Ireneo_Funes

I usually fight to keep my mouth shut unless I see someone about to do something really, really foolish. Then I might say "You know, you'll want to keep your brake hand on the rope when belaying" or "You probably already know this, but your 30m rope's not going to be long enough for that route." Or whatever. I don't want to be one of those people who's always offering unsolicited advice, but sometimes you've just got to say something.

It doesn't sound like AR_Guy is actually planning on bolting any routes. It sounds to me like he's just wondering how experienced climbers go about it. It's a reasonable question, and maybe if he's lucky someone will give him an informed answer, rather than letting this turn into yet another ethics debate.

Yeah, what CBS said.

Route finding (and getting lost sometimes) is one of the best things about climbing anywhere. I didn't look too hard at the arrows Ivan's talking about, but from just a casual glance they looked like they weren't scratched in too deep. A few minutes determined work with the side of a rock would probably obliterate them, though maybe there's a cleverer way to do it?

The best rock near Portland, anyway! And many fine belay ledges for philosophizing and singing Irish folk songs (thanks again for that, Eric). Now if we can just find the cretin who's been vandalizing this craggers' paradise with his traffic symbols...

That was a fine adventure story, and I'm in awe looking at those pictures. Congratulations to both of you.

After all that, there better be a sweet TR on Tuesday. With lots of pictures.

Thanks for that link, Thinker.

Wow, those are some deals.

I'm sure Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro will be sending aid next.

3 words, when I get the dice you stop to bank!

It's the Trail of Domes, which will culminate no doubt in the Metrodome. Seriously, though, this is pretty sad. Of course it's the poorest folks that are getting hit the hardest.

I wish I lived closer to Idaho, 'cause there is a lot of cool climbing there. Too far away from Portland for this weekend, though.

Not sure. I was planning on going camping with some friends, but we'll see. Maybe Smith. Hope you get a partner for your Idaho expedition - looks like some sweet rock. I'd like to check that place out sometime.

Yeah? How many times can you go around the block no-hands?

I've got to say, that schlongular shifter does have a certain muscle-car appeal. But still, my bike was cooler. Did I ever tell you how one time I went around the block 13 times no-hands! And that was a big midwestern block, mind you.

It looks like something else. I think I just had a switch on the handlebar.

Not to drift the thread, but maybe we should go over there again and get banned again. It was like shooting lutefisk in a barrel.

that looks like mine, except for the color and that thing on the bar - what is that, a bell? or is the gear shift?

what, do I look like an engineer? maybe it was my sweet 1-speed red schwinn that had the coaster brakes. regardless, I stand by my assertion that my childhood bikes were cooler than everyone elses.

5 speed? Mine was 3 speed, which (need I say?) is way cooler than 5. And mine had rear coaster brakes for that extra bit of posh. Hand brakes are tacky in comparison, of course.

I used to have a sting ray, but it was red. Which is cooler than orange.

It's pretty obvious that the problem lies in not enough fences and railings in our national parks. I expect a couple of $10 million lawsuits pretty soon.

It was surprisingly easy to get banned from minnesotaclimbing.com. Say what you will about them, Chaps & Co. don't enable internet adddiction.

That was my conclusion too. Admittedly my sampling strategy was unscientific, though.