backclipped

Indeed. Will is one of the two guys I enjoy climbing with the most.

I occasionally climb with Lets Roll. He's been dieing to watch me flail and wilt on his home crag....lord knows I've watched him enough at mine.

I really enjoyed Morning Glory at Acadia. The Old Town, to that short 10c bolted pitch to Return to Forever is darn good as well. I haven't been up on Cannon yet, but the first thing I'm doing when I move home in the Spring is to jump on Moby Grape. Not to psyched on making the pilgrimage to the Gunks (another crag i"ve never visited)--too close to that city

Hey Backclipped - I have admit that I just got into some shit with my lunatic X-wife and I was a little steamed about that when I read your comment. Sometimes I should just keep my mouth shut when I am pissed off. Sorry dude. I apologize for questioning a move on a route I've never sampled at a crag I'll likely never visit. I was merely busting you balls a wee little bit, which is horribly juvenile and incredibly untactful. You're obviously well climbed and know damn well what a hard 5.8 move feels like. all apologies, dude

Beacon? This is where I take a big "gulp" lather my foot with tobasco and insert: I've never touched rock on your side of the choss piles. I've never been to Pete's Pile, Bulo, Frenchmen's, Ozone...or Beacon. In fact I never go to that side of the state unless my fiance drags me to some cultural event happening in Portland. I'm from New England and have a strong disdain for wet seeping things. So, Kevbone, I don't have a favorite climb at Beacon--unveiled as a fraud on page nine of your post..........

The Wallowas are five hours away, and from what I've heard they sound well worth the trip. That is one beautiful thing about Central Oregon: all of the great American goods are but a days drive away.

He can say "Fuck off you jackass" and I can't rally back with some banter. Whatever. But I do agree with you. I am being a dick and climbing grades are subjective. I just remember Plaidman doing a trip report on The Smith Rock Detour.....which was/is so fucking gay....and I guess I'm not really over it yet.

Yeah, I'm still in Snibble's shadow. My buddy and I have been up to half mast on the route, but we were driven off our sole attempt by cold (me being a pussy). We didn't mess with the aid line. There is a direct line that entails one pitch of 10+ bolts, an another pitch of steep 11- bolts on suspect rock. From there it's a 5.7 ramp of choss to that stellar looking 5.9 dihedral....I have no excuse for not having done the whole route yet. Perhaps your Abraxis adventure will prove inspirational. Again, good on you guys for getting on that thing. Sick and impressive.

To argue against the west being the best would be asinine. I moved out here for a reason....although I gotta tell ya, Central Oregon fucking sucks for skiing. I'm just of the opinion that true ski buffs should want to sample different flavors, and the northeast has something to offer. Here are some good ones: Jay Peak, VT; Stowe, VT; Cannon, NH; the Presidential Range of the Whites (most notably Tuckerman's Ravine), NH; Mt. Katahdin, ME; The Chic-Chocs of northern Quebec..........but you're right, why fly to VT when you can drive to Red.

Nope, didn't go. Went mountain biking instead. A friend did convey that he felt that the park was busier than he'd ever seen it before.....those guys that tackled Abraxis had the right idea.

The hardest 5.8 anywhere? Riiiight. Let me guess, the opening moves on Nine Gallon makes it the hardest 5.9 anywhere, right? A grade is a grade is a grade.... Fuck off you jackass "Fuck off you jackass"...well, it's like this Plaidman. One might want to spend some time "free climbing" in multiple areas before he/she starts spouting off delusions of grandeur about their home crags. Ever climb a 5.8 at The City? How about 5.8 in the northeast? I've read a portion of your Valley manifesto--I mean trip report--so there is evidence that you've climbed outside of Oregon...so you should know better.

Not sure why anyone would travel all the way there to go skiing, unless it was work or family related. But hey if that floats your boat. I still think this winter is going to deliver the goods here. Today was just a taste of what is to come! It is absolutely precious that west coasters don't look to the east for valid skiing. Love it. Makes me smile

F-yeah. I'm wicked jealous. I've looked that route up and down more times than a man has the right to, and I've never had the balls to take her on......nice work.

cuz it's fun, pink. Duh.

uhhh,...can I get back to you with this info, my mapquest is down...jus' sayin'........ Billcoe, I know you know answer. You PDXers are constantly trickling over the pass to CO.

The hardest 5.8 anywhere? Riiiight. Let me guess, the opening moves on Nine Gallon makes it the hardest 5.9 anywhere, right? A grade is a grade is a grade.... Nope, I know where the hardest 5.5 in the state is....but I'm not sayin'..... I know where the "best" 5.9 is in the state, but I'm not sayin'....

How many miles is it from PDX to Smith?

The hardest 5.8 anywhere? Riiiight. Let me guess, the opening moves on Nine Gallon makes it the hardest 5.9 anywhere, right? A grade is a grade is a grade....

...ummmm, you might call it "dropping", but I"m under the impression that this stunt constitutes "falling".

Those are some sick boards. I have a pair of Ogasakas for the boiler plate. Man, I don't know where you boys skied, but my tenure at Jay Peak taught me the merits of fat skis. Apparently getting up to Katahdin is a wicked pain in the ass. I mean, it's hard enough to cut the red tape for the rock exploits: it's "mandatory" to carry a #4. for the Armadillo.

Well, I'll have to plan a meet up with you when I use my Warren Miller free day.... This year it's a twofer......

Have you skied Katahdin? That is a big tick on my bucket list--ski it and climb the Armadillo route....and perhaps something on Mt. Hamlin. I'm moving back to Bucksport (Orland actually) at the end of March. Hopefully the Whites will be good and stockpiled. Yeah, I'm sure at certain mountains back east 100mm waisted skis turn heads. I can't wait for the lift line comments about why X Wing Labs.....the lift lines are inevitable. I have a fiance learning how to ski.

I live in Bend, so I ride Bachelor quite a bit (which is why I have the Duke). A few buddies of mine have sleds, so I'll get out to few off piste playgrounds. To tell you the truth I'm pretty much a slave once the snow flys....occupational hazard of running a ski shop.

p.s. Sweet photo.

Interesting set up: Dukes on some Havocs. So you took a heavy side country binding and put in on a skinny/light ski.........I have the ultimate Pac West side country set up: Dukes on the X Wing Lab. Yes, I have a small penis; and yes, the set-up destroys my hip flexers--but going down is so good. As for the snow...I have a gut feeling that it's going to be a bust around here this winter (central cascades). I'm thinking Tahoe is gonna get crushed...and the northern tiers of New England (Jay, Burke, Mt. Washington area, Sugarloaf, Katahdin) will be inundated as well.