dberdinka

I will gladly hold a bake sale for whatever individual on this thread truly has the skills to say with a straight face they could climb one of these lines if only....sighhhh....they had the $$$ and time.

Heh, heh. Speak the truth comrade!

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Thats laughable to call Jannu a failure. Style is completely subjective, topping out is objective and the Russians are better than anyone at that, hell maybe they are the only ones capable of climbing the really massive technical routes at high altitude. Jannu, West Pillar of K2, N Face of Everest, god knows what else. (Sure it would have been nice to clean up there fixed ropes and gear but so be it. That shit will be washed off the wall long before anyone gets close to it again.) I think there are significant cultural differences such that Russians are able to pull off the large, highly organized climbs that western culture and attitudes (everyone goes it alone) simply couldn't pull off. Clearly they are able to suffer as well and do same amazing alpine style ascents (Valerie Babanov on Jannu, Shabalin on Ak-Su) At the same time what have Americans accomplished? Waiting around for perfect conditions that never materialize to run up snow and ice slopes. The recent ascent of Meru-Sharkfin is beautiful but I would gather that shared a lot more in common with the Russian Way than what you think of as alpine style (look at the portaledge and some of the fat shiny bolts in the videos) Blah, blah, blah

Cleaning out the gear closet. Will post more soon. Would like to sell off in larger sets. So anything over $60 knock 10% off. Located in B'ham, buyer pays shipping. Paypal is fine. PM me or e-mail dberinka AT gmail DOT com Evolv Maximus sz 10 $20 A free/wall shoe, used on a few shorter walls in the NW, doesn't need a resole yet but it will in the not to distant future. Lightly used Petzl Rocpec $35 Aid Stuff Set of 6 unused Pika rivet hangers $15 set of unused camhooks (narrow/wide) $15 fifi hooks (casin & adjustable) $3 each MtnTools Ropebucket $10 Lowe fingerless gloves sz med (new) $5 black fabric with leather reinforcement - no pic Pins #5 LA x3 $6 each #1 Pecker x2 $6 each short knifeblades & SA #3 angle $5 each long knifeblades and soft pins $4 each (largest bugaboo is a bit bent up) Pika Mallard $4 Nuts & Hexs BD Micro Stoppers 2,3,4,5 good shape $15 for the set Hex 5-11 $20 for the set

It's that time of year. I posted this up late last winter and got a bunch of hits all from guys with size 12 feet. No it will not fit size 12 feet. See boot sole length below ~9.5 -11.5 I think. 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. Considering their size and weight they ski very well. Includes sticky purple Ascension skins and a pair of hard-to-find ski brakes which add a couple ounces but will impress the ladies. Bindings are size N (normal) and supposedly fit sole lengths of 11.375" - 13.375". All gear is very lightly used and in excellent condition. Ski bases are pristine. $230. Located in Bellingham. Buyer pays shipping and packaging costs. PM or e-mail dberdinkaATgmailDOTcom.

Your TR sort of sucks, but your trip definitely does not. Rare is the day where so many variables align so perfectly, cherish that sucker.

It's curious how Steve House always has to be so adamant that if you're not doing it exactly his way you're doing it wrong. Dude seems so bitter.

Hey Sol, appreciate your interest 24/7 like a cold burning Definitely more working this year, which means more time spent with bent elbows typing. Less training and climbing in general though I pretty much stopped gym climbing a couple years ago as it always no matter how easy I took it aggrevated this condition. Training is typically more generalized conditioning. This year injury has been caused by relatively moderate crimpy face climbing at Erie, which suggests tendonitis I think but the symptoms seem off. Nothing specific.... Never.... ???

Thanks gentlemen. Unfortunately my symptoms are quite a bit different. No or little point tenderness in the elbow, rather a radiatiing numbness or tingling across the back of the forearm and into the pinky combined with a sense of muscle tightness. My theory is some sort of nerve entrapment maybe aggrevated by minor tendonitis and resultant swelling plus banging away on a keyboard all day. It at least explains why RICE has no effect. Layton will probably tell me I need by back adjusted...but shit I'm game for just about anything!

I thought I would have agreed with most of you before watching that video but.... ...having watched it OMG!!! THE GUY IS ROCK SOLID!. He climbed the Phoenix like it was a pitch of 5.8. Good for him. He's probably on Freerider as we speak, and should he peel I'm sure he'll just levitate away like the quasi-god-like-being he is. I bow down before your beautiful big brown eyes Alex.... As for the news piece, it's nice to see the media also present a risk-taker is a very positive light. They seemed truly impressed and interested in what he was doing. A hero for the masses!

So I realize this is the "fitness" forum but it seems to function more as an "injury" forum. I've had a long-term nagging injury that has flared up this year in a bad way. Standard treatment protocls for tendonitis have had little to no effect. I'm of the suspision that this injury more related to nerves than tendons but I really don't know. Got an appointment with the family practice doc to start the long and hopefully useful process of getting an accurate diagnosis. In the meantime I'm just curious how elbow tendonitis has manifested itself in other climbers. So if you've had it and feel like twelling me how it felt it would be much appreciated. 1) Where did it hurt? Elbow or forearms or fingers? All-over or in a specific point? 2) Which side? lateral/medial (outside/inside)? 3) How would you describe the pain? Sore? tingling? sharp pain? something else? 4) Any other symptoms of note? Much appreciated!

