CascadeClimber

Dude, you write hilarious TRs. I remember reading the last one, from the trip with Bob and Jim. Did Bob renew his proclamation before you left for this attempt? Jberg just doesn't let you go until you're almost back at that car. I remember sitting on the summit looking down on the cars in the lot, which is only about a mile or so away, and being really anxious about downclimbing all that rock (we ended up making a few raps), and then the CJ couloir. It's a badass mountain. -L

Don't go near that thing! Instead, you should buy a 1995 Toyota 4Runner SR5 in gray with a lovely pink pinstripe...

My most recent experience at FF: They had BD Vipers on sale. Still, I knew I could get them for less elsewhere, but I wanted to spend my money locally. I go in to buy them. All they have is tools with hammers, but they have a case full of adzes. "I want to buy these tools, but I need one with an adze." "We don't have any with adzes. But you can buy an adze." "I don't really need two hammers and an adze, how about you swap a hammer for an adze, since you have a bunch in the display case, and we'll have a deal?" "Oh. I can't do they. We get them all with hammers so that people will have to buy..." She stops short. I stand there for a moment. Then I put the tools down and walk out of the shop. That was about two years ago, and I haven't been back. I'd go back if they had something I really, really needed, but I don't trust them, and I prefer to spend my money elsewhere. YMMV -L

Yup. I have one. Carbon fiber: Nice, lightweight bucket. Petzl Ecrin still has the best adjustment system, though. All you ever wanted to know about Joe Brown and then some.

Yup. Looks like a Joe Brown. They haven't changed much in three decades. I can't say how old it might be. Looks like this one was a snaffle snack.

Mounties Rock'N'Roll Dance DJ Paul Thompson? Oh, man, too bad I got kicked out!

Most excellent! But what's with the stove Karma you've got going on Pandora?? -L

The standard south side route is 4th or low 5th and relatively solid where it needs to be. I'm a punter and downclimbed it with minimal issue. In general, it's a choss heap, but the view is nice from the top. Don't know about the NW Couloir- we went up the East Buttress. -L

Words most often heard from people contemplating this approach: "I've done it xxx times, but this time I know exactly where to go." Words most often heard from same people just getting back to the trail: "Well, we kinda fucked that up again, but next time we'll know exactly which way to go."

Is this the "I'm having fun slogging down" look?

OMG, as if! So said by a person who was born the year Van Halen released 1984!!!

Huzzah! Got any paint left on your car? Did Fern share her super-secret Canadian fruit bars?

Nice pics, thanks for the TR. The North Ridge is kicking some ass this year. I gotta go take a look see soon... -L

I'll just take your word on that. Uh huh. In the mean time, I prefer the mutant cheeseless pizza slice that's been sitting in a 110 degree car for three days (even though it soooo doesn't count as a slice).

Giant flying Bit-O-Honey bars and strange gorilla things...

Bravo! A friend once told me that life is best measured not in moments of time, but in timeless moments. Sounds like you had one. Pure presence in the moment is where it's at for me. Oneness. Here's what I know: Giving chase doesn't work: It can't be caught, nor can you find it while giving chase. Wanting it doesn't work. Wanting only begets more wanting. Expecting it doesn't work: It knows nothing of expectations. It's not a place: It's nowhere and everywhere at once. You can't get there some time: It's timeless; a space where I can and do notice everything with ease. It is a space without fear or bravado: They imply thought of the future. I have to not worry or care about about getting to that space while simultaneously knowing that I can. It's involuntary, like blinking or breathing, and beyond confidence. Manifest destiny with calm indifference. -L

The only thing you can tell from the WHOIS record is when the name was registered by the current lessee. This has almost nothing to do with the status of the related web site: There are plenty of long-registered domain names without related web sites, and there are domain names that have had related sites for much longer that the current lessee has had rights to the name. It's kind of like saying you can tell how old a car is by the date the current owner bought it. -L

Seven slices (if you can call them that) for breakfast summit morning. No wonder I couldn't keep up. Writer's bl0ck. Maybe I need m0re fac0n. Actually, I think I used up all my creativity writing an appeal 0f the speeding ticket the Eat0nville welc0ming c0mmittee best0wed up0n me.

I'm lazy. If it can't be opened and eaten, or rehydrated and eaten, I don't carry it. I'm also veg, so no canned animal flesh on my list. Good: AlpineAir Mountain Chili (though causes issues later). Smoked, salted almonds. Recently described by someone as smoked, salted sex. Kendall Mint Cake. Some people make awful faces about it though (but then want more later...) Luna Bars. Mostly because some of my partners won't eat them because they are "for women". Oatmeal chocolate caramel bar things. Yummm. Chocolate covered espresso beans. Those fruit bar things that Fern totes around. I'm hooked. Generally, anything that my partner carried. Stuff I like but am too lazy to carry: Coffee and French (er, Freedom) press. Something other than bars for breakfast. Fruit. Apples in particular. Carrots Suck: Most freeze-dried shit. "Facon". Though some people seem to love it, I tried and couldn't get there. Anthing that requires a concerted clean-up effort. Anything heavy that I have to carry. I usually try to sneak a block of cheese into my partner's pack. -L

Nice. Got any pics? That's a monster cam you have there. -L

That is fucking classic!

Caveman Hmmm, check out Dru's response just below. That knock on your door is Messrs Ashcroft and Rumsfeld, Dru. Can you say, "Gitmo"? Don't forget to pack your digicam. Honorable mention to these two for their second posts: Icegirl Pandora formerly Girlclimber

Here is mine: Loren starts with immediate chest beating Here is Dru's: Dru starts with a troll These suck. Someone must have had a really good start... -L