they don't ship intl.

I guess you're right on that one. The three chances are for my homies, and after that they're not in the club. But if you don't know the person, then they have just made a big statement about their character...and who needs them. And if the person just happens to be your little brother....well then it's time to open up a can of W.A.

uhhh...the backup is something solo. no use dragging more people into the sea of failure...unless you have enough partners...but then whynot invite them in the first place?

I always try to back up any trip that depends on someone else with a good contigency plan so you don't blow a good day, weekend, or whatever. I also tend to agree with the three strikes you're out....I don't care if you wear a tie or not.

I suppose you already have info on the Elwha Canyon?

Thanks fenderfour, I'll see if I can dig up their website and take a look....

Hmmm....sounds like some good old fashioned Roman bathhouse debauchery .... I promised my son to take him camping that weekend, so I'm probably going to have to pass on this one. It does sound like a lot of fun, and I'll definitely have to plan on making it to the next one. As for the kids ropeup, I'm interested...but I've got to get my boy comfortable in the Trango harness I got him first. I'll be watching for when you do it again next year. Thanks,

Now that looks like fun. Is it vegas rules?

1. Is this an "kid friendly" event? I have a 2+ year old son. 2. How many people usually show up? 3. Is this a formal event, or just a bunch of friendly climbers having a good time? Any further description beyond what is listed here: Ropeup Info would be great. I'm thinking about coming, but want to know more....

I think Verizon or ATT probably have the best coverage, if that's what you're after. I have a T-Mobile GSM phone, and while the coverage isn't great I do get a ton of minutes for cheep. If you get analog service/dual mode/tri-mode you're probably going to get better coverage. The rest of my family lives out on the Olympic Pen and they all use Verizon because it has the best coverage out there.

Last week at Stone Gossard Gardens my little bro failed his belay test (he was didn't thread the rope through right on his tie up and didn't loop back the harness as well). He hasn't roped up before, even in a gym. I tried to teach him right before, but I think he was just too nervous. As the person he was going to be belay, I'm glad...and I think he'll remember next time to do it right. SG gave him a free pass ($14) and we had a blast just bouldering, which doesn't require a belay merit badge. He'll pass it next time, and I think that is a fair policy.....

Hey everyone, thanks for the feedback. I've got a few options that I like here: 1. Just take the Crag class 2. Take the equivelancy test and then the intermediate 3. Pay a guide to teach me. 4. Trust my instincts, start easy(top roping), and just always climb routes within my ablility, and learn new stuff when ever I can. I'm definitely looking for specific technical rock climbing techniques like setting anchors, rappelling, choosing and setting protection, and choosing routes. The Mountaineers also sounds like a good place to meeting people to climb with. How do you guys and gals pick who you'll climb with (outside of the Mountaineers)? I guess if you're not learning it is less of an issue, but I would imagine you've got to have some degree of faith in your belayer. Anyway, thanks for the suggestions!

bobinc, is your avatar 'Mondo Boy' or something like that? I remember a comic with with that guy in it. What you're mentioning is exactly the sort of concerns I have...that the pace isn't too slow (both on the trail and what is taught). I've also already taken a few of the basic rock climbing classes at REI (hey, don't laugh! I learned some good stuff...). Thanks.

I'm not trolling for rants, but I'm looking for honest opinions about the value of joining the Mountaineers club and taking their basic climbing course. I've been mountaineering ...scrambling and some glacier climbing (summiting Mt. Olympus and Mt. Hood along with many minor crags in the Olympics and North Cascades) since my boy scout days, but I recently have become interested in climbing up things of the 5.x variety. What I see as a plus for going with the Mountaineers is that I imagine they teach basic, proven rock climbing technique, and I can also learn on the peaks that have I have always wanted to climb (Mt. Cruiser and Mt. Constance). It seems like there is a lot to learn, and climbing is one of the riskier sports (if done wrong, and Accidents in NA Mountaineering demostrate)...I want to learn (roping skills, placing protection, etc) from someone who I can have a level of trust that teaches a more conservative technique. The Mountaineers would provide this, no?

There is a story in the Wenatchee paper Wenatchee World online http://www.wenworld.com/ .....but you have to pay to read it unless you subscribe to their paper. Anyone get that paper? Could you relay some of the details?