sicprobo

I have a Canadian accent, I can't pronounce (pronoonce) anything correctly.

Go for it Snowbyrd!! Spray away!! (that didn't sound right)

I think you've been hanging around here too much. Isn't there another thread somewhere for you to cause trouble?

Ladies Room? There is an actual "Ladies Room" on a climbing site?? With topics like that!!??? ......... Glad I am not climbing with those chicks!

Woo Hoo! Trad climbing!! I'm in. I had a great time climbing with y'all, even though Vivian (a.k.a. catwoman's stunt double) and I wasted two hours hiking up the wrong trail before we found you. Theme nights? Girlfriend, I have two words for you, "N-O!" (sorry) Icegirl, this Wednesday get together was a great idea!! I know that I am not a newbie, but it's so much fun climbing with you guys!! I think you guys are ready to lead!-w

"Re-elect Bush 4 more wars" "We took the indians land, divided it up amongst ourselves, and distributed televisions so we could watch documentaries about indians." (on my van) "I love my country, but I think we should start seeing other people" "While it is true that not all stupid people are conservatives, it is true that all conservatives are stupid people." "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." "We are all here on earth to help others, what on earth the others are here for I have no idea."

I am definately interested in this. I am a distance runner, but have never done more than 26 miles in one run. I have been thinking about getting into adventure racing, so 20ish hours of trail running and hiking sounds like fun to me, unless it is in extremely hot weather, then you can include me out, or you would end up trying to push me off a cliff somewhere, because I would be bitching about how hot I am.

Oak Ridge Boy and His War Bush keeps defending the indefensible: His reckless, illegal war against Iraq. In his speech at Oak Ridge, he repeated one of his favorite lines: "I had a choice to make: Either take the word of a madman, or defend America." But that was not the choice he had to make. Though Saddam was still playing games with the U.N. weapons inspectors, they were allowed to go anywhere and everywhere in Iraq. This was the most intrusive inspection effort of all time, and Bush refused to let it proceed and refused to believe what the weapons inspectors were telling him. On top of that, the United States, Germany, and Russia were able to fly spy planes over every square inch of Iraqi territory. So, no, Bush didn't have to take the word of a madman. He could have taken the word of the U.N. weapons inspectors, but he chose not to. He could have taken the evidence from the spy planes, but he chose not to. Instead, he chose to plunge into war for ulterior motives. Some were petty (to get back at Saddam for allegedly trying to kill his daddy, or to clear up the blemish on daddy's record for not "finishing the job" and going to Baghdad). Some were about oil: controlling it, and letting U.S. companies get their hands on it. Some were about geopolitics: hedging a bet against an unstable Saudi Arabia, and eliminating a foe of Israel. But Bush never has spoken honestly about these motives, and his speech at Oak Ridge was no exception. He did, however, repeat the claim that "the American people are safer" because of the Iraq War. That's a hard argument to win. Former head of counterterrorism Richard Clarke says the Iraq War has made us much less safe. So, too, has Retired General Anthony Zinni, who used to be the Pentagon's commander for that region of the world. The International Institute for Strategic Studies, based in London, says that the Iraq War has made the world less safe and has served as a "potent global recruitment pretext" for Al Qaeda, whose ranks have grown to 18,000 as a consequence. U.S. alliances are tattered, and the U.S. reputation in the world is at historic lows. How does that make us any safer? Bush can boast all he wants, but his Iraq War is a disaster no matter how you slice it. -- Matthew Rothschild From The Progressive

Alpinfox is right, don't scare Snowbyrd, although I don't think she can be easily scared off, she seems to be pretty brave. Anyroad, I said that when I reach a belay station, I clip in to the anchor using a daisy chain, to get off-belay. I leave it clipped while I am also tied into the anchor. I don't know if I am explaining that correctly, so Snowbyrd I hope I am not confusing you. A daisy chain is also a good way to anchor yourself while belaying someone heavier, so you don't lose your purchase when they fall. I was joking about the aid climbing, although even beginners can learn aid climbing. I am definately not an expert climber, and I am not trying to teach you anything about climbing here in this thread, just suggesting that a daisy chain is a good thing to have, in my humble opinion. And who knows, we might see Snowbyrd racing off to Index to try this aid climbing she hasnt' heard of. She is such an avid climber, I wouldn't put it past her.

Hey Snowbyrd, you'll need some daisy chains for next week when we go and do some aid climbing at Index. No...just kidding! You shouldn't worry about the gear, since you are still learning. The advice on this thread is good. I have learned the unfun way of what it is like when you are belaying someone heavier than you and they take a fall which sends you flying off your feet into the air. It is a good idea to be anchored, what-ever you use for it. Maybe you should find that out for yourself. (oh so fun) When I get to a belay station, the first thing I do is hook in with a daisy chain, but I have seen on this thread that they aren't that important. I have always had a use for a daisy chain. I would throw one into your shopping cart.You will figure out what you need just by getting out and climbing with other people. Seeing their gear, and asking them how you use it is a much better idea than going into a store and asking someone who works there to help you pick out gear, and to explain what it is for or how to use it, or you can just do what you are doing and post questions here!

What kind of beer?

I didn't make it to the last one, but then there was no mention of margaritas before. I will definately try and be there next week. I have met dryad, and snowbyrd (cool chics) and I am looking forward to meeting icegirl and everyone else. -w

Snowbyrd, if that was meant for me, I guess I deserve it.

"The death penalty makes killers of us all" "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind"

If you are near Springfield, you should go and check out the Silo. I spent some time in Springfield (land of Lincoln) visiting my sister, in the summer (a level of hell?). She has now moved, thank God. Try Devil's Lake, avoid the wknds. You should climb the Silo, just because it is a silo, and you can say you climbed in a Silo.