dberdinka

I've got a size large Petzl Sirocco helmet that's still too small for my big noggin. Used two days. No falls or impacts of any sorts. $70 + shipping ($110 retail) PM or e-mail dberdinka AT gmail DOT com

Silvretta 404s mounted on 177cm Hagan TX titanium skis. Skis are ultralight, 177cm in length with dimension of 92-69-80 and weight 1.1 kg each (w/o bindings). Considering their size and weight they ski very well. Bindings are size N (normal) and supposedly fit sole lengths of 11.375" - 13.375". Gear is very lightly used and in excellent condition. Ski bases are pristine. No skins. $140. Located in Bellingham. Would prefer pick-up. Buyer pays shipping and packaging costs. PM or e-mail dberdinkaATgmailDOTcom.

Great photos! Having dealt with the Hawaiian parks department on Kauai I'd say they are the type of institution that gives government bureaucracies a bad name. Incredible shame how poor they are maintaining and protecting some beautiful beautiful areas. Certainly quite good at fleecing travelers for cash.

Guide services, at least those that have jumped through all the hoops, have been able to reserve trips in advance for as long as I can remember in permit-limited areas of the NCNP. It's curious how very park handles guiding issues differently. In Zion guiding of any sort is prohibited.

There will still be snow at least along the base of the climbs and it can get surprisingly steep. For many a sharp stick will suffice. If you're not sure of your sketching-in-approach-shoes-in-snow skills (light) crampons may be advised.

Great TR and pics Sol. Looks like a perfectly executed day. You need to update your blog more than once every two years as well. Give us desk-jockeys something to look at during the day.

Bob Kandiko's been a busy man. I know this got posted once before but I didn't realize he had self-published something like separate books. They all look spectacular. If there's a image you can imagine from the North Cascades it's in there. Check it out. Cascade Panoramas

You should definitely tie your rope off at the anchor!! A single figure 8 is entirely adequate! Top rope soloing is not at all similar to regular top roping other than the fact you are not leading. Your option of threading the rope is both dangerous and nonsensical. Sorry to be harsh. I would recommend finding an experienced climber to demonstrate top rope soloing.

Bump. OBO maybe

SerIously I don't. My only pair of crampons are Aluminum and my only ice axe weighs 12 oz. I'm back to my mountaineer roots...

Size large, worn for a single day of ski touring. Great pant/layer. I just decided since I don't actually do any winter/alpine climbing anymore I'd be better off with a more ski specific pair of pants. I'm 5' 11" and 170-175lbs and they fit fine. $180 + shipping. ($300 retail) PM or email dberdinka AT gmail DOT com. NWAlpinist Salophette

For climbers of modest abilities and limited risk threshhold the Twin Sisters Range is great. Solid, grippy rock with big exposure on easy terrain. The linkup described below was the most enjoyable day of traveling alone that I've ever had. Green Creek Glacier Area

I think the Adjama is the best do everything harness I've had. Of course it seemed to fit ME much better than the other brands I tried on. I say try on 4-6 different brands and go with whatever fits best. Same thing with helmets.

Single mini-traxion. Though I think about getting a second one.... What the other guy calls a catastrophe knot is always a good idea.

Jeff Jackson at Rock & Ice wrote up an article that seems fairly balanced and relies heavily on this thread. Article Who would have thought CC.com would be a bastion of "restrained rhetoric"?

Howling Wolf Ridge has a great name. On the drive in, shortly before the parking lot, there is a great vantage point of the valley including Howling Wolf. In the middle of the ridge there is a rock formation on the skyline that looks exactly like a howling wolf. As a climb it looked a bit dirty but who knows.

Nice collection of gear but it seems like you would have way better luck hocking it on Supertopo or possibly Ebay.

"The fastest I've done Backbone Ridge was 54 minutes base to summit." It's all impressive but that strikes me as really freaking fast for 2000+' of mildly-chossy 5th class rock. Dang.

The wherewithal he had to sit there and make a little movie is pretty fucking crazy. Thats one tough dude.

Why so much butt hurt? His last TR appears fairly tame intially? Catched Version

Beautiful images. I'm guessing your buddy is hooked now.

Anyone up at the pass over the weekend? Curious if the snow has melted off, particularly on east faces. Thanks.

Just realized I left a substantial TR anchor at the top of the small beginners crag a few minutes above the main Fun Rocks crag two weeks ago. Would love to get it back. $40 plus shipping? PM or email at dberdinka AT gmail DOT com. Thanks!

On second thought maybe the FS should shut down access and make rock climbing illegal.

On Tuesday afternoon there was 5"-6" at the pass. About the same at Harts Pass on Monday. My impression was that on the spires themselves the snow would not have been significantly deeper. However on TAY there is a report of 4' of pow on the Lewis Glacier at 6800' just south of Rainy Pass. Telemetry shows 50+ degree temps over the last several days at Pass level with warming now occuring at 6800'. Shutdown signs exist but nothing saying you can't use the trail only the unlocked and recently cleaned pit toilet.