Rodchester

Iain said: I'm with iain. If I think the expansion force created by a piece of gear might cause the rock to break off, I won't risk it. The damage that the broken off rock could do to: me, the belayer, the rope, etc. is to great. But I would say that cams create a greater expansion force, or leverage.

Is this a form of aid? Hmmm.... BD Prototype gloves will allow even Rod to climb hard!!! Now I don't have to give up

The copyright ownership exists when the photo is taken. However, if you register the copyright, THEN AND ONLY THEN are you able to use the Federal Copyright Act to protect the copyright. It gives attorneys fees and costs (among other things you do not get under state law) expended in protecting the copyright. So registering it is WAY better, but it is not neccessary. Taking content off of someone else's page is copyright enfringment, unless it is with permission, or falls into one the exceptions, such as educational fair use.

_______________________________ Dear supporters and friends!!! I just recieved the call I had been hoping for. Erden summitted Denali yesterday with 2 of his team members, Cory Groom and Eddie Espinosa. He sounded wonderful and everyone is in good spirits. The weather broke just for the period that they could make the summit. Erden will be coming off the mountain with his teammates within the week. I will have more details on that in the next few days, after he gets down to the lower basecamp. So stay tuned, as I will post another update once I have the information. Thank you all for your wishes of support! It is a good day. We are grateful. Best regards, Nancy ______________________________

I have a set of these: CEBE They're not cheap, but they rock. Very easy to put presecription lenses in them. They are comfortable and durable too. I had a pair of round Julbos which I liked, but they were too large and heavy. I always use them on snow, and as far as I am concerned, sideshileds are best. I tend to agree with Daler. Long term damage is possibile, and I'm not going to find out the hard way. No, I'm not a doctor. Good Luck

No comment on the Bush v. Clinton/Gore thing...but let me correct the above statement. It is often said that the consitution gives rights to Americans. This is said by many, right, left, democrat, republican, moderates, etc. All of them are incorrect. One of the key tenants of our system is that the inalienable rights that we have were bestowed upon each person by "thier creator." The consititution simply recognizes that our rights that are god given (I'm an agnost, so don't get bogged down in what if your an agnost or an athiest, the point is by "thier crerator' not"the creator") and that the rights belong to us by birth. The Consitution, the Articles of Confederation, and the crown never gave us anything. They were put in place to protect rights, not give. When the crown tried to give and take it was dispensed with. When the Articles were unable to effectively rule, the states agreed to a Federal Republic with a Consitution to protect rights. This may sound like a semantic game, but it has critical meaning. The old saying: What the lord gives, the lord takes away. If you read it logically: what the constitution gives, the constitution takes away. The constitution doesn't take away, it does not give. It protects, it is the limits of power when power effects rights. Now it can be said that many "powers" were taken from the states and given to the federal government by the constitution. That is correct. There is a difference between a power and an individual right (though they obviously effect each other). Sorry to ramble, but it is a key and important distniction often lost and or misundertood.

I am curious about the use of the phrase "natural protection." I have always referred to it as Trad or Traditional protection or gear. To me, natural protection means the use of things natural, like slinging horns and chockstones...maybe even a tree. Am I incorrect? (Not trying to be an ass, or be too technical in the use of language).

Got this from a friend. I think it was taken from the website. ________________________________ I received a call last night from Lisa, (14,000 ft.) base camp manager on Denali. She called via satellite phone to say that Erden would be attempting the summit hopefully this thursday or friday, May 29-30. He has acclimatized, from what I could tell, at 16,000 and 18,000 ft. camps, and now back down at 14,000 t. waiting out a storm. She said the weather is supposed to clear for several days on Thursday, which would allow him the window of opportunity. With very long days of light, his attempt to the summit is quite possible. I ask for your collective energy of support and good wishes that the mountain accept his summit attempt in the next few days. He has come so far in this journey, nearly 2700 miles by bicycle, and nearly 50 miles on foot to the 7000 ft. level to meet the rest of his team, then to 14,000 ft. camp last week. Our efforts of support I know will be felt, even at that altitude!! I will update you all again, hopefully this weekend, with news of what transpires. In the meantime, please keep Erden in your thoughts and prayers. His family and I appreciate all your support. Best wishes to all, Nancy Board Visit us at http://www.around-n-over.org _______________________________

70 it is....

