dberdinka

Climbing, sport climbing, mountain climbing are legitimate activities. Doesn't mean they are always legitimate, everywhere. Where do you draw the line? Seems like it should fall somewhere on this side of trying to turn a mountain into a sport route. Nevermind the ethics of climbing (apparently there no longer are any) Infinte Bliss is a huge friggin engineering project with bolts placed to not only ensure safety but to ensure convience as well. If climbers can construct such an entity along with the trail to reach it, why should hunters not be allowed to build cabins, or bikers trails? Furthermore the publicity surrounding the route along with its "sport" designation seems like an accident waiting to happen when you factor in all the alpine characteristics of loose rock, long descent, route finding, weather etc that many a "sport" climber is possibly not equiped and experienced enough to realize and handle. When the clusterf*&k happens who's going to be responsible for the rescue/cleanup? Some element of the government I assume. Climbings great, clipping bolts is sweet, but at some point enough is enough. Good luck!

Where does one find these satellite/aerial photos????

Based on photos posted around here earlier looks like you should expect a lot of snow and wet rock on Backbone. Have a good time.

I can barely write a 4 page report. How in the hell do these government types put together 6000 page reports? Who in the hell even reviews more than a tiny fraction of a 6000 page report? If they had left it in would anyone have noticed?

Pull over and let them pass? You can keep chillin, they can get going. Everyone is happy!

Warm, burly mittens for your next extreme assualt on the big, chilly, massif of your choosing. Black Cordura-gortex, with grippy dot pattern on hand and lined-fleece insert. Practically brand-spanking new. $100+ retail. Yours for $25 + $5 shipping. Size Lg --- just like tomtom!

I've placed a couple quarter inch buttonheads with one. Worked fine, don't have anything to compare it too though. I'd hate to have to hand drill a 3/8" bolt, the 1/4"ers take enough effort.

Go away

Amazing how some rescues are so hyped they make primetime national news, while others take place in almost total obscurity. Regardless, knowing the details of climbing accidents that take place in our local hills is valuable to everyone who climbs. It would be much appreciated if a recount of the Shuksan accident could be told here. Darin

Thats a perfectly wasted pagetop! Sprayer like you should know better. Oops, she did a again

Flipped through the latest copy of R&I this morning (Actually I pretty much just stared at the cover for a while) Looks like the printer must have somehow crossed Maxim, R&I and a pop-up for online porn into one magazine. Evidently the most pressing issue in climbing these days is "whos the most pimp-daddy east-coast boulderer yo?" Apparently no one ties into a rope either anymore. What the fuk? If I want porn I'll go buy some chub. If I want climbing porn guess I'll have to buy them british rags. Though if your too shy to buy the real stuff you might want to check it out!

From Burlington take Highway 20 west for about 15 minutes. At a light go left, still on Highway 20, towards Deception Pass. After a couple miles go right on Campbell Lake Road. Mt Erie will be to your right. When the road splits at a beat up convience store go right on Heart Lake Road. About 200 yards later park on the right at a small pullout and trail, just past a house. Follow the trail, looking for signs to the Main Wall. They've fugged this approach up in the last couple years with trail closures and such but eventually you should figure it out. Your looking for a route called Zig-Zag on Snag Buttress. The obvious silver snag halfway up the cliff should help you find it. Start in a right facing corner (5.6)then over a bulge to chain anchors. Easy slab leads up right to the snag. Head straight up towards a short right facing corner/roof thing to a big ledge. Walk right on the "tree limb of death" then follow a very nice, very exposed crack system to the top. Can be done in 2-4 pitches. Preferrably top out just before sunset.

Mt Erie? A great place! The main wall has zig-zag a mega fun 2-4 pitch 5.7. Lots of sandwiched, bolted 5.8-5.10 pitches put up as variations in the last few years. Also several 5.11 sport routes at the base. The view (particularly at sunset is amazing) N Cascades, puget sound, rainier, olympics san juans all from one perpsective. Lots of eagles can see riding thermals as well. Right outside of Anacortes.

