cj001f

buggery?

That point wasn't up for debate, anyway. Ever been to Chile?

Not if you like homogenized processed spoonfed "experiences" - and most of the world does, including "individuals", based on spending preferences.

The routes changed more often at Carderock

You are experiencing the PNW anomily. I know few of the people at climbing gyms in the Washington DC area climbed outside - where there's now a highschool climbing league. Likewise upstate NY, FL, CA, etc. Climbing is no longer confined to areas with natural rock or even close proximity to rock, hence climbers who've never touched rock.

good, nice to have a pollyana. Count me in "the Spectacle" camp.

Really? I work with people who have "climbing" birthday parties for their kids. $5 that maybe 20% ever climb independantly outside. And I agree with mattp on the climber identity issues

Well, they often approach the outdoors with a more amusement oriented and less spiritual approach. Outdoors as playground vs. outdoors as temple. Not that that approach is inherently bad, but it does change things - more emphasis on bolts, mechanized access, etc. Since I don't particularly like mechanized access it's hard for me to say "so what". Climbing isn't alone - similar things are taking place in skiing (bile skiing), surfing (tow-in) and kayaking (waterpark/wavesurfing) to name a few. The locus of interest has shifted from a few long backcountry trips to many more short frontcountry trips, and daylong amusement.

That sounds correct.

Welcome to the Spectacle gentlemen, welcome to the Spectacle.

Never seen a bidet? They can be a bit, err, surprising if you crank the handle. She's also sitting backwards.

That explains at least some of it. I know of numerous people who've taken out home equity loans, or taken out equity when refinancing. Some used it to pay off credit card debt (probably wise) others used it for boats and cars (not so wise)

If you are an elite member (25k+ miles/year) the airline will waive/reduce the fee.

I believe thats the Black Diamond Soliras

You can season the split tailed ones if they don't taste good

yup the same thing Matobo = old colonial spelling I think. Damn I want to go to Africa

A partial answer to your question

Post deleted by cj001f

Beaver tastes good (and I'm talking about the one with the big flat tail). In Chile last year a restaraunt owner asked some Canadian friends "you are from Canada, do you eat beaver alot?" His girlfriend turned red, he stuttered that no, they really don't eat the animal in Canada

Cast your ballot for NONE OF THE ABOVE !

Any good climbing in the Matobo Hills in Zimbabwe?

Looks like fun Blake. Made it out to the West Coast yet? I had one strip the skirack rubber, wipers and rubber weatherstripping, then as if that wasn't bad enough he unscrewed the radio antenna on a rental car and it threw it on the ground. Patient little fuckers. What's really bad is when they get sugar into them - one of the ski fields lunch hut was ransacked by them a few years back. Really, really bright, cool birds. Close to humans - the big problem is roving packs of juvenille males who get bored and hoped up on junk food.

And the few bits of gear you'd be interesting in having can almost always be bought cheaper from some other source. Sure it's "free" but you can get more from your money elsewhere. Currently an airline card is the best value for my money, but that may change.