Old Man on top of the Big E

If they smell anything like my favorite pair of rock shoes, no one would buy them. Man my feet get to stinking in those shoes...sorry Allison. Didn't mean to spray to much. Now someone buy these shoes and make Allison happy.

But as Sphinx said: No problem. I think it is aniche item. Likely best use is aid. But in a redundant system, no problem.

I'm with Spinx. I use it in a redunant system. When I'm cleaning up the belay it is my last piece. I seem to recall that it says it holds to 300 lbs.? Scott: I got one after selling a bunch of old stuff at Second Ascent. I like that it can be adjusted easily, but I'm not to sure I like the way it feels when climbing. I have it hitched to the belay loop at half-length and then run between my legs and clipped onto a gear loop with a locking biner. Pretty much the way one would use any daisy. Anyone climb with it in a different configuration?

Forrest_M: Let us know what you find out. I am going to be reviewing my insurance soon. And I need to get more life insurance now that I have a wife and house blah blah blah.

Traffic seemed normal to low to me. There were people on a few of the routes on Snow Creek Wall. I could hear people shouting out bely commands from various routes. And with the wind, it required some serious shouting. We had a 9.8mm by 60 meter rope and it just reached the belay ledge at the top of the fifth pitch. Had maybe two or three feet extra. Maybe I'm going crazy? Either way, have fun.

I was there on Sunday, and the conditions were perfect. There is no snow at all and everything was dry, including the approach, the descent gully, all belay ledges and the route. We did Outerspace (I think, I get them mixed up, it was the harder of the two with the 5.9 traverse). A great route. The two long pitches near the top with the crack and the cheickens heads are two of the best pitches I've done. Just fun climbing. Bring a 60 meter rope FOR SURE. Make sure you stash your stuff where the goats can't get to it. If they screw with you, just pee on a rock. They'll focus on the rock. Have fun and climb safe.

My pack has a crampon pocket. The crampons just slide in. It absolutely Quick and easy. Like my women....

My memory is that Octoberfests are held in late September. I grew up in "Zinzinnati" which has the largest outside of Munich. My Kraut background says September is the proper month. But what the hell....they can do it whenever Beer is good year round.

Is it lighter than the BD Raven Pro? The one thing about the BD is the head is desgined for carrying comfort, and it works very well.

This quote does not say that these weapons are in Iraq. The UN will confirm this too, these are weapons that have not been accounted for by the Saddam regime. Saddam disclosed that he had them, and then refused to account for them. Where are they? Maybe Saddam lied to us, saying that he had them and he in fact didn't. Oh man, wouldn't that be funny. (Too bad innocents died)

Correct number of deaths on Cho Oyu. 08:20 a.m. EDT May 20, 2003 Yesterday it was reported by the GREIM; the Guardia Civil Mountain Rescue Patrol Everest expedition, the Spanish National Television and Barrabes News, that 10 climbers had perished on Cho Oyu. After contacting the Tibetan Mountaineering Association and the Germany Embassy in China , ExplorersWeb can today confirm the correct number to be that one German climber died on Cho Oyu in an avalanche .

To me a dog-bone is a sport draw that is stiff with both ends of the draw tight, or fairly tight around the biners. Making it (relatively) stiff/rigid from one end of the first biner all the way through the draw to the end of second biner. The middle part of the runner or draw material is also sewn stiff/rigid. You shouldn't use these with trad gear because with the rope movement it could potentially walk a cam back in, loosen a nut, or wiggle out a hex. But then again, I'm old, fat, and stupid.

Lummux. With that rack, I'd climb either trad or sport, any time, any where!!!

Hey Lummux...nice rack. IS that a trad rack, or a sport (plastic) rack?