Are these people for real ?

[tele_nut]

http://www.cascadeguide.com/

[JGowans]

I think so. Isn't this Scotteryx's business???

[Dru]

lol Sabre is up to 5.6 on the "comprehensive online guidebook" that only lists 2 routes at L'worth. Creeping grade inflation made real!

[AlpineK]

Yes they are for real. You should sign up for a class. Don't forget to bring a smoke machine.

[gotterdamerung]

Hey their logo picture is from the crack CptC and I cleaned almost taking my finger off in the process. Onwards to offwidth Wednesday!

[gotterdamerung]

I'm going to do the mountain ascent challenge in the slowest time possible. Make the course setters have to wait out there for hours sweating my safety. Meanwhile I'll be under my beta-mid taking a nap near Kaleetan.

[mattp]

Don't you guys ever get tired of bashing Scott?

[gotterdamerung]

We could bash you instead. Scott's a friend who I've actually talked to on several occassions. All the same I like thrashing on him anyway.

[JGowans]

Once thing I will say is that what's so wrong with offering easy ascents of local peaks? The majoirty of clients don't really know their arse from their elbow and likely wouldn't be climbing anything too hard anyway. A quick jaunt up The Tooth and a polaroid picture is probably enough for most of them. Just my 2 cents.

[gotterdamerung]

Once thing I will say is that what's so wrong with offering easy ascents of local peaks? The majoirty of clients don't really know their arse from their elbow and likely wouldn't be climbing anything too hard anyway. A quick jaunt up The Tooth and a polaroid picture is probably enough for most of them. Just my 2 cents.

 

Don't let Volken hear you saying that. You'd steal his thunder.

[mattp]

I saw a guide taking some beginners climbing at Mount Eerie on Saturday. He pissed me off initially because he expressed a slight proprietary attitude and he had his stuff spread out all over the place. He quickly got a clue and consolidated his stuff and, after he saw that I wasn't going to kill my seven-year-old nephew he relaxed and let us climb. The proprietary attitude comes in part from being responsible for other people, I guess. Anyway, I ultimately enjoyed sharing the crag with his group, and not only did he seem to know what he was doing but he seemed to do a fairly good job of encouraging his "clients" to enjoy themselves. I think he worked for Cascade Guides.

 

He was a marked contrast to the loudmouthed jerk I recently saw teaching some kids to climb at Marymoor. Unprofessional, unsafe, and unencouraging.

 

Guides and clubs, even Scott's guides and clubs, can be OK by me.

[gotterdamerung]

You have to really love guiding for it to be worthwhile. If you would prefer to do your own thing then it's a nightmare.

[mattp]

I'm with you there. The idea of guiding can be appealing but the reality is that it is generally low paying and seasonal work, and it tends to get one used to feeling and acting like a babysitter whenever they go climbing. I suppose people could make similar generalizations about lots of other professions, though.

[tomtom]

Yeah, like babysitting.