stevetimetravlr

I like TR's of all sorts. Great up to the moment knowledge of conditions, gear, fun factor, the whole monty. If you want to put in there you ate at McDonalds or Zeke's or at the bikini coffee bar, its allgood. Bring it on!!

Nice!

Maybe we need a trad/sport climbing area on the parking lot side above the water fountain. It has super looking rock with lots of room. That wouldn't disturb the peregrines but you might have to move the water fountain.

as long as we are all moving forward in a positive manner with BRST, seems like that can only yield positive results for us climbers AND the peregrines so way to go guys! Thanks for the detailed imput Joseph.

actually its more like 5 hours. But worth it!

Thanks guys, I am on it!

Do you really need to condoms to climb as that seems like it would be uncomfortable, and I generally wear a shoulder harness for support instead? Way to go get it.

Its a 4 hour drive for me to Index. I know its raining there today and tomorrow on and off, but forecast is for it drying off after that and I'm wondering if anyone has been climbing at the upper Town Wall this season?

Right on cue, its another ignorant ahole. What have you done to help the Tibetans? Put a "Free Tibet" sticker on your bumper? Might want to slap it on your mouth dude. I am involved in directly helping the Tibetans. I go there, I buy their handicrafts, jewelry, furniture, and handmade articles and pay them cash. I do this in bulk and ship it back and sell it. I get grief from the Chinese, yes, but they can't stop me from spending my money. Many people, yourself obviously included, don't realize that half of Tibet is not in the Tibet province. Qinghai province is the "other" half of Tibet. Many huge monasteries, the birthplace of the Dali Lama, the high Tibetan desert, and half the Tibetans live there as it is formerly part of Tibet province. There is not many problems from the Tibetans who live there, so as a result there are not many restrictions or problems for the Tibet people. The Chinese have come in and done minor developement and buildings and businesses but not much. I'm curious, how many native cultures and the like have we preseved here in the US? When one of the huge Yellow hat Monasteries was severely devastated by a earthquake a few years back, the Chinese came in and put millions into saving and restoring it. I am not pro Chinese but neither do I have my head stuck somewhere. Realistically the Chinese "giving back" Tibet has about the same odds of the US giving back Hawaii and Alaska to the indigenous people, so why don't we engage in some meaningful dialogue with the Chinese regarding cultural preservation instead of lambasting them for enforcing illegal border crossing and pissing them off. Do something positive to help the Tibetans? Im sorry, but the Dali Lama is not helping his people much by living the life of a fat cat and traveling the lecture circuit, but instead has had quite the opposite effect. here is just one example of this.. http://wisdombuddhadorjeshugden.blogspot.com/2008/09/very-hard-for-us.html

Is this what you were dreaming about Bill?

It is a very sad situation in Tibet and China in general. But Tibet is China's territory and they ain't giving it up. Historically it has been part of China on and off for over a thousand years. Why don't you focus instead on freeing the Hawaiians? or the Native Americans? How about our own border with Mexico and the people that die every year crossing it? Far more then die crossing the Chinese border I would wager. For clarification, it is a BORDER. and if people choose to cross it illegally, there is a good chance of them being arrested, imprisoned, shot, or killed. I don't support it, I don't agree with it, but its pretty clear why people are killed, same as they are killed here crossing the border and in MANY MANY OTHER COUNTRIES. What urgent cause do you support, armed resistance? do you think resistance is going to help the Tibetans? or climbers in general? Why is it that we as Americans can overthrow countries and governments and kill their leaders and occupy countries and install puppet politicians, but you are worried about the Chinese? Who was it that said "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye"? I have traveled extensively in China and Tibet, and I am saddened by the plight of all indigenous people there but working to help them thru assistance and education makes allot more sense then encouraging rebellion or resistance as from what I can see all that has done so far is bring a shitload of problems down on the Tibetans.

better to have a package of Black Cat firecrackers and a lighter and set them off if encountered. it will scare any animal off far better then any firearm. Most of us have been tracked thru the woods by cougars on occasion. Nothing to get your panties in a uproar about. Be alert, be aware in the woods. Don't let them get the jump on you off some overhanging bank or some such and if encountered, be aggressive and loud with them. Grab a big stick and get ready to party.

Great trip report. Looks cold but fun. Way to go after it, awesome!

Just the name Mescalito should scare you, gonna be a total mindfuck. Mescalito is HUGE, twice the size of Zodiac. yeah, anybody can climb A2, but two thousand feet off the deck,running it out on small gear, the wind howling and the ropes twisting, low on water, dropped your ATC, days to the top and you just checked your weather report and theres a storm coming. Yeah, anybody can climb A2...

Right on Kenny. Thanks to you guys for your efforts.

Takes dedication to monitor Peregines. I must have missed it somewhere, but what do we hope to gain by doing so? A possible earlier season opener perhaps?

bump

Sweet dude and good timing.

Nice TR!

I think Bill has a bit of piton envy.......but in fact seems he's right. Its not about the color or size of your piton, but how you use it.

!

just about all the splitters at Midnight Rock Easter Overhang Black Widow Flame Sting Wasp ROTC and on...

Joseph, you're supposed to say "Ha Ha" after you say something like that, so everyone knows you're kidding.

In general, skinny ropes get hung up much easier then thicker ropes when you pull them if the terrain is rope catching.

You generally want a interpreter with you anyway. They are to be had for fairly cheap in china but you do want a sharp one. and if you are climbing or in base camp, I doubt they will want to go along with you, and will probably hang in town. It helps if you have a business visa and are a businessman, and dress like a businessman as the Chinese generally give busines people a pass. The climbing and climbing gear are incidental and in your luggage, so do't make a issue out of what you are going to do.