Stewart

Agree. Need to get some ropes on em as I haven't been on them since ''06. Probably since it's an awkward anchor. May be it just needs a directional or movement of the rap anchor. As I recall it was run out after the last bolt to the first piece of gear anyways. Also noticed that the first bolt of rolling and the first bolt of high planes drifter are only 4 ft apart on huge ledgy jugs. Maybe share 1 down there so it doesn't look like machine gun fire. I'll chat with the third.

TippTopp 5.8? I just threw out a rating. I don't know for sure, but I figure if I was able to lead it it must be 5.9 or less. How do you approach TippTopp?

Jon Stewart here. Kevin Rauch was the First ascentionist for Rolling thunder. Not sure if I took part in the FA, but I attempted a redpoint at least a dozen times with him and we discussed this same point several times before he passed. His intention and how we climbed it was to climb "Rolling" and continue up TippTopp (5.8) with gear to the anchor directly above Rolling Thunder. The two routes were done seperatly with TippTopp being done first from the ledge and around the corner which is akward. He then lowered down to the ground and Rap bolted Rolling Thunder which was FA'd during a storm. Doing them together really does make it a nice direct line. I've also seen people finish up Burrito killer. I can't speak for rope drag, but it looked ok with a couple long slings. I have seen several parties cut off TippTopp and use the rope drag anchor on the ledge which looks akward and slightly unsafe. I guess here's the questions. Would we cut up a direct line to the top? Would we make it safer for sport climbers? Do we need another bolted route? TippTopp is a great route and see's limited use, would it be done more or less? Rolling Thunder is a great route with limited use, same question as above. Would we be discouraging people from learning how to lead traditionally? If we need an anchor........I would use Kevin's drill

Think that's my gear from when I broke my leg and had to bail in 2007. Keep it! snoop

Found a good article about blogging/forum ethics. http://www.cyberjournalist.net/news/000215.php It would be good for us to check in once and a while. Stewart

Looks like a cool place! Are there any 5.9's or less? Look's pretty stout. I remember talking to Ben, must have been 5+ years ago, about the place. He had a real mystical tone in his voice when he talked about it. Hope to visit! Stewart

My mother-in-law and wife are both nurses. They would always harass me to wear a helmet. Penny(mother-in-law) works on the trauma unit and always see people who are vegetables just because they were too cool to wear a helmet. I would always argue that its the persons right to wear one or not. After she researched insurance statistics of veggy-patients it becomes obvious that most of the care ends up on the tax payers after the million or so is used up by the insurance companies, if you have insurance. So most of the time it becomes more of a social burden if you get clipped. Ahh the debate.... Anyways... any time your climbing at the (O/Drop)zone's, or any other new crags, best to wear a helmet. My opinion Stewart

Ground-up is the most pure style! what a load of bullshit. I question that statement everyday!

If you snap your leg in two on a sport route, you just tell people you fell in the shower! Stewart

Move on to your next project! Rap bolting vs. Rap-trad vs. Ground up! I've watched this Rap-trad movement going on at the Drop and it's created some really fun lines. I first put up the "Martr" in Rap-trad form, then I did "the close-out" ground up, soon I put up a rap bolted route called "2TRAD4U". What I was doing was "practice". Every route after that I put in "ground up" after inspiration from JosephH. What I discovered was.... Ground-up is the most pure style! I have put in several bolts into the rock and into my leg attempting this style. Some have questioned my bolts(see pictures above). My answer is "ground-up" bitches! or in french, "Je mapel Jon Phillip"! Do I think that those bolts should be removed? Maybe, but I'll remove them! After having my gear in that crack for months and months I just decided to put the anchoor in so I could get down with my gear. I guess I was lazy. I just have problems rapping in, seems like cheating. Bryan,onward or ground up and slam in angles into your predrilled holes! Then you can say, "ground-up trad bitches"! Stewart

Do I know you. Did we cruise around bend drinkin and such? Do you aid? Do you know him? Do you like Ford? Have any route's gone down at Cougar this summer? Have you done "harvest moon" at Cougar?

It's funny, I break my leg going ground up with a drill strapped to my back and neither my doctor or my wife told me not to do it again. In fact it seems as though they are encouraging me to get back at it. I plan to always carry a compresser bolt gun like in "cliffhanger" with me at all times. Probably would be pretty handy in NoPo. Aesthetically, bolts are obnoxious and I think people should always camoflage their hangers and bolt heads, not that I always do it, but I should. I like the sign at Smith that says "Pack it in, Pack it out" unless your a climber with a sick project and a handful of bolts. Also, why is it that people don't use tan chalk at smith? Before I started climbing I was offended at what the climbers had done to the "peanut gallery" at smith. Don't get me wrong, I love a little bump of the white powder to get me up, but the white dots visible from the highway is a disgrace. I don't know how the State park still allows it or why climbers don't demand it from chalk companies. Done

I am interested in replacing bolts at broughton, ozone and madrone. Where can I find stainless bolts at a poorman price? Also, do you really have to use stainless hangers with the bolts or can those just be replaced as they rot. Kevbone, your first hanger to "House of Pain" is missing. Now I know this has been a problem for nearly 2 years. What gives? That route is great and I'm sure people would love to get on it. I will replace the bolt and hanger for you.

Best whipper ever! A descent whipper!! [video:youtube]

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