"Because it's there."

[Peregrinator]

And I didn't take half of what I wanted (feet kiling me). But I do have about a roll of the dolphins at the Shedd and another one of the Sea Lions at Lincoln Zoo.

'Night Pergy.

Night, Sigbaby. Sweet dreams. Breathe.

 

[Peregrinator]

This is a random image from a google image search for China/pakistan border:

http://www.locatelli1.net/jpg/pak023.jpg

 

[Peregrinator]

This map gives some idea of the potential for political craziness there. I'll be careful not to admit I'm a US soldier, I guess.


http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/kashmir_disputed_2002.jpg

 

[Peregrinator]

Some more generally-regional shots, these from the "Karakoram Highway:"

Map of the road:

http://www.andrewsenior.com/travel/kkhslides/nwfp.gif

Classic bridge...looks like an Indiana Jones set:

http://www.winf.org/~crajk/travel/bridge_passu_karakoram-highway.jpg

Those look scary-steep. I need to start doing more pullups.

http://www.ecoexpeditions.no/pakistan/images/congashbr.jpg

http://www.kleveman.com/photo/centralasia/big/IMG_1572.jpg

 

[Adakgirl]

I did not read the whole thread.
Have you done 1/2 Dome and El Capitain?
Yosemite climbing?

 

[Peregrinator]

I did not read the whole thread.
Have you done 1/2 Dome and El Capitain?
Yosemite climbing?

Nope, not yet. I've been kinda saving Yosemite for when I feel like a really good rock-rat, or when I feel like being guided up something huge. That's probably a mistake; I should just go. I sort of feel like I want to be able to fully take advantage of it.

 

[Adakgirl]

Well Yosemite climbers will tell you it's more like it will take advantage of you not you it!
Really you should do it. Yosemite has deep roots in the climbing community.

 

[Peregrinator]

Well Yosemite climbers will tell you it's more like it will take advantage of you not you it!
Really you should do it. Yosemite has deep roots in the climbing community.

I'm well aware of the history of the Crucible, believe me. And "it taking advantage of me" is why I've always held back. A good friend worked for YOSAR this past season, and I'm still kicking myself for not going down there to pull cords with him. There's also a Litster and an old friend of my wife's--not the same person--who both live really close...standing invitations to come and stay and play. The friend's hubby guides treks and backpacks in the park. I'll get there one of these days. I really do want to be on top of my rock game when I go, so I'll probably wait until the end of a season when I've been climbing hard and often.

"Deep roots!" Understatement of the thread. I appreciate your interest though. You live in a gorgeous part of the world, dontcha.

 

[Adakgirl]

Oh yea, friends near by is a real good reason to come. Yes, you must be peaked to climb here. These guys are nuts to freeclimb like they do here. As long as you plan and time your climb at the right time of year , and as you said do some rock work for a few years or something first you are good. I know you don't freeclimb right? Those people scare the heck outa me.

 

[Peregrinator]

Oh yea, friends near by is a real good reason to come. Yes, you must be peaked to climb here. These guys are nuts to freeclimb like they do here. As long as you plan and time your climb at the right time of year , and as you said do some rock work for a few years or something first you are good. I know you don't freeclimb right? Those people scare the heck outa me.

By "freeclimb" do you mean "free solo?" The first refers to climbing by pulling only on rock, as opposed to pulling on things you stick in the rock yourself--"aid climbing"--which is the majority of what people call "rock climbing," usually. Free climbers use ropes for protection. Free soloing is climbing without a rope, which is what I assume you mean. I have free soloed at times, very easy stuff. Generally speaking, one free soloes at considerably beneath one's skill level. The guys you're talking about, Peter Croft, John Bachar, Dean Potter, that crowd, are capable of climbing much, much more difficult routes than they solo. Usually. There's always someone who pushes the standards a bit, like Tomo Cesen, free soloing 5.13. There isn't anything all that much more difficult than a 5.13 route.

That sort of planning goes into all climbing. A "few years" is a bit extreme as preparation for something like a wall at Yosemite. What I meant was that I wanted to be able to climb a lot of routes and not be limited by being out of practice, stuck on stuff like Snake Dike when I could be on Astroman.

 

[Adakgirl]

I meant free soloing.
Yes, I misunderstood you, two years is a long ass time to condition.
I see what you mean with your comments about those climbers. I love to read books on climbing expieriences. So interesting to me.
Hey, did you read that newer book out about those people who got struck by lightning on the top of the Dome? It's not about climbing but a pair of climbers is in the story and it's really a scary thing that happened up there.
It was so sad about the Japanese climbers they had to take down, frozen to death. I am not sure I remember what climb they were on. But it was here either 1/2 Dome or El Cap.

 

[Peregrinator]

I meant free soloing.
Yes, I misunderstood you, two years is a long ass time to condition.
I see what you mean with your comments about those climbers.

Thanks for keeping this thread alive. It's good to have someone who's at least willing to engage in a conversation when you're passionate about something.

 

[Adakgirl]

Read above I edited to add more.

 

[Adakgirl]

Also I have a question for you.
Have you ever "Froze"
where you realize you can't go up and you can't go back down? Where your legs start to shake and you have to focus totaly to remain calm and fiqure out what to do next? If you don't you are going to fall?
To me that must be the scaryesy feeling in the world!

 

[biner]

It's great! The pics are amazing! I always wanted to do mountain climbing but we just don't have a lot of mountains in Ontario to practice on.

I'm really amazed at the whole concept.

I wrote something once that went like...

Standing on high places that make big places look like small places. That's how a mountain makes you a god.

