olyclimber

Never heard this before, seems like something everyone should know about:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/2024/03/27/mountaineer-everest-rainier-jim-whittaker/af7007b4-ec92-11ee-8f2c-380a821c02db_story.html

I know it’s long been sport to rip on REI, I’ve even at one point torn up my membership after they pissed me off with whatever, but man they have fallen since the days back when they were on Capitol Hill. I even now know multiple really good people who work for them (or I think they still work for them…been lots of layoffs). But man they just keep digging deeper into the shite hole in my opinion. I admit I still do have a membership. Bought a pair of cycling shoes a couple weeks ago with the sale. But this kind of crap: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/national-parks/2024/03/24/rei-signature-campground-grand-canyon/73085605007/ Its sad. The concept of a coop for outdoor gear is nice but they are instead of a corporate beast that lays off the people in the store who actually know anything and only hires seasonally to avoid paying benefits. With Promountain Sports going out of business where do you shop these days? I think our sponsor has an American Alpine Institute has a store up in Bellingham (never made it up during the right hours to check it out). There is the place in Ballard, that just moved to somewhere else (used to be Second Ascent). I’m talking places the actually have a good chosen selection of climbing, mountaineering, and skiing gear.

Maybe Easter Overhang at Midnight Rock?

Carnival Crack up in Leavenworth i think meets your criteria.

Damn. Steve was so nice . Got me two kegs for the first Rooeup I did, the one up at Chatter Creek. Then for all them after too. That is sad news.

https://www.wired.com/story/morbid-war-online-obituaries/

I’m really sorry to hear of this, I did not know the deceased but I can tell you that obituary reposting (even if inaccurate) is a full on cottage industry. I read an article a while back about it. Definitely a dark corner of the internet IMO. I’ll probably remove Jason’s link soon because it has a scammy fake virus pop up. Don’t click on it or believe it!

I saw the biggest collection of "hippy stacks" last year in the Austria Alps. It was crazy. At the pass between the Dresdner and Sulzenau Huts, overlooking the lake and glacier. But Europe is in its own universe as far as man's interaction with nature.

I don't know, but you could give him a call. MIght be when he feels he has sold enough of the inventory? IDK.

I went in and visited Jim yesterday. Definitely get in there and help a friend close out his business. Really good deals on some great quality equipment. Western Mountaineering sleeping bags, Montbell stuff, the usual great selection but at going out of business prices. It was good to see him!

A reminder of continued gratitude to @Jason_D_Martin and AAI. They continue to be the sole business sponsors of CascadeClimbers. So its between them and user support that keeps us going. Thank you!

Well good for Jim and well, not so good for connoisseurs of climbing gear. You certainly can't just go to REI to get what JIm has been selling....especially the advice, but also the thoughtful selection of quality gear. Thanks Jim, for your support of Cascadeclimber.com over the years, your support came in many forms. For instance, helping me get the Guzzler to do a slide show one year for Ropeup. I'm sure you'll be glad to be done with the rat race and spend more up in the Methow.

So fun! I concur with Jason. Need less desk jockey time. Thanks for sharing @Alisse

Whatever sort of bouldering ice climby thing you did up there, congrats and thanks for sharing!

You’re a nerd @JasonG!

Still remember vividly my flight with John. I was pretty lucky. Heck, I'll even plug his book again. https://www.jaggedridgeimaging.com/snow-spire-the-book

https://craftmtn.com/features/above-alpine nice article about @John_Scurlock and the small hardcore group PNWers on cascadeclimbers.com

Well I upgraded the site to the newest version. I'm not sure about the image thing @JasonG. I can try to reproduce. D

Great pics! thank you.

Love it! Thank you Eric!

WUT!!!! MT ANGELES TR????? Is "mature mountaineer" how you describe yourself on TInder? Looks like a good time Jason!

All I can do it echo what the folks above like Jason, Phil, Nic, etc have said above. Glad you have humility about the situation and are brave enough to share the experience so everyone can learn. Nothing wrong with dialing it back a bit and building your climbing resume more slowly. Also if can either do a guided trip or two, or climb with some folks with a lot more experience, and do so with a "learning mindset"....i.e. asking question and absorbing as much as possible, you can go from having a scary time to having a more enjoyable time in the mountains. Its not a race, the mountains will probably be there tomorrow and even the next day too. I'm really glad you and your buddy "lived to tell", and I wish you both more casual days in the hills. You learned the hard way about a few things, and have some great advice above.

Ok I’ll have to find time to look at it. Suction

I’ll get this on the calendar tomorrow! Thanks for sharing!