nolanr

We did a hellaciously long one day push last Sat. from the Colchuck Lake side. The semi-trail up to Aasgard Pass is nearly snow free. Mostly snow covered in the Enchantments Basin still, a little sloppy but not bad. It was partially sunny, partially cloudy with a wickedly cold breeze blowing most of the day. Somebody from the Mountaineers needs to get up there and bring a new summit register--there isn't one currently.

Dru, You are correct, I've never been in the Coast Range. Is pot the 11th Essential up there? Let me back up a little bit. There are an endless number of chemical substances you can ingest to change your physiological or mental state. Why in fact your body has many chemical substances of its own that can do some pretty wacky things to you. Long bouts of exercise leads to a release of endorphins which gives a euphoric feeling, the "runners high" (sorry if that's another lame cliche), and I'm sure climbers can also experience this. If you encounter a sketchy situation where you begin to fear for your safety or your life, you get that wonderful little shot of adrenalin, which quickens your heart rate, focuses your mind and speeds up your ability to process information, and allows you to pull off superhuman feats of strength or daring. Whoa, sounds like quite a rush. And that was really my point all along. Without having sampled all of the other chemical options, I think the physiological and mental responses your body and mind can go through while climbing provides plenty enough of a rush and a huge variation from the hum-drum of everyday life.

It's true, there are some women out there that enjoy alpine climbing. My buddy married one last summer. She's come with us on plenty of outings, and when he goes without her she doesn't give him a hard time. Sigh. I just hope I can find a woman like that some day.

Okay, I admit it, I spent my college days in E-burg at good 'ol Central, and I never once went to the Icicle, or Frenchman's, or Peshastin, or the Stuart Range or the Enchantments. I had no idea all that stuff was out there within a short drive, I was lost in the lair of the muscleheads. That's right, spent most of my time at Han's Gym. But I have since come to the light and taken up the grander sport of climbing and visited all of those places. Whew, I feel better now.

What I wanna know is, how did Ed Viesturs let his name and likeness be attached to a project like that? I heard he gave legitimate technical advice on what climbing an 8000 m peak would be like, and they promptly ignored it. "Hmm, shivering violently in your tent with every stitch of clothing on? No, lets show Chris O'Donnell looking pensive and brave instead, breathing in that fresh mountain air in the Death Zone." Why didn't he just bail on the whole silly affair? I'm sure they paid him plenty, but not enough.

AlpineK, Okay, fair enough, cocaine and marijuana are totally different. I'll leave Len Bias out of it from now on. I was just trying to make the point that no, I don't have to try everything in life at least once. As for "I don't know what I'm missing," that's true, too, and I'm content to not find out. I'm curious now, is useage of wacky weed really so prevalent in climbing? I've never seen other climbers with paraphanelia and haven't noticed funny odors lingering in the air. I'm not talking about sport climbing at the crags, either, I mean in the mountains. Sorry to disappoint, but I don't have a catchy new slogan for the anti-drug movement. Maybe Nancy R can come up with something for us.

As an addendum, let me add a few things I haven't tried "at least once" and don't plan on trying to help illustrate my point. Sheep. I haven't had any carnal relations with sheep. Or goats. Or any other barnyard animals. I mean, I've visited Montana and Wyoming, but I didn't stay very long. Anyway. I've never taken a 50 or 100 foot screamer, or cratered from the top of a pitch, and as much fun or as mind altering as that might be, I think I'll pass on the opportunity. I've gotten liquored up once or twice, but it wasn't habit forming, and it doesn't make my Top 10 list of best experiences in life. And that wasn't while climbing. So I think I'll stick to my goodie two shoes, clean and sober way of life. But just think, that means more pot and booze for the rest of 'ya.

Damn, that's brilliant Tim. I was going to suggest "holding it," but we all know that can lead to impaction, which requires the "fecal finger of death" to remove. Well, you'd know about it if you've taken a Wilderness First Aid course. Causes one to shudder just thinking about it.

Bill Robbins, I've heard that name, didn't know the other guy's name. If they like you they might give you some route beta or recommended climbs, if not they might act as if you didn't exist.

