KirkW

That's weird. I was on Limp Dick last summer and fell or hung 3 times. All the gear held with no movement in the column. That route's been climbed thousands of times since then and no one else noticed any movement that I'm aware of either. This is, of course, AFTER the rock fall that these idiots were trying to "clean up". Weird how it moved for you but no one else.

Thanks for posting!

My buddy claims that his Stiletto allowed him to keep swinging a hammer when he was told by his doc to give it up because of chronic tendinitis. So there's that. And they look really good in a Dead On hammer holster. Of course I swing a cheap old Vaughn. I like the sound they make when they break. And...they've got that sweet magnet. I do however usually tape the handle. Never taped for climbing other than covering up the occasional work injury.

Bump

LINKY

A week and a half ago duder at Pine Mt. Sports in Bend told me it was "at least" 3-4 miles. Been warm since then.

It's certainly not too short. If anything it's a little on the long side for someone who is 5'3. A shorter axe will be much more manageable all around. The "buy a long axe" advice is coming from people who use it like a walking stick. Get a set of adjustable ski poles and a 55cm axe. You'll be happier in the long run if you get into climbing and you don't have to cut it down in a couple of years when you realize it's too big. For what it's worth, I'm 5'10 and I carry a 60cm standard axe. I've never needed or wanted a longer one. I have considered cutting down a little shorter though.

Looking for a pair of 175's. If they had skins that would be awesome. Not too concerned about condition as I'm sure I'll be destroying them with my total noobness.

Awesome. My new signature.

"Is this me?"

Nice rack Tyler. I'll drive if you agree to let me sink one of those snargs. Looks like Mr. Waters has been a busy boy. I wonder if he's still working on a "Top ten classic 5.5X routes of Mary's Peak" guide? Last I heard there is gonna be a HUGE "Druid Boulders" section. Honnold keeps bugging him I hear. I can understand why it's taking him a while. So many good ones to choose from up there. Shapp, you should check that place out. Well worth the drive.

No comment on the polished stone bit... but I do agree with the OP that if an organization is taking your $185 dollars for a day of climbing instruction they should at least provide you with a pair of real rock shoes. Teaching a total noober how to hip belay their first day out seems less important to me than making sure they can operate a standard belay device. Teaching them the advanced technique of how to "hip belay" around your rib cage should be the first thing they learn about belaying of course. I mean, holy shit, what if they suddenly found themselves in a different parallel dimension in which the Munter hitch suddenly didn't exist? What if they dropped their tube device before clipping it to their belay loop? I guess they would have to bend over and pick it up? Again, this strikes me as an advanced technique. Better to teach them how to pound pins and move in coils.

If anyone is interested I've got NW forest passes for 08,09 and 11 for sale.

Two outta three ain't bad.

I clicked on this thread to read about bird closures but instead ended up in the Beatard forum. Thanks for that guys. I guess having your very own forum to do all the pissing, moaning, name calling, whining, crying and self aggrandizing ego flogging wasn't enough. Thanks for mucking up this thread with your bullshit too.

Team of 8. Not only is that dangerous but it's incredibly inconsiderate of anyone else that might want to climb the mountain that day. The Mazamas are aware that they don't own every volcano in the PNW, right?

Interesting that it never occurred to him to use the tree he was dreaming under to start a fire. I wonder how many BTU's a hiking sock puts out?

Dawg, you are right on the money with this one. No one seems to notice that we're living in a police state. Too bad about what happened to all of this guys victims but just because somebody else does something horrible doesn't mean I have to give up my basic civil rights.

I predict that in 2012 I will finally summit the N. Sister and I'll send 5.11. Pretty sure the rest of it is out of my control. Amurikkka will get what it deserves.

Tvash, you're missing the point. It's not up to Washingtonians what they can and cannot do on Federally protected land. I get just as much say in it as you do. It doesn't matter if it's a crapper or a fire lookout. Glad you liked my Gorge TR enough to continue referencing it despite the fact that I didn't bring it up!

Oh, I see. Since I don't live right next to this piece of Federally owned and managed wilderness then I don't get to have a say in how it's used? How close exactly do I need to live before I get to speak my opinion? 10 miles? 100? 217 1/2? Please tell me so that I don't go and embarrass myself again by speaking out of place. I thought the whole point of it being protected by the feds was that it belonged to all of us and wouldn't be left up to the locals to use and abuse as they see fit? You're wrong in stating that I don't understand what the Wilderness Act "actually" is. I understand all too well how it has misinterpreted by user groups across this country so that they can achieve whatever goal or pet project they've decided is important. If it's been set aside as a Wilderness then there is no gray area in the act as to what is allowed. Except of course whatever gray area the bureaucrats in the FS "decide" exists. They are not supposed to be making laws or finding ways to circumvent the ones that all ready exist. I usually agree with your views on things Tvash but in this I think you are absolutely wrong. Attack this group and call them drunk sheep fuckers if you have to but it won't change the fact that if someone doesn't hold the FS accountable for their reprehensible "management" of our public lands then one day there will be no more public lands. Please, now tell me how I'm an ignorant fool. Your name calling rants are usually quite entertaining.

So where would you draw the line Tvash? The Forest Service rules apply to everybody but the FS? What's next? Back Country Welcome centers with toilets and trash removal service at every fire ring scattered across the PNW? That would certainly make it more comfortable for the "hikers" that are so up in arms about the possibility of losing their rest spot. How soon am I going to need to carry mein papiers with me when I go climbing? How much will those cost me and how exactly will the FS waste that money? I realize it's a lot easier to demonize the group that is doing this than it is to look at the facts and make the obvious decisions that needs to be made. The FS broke the law that they themselves have been given the responsibility of upholding. When I break the law and get caught I'm held accountable. If the locals in WA don't want to hold the FS accountable then perhaps you should step aside and let someone who actually gives a shit about our public lands do what they feel compelled to do?

Tell me about it! You have no idea how much I can sympathize with your situation Sobo. I wasn't even married to my last partner (together 6 years though) but she still managed to get me into a court room after I caught her sleeping with our room mate. Somehow she got it in her head that this was my fault and, as punishment, I should have to give her all my property and move into my car. She timed this perfectly so that I was without a vehicle at that particular moment and then told a judge that I threatened her despite not even having talked with her for weeks. This effectively made me homeless. In the end the judge saw it my way and she didn't get a single thing from me but that didn't stop her from causing me a whole lot of head ache and drama. I hear that she still feels completely justified in doing what she did to this day. I am so fortunate that we didn't have kids. I can't even imagine what my life would be like if I still had to deal with that disgusting excuse for a human being. I took my dog and she kept the cats. Fair enough. You cannot trust a woman like this to do anything but that which serves her own self interests. Hurting you is obviously her goal. Don't play her games. Oh...and before this thread gets shipped to the counseling corner... Happy Holiday!

Anyway, I'm not a lawyer or anything but from my past experience with this kind of thing you'd be best to dot your I's and cross your T's while remaining on your best behavior. I know I don't need to tell you how good women like this are at playing the victim and playing their sympathy cards to the courts while at the same time being cold calculating bitches. Stay cool Sobo. It'll serve you and your kid's better in the long run. Sorry the Holiday was less than stellar for you.

I feel for you man. I've had my share of dealing with crazy ex's as well. You might want to remember that this site is open to the public and making threats on a public forum against your ex wife isn't going to sit well with the judge. Especially if you are asking him for favors. I completely understand where you are coming from however, toning it down on these boards might serve you better in the long run. Hope things work out well for you.