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I ran over my first one with a warehouse tug in 1985 then it got swept into a drain. It was flat when I recovered it and never the same again. My spousal unit just got a new one for me last year. It feels uncomfortable so I may put it into a baggy in my parka and loan the coat to her next trip.

Thanks.

Nice work Blake! Enjoyed the slideshow.

Looks like one of our members has caught the little booger in the act. We can only hope he's been grounded. A pic found in the photo gallery: Captured!

A pic of the approach traverse would be cool too!

That's BS. There's enough idiots on both sides of the aisle deserving of that kind of shit bomb but denying Reagan his due is just plain revisionist history instigated by haters of all things not Left.

You miss the point. Many of us would be happy paying an extra couple of bucks for a product that's made somewhere other than China - preferably the US but at least not China (among some others). So it's not just a safety thing, it's an ethics thing.

Lots of people may have issues with this - safety concerns, ethics, whatever. The fact that BD cams are made in China seems like a valid topic for discussion to me. You seem to be implying it's not? When you say "If you don't likem don't buy em." true enough, but without knowledge, you can't make an informed decision one way or another.

Ditto. Even if the quality remains high, it's discouraging when companies like this move overseas. When Levis went, I switched to wranglers. They're probably made in Taiwan but at least I don't expect better of them. I'd never but a Harley made in Singapore either. I have BD and will continue to buy from them until/if they're shown to be inferior though.

I don't want meetings nor votes or even an "ok" from others (clubs or individuals). I just wanna scrub "Fuc$" off the rock so I don't have to read it every time I run up Jam Crack. It's on my way home and I actually enjoy stopping by to run up Beacon or mess with a bouldering problem. I'd enjoy it more if the place wasn't a shit hole though. That's my motivation and I don't expect anyone else to share it nor agree with it.

I hope his sister leaves him for his uncle.

Does ice stick well to graffiti? All seriousness aside though, if this rotator continues to mend, I wouldn't mind trying some ice this winter. But, I want some warmish rock too

Too funny! If this is the quality of stuff they're giving to the Iranians, no worries.

That's the Nightmare Needles. With the exposure there, I imagine it would have been very earie watching them move in and out of the clouds. That pic of Crystal Lake is very nice - what a great spot to camp.

Too many personal variables to know. Your comfort level and navigation skills are two big ones. If you're familiar with the general area, which it sounds like you are, I'd bring just enough to mark the path through the trees and maybe a half dozen or so to get me from camp towards that direction. Of course, if the weather closes in and you decide to summit anyway, several dozen wouldn't be too many. I have a friend who's had a few "issues" with that approach and he looks like a porcupine heading in there every year. He typically places a few dozen just on the approach. Personal preference.

Wand early. Wand much. If you get turned around coming off the Lunch Counter, it's alot of nothing out there for a long ways.

I'd agree. If you break the law, pay up. I think some judges take it as a personal afront when you argue the logic of the law after-the-fact. That's what lawyers do all the time though. Us "ignorant" little people tend not to get away with it. Still sucks that he felt the need to raise the fine - that was a dick thing to do.

The shot where she's got a shoe on one foot but not the other seems kinda odd. I suspect most viewers wouldn't notice anyway though

What brand are they? La Sportiva Exum Ridge

Throw in a bolt to protect the scarey start up Bat Crack (direct) and there'd be un uproar. Throw on a couple gallons of paint and it takes awhile to get noticed

Steve, not sure how I missed your email on that list but it wasn't intentional. Just sent original message via PM. So far I've recieved zero interest but it's only been a day. As for scrubbing, of course not. As a last resort, I intend to scrub off as much paint as possible on a few of my favorite bouldering problems though. Naturally I'd prefer to clean up the whole crag. I'm certainly not adverse to sand blasting but the idea of pressure washing with baking soda crystal aggitants looks like something to investigate as well. It's supposed to be better on the rock but it also sounds like it would be difficult to get the water into some of the areas. As for me, I'm willing to pitch in with donations and labor. Unfortunately, the email I sent hasn't generated any interest yet other than one person who thought the time would be better invested in a stake-out to tar and feather the offenders...one option I suppose. I also contacted the county parks commissioner and suggested that some of the funds generated from leasing out the park to a production company recently could be used to help with cleaning up. He wasn't interested either. On a positive note, it's possible (based on the scrawlings and paint type and short time-span that most grafitti appeared) that the "artists" for most of that stuff may not be local. If that's true, the rock might stay clean for some time....hopefully.

How'd you get back over the roof? If she was unable to make it back into the crack following, how'd you do it on rappell? Who belayed whom back up the 44 feet to the anchor...and how? I'd think the best option would be for her to prussik over the roof. Short of that, since you were only 44 feet above her, set up a pully system and haul her up - that would suck. Why wasn't she able to ascend the rope on her own?

True. I think it's more complicated than that though. The last "effort" was 3 years ago and due to equipment problems, we were only able to get a few pieces of "art" removed. There was a big clean-up a few years previous to that though and much of the grafitti was removed from mostly the main climbing area. The stuff you see in these pics was done mostly this year so there were quite a few years where the fresh canvas went untouched. I don't know what's different about this year. I can say that there have been FAR fewer climbers out there this year and last (many local craggers are spending time at Post Falls). Don't know if that's because of the mess at Minne or maybe even the mess results from the lack of presence?! Post Falls does have some terrific routes so maybe no relation at all. Either way, the area is about as bad as I've ever seen it and the local climbers need to decide if it's worth cleaning up. One or two teams on compressors won't do much at this point. It's gonna take lots of dough for material and commercial equipment rentals/loans and lots of labor. I sent an email out looking for some ideas on how to organize this so hopefully there'll be some interest. If not, I'll fork over the time and scrub the crap off my favorite bouldering problems on the upper bench and leave it at that.

Yeah - the poison ivy is just everywhere this year!

Trip: Minnehaha Fall Color Bouldering - Several Date: 9/29/2007 Trip Report: Went to Minne yesterday to enjoy the Fall colors and get in some bouldering. Parking lot was packed but they must have been the paint ballers and dog walkers - very few climbers out. Swung by the main wall to see if there was anyone there I knew. The red haired dude that I see in Wild Walls during the winter was there doing some insane traverse problem - Smokey Overhang Traverse (gravity defying). Wandered around taking pictures of the colors everywhere and grabbed a few bouldering problems along the way. Spent most of my time on the upper bench - there's a cool wall there that's got some high ball (for me) stuff that's fairly easy but good for the head. Worked the traverse along the wall and got all but the last 5 feet on the left - peeled at the tee pee (see pic). Chilled on the rock and enjoyed the fall colors for quite awhile till the wife called and summoned me home. Hope the pictures are inspiring Main Wall Goodness Novice Rocks Traverse Problem. Crux moves across chimney on far left - Finally got it right to left! Fuc$ Arete - Below Jam Crack Main Face Right - Fun Scrambling on Low 5th Still can't get this problem! Don Q. Face Starting Moves on Don Q. Secondary Face - East Coaster Traverse (Right Side) Secondary Face - East Coaster Traverse (Left Side) Upper Bench Bouldering Upper Bench Bouldering - A favorite "High Ball" and neat traverse Lots of Poison Ivy This Year