ann

No need to apologize, in fact kudos for stepping up and saying something. With this region growing like it is, mass crowds are just the new normal, and it's only going to get more pronounced. Peer pressure is a strong motivator, so let's apply ourselves. We can encourage blue-bagging with signage and disposal options. We can encourage use the Ryegrass I-90 rest stops or George gas station. We can post The Pact prominently. We can camp elsewhere. It's tough to step forward when we're all trying to be chill, but if we don't we're going to lose something we value.

Some folks on the SuperTopo and related threads were saying that due to the unequal friction on the different-sized ropes through the belay device, the two strands quickly become unequal, increasing risk of having one thread end pass through belay device prematurely. Fixes for this scenario suggested are knot the strand ends making passage impossible and use the locker backup shown above.

I have the Vipers and as a new ice climber have been told that replacing the micro hammer & adze with two standard hammers will help me get deeper sticks with the increased swing weight. Also was told that snow/ice clearing enroute can be done reasonably well with picks, and that having two hammers enables pounding in the pick of either opposite tool to get a deeper placement, and that an adze is a great way to put your eye out. I've been waffling, so glad you started this thread.

Not sure if this would work for a neoprene sleeve on a rubber hose, but plain rubbing alcohol eases getting rubber handlebar grips onto metal bike handlebars. It makes a slick film but then evaporates so doesn't leave any weird residue.

Found: Ray Ban sunglasses on Mailbox on Thanksgiving Day '08. If you lost yours at this location / date, please PM me with description.

Oh, the embarrassment. I had to leave two ropes at the Chair Peak rap station yesterday. I neglected to run the knot past the cornice, and of course the knot then got wedged in the slice in the hard snow when we attempted to pull the ropes. So I got two, count'em TWO ropes stuck. Both bi-color 60's, an orange-based one and a tan-based one. I'm hoping the next party that raps will be able to get them unstuck and just drop them down into the gulley so I can retrieve them. This may involve having to cut off the stuck part if it's iced in. So if you see these two ropes free and sitting in a pile somewhere up there in the gully or basin, if you could respond to this post or send me a PM I'd be greatful.