You know, that whole "You have to try everything once" motto for life seems a little overrated. Let me tell you a little story. Back in about '86 there was a stud basketball player at the Univ. of Maryland named Len Bias. At the conclusion of his college career, he was a high draft pick of the Boston Celtics (top 5). To celebrate that night, he partied with some friends and by the accounts I saw tried cocaine for the first time ever. He died of an overdose. Not so cool. Now I've never heard of anybody dying of a marijuana overdose (not that some of you guys haven't tried probably, huh?), but just the same I don't feel a need to try it and don't feel like I'm totally missing out. Like I said before though, the rest of you are free to keep toking. I'm heading to D.C. to start up the Mountaineering division of the ATF and we will be patrolling the Cascades soon. Just kidding, no need to roast me for that one. Happy climbing to all, be you stoned or sober!

I've heard of the crazy painter guys at Frenchman. They pretty much invented climbing over there, didn't they?

Nancy R? Are you getting political on me now? Hey, you're free to smoke as much dope, drink as much beer, and ingest as much of whatever else as you want to. Personally, I have never seen the need to "enhance" the experience w/ chemicals when I'm in the mountains climbing because it seems just perfect the way it is. I think it shows a lack of imagination or creativity that you have to be high to enjoy something. Try reality, it's not so bad.

60 lbs.?! Are you a pygmy?

Hey Lamebone or whatever your name is--I've seen Glacier NP in Montana and the Tetons in Wyoming, haven't been to the Winds yet, been around Beartooth Pass, all cool stuff. But if you really think Washington can't compare you apparently haven't really seen much of it. Get out a little more and you'll see Washington doesn't have to take a back seat to any state for mountain splendour.

You're taking it easy on me Mr. Caveman, I've seen you do much worse. I get high, too: high on life and high in altitude!

Using "squeeze" and "log" in the same sentence could be dangerous. I sure hope nobody squeezed out a log on the summit.

The UW rock is a bunch of greasy crap. If that's something better, maybe Shurman isn't worth saving.

Lhotse, Girls can't climb? I never insinuated anything like that. I just wish I saw more of them in the mountains. As for this website, it's mostly mindless entertainment, it's just interesting to get a different perspective from female climbers. We're at at least 3, and counting...

Well the snow is still slop, but not nearly so crappy as a few weeks ago! It might yet be in decent condition this year.

I will stand up and be counted. I climb and I haven't once partaken. It seems to me if you can't get your mind altered just by being out in the mountains, maybe you need to stay home in the city and get stoned. Okay, bring on the flame fest!

Dru, I have no idea if they're really women. I'm just taking their word for it. Is there a way they can prove it beyond doubt on the internet?

I've been wondering for a while if there were any women at this site, now there are a couple of confirmed females. It's good to see they stoop to the same low level of commentary as all of us boys.

Amen Dane. I think the fact that homo sapiens are still crawling around on planet earth disproves Darwin's ideas on evolution and survival of the fittest--mankind should have been naturally selected for extinction a long time ago! On a lighter note, ditto that climbing will probably eventually peak in popularity and then ebb (especially roadside cragging). I grew up in White Salmon, WA, right across from Hood River, OR, the MECCA of windsurfing. Once upon a time it was all the rage and everybody was getting into it. There's certainly plenty of people who still surf, but it's not nearly as trendy and popular now as 5 or 10 years ago. And even in this day and age of mass popularity of climbing, I've had plenty of days or relative or absolute solitude. You just have to go where everybody else isn't.

There must be 2 versions of the Montrail Moraines, 'cause mine are definitely full shank, totally crampon compatible, I've even ice climbed with them a little bit.

I guess I'm totally in the minority here, but I have to go with folky hillbilly music. Anything bluegrass, Nanci Griffith, Iris Dement, Dwight Yoakam, Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris, etc., etc. If it don't twang at least a little bit, it ain't worth listening to. Now if you want something so twangy it'll make your ears bleed, you gotta check out BR5-49 or Freakwater.