sitandbefit

A few years ago, I did a trip from Lander to Green River Lakes. We started at Worthen Meadows on the East side. It was a great way to approach the Cirque. Our trip was right at 100 miles and we did it in 5.5 days. We were pretty light and were hauling ass. It was the best backpacking trip I've ever been on. Trying to carry any climbing gear on that trip would have made it too much though. If you want to include some climbing, I think you could do a really cool trip from Worthen and ending at Scab Creek. This trip would let you climb in the Cirque and then fish all the great water on the west side north of Big Sandy (I left Wyoming so I can divulge some of the secrets now without fear of losing my driver's license.) If you only have one car, things could get hairy on trying to get back to your car. You could also do the trip as a loop from Big Sandy trailhead. I always thought that going up and over into the cirque at Jackass pass - climb some - and then continue West til you can go North up and over to Valentine Lake and down to Skull lake. Then you can fish Marm's lake, Dad's lake, mirror lake and all the water in between. Straight shot back to your car at Big Sandy then. I haven't really thought about mileage, but that loop would certainly feel like 40-50 miles. I've spent more time in the Winds than any other range in my life. If you want to bounce some ideas or pick my brain, hit me up. Matt

Here's some thread drift, but Keenan's post made me laugh and reminded me of this hilarious email I got from some friends who were living in a van in NZ and climbing. I had emailed them an article about some whales who beached themselves in NZ. I accused them of being so gross that whales were killing themselves. I got this in response (Damn this makes me miss Mike. RIP buddy): Sorry about the Whales. If you miss our smell so bad, I could express mail you some socks, or perhaps one of my two pairs of boxers. Just let me know so that I can give them a good wear before they are sent. We are in Wanaka waiting for a good streatch of weather so that we can climb Aspiring. I'm super stoked and terrified @ the same time. When we were discussing our emergency bivy plan a dispute arrose, that a third party deeds to settle. Because of your extensive education and obvious mastery of all things random, we have chosen you as our counselor. Two guys in one bivy. Ass to Ass, spoon, or dick to dick. your prompt response will be greatly appreciated Later, mike

I have the Osprey Aether 90. I used the googles and see that it is now sold as an Aether 85 with some different looking features. I think it is a great pack. I got it for guiding 10 day backpacking trips in the Wind Rivers and it was ideal. I also use it when I go backpacking with my wife and want to make the trip cushy and fun. I love lightweight backpacking. I have done lots of long trips with the first gen Gregory z-pack. However, I also like to sometimes take big trips into way-back mountains and stay for a while. Sometimes I want to climb routes back there that will require ice tools, ice rack, rock rack, and ropes. I can't fit that stuff in a z-pack, so I need a pack that I can suffer with. The Aether is the suffer pack. If you can get one of the old Dana packs, they are great suffer packs too.

I've been thinking about this topic a lot over the last few months, specifically in relation to ice climbing. I have read this topic with interest, but also with some surprise about what I see as some pretty cavalier attitudes. In the last few months I've tried to read every study I can about the actual, quantifiable risk of ice climbing. While I see the statistics - i.e. the meta study cited by tvashtarkatena - I can't square them with my own experiences. I am willing to accept that my own experience is only anecdotal, but then I see other people on the board, g-spotter and others, who have a similar experience with fatalities. Why is it that so many of us have personal experience that is several standard deviations away from the mean? Is it that a huge number of casual participants exist that skew the overall picture? I have a hard time believing this to be the case, because then we would all have to be part of some elite section of climbers whose experience is unique. I know for sure that I am nothing special. I imagine that even within the confines of the NFL, very few players have a list of teammates and friends who died playing football. If football players were regularly on TV talking about how even 10% of their teammates had died playing football, there would be a national outcry. Yet climbers cite it all the time - google it - Gadd talks about it, Twight talked about it, et. And it isn't limited to "pro" climbers, we talk about it here. My personal feeling is that the lies we tell ourselves are far, far too prevalent. I would never encourage a single person to give up or limit their climbing because of accepted risk, but I hate to think that people are blindly heading out into the hills with serious misconceptions of what risks they are taking. And worse, has my passion for the outdoors, taught and spread by me, not been sufficiently disclaimed so that others can make clear-eyed choices about what they are doing? Thanks to cc.com for providing this board and to you all for sharing your experiences. Matt Kelly

really good to know! thanks. Still If I go up and do it I'd want to do P4. looks like the best one of the route. It is great, but its a hell of a pumper. p3 is always more fun than expected and the upper stuff is in such a cool location that it is impossible not to like.

