Craig Pope

Yo! I'd luv to climb - always starving for partners!!

Howdy - is ANYONE driving to rainier natl prk Thursday early afternoon/evening?? I would LOVE A RIDE - pitch in 4 gas, VERY SMALL pack, 22lbs of gear only... Reply, or more preferably email craig.pope@mistrasgroup.com

Hey All! Craig here - Anyone wanna head up to Alpental and climb some moderate mixed? Mostly Bolt protected...The approach is protected from avalanche hazard and relatively short. I was thinking a possibility could be climb Ice/Mixed tomorrow, then head to Vantage Saturday night/Sunday morning...or just stay and climb at the pass... Any takers? I'm a patient belay, and will lead pretty much anything...

hahahahahaha!!! awesome!! He was FINE. . .seriously.

HahaHaHAHA!! Lmfao!

It's still there...why not second a really fun route, and who cares about the rating?? Buyout...it must have not been WI7 since I didn't have to fig4. WI ratings above 6 directly incorporate protection as a factor, not physical difficulty.

There...thx, dude...pretty much boils down to a few dork climbers on the wildest line they'd seen to date. The rappell was one of the freakiest parts...stepping out over space, and looking at what I had just done was sobering...lol As far as the grade is concerned - It was wilder and harder than any 6+ I've ever seen or climbed, so I rated it 7. The mixed climbing was a lot easier to grade when compared to .11+/.12 rock... All three gents who climbed this route had a lot of fun, and the second time I led it took no less "mental fortitude" and strength of body. It was a kick in the pants, and I've learned a lot from this rating discussion. I believe the rating of an ice route especially doesn't do much more than make a climber aware of what they are about to get themselves into if they can't decipher that from any pictures available. ...now to hunt out what's next...

I think it's great to discuss the WI7 rating. By definition, I believe WI6+X IS WI7. As far as physical demanding ice, I have climbed TONS of 5+ ice that was more physically demanding than a fair amount of WI6's. When u step up from 5+, I believe the grades reflect more danger rather than acrobatics. However, with that said, when you are forced to climb a 40 hanging, poorly adhered cicle because the rock to the left u were stemming on runs out of ANY feet, and u are only able to place one MARGINAL 10cm screw...roping out on a couple of the cicles I found myself 6-7 feet from the consistently overhanging rock...I'm not saying I'm the most credible on WI ratings, but Jess and I both believe that to b the craziest price of ice we've ever SEEN - anywhere, let alone climbed! DAMN IT! Why won't someone just go repeat it already?? (Note for potential second ascentionists; climb the bottom section, throw a bail biner on the #2 pecker, then lower off while cleaning the lower two fixed pins, pull the rope, then pound em in on lead). Lol. I would have cleaned the whole route on rappell, but I was 20 ft out from the wall due to the overhanging nature of the climb. Plus we were in a hurry because it was a little warmer and didn't want the route to fall off and crush us like bugs.

Quite a bit harder than rocket boy, but I rated that too after the FFA..lol

HFA is a rad route btw!! Good on u, shmitzy, Jojo and Pete for putting up one of hyalite's better routes!!

I just compared it to some of the harder more dangerous lines I have done. Running 4 laps - on lead - on Come and Get It M7 WI6+, doesn't even come close to the physical and mental demand Chucky did. Heck, last year I soloed Come and Get It, and that even took less of a head. I compare it to more difficult bolted mixed lines like Roman Candle, M8, and steepness of route is similar, but 'Chucky' has bigger moves, more tenuous feet and tool placements, and you are placing small kb's and peckers to keep u off the ground for the first 40 ft... The second day, while gunning for the second ascent, Jess R took a whip and pulled a pin... Sh*t, I would be stoked more than ANYONE, if someone got off the computer and sent it free for the second time. Partly cause another grade confirmation would be fabulous and let me know if I'm correct or just ignorant about more difficult ice/mixed climbing grades.

Yeah...my mom knows...

Need a climbing partner for banks lake tomorrow. Climbed the cable, h2o2, and a new mixed line yesterday, want to go back, and some great climbs also at Moses coulee r in!!!

The film address moved to: http://vimeo.com/m/37205682

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

the refined video: alstrinfilms

Sick, guys!! Love it!!

Headed out tomorrow 4 am to get there early, going to be at zenith, then again on 31st. Maybe next Friday. Maybe.

I think I had to leave my watermelons on the ground before starting up, rope or not! lol rock and roll! Banks is so sick right now. was there today, headed out tomorrow. . .oh man. 5+'s abound!! Yeah!!

totally in and totally wet

It never gets easier than 6. Later in fbe season the bottom diameter might swell to 2-3 in a good year, and the bulk of the icicle may fatten quicker resulting in less hooks, and more delicate sticks. The climbing becomes less technical, but steeper due to the way curtains form over each other. In regard to screw placements, I would under no circumstance place a screw until at least 5 ft higher than where the ice adheres to the rock. Last year I saw it break off at the lip of cave, and oh man!! If it gets to be 18 inches in diameter at the base, get after it!!

That's right, I'm not. Aside from that fact, I don't get it.

Seriously, people?? Get off your frigging computers and come climb ice!!!!

Ya buddy!!!!

31st I'll be there