BirdDog

Sweet. Nice pics!

Go see a doc. Depending on the type of tear you have, you could recover 100% without any surgery, you could also risk repeated injury with ever increasing recovery time, not to mention future arthritis and other issues. I tore my meniscus and tried to avoid surgery, only got worse; kept reinjuring it. The tear got larger each time. Once I got it scoped it healed fairly well. That was in my early thirties, I'm in my mid fifties now and have very few if any issues with it. Also tore my ACL, had that repaired 17 years ago, does pretty well. If you have even not great health ins., get it looked at, and then you can decide on a course of action; ie: surgery or not. If the tear is large enough to allow bone on bone, you're screwed. I know it's hard to stop a sport due to injury, but take care of yourself now. Stop worrying about V grades and start worrying about whether you will be able to get out of bed when you're 50. Good luck!

When clipping the rope into the 'biner, the 'biner gate should face away from the direction you are climbing; otherwise it's backclipped and could pop the gate in a fall. On a vertical crack - alternate the gates. Yes pcg, it's more critical on stiff sport draws than alpine draws.

Excellent. Congrats on the FLA!

A couple of REI Kindercones for sale here: http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7999874&highlight=

My youngest has a LaFuma Trek Jr.; rated to 30. Has worked well for him down about 30. Not a 10-20 deg. bag, but pretty good and was not very expensive, like well under $100. You might check 'em out.

I second this motion. That would great.

Thanks for sharing the details, well written. Best wishes to the injured.

Wow, sorry for the injury filled trip; but thanks the write up. Sounds like you did a great job taking care of everything. Best wishes to the injured. Appreciate the details and evaluation.

Well I was going to skip to the pictures, but started reading and just kept reading; nicely written! Congrats.

Perfect, thanks!

We got socked in up there last year too. Is the road open to the TH? Enough snow to ski straight down to the valley without going to Hannigan Pass?

I have a older model Speed 30 that I love. Tried one of the new ones in the store for kicks; seemed like the "reactive" suspension was floopy and allowed the pack to flop around. Maybe it works better on an actual climb.

I love C4's, all the way down to the smallest size; I don't like the C3's as much. The C3's seem to walk easily and get stuck. My choice would be C4's and master cams for the smallest sizes. Also take a look at Wild Country Helium Friends, placed a partner's WC Friend the other, nice very light cam.

Nice, beautiful photos. Klawatti looks like it has more snow now than it did the 1st week of July last year when I was up there. Weather turned on us and we left Klawatti for another time as well, have to get back there. Awesome area!

layton - I've had the same question. Kurt - Is there really a benefit from it; and if so what?

I have a short (50cm) CAMP Corsa Nano-Tech I use as a second tool; or alone as super light axe for short approaches or skiing, works well. Weighs about 8oz. Has a steel tip on the pick for ice, but being as light as it is I wouldn't want to use for any sustained ice stuff. Excellent 2nd tool for snow/snice.

SE Rib is a fun climb. Bring a set, or doubles if you have 'em, of stoppers from #4 to #9 and four to six double length runners. I wouldn't bother with cams. Have fun!

Nice work you guys, great pics. Perfect weather window!

The BBQ Caboose restaurant next to the Shell Station in Marblemount is now serving beer. You can chase your sandwich with your favorite beer, yea! Really good bar-b-que!

Spicey - yes! Nice work guys. Love the pics.

Nice you guys. I think that's the ultimate set of NR pics!

Congrats on your summit. But where are the photos, got to have photos.

Wow!! Absolutely great write up and stunning pics. Great story, 7hrs from bc to summit is awesome. Congrats on doing the Cassin, thanks for sharing.

Raindawg - 5 years ago you were beating a dead horse on this subject. Now you're a slovenly old fuck groveling around in the dirt wacking at a pile of bleached bones with a willow twig, muttering to yourself. mattp - thanks to you and WCC for your work on this!