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JoeR

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Posts posted by JoeR

  1. Point is there's a lot of ways to go about it, and knowing more than one thing is best. Everyone ought to know how to hip belay, nothing can move the rope faster on easy ground. Gri-gri's have their place too, but I find 'em awkward for belaying a leader.
    I agree completely with this, but your assertion that the BUS method only has a place in the gym or in top-roping has not been my experience.

     

    We were taught that the belay hand must NEVER leave or lose contact with the rope, and so the old hip belay technique,(with the ATC in place of the hips) does this beautifully. This BUS method looks to me like a good way to get fucked up in a big hurry. I've seen people doing it for years, I just thought they'd never learned to belay properly; never realized that it was a formalized technique. Amazing. Definitely something I don't want done on a real climb.
    A few points:

    1: The belay hand does not ever leave the rope, you seem unfamiliar with this technique.

    2: If the Bus method was a good way to get fucked up in a big hurry, it would not be taught by so many gyms and other climbing businesses looking to manage their risk.

    3: Your automatic assumption that the method that so many other people were using was wrong just because it is different than the one you were taught is telling.

     

    Forgot my harness and ATC last fall and still mananaged to do Blownout out at Beacon and rap it with just the end of the rope and a couple of biners. Still completely doable even in the face of all our pretty baubles and contraptions.
    Wiregates are pretty contraptions... pinch your nuts with the Dulfersitz next time for maximum archaic goodness.

     

    All in all, each belay method does the job, and a knowledge of each one comes with time and a willingness to accept a world where different people use different methods to achieve a goal. To call something retarded and dangerous just because it isn't the method you were taught is disingenuous at best. That is unless you want climbing to be like an fundamentalist religion.

  2. The BUS method can be performed quickly and smoothly with practice, just like the SSS method. I also find it easier to belay using the BUS method with frozen hands or gloves on.

     

    BUS is the first method I teach new climbers. If they stick with climbing it seems like they learn the SSS method on their own and apply it occasionally as circumstances require i.e. cramped belay ledge or awkward belay position.

     

    the ever popular sitting belay on top of beer cooler at the crags. :)

    I like bringing out the ol' camp chair.. you can even put your feet up on the cooler and bask in the comfort!
  3. Buckfast for breakfast?

     

    Also, best quote ever

     

    “It goes straight to your head,” he said, “but it’s not my cup of tea.” (Mr. Rooney noted that his cup of tea is half a bottle of vodka a night.)
  4. Trip: Smith Rocks - Birds in a Rut

     

    Date: 1/5/2010

     

    Trip Report:

    With the shiny new Watt's guidebook in hand, The Captain and I set off to enjoy Smith Rock at it's finest... Cold and empty of people.

     

    After spending a night in the dirt, we awoke to a sign of the impending collapse of society and all that is good. Terrorists have removed the fee box from Skull Hollow! How are we to pay for our patch of dirt now? For those upstanding climbers wishing to avoid this experience, the climber's bivy at the Smith Rock State Park is more than happy to take your money.

    21061_1170696477975_1544901930_30388131_8174453_n.jpg

     

     

    On to the climbing.

     

    Day one saw us at the Dihedrals with some friends out of Eugene. In addition to us, one party was in the area that day. It pays to climb in the cold After climbing the hard new route called "Cinnamon Slab" and making friends with the leader of the other party in the area, we retired to rest and drink a fine champagne made by the Busch company at Skull Hollow.

     

    Day two was spent in quiet contemplation in the Textbooks with our new friend Mike. After sharing a splendid 40 of Pabst Blue Ribbon-what a fine beer that is- we climbed throughout the day, finishing up on "Prom Night", a crack of questionable reputation.

     

    Day Three was spent wandering about, clanking our hexes and cams together so the 5 other people in the park could know we were climbers. I see this as a very important part of climbing. Over lunch we smeared chalk on each other and shouted climbing specific terms across the gorge. I climbed "5-gallon Buckets" since there was no waiting line to get on it. Very fun, felt quite heroic ascending the huge gas pockets and jugs. I was ritually flogged back at camp for clipping bolts and feeling good about it.

    21061_1170696637979_1544901930_30388135_3287593_n.jpg

    Day four saw bad weather on the forecast and intermittent rain. This day was the highlight of the trip. The Captain, Mike and I journeyed out to The Wombat to attempt "Birds in a Rut" a 6 pitch Sprad route featured in the new guidebook. Lots of loose holds and slightly moist lichen on this route, sure to please! I narrowly avoided pulling a pile of boulders off on the second pitch when attempting the 5.8 variation. I backed off and finished normally after pushing the bottom boulder back into place. Be wary of the boulders making up the hand crack if you like your friends. The rain really started midway through the 4th pitch, and the lichen began to exude a substance closely resembling snot. It was at this point we bailed off using the gear we had bootied previously.

    21061_1170696997988_1544901930_30388144_5361630_n.jpg

    We finished the day clanking gear together and drinking in the rain. I recommend this route. Awesome views and a fun approach.

    21061_1170696717981_1544901930_30388137_1944941_n.jpg

    Gear Notes:

    Keep outside of pack or on harness so it can clank around, let the tourists know who's boss. The new Watt's guidebook is awesome, be sure to make friends with someone who has one. I also cannot recommend sweatpants enough.

     

    Approach Notes:

    Fun approach, bring beer.

  5. it is a horrible thing to wish death on any human(oid).

     

    You are right joe, and I am a horrible person. While his antics can be scarily amusing sometimes, the only reason I can think of wanting him to recover is in the hopes that someday it becomes trendy to punch him in the cock or otherwise terrorize the old gasbag.

     

    :brew: Here's to being a mean hippie.

     

     

    :tup: Nice video Ivan

  6. WTF were YOU thinking continuing on?

     

    ...and summit post is a waste of time...so much bad beta mostly from people who don't get out much but really enjoy talking about being out...

    :tup: Last I heard SP does provide some interesting trolling opportunities.

     

     

    Sounds like this guy MIGHT have been qualified to be base camp bitch... of course you would have had to teach him the basics of camping outside.

     

    and lastly, no beer? The most damning act yet!

     

     

     

     

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