Exactly where are you going in Utah? If your in Zion go climb Ashtar Command (2p 5.9) and the Headache (3p 10+) They are near the tunnel and face north (shady) Very, very good well protected climbs. Prodigal Son on the N Face of Angels Landing is also a shady route. It's easy, fast, enjoyable aid that makes for good soloing. In June you might not even have to wait in line. You could do a couple pitches then bail. I would HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend doing some canyoneering if you're in Zion. Particularly if it's really hot. PM me for details if your interested. Around Moab I've only climbed around the River Road. Ancient Art in the Fisher towers is a must do even though it gets lots of sun. Do it in the evening (4p 5.9 C0) Most of the easier aid routes also get a fair bit of shade like The Colorado Ridge on Kingfisher (5p C2), Phantom Sprint on Echo Tower (4p C2+), Finger of Fate on the Titan (8p C2) and the North Face of River Tower (3p C2). Probably not a place to learn to aid or solo-aid but the climbing there is much better than commonly thought.

If the sling is in good shape upon careful inspection you can rap off a sling. However rope drag will potentially be worse when you need to pull the rope (bad for you) also a rope pulled directly through sling material can "burn" the sling resulting in eventual failure (bad for everyone else). Use your own judgement. Double ropes can have the avantage of reducing rope-drag when used on wandering terrain if used correctly! On big (alpine) routes doubles (or twins - simply thinner versions of doubles) have the advantage of allowing full rope length rappelling without having to carry or drag a second rap/trail line. If your new to climbing and focused on cragging stick to single ropes.

assmonkey is a symian who speaks much wisdom. Listen to him. A health relationship and a healthy pursuit of climbing do not have to involve the same person (and are generally healthiest if they don't)

A B'ham climber DIED on that route in the early 90's. Evidently at the top you're forced onto the hanging glacier (I believe via rappel) At that point a serac higher up on the glacier calved and buried him. The arete itself is well protected, I've seen a very, very large avalanche break off the hanging glacier and hit the wall of the arete. It bounced back in a billowing cloud that dropped straightdown below the icefall. Be safe

I don't wanna register. Why don't you copy-paste

I apologize in advance for not adding anything constructive to this post.

....is a poet. He really is, in some sort of Zen/Western fusion. He reveals both deep truths and reflections on our society in a manner that combines straightforward honesty with subtle humor. He might be a deuche-bag otherwise but he does have a way with words. Following all copied from Slate. The Unknown As we know, There are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know There are known unknowns. That is to say We know there are some things We do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns, The ones we don't know We don't know. —Feb. 12, 2002, Department of Defense news briefing Glass Box You know, it's the old glass box at the— At the gas station, Where you're using those little things Trying to pick up the prize, And you can't find it. It's— And it's all these arms are going down in there, And so you keep dropping it And picking it up again and moving it, But— Some of you are probably too young to remember those— Those glass boxes, But— But they used to have them At all the gas stations When I was a kid. —Dec. 6, 2001, Department of Defense news briefing A Confession Once in a while, I'm standing here, doing something. And I think, "What in the world am I doing here?" It's a big surprise. —May 16, 2001, interview with the New York Times Happenings You're going to be told lots of things. You get told things every day that don't happen. It doesn't seem to bother people, they don't— It's printed in the press. The world thinks all these things happen. They never happened. Everyone's so eager to get the story Before in fact the story's there That the world is constantly being fed Things that haven't happened. All I can tell you is, It hasn't happened. It's going to happen. —Feb. 28, 2003, Department of Defense briefing The Digital Revolution Oh my goodness gracious, What you can buy off the Internet In terms of overhead photography! A trained ape can know an awful lot Of what is going on in this world, Just by punching on his mouse For a relatively modest cost! —June 9, 2001, following European trip The Situation Things will not be necessarily continuous. The fact that they are something other than perfectly continuous Ought not to be characterized as a pause. There will be some things that people will see. There will be some things that people won't see. And life goes on. —Oct. 12, 2001, Department of Defense news briefing Clarity I think what you'll find, I think what you'll find is, Whatever it is we do substantively, There will be near-perfect clarity As to what it is. And it will be known, And it will be known to the Congress, And it will be known to you, Probably before we decide it, But it will be known.

should we assume you're going to choke it?

Hear-yeah hear-yeah. We live in a friggin bubble.

Tie your shoes to the bottom of the rope (just off the ground) and put some rocks in them. Once again EVERYTHING IS GONE.