Nice job Keenan. FYI on Mean Green - P4 can be bypassed on the right in an ice-filled crack. You just head up hill for a little ways to the right and you'll see the way. I remember it being fairly easy but kind of awkward. Matt

The only reason I can post this is because I traded my Wyoming license plates for Montana ones yesterday. If I would have said anything while I still lived down there, the 18 local climbers would be at the house with pitchforks and torches by midnight. Now I have to refuse to say anything about the Beartooths.

In the Snowies, between Laramie and Saratoga, Wyoming. If you've ever epiced on I-80 between Rawlins and Laramie, Wyoming (elk mountain hell road) then you were just North of this hidden gem of a range. They close the road up there in the winter and it turns into a snowmobiler paradise, but there is a lot of great stuff up there. The wind is insane all winter though.

I still can't comprehend this. I have been best friends with Mark and Mike for all of my adult life. I've known both since we were a little kids. Mike grew up down the street and Mark switched into my elementary school in 5th grade. In my life, odds are that if I was having a grand adventure or a blow-out good time, I could turn my head and one or both of these guys would be standing there. A few years ago I wrote a TR about going to AK with these guys. http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/553952/Re_TR_Valdez_Alaska_Numerous_3#Post553952 I could write a book about these two. As it is, I've been driving around Wyoming since Monday night telling stories and crying with friends and family. Everyone loved Mike and Mark and now we have a giant hole in their lives. The Bozeman Chronicle has an article this morning - http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/article_3584ae72-685e-11df-9049-001cc4c03286.html We never spent much time talking about religion because we were having too much fun, but if there is something on the other side - and I believe there is - I'll see you guys there. Everyone I've spoken to since Monday has told me the same thing - it is certain that they were having a great time that day. I don't believe that people ever would want to die climbing, but I know that these guys wouldn't haven't wanted to live without climbing in their lives. They died in pursuit of the best life they knew how to live. The last weekend I spent with Mike and Mark was in March, before they headed to AK to get on Ham and Eggs [Mark hurt his back climbing ice in Banff and Valdez on the drive up and had to come home without flying into the Ruth - Mike styled the climb]. We climbed the Killer Pillar on Saturday and then spent all of Sunday hanging out, riding bikes, barbequeing, and watching Mike show us his sweet pogo-stick skills. A top ten time for sure. Matt

. . . I stay home and try to survive the subsequent shameover. But if you live in Colorado and survive a stupid mistake, odds are that you will go on TV and try to sell your story. This makes me angry: http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=7246904 I apologize if this was already posted, I searched but didn't see it.

You have to go to the properties of the picture to get the URL. edited because I was teaching something I didn't understand myself.

Here's some river crossing pics. Its not as bad as advertised usually. Sometimes you can find a way across on the ice. Otherwise you should take some old tennis shoes, wear them across, hang 'em from a tree, and wear them back across later. I'll see you there this winter. I recommend the hotel next to Bubba's. Here's a little tip - Bubba's has the best breakfast in the state of Wyoming. Matt

Always remember to use free range chickens to get free range eggs when making a delightful sundried tomato and spinach quiche. Yummy!! Matt

Are you talking about how one's emotions are tied in with the position of our lunar-mother?

I know exactly how you feel. New Age is the soundtrack to my life. I follow the scene really closely and have found the new stuff lacking (I need music for self-reflection, not music that distracts). Here is a good article. Today's New Age Music is Crap I have to go now, my turtlenecks are ready at the dry cleaners. Matt