[Synthetic Insulation Jacket]

Synthetic jackets are a great choice for year round in the Cascades, however, the DAS parka and similar weight parkas are overkill, except for perhaps Rainier in February. I would look into a lighter weight hooded jacket like the Patagonia Micropuff, Wild Things EP jacket and similar weighted jackets.

[Best places near Seattle for kids to climb?]

The new wall in North Bend (Torgeson Park) is very kid friendly.

[PNW Screws]

If I take screws on Hood or Rainier it is because I am doing a technical route like the North Face or Liberty Ridge so I take 6 screws. For easier routes I generally don't take any screws.

[Asshats, dipshits, and Wallmart shoppers]

in general, terribly high prices before markdowns.

Oh, but real climbers, the rich ones, don't mind getting fleeced.

Branding = competence.

 

You are an ass.

[Fall Alpine Objectives?]

How would the Entiat Icefall on Mt Maude be this time of year? Any guesses?

[how many pullups can you do?]

I recall a time when I could do 23 pullups without resting and couldn't get up Libra Crack at Index (a short .10a finger/hand crack)on top rope.

 

At age 10 my daughter could do laps on Libra Crack and couldn't do a single pull up. She had small hands which were the perfect size for the crack.

[Route Recommendations for Oct 2-4th?]

Eldorado might be a good option. Is the road open yet?

[[TR] Middle Palisade - Northeast Face 9/24/2009]

Nice photos.

 

[Artificial climbing wall in North Bend]

I believe what happened was they were trying to raise 150k to build the largest wall in the state but they fell far short of their goal so they built what they could afford.

[reality check]

I couldn't finish watching.

[Artificial climbing wall in North Bend]

I took a look. It is a nice wall with natural features that remind me of basalt. It is much smaller than originally planned it seems though.

[A Grocery List of Dumb Newb Questions!]

You may find this article helpful: http://www.summitpost.org/article/507227/So-you-want-to-climb-Mt-Rainier-.html

[Central Wash Climbing]

There is always the Tooth, about an hour east of Seattle.

[Warning Armed Nutjob in North Cascades]

That dude was a colleague of my wife's. She described him as a bit of a hothead.

[ice cliff arete 9/1/2009]

I have always wondered about the arete. Nice work.

[[TR] Bitch Slapped by Peter Croft - Stuart Range traverse attempt 9/12/2009]

A few years ago, someone did a day climb solo:

 

1. parked at snow creek

2. ran up the road to colchuck trailhead

3. ran to dragontail peak

4. soloed Serpentine Ridge

5. ran to prusik

6. soloed W. Ridge on prusik peak

7. Ran to snow creek wall

8. soloed outer space

9. ran down to the car at snow creek

 

I met a guy on Prusik who was doing just that. His name was Aidan. He guides for AAI I think.

[Half Rope Recommendations]

I have Edelwiess 8.5 mm sharp and it seems to be a solid rope and has held up well on rock pitches.

[[TR] Bitch Slapped by Peter Croft - Stuart Range traverse attempt 9/12/2009]

I had a long day of my own this summer, Goode in a day.

 

That is incredible. Did you do the NE Buttress? How did you approach?

[treadmill for the wife]

Look into Precor. They can be found used on Craiglist.

[Mountaineering Boots?]

After suffering for years cramming my widish feet into various La Sportiva boots I recently switched to a pair of Scarpa Summits. Similar in function to LS Nepals. My feet have never been happier.

[[TR] Molar Tooth - North Ridge 8/31/2009]

Thanks for the report. I'll have to add this route to the list.

[New Routes in the Northwest]

I was pleased to see the winter/spring routes addressed. Nice job.

[Hell's Highway - Mt Shuksan]

Price Glacier goes.

[Mt. Shuksan -- NW Arete]

Z-Man has done it: http://www.summitpost.org/route/259121/northwest-arete.html

[[TR] Black Peak - NE Ridge 8/23/2009]

Nice. I'm looking forward to doing this next month.

 

cool. you gonna knock it out car-to-car?

 

I'm doing it as a mellow overnighter. I likes me some camping.