Ireneo_Funes

I've been spending a lot of time just cragging, nothing alpine for the last month. Same with a lot of folks I know around here. So here's a question for the folks who've been Oregonians longer than me: what are the good alpine and adventure rock spots in the fall? I've been thinking of going down to check out Wolf Rock -- anyone here know much about the routes there? And how's the scramble to the top? Easy to find, or tricky? Also the Menagerie: besides Rooster Rock, what are the must-do routes back there (good rock preferred)?

That's hilarious. Not everyone can make a living doing what they really enjoy!

What the hell do you mean by "cowboy up"? I'm serious; I have no idea what you're talking about.

Wow, I've got to get down to the lower gorge sometime. What route is that, Iain?

Yeah, like the sax solo on "Careless Whisper"? That always gets me ready to send on plastic! Scott, have you posted this question on rockclimbing.com? It might get a more enthusiastic reception there...

I got a speeding ticket here in Portland a while back. I didn't bother contesting it, 'cause I knew I was speeding (35 in a 25 zone), just sent in my check dutifully. A month later they sent back half of my fine, with no explanation.

You especially want to be solid on crevasse rescue if it's just going to be you and one partner. Sounds like you might want to look at a couple books: "The Freedom of the Hills," published by the Mountaineers, and Andy Selters' "Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue."

Naturally. The question of how much damage (temporary, permanent, whatever) your corporation did to the area aside, I simply find it annoying that you decided to put this massive commercial event on in a place where people go to get away from that bullshit. It's arrogant.

I'm sure the feeling is mutual.

If you're going to have a beer in my honor while you're sojourning in the land of 10K lakes, you better make it a Summit IPA. Or a Leinie's. Fitger's is kinda highbrow. For you, I'd recommend the Club Saratoga. But we better not turn this into the Duluth bar scene thread. It'd be a short conversation anyway.

Best prose of the week!

...and if you'd eat there, it's not a dive. The funny thing is my folks used to go to the Hung Far Lo when they lived in Portland back in the sixties. It must have been a lot nicer then, 'cause I got the impression it was kind of their date place.

I've got to second the vote for Beulahland. Best jukebox I've ever seen. If you want a real dive, you can't do better than my neighborhood bar, the Sandy Hut. Home of the famous Fatman Sandwich! Hung Far Lo is scary, or at least it was the one and only time I wandered in there.

Great deals on bread and bread-like stuff at the Franz bakery thriftstore just a block N of the Portland Rock Gym. Just look for the enormous revolving loaf of bread.

That's a great picture of the upper lake. The twin crack section is a lot of fun, but the exposure below is wild.

c'mon, man...it's hard work!

How many gaffs do you suppose they had between them? Or did you mean gaffes?

Greg, compare the current quagmire to the first gulf war. How much of the financial burden are we shouldering this time vs. the other? How many allies lent help that time?

You also wouldn't want to forget Palau, Tonga, Azerbaijan or Albania.

Who's up for some rock climbing around Portland this weekend? Rocky Butte/Broughton's?

That guy's badass. Is that a technical mountaineering cane, or just your standard-issue model?

Are there access issues to deal with for crags on the reservation? Is it like climbing the east side of Jefferson, where you're supposed to get a permit from the tribe? I assume that you can't just wander wherever you want on tribal land.

I've wondered if the proliferation of folks using trekking poles has had any significant effect on trail erosion. Any evidence of this?

Guys, put your girth pillars away for a minute. "Killer Queen" is the tune rattling around in my head -- yeah, I know it's so 1974.

Disgusting. And so-called "adventure" racing is lame...