selkirk

How difficult/sketchy is it to walk/scramble to the top of CYA and string a top rope? I would love to get out but haven't climbed in a month or more, so I don't know that i'm up to WI4 straight off the bat! Alternatively, has anyone been up to Franklin? Is that in? TIA

Be sure to give us TR!

good point

I haven't done all that much climbing in my AT boots, and mostly skied in bounds. But I dragged my Scarpa Denali's up the North Face of Chair and had no problems with walking performance, or climbing performance. I was just using a standard set of Grivel G-12's with a lever lock heel. They're rigid, waterproof, not to heavy, plenty warm, and perform well enough that anything I want to ski they'll handle. Good luck!

Does anyone know if Crystal Mountain is using the RFID tickets yet? Mrs. Selkirk and I were contemplating trying to go down and share a ticket (since one of us will need to watch the new little widget while the other ski's). TIA

Somebody died up at Hamlin Park in Shoreline last month when he was struck by a blown down tree branch while out walking his dog

Definitely post when there are more available. I'd love to get one as well!

There is an uncanny resemblance!

Glad to hear it went well and sorry I missed it!

And I've officially joined your ranks Mrs. Selkirk's and I's daughter was born on Friday the 13th and is doing wonderfully :) I'll post a picture when I get a chance!

Does anyone know what current total is on the fund? Last I heard it was up to ~110k, but that was before the Edgeworks and Timmy O'Neil events. So far so good

Thanks to all the Vets We owe every one of you a debt of graditude for your ser vice. For this we need to thank the politicians and the people who elected them.

Crystal Opens Wed. I think... Is it me, or do the openings seem earlier this year than is usual?

As expected Timmy put on a great show! Props to the BoeAlps for hosting!

Another for the dromedary. My 2L is going on 5 or 6 years and works like a champ every time. That and a supplemental 1L bottle of some sort is quite flexible and gets me through just about anything I'm interested in doing in 1 day.

I'll be there Assuming Mrs. Selkirk doesn't go into labor Either way it'll be a good night!

Bill, you're my hero!

I would second Smoke Bluffs in Squamish. (though I don't have kids yet. Ask me again next week.) The "Burger"s and Fry's" area and the continuation of the wall to the climbers right would be great for little kids. Flat belay area's, some bushes and whatnot but very safe. And some good single pitch stuff from 5.5 up to 5.11, with a nice mixture of trad, sport, and toproping possibilities.

There should be a door prize given to the person who show's up in the most stereotypical alpine gear! It's not Halloween but I think it's close enough!

So hows the auction being handled? I didn't see a link or address on the website?

I'm so envious! Sounds like it's going to be a killer show!

It's actually pretty fun It's all climbing and hanging out watching the cuties boulder except for the 20 min circuit! I've just found that if I add that circuit right at the end, I'm already warmed up and pumped from bouldering, and I go from pumped to totally trashed in 20 minutes so I seem to get a lot of bang for my buck I don't have enough time to get to the climbing gym all that regularly (once a week if i'm lucky) so I try and maximize the benefit while I'm there.

Not sure about Portland, but there are a couple of dirty little dry tooling crags around Seattle with routes in the M3/4/5 range, and I actually started on those before I got on real ice. It really helped learning to move delicately and in-balance, you know all those rock climbing techniques that sometimes get forgotten when people get on ice It was also easier to find partners for an evening dry tooling by headlamp on toprope than finding ice for the first time! I'll second a trip to Ouray though. That was stellar and you'll climb more ice there in 3 day then you will in an month or two around Seattle / Portland. A buddy and I went down and both had some ice experience (a handful of days TR'ice and some easy leads each) and didn't feel like we needed a guide. The anchors are clearly set out for TR's, and if you want to lead the ice is big and fat Lot's of good stuff in the WI2/3 range (less than vertical, or short stretchs of vertical with benchs and good rests).

I'll second a few - Traverse Start working vertical V2's, and project each and every V1 that give you problems. Mileage: at V1 and V2 you can get by with good technique and not too much strength. Try some top roping, and learn how to move smoothly, precisely, good body control etc. My bouldering work outs end up looking something like this (and I'm not really a boulderer ) For me it's been moderately effective. I can see some strength gains going once or twice a week using this. Traverse: 10 min for a warm up Bouldering: 60 minutes. My standing rule is that I have to have done all the lower grade bouldering problems in the room before I can start working harder ones. (i.e. if there's a new V0 and new V1 I do those first before moving on. If I haven't been in a month or two, then I do ever V0, V1, and V2 in the room before I try anything harder). Movement: 5 or 10 min. Up and down a vertical juggy wall never setting foot on the ground. Resting on the wall as needed. Traverse: 10 min (usually fall off once or twice) Workout: (20 min) I rotate through the following circuit 3 times, trying to adjust the reps so that by the end I'm at failure and need a brief rest or two to get through the last set of each activity. Chin-ups: 10-12 Dips: 15 Back Extensions: 25 Inclined Sit ups: 25 Pushups: 15 Stretch: Very thoroughly, focusing on the legs, hips, and core. (15 min) By the end of that I'm utterly trashed and sore for the next two or three days.

I suppose on what the level of weather risk tolerance is and the length of your planned trips. For me, if it's a 1 day thing where I can bail if need be then I always go softshell with the thought that if the weathers that bad I'm not going to be climbing anyway. But if i'm looking at higher commitment or multi-day sorts of things then I start thinking waterproof/breathable. Though I typically take about a 6oz Go-lite shell instead of the full gore-tex. and of course winter in the northwest is a different beast entirely.