samdude19 Posted December 31, 2006 Posted December 31, 2006 Has anyone climbed at The Potholes area south of Moses Lake? Although the routes look short, it looks like a decent place for me to practice trad climbing which I am just getting into. According to Rock Climbing Washington it appears to have quite a few climbs rated 5.7 and under that I could practice placing gear and making anchors on while not having to struggle too much with the climbing aspects. I cant find any info on the area over the internet though, is it closed to climbing now or what? Any info would be much appreciated. I recently moved to Bellingham but am going to school in Pullman during fall through spring. Any other suggestions for easier climbing with minimal crowds in Eastern WA? Thanks. Quote
lancegranite Posted December 31, 2006 Posted December 31, 2006 The crappie and bass fishing used to be excellent. Quote
Kat_Roslyn Posted December 31, 2006 Posted December 31, 2006 My boyfriend and I went out there once to try to find that place, couldn't. Instead we caught frogs and swabbed a couple bass some guys caught and I tested them for chytrid fungus, those potholes have so much chytrid! The state finally recognized the problem last spring and contributed to it more by putting in a bunch of poison to eradicated the bullfrogs (carrier of chytrid) and consequentially all the other frogs, a little more complicated than that but I sure wouldn't eat the bass or any bullfrogs from there!!! Quote
JensHolsten Posted December 31, 2006 Posted December 31, 2006 There is definetely climbing at the Potholes. Check out Rick La Belle's (sp?)new guide to central washington rock. Very cool. Multiple desert venues are covered, as well as Banks Lake rock. Kind of a fun book to discover when you live in the middle of Washington. I know I am psyched to climb many of the routes in this book. Cheers! Jens Quote
samdude19 Posted December 31, 2006 Author Posted December 31, 2006 Cool, thanks for the help. I'm gonna try to find that book Quote
Marty Posted January 3, 2007 Posted January 3, 2007 Um... Jens. What about Bland's book to Banks Lake? Much more entertaining and informative and far less gay. Don't you even remember how Bland used to pick you up and haul your broke college ass all around Spokane and its cliffs (Let's try to forget the time I dropped you off at Francis and made you take the bus home. I was in a hurry, OK?) Bland feels very sad that you didn't even advertise his brilliant expose' on Banks Lake. Oh well, no good deed goes unpunished. Quote
lancegranite Posted January 3, 2007 Posted January 3, 2007 why does Marty talk about himself in the 3rd person? Quote
MattStan Posted January 3, 2007 Posted January 3, 2007 I've heard via the rumor mill that climbing in the southern part (e.g., the Schoolroom) of the Potholes may have been shut down at the land manager's discretion. Not positive on this, so it'd behoove anyone planning to go out there to check in advance. Quote
Winter Posted January 3, 2007 Posted January 3, 2007 why does Marty talk about himself in the 3rd person? Bo Jackson fetish? Quote
Marty Posted January 4, 2007 Posted January 4, 2007 Exactly. I like to talk about Bland because I have a Bo Jackson fetish. Quote
drater Posted January 6, 2007 Posted January 6, 2007 Blowboarder bought the Bland book. It was very bland. Not to mention a total pile of crap. Blowboarder no like. Although Blowboarder laugh at picture of Johnny G with pipecleaner arms. Hahaha. Blowboarder smile now. Blowboarder joking. Good book. Funny anectotes. Lots of routes. Lots of choss. Choss good. That kind of fun. Blowboarder like 3rd person soliloquy. Bland. Call Blowboarder. Blowboarder broke phone and decided good time to tell Verizon to get fucked. Blowboarder smiling at that memory. Eight Hundred. Nine Seven One. Nine Nine One Five. Snow and wind good combo make Blowboarder smile. Blowboarder tell all who might say "Take it to a pm" to get fucked. With sharp stick. No lube. Enjoy. Quote
