Climbing Fall Videos

Sometimes you just can't resist watching the carnage in a sort-of-detached way

http://www.splitterchoss.com/2007/10/29/biggest-rock-climbing-falls-caught-on-video/

Too bad the ice-climbing fall was removed....

Loveable Gear

While watching some old 80's videos from Mark Twight's homepage I starting thinking about the old gear I have that I still love:

Rigid friends - while the new BD cams are just amazing (I love the one I found on Cusak's Crack, I still like how the rigid stem provides purchase for solid trigger action

Arcteryx Alpine Jacket - while not as old as rigid friends, this alpine jacket has been through a fair bit and still performs great. Definitely worth the money

Crispi Mountaineering Boots - I got these full shank leathers back in '95 and they have finally given in. I went to throw them out twice, even removing the insoles to guarantee I wouldn't keep them, but I still can't part with them. Of course anything that takes 2 years to break in must been good! Too bad the ankles have caved in from too much side hilling

McHale Bayonet Backpack - I ordered mine back in '94, making sure to get the cool green and purple color combination! This pack is amazing. It carries 100lbs without much effort at all. While the thing weighs a tonne (about 9lbs) it carries unbelievably well. It is super tall so the weight sits over your center of gravity without having to hunch up much. The slide adjusters for shoulder tension allow you to tighten the strap compression without having to tighten or loosen the shoulder strap length. Plus the tension pulls from above your head making you wonder why you ever put up with any other system.

Image from McHale & Compnay - mine is green with purple straps - yeah 90's neon!

Glacier Ice Climbing

Here is a shot from summitpost.org on Snyder Lake ice climbing over in West Glacier.

http://www.summitpost.org/snyder-lake-ice-falls/591788

Bay of Fundy Ice

Most of my first season of ice climbing was spent among the amazing ice formations on the Bay of Fundy. A recent post by Raphael Slawinski about climbing in Minnesota had me reminiscing about the easy approaches and weird wind sculpted formations.

Image from Raphael's Blog

http://raphaelslawinski.blogspot.com/2010/02/michigan-ice.html

Waterton Ice Opener 2010

The 8th annual Ice-opener is slated for Sat. Dec. 18 at 10am at Quick and Dirty. Cor van Raay Farms is supplying the BBQ burgers.

Image from 2010 Fest - nice burgers, ice and large turnout

Quick and Dirty and above

Climbed Quick and Dirty with Brad Hagen on Saturday. Wonderful day - Sunny and -5 C. Q&D is well formed but the upper falls is a freestanding pillar with a big horizontal crack across it. Definitely above my danger tolerance level :)