brian_m

So, the bar has been set. Pretty high I might add. Nice job guys.

Here are some selected pics from my camera: Brian_m Tr'ing mixed line in Haffner CBS leading WI3 ice in Haffner Jason approaching anchors below the third pitch of Snivelling Gully, Weeping Wall. Jason rapping from Snivelling Gully Jason leading first pitch of Professor Falls Jason and Petr following third pitch of Professors. They towed the ropes that the fourth and fifth climber would climb on while the next pitch was being lead... this process was very efficient and allowed us to keep up with a party of two climbing ahead of us. Argggh matey... Scott, the pirate leading out on the final pitch of Professors Canmore local, Petr, following up to the cave beside the final pitch of Professors. Petr rapping off Professors For more pics from the trip, check out: http://picasaweb.google.com/brianmass/CanmoreIceFeb07

Near the Tractor Tavern in Ballard. It is easy to google them... or just follow : http://www.secondascent.com

Weekendclimberz, Trogdor, Catbirdseat, and I are driving back from Canmore right now. TR to come tomorrow... But, don't go to Canada to ice climb... The ice was too fat and plastic to have any fun. Many routes were climbed but no one had any fun. The beer was warm, the beds were too comfortable and we got a shower every night which sucked.

What a comedian... Morgan... maybe some climbing this upcoming week? WWI some afternoon if the weather is okay?

Are you in the same family as the "Liger"? It's only my favorite animal... with mythical powers.

For alpine & ice climbs, the Patagonia Super Guide pants rock! I am not sure if they are what you are looking for because they are geared 100% for function in the mountains and not fashion in town. But, why are you looking for fashionable soft shell pants in the first place?

Good luck Mountainhesh! Sounds like you have many more dreams yet to fulfill and that with the effort you are putting out there I am sure you will realize them! Thanks for the reality check. It is very easy to become complacent and take the little things for granted.

Ok... well, since it seems that more people are starting to venture out to Mt. Kent this year... I will share some pics from the trip Dave (dbconlin) and I took on January 13th. We had cold, clear weather for an attempt on the central ice line in the pics. The ice was brittle and very aerated (tough to find good screws) but made for fun climbing. Having a pin "pop" from our belay anchor made for a few tense moments. We decided that our luck had run out for the day and lowered off to live to climb another day. See link for pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/brianmass

Nice climb Eric & Jason! Jason, Looks like the X-monsters got the call up to the big leagues for that one... How'd they do? Nice Pics.

Not with me driving Scott... I don't think my truck can go that fast. Besides, it is hard to make good time when you have to stop and fill up the tank at every station between here and Canmore :-)

the warm temps this week should help to stabilize the snowpack and the avy danger should be much lower than last weekend. But, as always be careful.

Oh, sorry... yeah, I was thinking of the wrong upper pitch... Nope, sorry... there was only rock and running water on the upper pitch above the gulley.

The lower portion of Champagne was well beaten out and a bit thinner than last time we were there. But, the upper pitches were beautiful blue thick ice!!!

move this to the yard sale please...

First hand experience... Umbilicals can save lives! Looks like a nice tool for alpine. Probably plunges better than my lucky set of X-Monsters. Dave, I can make a phone call and see if we can get em shipped from Grivel Europe?

PM sent about Mammut slings.

Sounds like a fun time... I mean, Yardsale.

Nice pics. Thanks for the CO stoke. Looks like the drive was totally worthwhile.

I bought a $300 car last season and had no problems last year at trailheads. Several times when coming back to the trailhead from climbing I found others had been broken into but my pile on wheels had been left to itself. Anyone leaving cars at trailheads along the I-90 corridor should buy a trail car. This way, I kind of feel sorry for the poor suckers who steal it.

I have a MK 1 XL which is basically the same tent only a bit bigger. I also have a second door, which adds a bit of weight but is very useful in the mountains. Depending on what you are planning to use the tent for... these are great tents! Although they do keep you "dry" in very wet, rainy conditions... I would not recommend them for this use as it is not really what single wall tents are intended for. If you are planning on high altitude, alpine conditions with tons of snow and wind... then the tents are perfect for this. Integral Designs tents are slightly more breathable than comparable Bibler tents because of a "baking" process that Bibler uses on their material. This process of heating the material (which ID does not do) causes some of the pores to close which makes the Bibler tents a bit more humid on the inside. I have owned both the Bibler I-tent and the ID MK 1 XL... overall, the MK 1 is the better performer. The overhead vents on the Bibler never seem to work well enough and the sidewall vents of the MK series prevent condensation build up much more effectively. Bibler does have a better design for the optional vestibule though which attaches with clips instead of the ID which uses an unreliable zipper which not only binds up but freezes solid during any storms.

Dates???

Dave & Andrew... Nice job! Great video. Weather and conditions on the climb look great. Dave, you are totally right about the snowpack slowing travel... I was in the valley on the 31st and found the thin layer of wind blown snow over bottomless fluffy white powder to be very hard to move through. The skiers looked like they liked it though :-)

1) FWA of ??? 2) Rainier - Ptarmigan Ridge 3) Denali - West Rib 4) Hunter - West Ridge 5) Moose's Tooth 6) Run a marathon

Jamin... No one really cares about all your "stats." Just go out, enjoy the wilderness and time spent with cool people. Post pics anytime you take cool ones.