Bosterson

Some mountaineers say the Valley of the Silent Men is the most beautiful in all of the Olympics.

Trying to reduce the gear hoard of stuff that's not being used. Everything available for pickup in Portland. Shipping might be possible, we can discuss. Note on sewn goods: ropes were stored inside a duffel bag, so no direct light, not near chemicals, but caveat emptor, read descriptions below. All items were stored in a dry basement in a nonsmoking house. Offers or trade for beer will be considered. Ropes (L- R): 1) yellow gym rope (don't remember brand) - SOLD 2) blue Edelweiss 9.2mm x 70m dry treated - SOLD 3) purple Beal Rando 8mm x 30m glacier line - SOLD Shoes (clockwise from top left): 1) Boreal Diabolo, US 8.5. Used in the gym, fair bit of life left. $10 2) Scarpa Origin Euro 41. Got tested out once and then life happened and they were forgotten, so basically new. $40 3) Evolv Pontas lace US 8.5 - well used, toes still intact but one is starting to blow, so could use a resole. Free 4) Sportiva Tarantulace Eur 39.5 - both toes blown but only the very outer rubber, would be fine with a resole. Free 5) Evolv Shaman (1st version) US 9 - well used, right toe blown with small hole into underlying leather. Free Gear (clockwise from top left): 1) CAMP Carvex #9 dyneema hex. SOLD 2) CAMP nuts, #3-5. SOLD 3) blue Mammut 120cm dyneema Contact sling. SOLD 4) green Edelweiss 60cm sling SOLD 5) yellow BD 60cm nylon slings x 4 - SOLD 6) Metolius PA, mfg 2011. Well used but in good condition (no damage). At the end of its life, so could be good for racking or hauling or house projects or something. Free 7) BD Neutrino x 2 (red tape bands). These were left outside for 1 yr after being left behind rapping off a project in the forest. No visible rust, and seem fine. Free 8) BD Neutrino x 4. SOLD 9) Omega Pacific 20kn aluminum rap rings x 3. Never used. $5 for all

The NPS is soliciting comments on a climbing management plan for Joshua Tree. The core issues they appear to want comments on have to do with preservation of petroglyphs/Native American sites; formalizing trails and reducing environmental damage; and bolting. Even though this plan is specifically for Joshua Tree, it seems worth commenting as it's likely at least some components of whatever plan they end up with will probably spill over into climbing management in other parks. NPS link

Edit: Raven Pro is sold!

Pickup in Portland preferred, otherwise can ship for cost. Petzl Aztarex - hammer and adze pair with BD leashes and shafts wrapped with grip tape. Petzl Blue Ice picks are sharp. Great tools and lots of life left. I picked them up used years ago but need something with a real spike. Trade for pair of Petzl Sum'tecs, otherwise $250 for the set.

Awesome! Great photos, as always.

Thanks for posting Kurt, that's neato. Has no one really climbed the full NE ridge yet? (I thought it finally went down in the late 90s, but maybe not the whole thing?) Really cool to see your old photos, I'm sure a lot has changed about how the "scene" is out there compared with when you were there. Side note re Chinese/Tibetans, I just discovered China has made some kind of Chinese version of Vertical Limit (called "The Climbers"), featuring amongst others Jackie Chan (??), which makes propagandistic references to how the 1960 Chinese climbers have to summit "their" mountain... Oy...

Bump. Katanas are gone.

The next stage of this saga has unfolded. Sez R&I: "You really will feel special when your friend Becky, who was the first to get endclothing.com’s silver $219 Kong Chocks keychain, can’t afford the Louis Vuitton chalk bag. Dreams really do come true." For the low low price of $1,590.00. They also make a $3,000.00 backpack version: "Inspired by mountain climber's bags, the Chalk backpack is a fashion-forward combination of practical detailing and House signatures." I'm still trying to unpack that sentence. Does "practical detailing" refer to the... ice axe loop?

Anyone have a spare they don't need? If you're in Portland, I'm happy to swing by and swap you a beer for it.

Thanks! Changed the bookmark to https and it loaded immediately.

I have the same problem. Trying to go to the homepage on desktop Chrome, no dice. Go to a subpage and it loads.

Julbo Explorers sold.

I have a Core that's a few years old. For outdoor use I keep it in altimeter mode so I haven't tried the barometric storm warning alarms or whatever. The display seems easier to read than the older Vector model. Nothing fancy but it works well to gauge how high you are on a ridge, etc. The battery seems to last for about a year.

As the Deschutes NF decided to still take the nuclear option and plans to institute a massive paid permit and quota system for the Central Oregon Cascades from May - October, people who submitted comments on the original draft proposal have an opportunity to object or appeal the USFS's decision. Someone I know wrote out a guide on how to do this, which I am quoting below: