tvashtarkatena

FUCK YOU ASSHOLE! Oh wait...they didn't use profanity in Raindawg's time, back then all climbers knew each other, had the same values, and didn't swear! The funny thing is, I'm from Raindawg's time. The climbers I know from that time either a) have moved on to other things or b) are still doing it, albeit it at a more relaxed pace and often in a different form. Even as their relationship with the wilderness has matured and changed, some are just as passionate as they ever were about getting out. I don't personally know anyone from 'back in the day' who continues to chest beat about their Pleistocene accomplishments or, even more embarrassing, their decades-old academic degrees. Pope and Dwayner are unique in this respect, as far as I've been able to tell. But then, I've never really hung around with any pure road-side craggers, so I'm not that familiar with the species. In general, those who throw a bit of alpinism in the mix, even the most talented of said group, seem to have an healthy humbleness when it comes to their exploits. To this group, it's pretty obvious who remains in charge. Perhaps Don and company have more alpinism under their belt than I realize. If so, it seems that they may have forgotten the lessons others have taken from that experience, at least as far as their online personas are concerned. One might argue that their egos need a little pin prick, but I'd wager that deflation has already occurred, and what we witness here is an inability to accept the inevitable and age gracefully. Along that vein, I understand and don't entirely disagree with Don's revulsion to over-bolting from a preservation standpoint. Unfortunately for him, his credibility drops to zero with his kindergartener's 'my pie is better than your pie' delivery and 'with us or against us' attitude. But then, he's not really a part of the climbing community anymore, so, I suppose he feels like he doesn't really need to give a shit about his relationship to it.

A bit ahead of schedule. Nice.

I'm reminded of the Terminator, with it's limited menu of responses to stimuli. Except, you know, that it's a 'credentialed' Terminator.

A spicey surprise after a long day, for sure. It's never over til it's over.

It also strikes me that fewer BLTs and more BOLTs in his life might help this couch Jaba recapture a slice of those Glory Days.

For some, everything is garbled. The author's conclusions were crystal clear to me, and, I'd wager, most other readers as well.

The guy's pretty much like a wind up toy. Push the button, get the bear. Except, you know, he's like a "credentialed" wind up toy. A perfect fit for the drain filter of arrested development and social dysfunction that is academia.

More, please.

This seems to be the 'dissenting' crowd's week for melt downs. Done with you! Give it a another week for some temporary sobriety to take effect and everything will be the same as it ever was.

sort of, except the moss gives you something solid to hang on to

I've actually never seen Ivan drink water.

Did you know that dung beetles can take off but they have no idea how to land? They just auger into the shit, every time. True story. Like all my stories.

Doesn't seem to stop the riffraff from Camas. Yeah, I lived down there. I know your pain. Not that WA is exactly a rock mecca, either.

Oh, sheeit. Too late to delete now. Another CC farewell manifesto is born.

We talked about hauling him up in pieces, but our first aid kit sucked too bad for the reassembly.

Watch it, Ace, or I'll drive you from this site.

Oregon: forever safe from becoming a climbing destination.

You forgot that I brought AIDS to North America, killed Christ, and fathered you. See ya in a few days, Evita.

Uh, sorry guys. My bad. It takes me all day to climb a pitch anyway, so I've just taken to bolting it while I'm at it.

If you get past page 4 by Christmas I'll give you something to suck on.

Try taking the next year off to read the article I just posted instead.

Sphinctercentric, to be sure.

Gives your 3 neurons something to do, though.

Whose to say?

Or not.