B Deleted_Beck

sketchy how? everything i've heard about mazamas has been good, and that their safety record is really good. i'm even about to join..

what non-climbing pants do you rock climb in? really not excited to drop $80 on a pair of pants, when i'm sure there are other durable, gusseted pants out there, for or not for climbing, for probably half or less than half of that. thanks

http://www.theuiaa.org/act_safety.html some info and a cool video. let the video play through, and it'll autoplay three different vids.

you aren't going by the UIAA falls rating, are you? probably 6-8? your rope can take WAAAAY more falls than that. the UIAA falls rating is based on some crazy fall factor where they put WAY too much weight on the rope and drop it from way too high. don't ask me how exactly, or why... i guess all that info is available on the UIAA website.. i've never been curious enough to look. i just know the UIAA falls rating does not, and is not intended to, give you any idea how many real life lead falls your rope can take.

the way it's been explained to me is that the rope, so long as it passes visual and feeler inspection- no mush in the core, no serious sheath separation or fraying or cuts, etc... the rope is not going to just break. instead, it'll absorb less and less fall energy every fall, leaving your hips to absorb the balance. how much can your body take? i haven't yet worn out a climbing rope.. so i can't speak from personal experience.

what's the consensus on used crampons? there's quite a bit on the various boards and ebay. seems like a scuffed up old set of 10-pointers for $30 would do fine- but i am new, and know nothing.

thanks for the reply how do strap on crampons compare to step in, for when i get a true mountaineering boot? it's too bad i didn't ever get into skiing, and these aren't ski boots... then i could at least justify buying a set of aluminum strap-ons, for ski approaches. snowboard approach, aside from maybe being fun, doesn't seem like it's generally gonna be too practical.

first of all, howdy, i'm ben. i'm new to sport climbing. to be brief... what are the chances this might make an acceptable, temporary, cold climbing boot for easy 6,000-7,000' summit winter hikes? http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/ab6/bkb0000/stuff/100_0942.jpg?t=1294817865 (why cant i get this image to display?) will it even accept a crampon? would the crampon it would accept be a decent crampon i'd want to use with the better boot i intend to buy come spring? it's a snowboard boot... Killer Loop, if you remember them. not shit, but definitely not top of the line. they're pretty rigid in the back, obviously not intended to be hiked in all day... otherwise comfortable, warm, and waterproof. almost seems like i could just cut off the plastic spine on the back, and they'd be a lot more flexible at the ankle. stoopid noob idea, or can i get away with this?

thanks.. i actually talked to 'em about it last night. all they've got is facebook (which i'm also new to), but they liked the idea of members being able to link up, and said they'll come up with something better. maybe put a partners section in the newletter, get a board up on the wall, something tangible.

yea.. apparently they've been open for about 2 years, and i only just noticed 'em about 6 months ago. they're next to the theater in down town- and i never go down town. i guess there's a relatively good sized climbing community around here. since i'm just now getting into sport climbing, i don't really know anybody.. kind of makes it hard to get involved. but i'm doing what i can. hopefully some local climbers are members here. either way, i'm sure this board will be a good resource in general. glad to have found it. the apple of my eye is alpine mountaineering- but i want to get a firm foundation and learn competence in all the sub-categories before i try my hand at big summits.

howdy.. i'm brand new to rock climbing, and pretty much new to climbing in general. i learned to rappel in the army, and took that super basic knowledge and applied it at work, as a roofer. i work with ropes and equipment all the time, but it's obviously a different sort of application. just stated so you know where i'm at.... new, but not dumb new. anyway... i signed up for a membership at the Vault rock gym in Saint Helens (where i live), and have climbed a couple times now, belayed by staff. obviously it's all toprope- since staff is only available to belay sometimes, if you want to climb as often as you'd like, you gonna need somebody else to belay. i took their belay cert class, and am now certified to belay. i still need some practice, but i won't drop you, and i own a grisgris if that makes you more comfortable (though i'd prefer to get more experience with the ATC). just lookin for somebody preferably local who can meet up at the gym and climb/belay for an hour or two several times a week. obviously you'd need to already be a member, or make the commitment to join. you can join right now for $40, and get belay certified for $45, if you don't already have credentials stating you know how to keep somebody off the mat. i'm so brand new here at CC that i don't actually even know if there's a PM feature.... (surely there must be?) so i guess i'll plug my email in here.... bkb0000@comcast.net and i'm ben thanks ETA- i should also mention that i'm looking to do some REAL rock, hopefully locally/regularly, in the probably nearish future. the only thing holding me back is guidance and equipment- need to get some anchors and learn how to use them. but the motivation is there, and climbing strength will be there soon.