Erwin

you could always try Chamonix, France. But if you don't free solo 5.14s and handglide down than your considered a gaper by those French.

My advice is to move to the Rockies. I moved from Portland to Steamboat Springs, CO and haven't looked back. I'm with you, the rain gets old, you need sun or snow to really have fun playing. You have it all here, local crags, sport, trad, mountain biking everywhere, and plenty of boarding/skiing on the mountain or plenty of backcountry. plus there's a sweet waterfall to climb real close to town along with a kayak course that basically runs through town. Did i leave anything out? Its great here, easy to get a job, a community college, and rent isn't bad at all and i live a mile from the gondola. Plus you don't get the Denver crowds as the other mountains do.

Any good links for the Colorado Rockies. Haven't been able to find much (actuall haven't looked to hard). Thanks

Its all about having a sweet pick-up line.this is one that works on drunk college girls:"wanna get a pizza and fuck?" what lines work for you guys. or better yet, what lines have you blokes attempted. good luck on the date

I am a skier turned snowboarder who has great interest in having a better way out of the backcountry flats than taking off my board and having to hike out. Therefore, (with other reasons as well) I am thinking about getting some teli skis. I don't know much (actually anything) about teli skis and equipment, but have full confidence in enjoying the sport both at resorts and woods. So if any of you know much about equipment, can you please give some feedback on this. Some guy is selling Salomon Axendo 8 skis (195cm, i'm 6 ft.) with a Voile 20mm riser and Red Chili bindings. They are all in great shape and the package is selling for $175 I have looked around the internet and seen prices for these bindings from $90-145. I can't find any prices for these skis, but have heard good comments on them, especially for tree skiing. Please let me know what you think of these skis and the deal or any other info you think would help. Thanks a lot and happy skiing

Nice to see an upstate Yank. If the weather gets cold, you should be all set up there in the Dacks. The ice and rock are great up there and the crowds are minimal. and i'm sure you'll make it to the Notch in VT and Lake Willougby. Its too bad you guys are having such a warm winter. My friens are still on rock out there in New Hampshire

Another one bites the dust. what is your resource for this info. its a shame. got i got a solid backpack from them already

you guys want freshies, come to steamboat springs. over 80 inches have fallen here since turkey day (sorry canadians, i don't know what that is in decimeters). any cascade climbers out there really Colorado Climbers. i'm looking for ice partners for the winter.

If any of you want to go Friday or Saturday,let me know. Jason

OK,i'm moving next week and want to get a chance to get on Hood before I leave. I'm also looking forward to the freshies and using my new snowshoes and warm up my riding skilss before heading to the rockies. Anybody out there looking to take advantage of the snow up there this week? let me knowjason.erwin@ef.com

I just belay and rappel off my pant's belt loop. Is there anything wrong with that? works sucks

Pencil Pusher, You must have some serious time on your hands. Good observations, you should be a detective

I'm looking for someone to head to Hood or Bachelor this weekend for some fresh turns. It seems to be snowing on the Cascades all week and want to strap on the board. Don't care if you want to ski, ride, glissade, summit, or fart around. I'm just looking forward to play on the snow and cut some turns. Let me know. I live in Porland. jason jason.erwin@ef.com

Anybody want to do some skiiing/riding this weekend? Mt. Hood, Bachelor, whatever the hell has snow on it. I'm in Portland, drop me a line. jason.erwin@ef.com ps. i need a ride cause my broke ass aint got a car

Some eskimo in the Yukon probably will call us all wussies for driving to the mountains in a heated car while his ass is walking in the coat he made from last week's kill. What's the difference? Or using a stove. its artificial heat, if you want it, use it. but don't complain to the people who use it, you're not any cooler, just tougher.

I want to eat shrooms and go trip in the woods like I used to in high school with my buddies. i wouldn't call it a passion, but it used to fun as hell and I wouldn't trade it for the world

Lambone, If you think more during and before a sport route, you will do less grunting. If you do less grunting, you will climb harder grades. So sport climbing can involve thinking. Not to make this an issue, but in all climbing (bouldering, sport, trad, ice, havent done aid), it is the great ability to have that focus and clarity that brings me back to do it over and over.

How bout this question? What slows you guys down from doing all this. Jobs, families, money, injuries, laziness? I'm 23 and moving to Steamboat next month in helping to follow my dreams. As much as I look forward to settling down, I love not having wife and kids at this point so I can do these things with relatively little responsibilty. I'm ready to be away from the computer and in the mountains

I think Matt has a very interesting post, let's let go of the ice climbing bit. From my own experiences with ice, it is like rock. Goes from easy as hell to what the fuck am i doing putting a screw in this slush shit. I really want to get into backcounty boarding a bit more and increase my knowledge of avalanche safety, crevasse rescue, etc. I love climbing, hiking, biking, and the outdoors to begin with. but there is a certain pleasure to be found by luggin your ass up a big mountain and having the pleasure of cruising down it in style. lots of you already have the mountain smarts to do so. that is what i need and want to work to be where i want to be

you guys who read guidebooks amaze me. I dont know if I should tell you to get another hobby or respect you for your dedication and passion of the sport. personally, i like the adventure/climbing stories but then can be repetitive. The stories are amazing, but you need a break. There are only so many stories of some crazy guys climb a big mountain, get into trouble and, at least one man makes it down to tell the story. Personally, i read anything i can get my hands on. Currently, i'm reading "a brief history of time". by Stephen Hawkings. An amazing book, a little outdated but you learn some amazing shit. Last recent books also include "The Celestine Prophecy" and "One Flew Over The Cuckos Nest". The climbing mags are for the shitter where some of them belong.

Yanks are going to win the series for the 50th time in a row and the 1000th time since baseball has started. I'm impressed with the Mariners season, but a 17-2 lost to the Indians? Yanks are gonna destroy them as they do to every team in every season. Can you tell I'm from NY? upstate, actually

You guys should see the view from my office. Views of Mt. Hood, the beautiful Willamette River, downtown PDX, a computer and a phone. And I get paid to be here

Dave, If you would like to go next weekend, I'd be down. Just so happens I'm heading away this weekend but would like to head down to Smith for a weekend. Its been awhile since i've been done there. You live in PDX, that's where I am

Smee, check out the Portland guide of rock climbing. It has a section on what routes freeze in the winter in the Gorge. I'm out of Portland as well and looking for a cold and snowy winter (if I don't move to Steamboat which plans are in the making). Let's climb if I stay

All ya PNWesters on skis need to throw on a board. Been skiing all my life in the east coast. Tried a board one demo day with a fresh blanket and was hooked. In the east, you have an excuse to ski with the ice and moguls. Not out here. Those pot-head boarders sitting on their ass (wasting their money) watching riders rip the half-pipes give the sport a bad name. Boarding on virgin snow and in some trees will blow skiing away. So sold on the excitment for a real winter (not this rain i see in Portland, as well as the possibility of being laid off), is sending me to Steamboat. Here great things of it. Any beta out there?