Especially kids. I'd rather have kids scrambling all over the icicle hip-belaying each other in tennis shoes than not at all.
As if an organization charging $185 can't afford to have ATC's and pear biners to loan to their students.
No no no, go read the original post. They had proper belay devices (ATCs), they were just being taught the hip belay as a novelty backup option afterwards.
Also, the $185 figure people are throwing around comes from their website. It's a 2 1/2 day program including white water rafting. Not a bad deal.
Cool. I'm good with the hip belay backup as long as they clip into something.
Especially kids. I'd rather have kids scrambling all over the icicle hip-belaying each other in tennis shoes than not at all.
As if an organization charging $185 can't afford to have ATC's and pear biners to loan to their students.
It looked pretty wet this weekend (at least most of the Pearly Gates - I did not get a look at the face itself).
Bridge Creek Campground is still closed due to snow and there is quite a bit along the road still even in Tumwater. If the temps stay warm like they are now, things should change soon, however (maybe 3 weeks?).
On moderate slopes <35 degrees I am never worried about sliding and not arresting - I am worried about being bored to death. I use trekking poles to spread out the effort onto two legs and two arms. On slopes greater than 35 degrees my traditional 65 cm or 57 cm BD venom work great. I am 5'9. I'd never buy anything longer than 65 cm.
I take 3 liters. One is gone within an hour or so as I drink the water diligently (almost forced) when heading out from camp.
I've taken 2 liters + stove before, but it was on Adams/Adams glacier. We brought a JetBoil that time and melted water on the summit which was nice (1 liter per person)