CascadeClimber

Rather than pontificating from the comfort of your desk chair, I suggest that you zip in there and cruise the second ascent, then report back. Happy climbing.

The giant eyebolt was still there last time I went that way. You don't need to rap, though. It's pretty obvious when you get to the notch. There is just a little elevation gain and loss on the travese, until you get to the exit chute. Wear a helmet. -Loren

Not this weekend. That would be the Lambone Party. I'm gonna sponge off their beta and go next week. ice ice ice ice ice ice ice ice

I'm gonna skin through bottomless powder to a fat, blue, plastic unclimbed three-pitch WI4+. Then I'm gonna yoyo ski three laps on the way out just because the snow is a dream. Then I'm gonna wake up and realize it's all a dream and that it's effing 50+ degrees and raining again and there isn't any fat ice or powder within 300 miles. Hyalite here I come.

Nice start, and thanks for the link on the Phair Creek page. When complete, your site will be a excellent completement to Lyle's ice guide. If you want/need, you are welcome to use my images on the site, as long as you don't mind including a copyright notice. Best- Loren

One is a closeup of Genesis 1 looking fat and picked out, and the other is Dribbles, looking much more appetizing that it did in November. Ice ice ice ice ice ice ice

I wonder how they feel about their employees taking that advice...

Anyone speak French?

Ahem, I think you are perhaps leaving out some pertinent details. Specifically: In those SIX years, how much money was spent by RTA and what, precisely, did they accomplish, other than a bunch of monkey spanking? Any entity that throws away as much taxpayer money as RTA did should be stripped of funding. In the same amout of time, Portland tripled the size of Max and rebuilt their airport. This is not about lack of money, it is about complete incompetence and lack of accountability. That is why I've voted for lower taxes. Grumble, grumble, grumble...

It's that the cuts they chose seem to be quite vindictive that irritates the hell out of me. Thay aren't shuttering the State Capital dining room with it's french chef, but I have to pay to park anywhere in the damn state except my own driveway. How about Gary Locke and the rest of the schmucks take it in the shorts, too? Maybe a nice fat paycut, or maybe cut the size of the State House in half. They are quick to point out that these cuts won't make a difference, so they shouldn't make them. Poppycock.

Good onya! Got any pics for us? -Loren

I only have 24" pickets. In my experience, I can't think of a time when a 24 didn't work well, but a 36 would have. YMMV

No, technically it is Tacoma and the Eastside's turn 'next week'. Last week it was 'next week', and this week it is 'next week', and so on. "While your perception is the correct perception, it is not, however, reality." - The Clinton Administration

I'm pretty sure the description is under the name, so both of the listings are from Washington: Zeksterite $12.00/each Light straw colored eye clean round cut stones from Washington averaging 2.0mm. Zeksterite $20.00/each A light straw colored eye clean round cut stone from Washington averaging 2.9mm. -L

Check out the Blewett and Leavenworth cams on any of the various sites (like, for example, this one: cascadeclimber.com webcam page ). I'd say the precip is definitely making it over the crest!

Were you watching me ski the lovely hoar frost, crust, lumpy powder combo down to Source Lake today? On second thought, probably not: I'm not really, really, phenomenally bad, I'm exceptionally, exquisitely, phenomenally bad.

In some cases, retail prices in Europe are lower than wholesale prices in the US. Even for gear made in the US. There are a lot of excuses made by the manufacturers for this, but it comes down to two things: 1. The supplier-customer relationship in the outdoor products industry is backwards, with manufacturers telling their customers (the shops) what to do, evening threatening them. 2. The cost of a product is determined solely by what the customer is willing to pay. Manufacturing and overhead costs determine whether a company can compete, but not the selling price. So as long as we keeping buying Cobras at $300 each, that's what they will cost. Same with rock shoes, screws, etc. This has been extensively hashed out over the last couple years, ever since this post BD employee Chris Grover on the Couloir BBS (I saved the original page before it was removed): BD Response to Pricing Disparities There is also some additional info on my site here: U.S. Gear Prices on CascadeClimber.com -L

Yes and no. You have to pay to take their courses. And intermediate climbing students are conscripted (as a graduation requirement) to teach the beginning students. So you pay for training, then work for free. -L

Not since Caveman punched out the bartender and two random patrons at the Alehouse. But hey, that makes three for the east side. And I've sufficiently recovered from the last time.

True dat: I don't have the skills the assess a slope from 3000 feet below it, or to ascertain its stability from conditions on a ridge-top miles away. As Clint says, "A man has got to know his limitations."

How about the Rolling Log Tavern in Issaquah next week. We can dare each other to knock over the row of Harleys outside. Seriously though, it's time for the Eastside to get a turn.

It's usually pretty clear to me when they aren't adjusted correctly, in either direction. My hands and wrists are small (shut up!) and I wear very thin gloves when leading, so maybe that has something to do with it. As it is, I've left them just a touch too long for leading, but when wearing heavier gloves the length is about right, but I sometimes have a problem grabbing the buckle. Overall I think they are great. I haven't gotten used to the clink-clink sound they make, though.

I used them for a couple trips and found that they felt loose when I didn't want them to and other times felt too tight. They also tended to work their way up my wrist as I climbed. But that's just me. To each his/her own. Want to buy a set?

Shhhhh, don't tell anyone, but we also used ropes, screws, rock gear, and we even bivied. We didn't even swim nekkid across the Wenatchee or wear blue jeans up the route either!

I have 3/4" left to shorten them before they hit the bar tack. But if I take them down that far the buckle doesn't reach far enough into the crook of my index finger and thumb so that I can grab it. The attachment location on the Viper isn't adjustable- there are fixed holes in the shaft where the male part of the buckle attaches with bolts.