JensHolsten Posted January 7, 2007 Posted January 7, 2007 Marty- I do thank you for hauling my broke (nothing's changed, although I do have a car) ass around eastern Washington's finest crags. I mean that shit! I suggested La Belle's book because the original poster sounds like a beginner. Also, your book doesn't cover the potholes does it? Anyway, I can honestly say the Marty's book is the one to buy if you want to climb quality routes instead of crumbling basalt. Plus the book is a fun read and much clearer and more helpful than CWR. How's that for a plug! Hey Marty, I am going to be in China Bend this next weekend, fri, sat, and sun. I am psyched. You should come if you can. One more shout out: Buy Marty's book!!!! Quote
samdude19 Posted January 8, 2007 Author Posted January 8, 2007 Anyone know where I can get a copy of Marty Bland's book? I found "Rock Climbs of Central Washington" on Mgear.com and am planning on ordering once I look into my finances and buy some food. Thanks for all the help, and does anyone know for sure if areas of the Potholes have been closed to climbing? One post said that it may be the case, anyway, thanks. Quote
G-spotter Posted January 8, 2007 Posted January 8, 2007 Which guidebook would DonnyBaker buy? Can he read? Quote
Marty Posted January 8, 2007 Posted January 8, 2007 Jens, I was just jokin' with ya. You know I really don't have any feelings to hurt anyhow. Ray and Johnny will probably go to China Bend. Crash at my house if you need. P.S. Donny Baker would only use my book for toilet paper, Swear to god he would. Quote
sobo Posted January 12, 2007 Posted January 12, 2007 I put up some routes out there years and years ago with Bill Robins. I could probably tell you how to get there (which any guidebook could), but I doubt I'd be able to find any of the routes we did. You could try sending a PM to Paul Certa on this site. Or find him at Frenchman Coulee Climbers Coalition on yahoo groups. He was Bill's bestest friend. He might have the righteous beta. Here's his bio, but he hasn't posted here since 2004. Don't know if his email addy is still current. Looking for him on yahoo groups at FCCC is your best bet. Rumor has it that the Potholes has been closed for quite some time now. Don' know why. Quote
catbirdseat Posted January 18, 2007 Posted January 18, 2007 Tell Mr. Baker it's time he drop by this site for a visit. Quote
Marty Posted January 19, 2007 Posted January 19, 2007 I'ts wierd cause ol' Donny hasn't been around for a bit. Probably touring the US with A Whitesnake cover band or somthing. Maybe he and Joe Dirt are on a pilgrimage to find their lost family. Hope he doesn't come back. Guys like him give Spokane a bad image. Quote
richard_noggin Posted January 20, 2007 Posted January 20, 2007 AH!! Donnie Baker The bad boy wacko nut case anomalies of the human race that bring down the heat on the rest of us, can be quite entertaining as they are stiring the pot of discontent Quote
ericb Posted January 20, 2007 Posted January 20, 2007 Guys like him give Spokane a bad image. As if it needed the help Quote
drater Posted January 20, 2007 Posted January 20, 2007 Guys like him give Spokane a bad image. Him and Robert Yates, two shining examples of Spokane's civic accomplishments. Marty. Snow. Kiting. Call. Me. Quote
DonnyBaker Posted January 25, 2007 Posted January 25, 2007 HEy marty who is this shellface given you games ? Me and stevie winkler are SONS OF SILENCE MAN. Hey you the same jens holsten, dad named ralph that didn't nominate Donny Baker for all-stars. What goes around comes around Man, got a feelin there's gonna be some tire tracks on your lawn in about two weeks. Besides I swear to God I found the best website ever. WWW.SNOWMOBILEWORLD.COM Blowboarder man I see you when I'm Snowmobiling I'll fire paint balls right at your face man. Quote
Weekend_Climberz Posted January 25, 2007 Posted January 25, 2007 Paintballs, snowmobiles, and lawn jobs, we all sure miss you DonnyB :lmao: Quote
steviewinkler Posted January 25, 2007 Posted January 25, 2007 Hey Donny: I just ramped up the PSI in my paintball gun, and shot Feltcher right in the pulled pork! Quote
drater Posted January 26, 2007 Posted January 26, 2007 Blowboarder man I see you when I'm Snowmobiling I'll fire paint balls right at your face man. Whatever, as long as you give me a tow up top. Let's go to Chimney Rock this weekend. Quote
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