Good Grief, Breakwall ! where are you in Ontario ? I'm going to assume the south? You poor thing.
Everywhere else I've been in Ont has had good (not great, but at least good) climbing. Anywhere along the Escarpment you can find some great spots to climb. And Gatineau has wonderful little spots throughout. (despite the restrictions put on this spring) Get out there and try it - you'll never experience anything like it !

Perigrinator - nice thread. I share your love of climbing and mountaineering, but I'm no where near your level of expertise. Just out there loving every minute of it !

 

[Peregrinator]

I meant free soloing.
Yes, I misunderstood you, two years is a long ass time to condition.
I see what you mean with your comments about those climbers. I love to read books on climbing expieriences. So interesting to me.
Hey, did you read that newer book out about those people who got struck by lightning on the top of the Dome? It's not about climbing but a pair of climbers is in the story and it's really a scary thing that happened up there.
It was so sad about the Japanese climbers they had to take down, frozen to death. I am not sure I remember what climb they were on. But it was here either 1/2 Dome or El Cap.

I haven't read it. Sounds cool though...I'll take a look.

 

[Peregrinator]

Also I have a question for you.
Have you ever "Froze"
where you realize you can't go up and you can't go back down? Where your legs start to shake and you have to focus totaly to remain calm and fiqure out what to do next? If you don't you are going to fall?
To me that must be the scaryesy feeling in the world!

Yeah, occasionally. It is scary. There's a kind of zen that happens, though; you become incredibly calm and focused, and move through the problem.

Or you fall.

 

[Peregrinator]

Good Grief, Breakwall ! where are you in Ontario ? I'm going to assume the south? You poor thing.
Everywhere else I've been in Ont has had good (not great, but at least good) climbing. Anywhere along the Escarpment you can find some great spots to climb. And Gatineau has wonderful little spots throughout. (despite the restrictions put on this spring) Get out there and try it - you'll never experience anything like it !

Perigrinator - nice thread. I share your love of climbing and mountaineering, but I'm no where near your level of expertise. Just out there loving every minute of it !

Glad you're enjoying it. Don't overestimate me...I'm not that accomplished or skilled. Hardest lead ever was 5.9 (trad). I've been on a couple expeditions, in Alaska and Kyrgyzstan...Alaska ended early when a friend had domestic issues. Kyrg was a great trip. Hardest ice lead ever was a pitch or so of Grade 3.

Weekend warrior stuff. Anybody could climb as well as if not better than me.

 

[Oscuridad]

Pardon me if this has already been asked...

Have you ever had a fellow climber slide/fall onto/into you crampons-first, and if so, did it in fact "sting like the dickens"?

You will be settling an argument for me.

 

[biner]

Since taking the job I'm in now my outdoor time has been drastically affected. A few years ago, I was instructing at a gym 3 x week, with every weekend spent outside climbing. At that time, my big achievement was a 5.10(c) trad lead - 3 pitches. My climbing partner moved, and I just don't have the time now, so my grip strength, etc is just shot. But I'm hoping to get to the Adirondaks this winter, and the 'gunks next year.
Just getting into the mountaineering end of things - Mt Kenya, and Kili with a group of friends. This year will be some trips in BC, and the group is trying to decide when to try Aconcaugua. I haven't done Ice yet, mostly due to an aversion to being wet AND cold at the same time, but I'm looking for a course this winter.

Adakgirl / Peregrinator: That's exactly right: Suddenly that split second of cold fear kicks in and you realize how freaking high you are and how tough the moves are ahead of you. But up is the only good option, so you just start to move your way through the problem and your focus narrows so that the only thing you see is the rock in incredible detail and clarity. I love that moment !

 

[Peregrinator]

Pardon me if this has already been asked...

Have you ever had a fellow climber slide/fall onto/into you crampons-first, and if so, did it in fact "sting like the dickens"?

You will be settling an argument for me.

Nope. I have kicked myself in the calf of the other leg with one, though, and it hurts like a sonofabitch.

 

[Peregrinator]

Since taking the job I'm in now my outdoor time has been drastically affected. A few years ago, I was instructing at a gym 3 x week, with every weekend spent outside climbing. At that time, my big achievement was a 5.10(c) trad lead - 3 pitches. My climbing partner moved, and I just don't have the time now, so my grip strength, etc is just shot. But I'm hoping to get to the Adirondaks this winter, and the 'gunks next year.
Just getting into the mountaineering end of things - Mt Kenya, and Kili with a group of friends. This year will be some trips in BC, and the group is trying to decide when to try Aconcaugua. I haven't done Ice yet, mostly due to an aversion to being wet AND cold at the same time, but I'm looking for a course this winter.

Adakgirl / Peregrinator: That's exactly right: Suddenly that split second of cold fear kicks in and you realize how freaking high you are and how tough the moves are ahead of you. But up is the only good option, so you just start to move your way through the problem and your focus narrows so that the only thing you see is the rock in incredible detail and clarity. I love that moment !

See? You're a better, more accomplished rock climber than me. I told you I'm a hack.

Kenya would be an amazing trip...supposed to be a phenomenal climb.

Lol...you live in canada and you don't wanna get wet and cold? Dude...get some ice tools. Ya fairy.

"The best climber in the world is the one who's having the most fun."

Alex Lowe...RIP, Alex, god we miss you.

 

[Oscuridad]

Nope. I have kicked myself in the calf of the other leg with one, though, and it hurts like a sonofabitch.

.

Damn...

I've lost by bet.

 

[Peregrinator]

.

Damn...

I've lost by bet.

Well, not really...you asked about someone sliding into me, not about the supremely idiotic act of me kicking myself.

 

[Oscuridad]

Well, not really...you asked about someone sliding into me, not about the supremely idiotic act of me kicking myself.

Specifically the bet involved whether the words "stings like the dickens" could be used to describe being in any way damaged by crampons.

Although I'm sorry you kicked yourself.