Actually you very well might die! See the second paragraph in this link Anchors Away. If you don't have a rope to cut up BW makes some real nice dynamic prusik cord in 7mm and 8mm thickness that could do the trick. No intent to bash Mr Knuckles, his techniques or his TR. You seem like a righteous dude and your TRs are always a pleasure this one included.

While ditching your partner might historically have been completey unacceptable I think that statement now requires an asterick *. * ditching partner is consider good style if said partner is a) in perfect health b) carrying a SPOT and c) decides to activate it because "if they go back the way they came they're gonna die". Ticketed climber wisely decided to have nothing to do with SPOT circus.

Presumably it would be mamnaged much like the rest of the park in that day use would be unregulated and overnight trips would require permits highly limited by zone. So Liberty Bell not much difference, Black Peak hope to get a permit. Even if I'm against the idea I think we are all very fortunate that NCNP has the management and attitude it does regarding backcountry recreation. They are great!

Pitch lengths are overstated. P1 100' P2 95' P3/4 170' "approach" is almost completely melted out and I would guess 80' of vert. Can fix from top of 3 to ground with 2 60's

I see you're in B'ham. I bought that thing at Hardware Sales. Thats sweet your rebolting at Erie, as it definitely needs a lot of it. Dallas Kloke and others might have put up a lot of routes but the hardware choices left a lot to be desired. A couple years ago I rebolted the 10+ route on the Powerline Wall with Hilti SS wedge bolts. I found that the broken nature of the rock at Erie made it extremely difficult to find a good place to put a new bolt. (the rock is seamed by micro fractures and hollow flakes everywhere). I've always thought Erie would be a good candidate for drilling out of old bolts using diamond tipped bits as described here Core Drilling then replaced with fat glue-ins. Seems like there are enough local organizations it might be possible to get a lump of money for drilling equipment (Mtnrs, Skagit Alpine Club, REI, guide services, etc.) and hardware. Radom thought.....

Excellent and lengthy discussion of that idea here Alps Legacy Discussion at TAY Considering that much of that area is already protected and plenty wild I don't see a lot of value to recreators unless your fond of more fees, more regulations and more restrictions.

I used a Lenox 975 mini hacksaw. It was the most expensive one at the local hardware store (still <$10) but is made of cast aluminum and is very thin and has a tie off hole. It worked really well. If you insert the blade to cut on the pull stroke you could actuall bend the blade slightly and still cut parrallel to the rock using the part of the blade that extends out the front eventhough you were holding it at an angle. I should post a pic of all the various tools I hauled up there, it was a heavy load!

Climbed up to manky 4th pitch anchor on Thin Red Line yesterday and cleaned it up. In the new Becky Guide, Fred makes some snarky comment about this anchor giving some climbers a fright. There were 4 threaded split-shaft bolts of various vintage and 1 poorly placed and poor quality 3/8 wedge bolt that did not inspire confidence as well as a partially drilled and abandoned 3/8" hole. The 1/4"ers all came out way to easily. Tried snapping the wedge bolt off with a breaker bar but only ended up torching the threads, managed to hacksaw it off flush with the rock but an ugly scar will endure (look just left of white rope tail). The 1/4" holes I did not reuse were filled with Instacrete (an epoxy, concrete putty) then textured with a wire brush. The color match isn't perfect but you'd have to search to find them. Left 3 3/8" SS Rawl 5-piece bolts and a nice fat Fixe Chain. A hundred years from now when these bolts need replacing they can be removed with a little bit of knowledge and the holes reused. Also replaced another 1/4"er at the 3rd pitch belay.

Though 3/8, the bolts between P1 & P2 of DH and Green Dragon are rusty old turds that definitely see a lot of traffic. If you felt like fixing up the 25 year old 1/4"era in the East Buttress of Slesse you might help recreate a modern day classic.

The bamboo ones go for crazy money on EBAY. 750+ bucks. I don't think you will be so lucky though. Dans 40-100 seems about right. I'd guess on the lower end of that. Seems like there is a pretty active group of Chouinard collectors on Ebay. You might just sell it there for whatever you can get. You can always put a minimum bid amount on it.

I saw a bunch of paragliders up there a couple weeks ago. They launched from near the SE ridge of S Early then spent a couple hours thermaling and buzzing the peaks. I figured you had to be pretty hot-shit to be flying that close to mountain sides.

Well if Giesler doesn't recommend it that's saying something. A while back Bryan Burdo posted a short description of the FA that makes for a good read. I've reposted it below. Another great story involving this route is that the ill-fated team of Guy Edwards and John Millar intended to climb the route in a push. The day of the weather started out mediocre so they climbed the east ridge of Rexford instead. Upon topping out the weather had improved so they dropped down the west side to Nesakwatch Creek then hiked up to the Navigator Wall and sent it all in a day. That boggles the mind. Can any Canadians verify that tale?

I second Sol's ascertion that the East Face of Main Gunsight has some of the best rock you'll ever touch. It's good. Really good. Just ridiculously good. As Blake pointed out (and then edited out?) the West Face of South Gunsight was climbed in ~early 90's by Cliff Leight and partner. As described to me climb chimney, traverse ledge, climb corner 5.10a. Sounds like your route. Alan Kearney also climbed another unreported but supposedly good route on the Westish face of NE Gunsight around the same time. Regardless, nice trip. You can't be too bummed about a trip that netted an FA on the big wall of Dome.