sobo

Sounds like it was a fun trip with the SO. Good on ya for taking her out, mate! The little drip south of Sandpoint is called Chilco Falls, just in case anyone asks you...

I have ten skis. They are grouped in pairs 1. Fischer Ultra Airs w/Fritschis for AT 2. Dynastar 900-something asymetrics w/Markers for the groomed 3. Volants w/G3s for tele 4. some old Kharu waxables w/3-pins for XC touring 5. Dynastar Fusions w/old Looks for rocks/sand dunes

Stay home. Nothin' in yet. We just had our first real snow last week and a dusting above 4500 ft yesterday. The climbs are right at that elevation, so there's not really enough to feed them yet. Give it some time...

Agreed! They were out there getting their asses shot off while my butt was safely ensconced back here in the States. I have nothing but good things to say about all US veterans. Thank you all. Aside: I was leaving for work this morning when I noticed that last night's windstorm had torn down my flag bracket on the front porch. I told my wife that I'd fix it when I got home tonight. She said, "Today's Veteran's Day." That was all it took. I was 30 minutes late to work, but my flag is flying. My boss didn't care at all that I was late when I explained it to him. He was an FAO in Vietnam. ...sobo

Certainly generating some interest, tho... 32 views in only 16 minutes.

Looks like that sunny weather just a few minutes earlier has disappeared...

Paco, Nice job, but please edit the URL address on Picture #5. It appears to have a double "http" in it, and I can't get it to stay up long enuff to edit it meself.

Also, be aware that most of the top-outs at Strobach are mungy and require root-grabbing to get off the tops. Also, the early ascensionists (Norm, Larry, Yale, etc.) were equipped with 60m ropes.

I agree, ft, m, something besides pitches would be nice - but it's a pain to get that information. Well, check out the Chinook Pass area climbs...

Thanks Gary. That is about the best site I've seen ever for buying 7.5 minute quads. They're about 50% more $$ than buying them at the local store here in town, but it looks like they got every map I'd ever need.

I am in total agreement with all opinions expressed in this post.

Try here as well.

That's going to be quite the drive each night, from Banff to Calgary, ya know, eh?

You're right on, specialed. We've done that a few times before, with like 4 to 6 guys. Bring your thermarests and beeping slags and crash out on the floor. Last ones in from drinking get the floor. Or you could arrange it in advance to switch off each night. We ended up donning our crampons one night in the room and buildered up the interior walls. Interestingly, I never heard about the repair bill, altho the Ptarmigan Inn probably wouldn't want us back. Hey Pencil Pusher! If Cascade is on your climb list, don't shrug off the warnings about avy danger on that route! You can get a really good look at the collection bowl above the route on a drive back from Canmore to Banff. SCARY! Don't crowd up the route (if there's others coming up) with your rap, but just slog up the last (diosconnected) pitch and go down Rogan's Gulley for the descent. And if you're going to Banff via Golden, take a coupla hours and do Lady Killer and Pretty Nuts. They're both really close to the road. I'm not sure if the issue with the railroad has been fixed (with respect to access to Pretty Nuts).

sorry, then... I'll remove it.

...

Gas up in Radium, before heading into the Park. Check out Johnston Canyon (just "jump off" the catwalk to access climbs), Canmore, Heart Creek, Grotto, Lady Wilson, Rogan's, Professor Falls and Curtain Call in Lake Louise nearby (both PF and CC will be CROWDED!). Weeping Wall is along the Icefields Parkway north and west of Banff a ways. They have hostels out that way that you can stay at for a small "joining fee" and a charge. Way warmer than car-camping. You need to give them an address in Canada somewhere. Make one up, no one cares (except maybe Dru ) Pick up the Joe Josephson guide either before you go (so you can plan better to maximize your route-grabbing) or pick one up in Banff at Monod's or the other store across the back alley from Monod's (can't remember the name, but I replaced my crampons there the last time in town - bent the front points on a pair of FootFangs at Johnston Canyon - bulletproof ice!! . ) Get your bumper sticker at the border crossing in the gift store - be "protected" from the moment you go in country. Drink your beers in Canmore at either of the two fine drinking establishments there. I think The Drake (as mentioned by Dru earlier) is one of them there. The other one has one of those double names (The *this* and *that*); can't remember it now. Good breakfast grub in Banff at Coyote's. Have fun, and enjoy! I'm green with envy!

JUSTO, I just did another search with a variation of the search subject ("3rd tool") that turned up about another dozen threads. The possibilities are endless!

Gary, There, didn't I tell you that pindude would be helpful? Steve, Hadn't heard that Chilco Falls had been purchased. Nice move on the part of Kootenai P&R.

Do a search for "third tool", search by "entire phrase", select search for "all forums", and select "all posts" for the date range. You'll be surprised at the amount of discussion that *has already occurred* on this topic. Here's one from almost 2 years ago that resulted in some spirited discussion. Class dismissed.

smg: I edited a post of mine further up with other beta. ^^ You really should check with MG &/or send a PM or email to pindude. WSUmtn'r: Sorry about the "big word", but you're a Coug - I should think that you could handle it. I wouldn't be so sure if you were a DAWG! To UWers, my Nomex suit is on.

The Guide, of course, but I think southernmtguidedude was looking for "sentient" sources of beta. smg: Send a PM to pindude of this board. He lives in Mead, and he should know where the local reliable ice is. You can tell him sobo sent ya. He won't mind. Will ya, Steve? Also, there's some climbing further up US 95 past Bonner's Ferry, right near the road. Copper Kettle Canyon, Copper Canyon, Kettle Canyon, something like that. It's marked by the side of the highway by one of those little brown recreational road signs, and I seem to remember that it's pretty near the Canadian border. I think Gibralter Wall is a bit more than what you'd said you'd be willing to drive, but you shouldn't miss out on it this winter. Find Canal Flats on a BC map, and make the trip when you're sure it's in. You won't regret it!

Quiz the guys at Mountain Gear on Division Ave. There are a few of them that ice climb, can't remember their names. There is a short (1-pitch) climb on the east side of US 95 about halfway from CDA to Sandpoint, opposite a lumber yard/sawmill, somewhere near a little hole known as Athole. It's about an hour's drive out I-90 and up US 95.

I was driving back to Yakivegas last night from B-vue and saw nothing to the north between the hours of 5:30 to 7:30 pm. I think we got gyped on this one.

Rob lives in NC.