Strange Brew

This is not fun with rocks but maybe fun with beans. I saw this coffee maker for camping on the Outside Magazine site. It’s gas-powered and was chosen as one of the best products of ‘09.

But, when I am camping I like simple and fast (is it surprising, that I would like FAST and SIMPLE?) So what I do is make Cowboy (Cowperson?) coffee. There’re tons of ways to make it, but ‘cuz I’m in a hurry, I just boil some water, throw some grounds in the pot (a lot is better than a little) and then let ‘er boil for a bit. Take it off the heat, wait as long as you can, then pour out a big steamin’ cup of Joe while you say “GiddyUp, Give Me A Cup.” That’s all you need to do. (Filter the grounds with your teeth. It won’t hurt you.)

Mt Fairweather

Here’s a climb we did a few years ago in Alaska. We took a bush plane from Juneau and landed in a little glacier melt water pond at sea level on the Pacific Ocean side of the peak. Then we climbed from there. As far as we could tell, we were only the 2nd group who’d climbed it this way.

We could see Glacier Bay to the east from the summit. On the way in, we passed a plane which had crashed a few years before. We found a wallet which we turned into the FAA office in Juneau. (We were the first ones to report the crash at least.) It’s a little creepy to find a crashed plane with people’s stuff before you head up a major peak. (But it’s also a little creepy to climb with me. C’est la vie.)

Oh, well we waited two days for the plane to pick us up, we could hear grizzly bears attacking the geese that lived along the shoreline where we were camped. But, not to worry, if they’d attacked us., our plan was to fight them off with our super duper B.O.

More aerial photos of Mt Fairweather here.

If You’re At All Bothered By Heights

Don’t watch this video of a major fall on a sidewalk if heights bother you. (It’s hard to explain until you see it.)

Stars of the Star Trib

As Julianne said, "We know famous people!" Here is an article on bouldering that ran in the Star Tribune featuring VE staffer Trinh and Pi and Interstate Park bouldering on Oxygen Cocktail.

A July-August Montage

Farewell Summer Tour

Here is is the first annual. climb, bike and paddle the St. Croix
Sept 13 at 9:30 am (rain date  Sept 20)

Park your bike at the top of the Cascade Falls Stairs in Osceola and meet up at the bottom of the stairs.

We will bike 6 miles to Interstate Park for a morning of climbing (climbing gear will be dropped off prior, no hauling gear unless you want to.)

When we are done climbing we can hop in canoes and kayaks and float down the river to Osceola. (Here’s map.)

Sound fun? Leave comment if you want to come. Have a bunch of questions about logistics? oh get over it, we will figure it out. I have most of it figured out already.

More TF Photos

More fun photos before my battery died and I discovered my spare was also dead :(
An old man: (the rock, people!)

From TF 8/29/9

Renee climbed hard and well today!

From TF 8/29/9

From TF 8/29/9

Mel, you wanted a nice one--here it is!

From TF 8/29/9

(although there still isn't any make-up--we'll have to work on that for next time ;) )

From TF 8/29/9

And last, but definitely not least, Amy and Mario were spotted at the wall as well.

From TF 8/29/9

As for the rest, check 'em out!
p.s. tell me if it's making you set up an account to view them--it's just easier to use this site since i can upload a bunch at a time, rather than one by one with picasa

Taylors Falls Saturday

Mel, Lisa, Amy, Renee, Barb, Pamela and I  braved the first day of Fall to climb at TF today. (I know, I know, but the weather sure seemed like fall.)

Lots of fancy climbing as well as fancy anchor setting.

Now I have a very minor complaint. When you’re setting anchors, please use colorful gear like this:

 

 

Not gear like this:

 

Remember, PPM is going all the way to Prudhoe Bay to get the raw materials  we need to make colorful webbing and cords. Let’s get some and use it. “Nuff said.

 More photos here.

Richard and the gals

Mel, Renee, Pamela, Amy, Barb (Richard's lovely wife) and myself had a great day of climbing on the wiSconie side of Taylors Falls today. We had top ropes set up all over the place. We hung by our finger nails and waved at the tour boat. Climbing was much easier when we kept in mind that our feeties are not baked potAtoes.

For our after-climbing snack we had the most amazing assortment of deep fried foods and some beer. Yum. Chilly day, I hope for a long fall climbing season. I think I would like to visit the Minnesota side next weekend, anyone want to come along? I know Pamela will be wearing a beautiful wedding gown instead of a harness. Good Luck Pammy! We were careful not to bruise the bride today.

I know that Richard or Pamela took photos today, please add them to this post!

PPM’s Party Cont’d

Because Mike – PPM – is returning to Prudhoe Bay soon, and because they have Polar bears up there sometimes, I wanted to show him how to differentiate between a hungry – dangerous – bear and one that is not hungry. So here’s my instructional video. Hope it helps.

Welcome Home PPM

Tonight a few of us visited PPM and Dianne’s home to welcome Mike home from Prudhoe Bay. Or as the Inuit who live up there say, “Quisuktunga.” (No I guess that means, “I am sick.”) What they really say when they see Mike is “Tuktusiuriagaticitqingnapinngitkyptinng.” (No, darn it, that means “You'll never go caribou hunting with me again!")

Here’s what they say, “Tunnga-sugits” (You are welcome here.)  And we were welcomed at their house. And here are Dianne & Mike welcoming guests:

Climbing Harder Routes

Here’s an article on what this guy did to climb harder routes. I especially like this advice:

• “Do not toprope.
• Whatever grade you want to climb, try something much harder. 
• When you are climbing at your limit, getting one hold higher is an achievement.  Cherish it.”

Super Secret Plans

Some of us will be found on the WI side at Taylors 10 ish on Saturday.

Rockin the TF

I guess that would technically be SCF, since we were on the WI side. What a perfect day was Wednesday, and to add climbing just topped it off. I was ready to leave to meet Richard and Lisa when I realized my harness was in Eagan. I figured the worst that could happen was a webbing diaper. We'd figure something out--these two aren't THAT new at this climbing thing.....

Ever the gentleman, Richard sacrificed his own harness and donned some cordellette. Here he is borrowing some chalk. His is presently hanging on my back.

From Taylors Falls 8/26/9

He headed up and, with utmost caution, checked for crack dwellers (I never realized that's where crack babies came from. Makes more sense than a stork).

From Taylors Falls 8/26/9

Ever the encouraging one (must be all that yoga), Lisa pushed him to new heights and contortions:

From Taylors Falls 8/26/9

From Taylors Falls 8/26/9

....while simultaneously testing out the fabled "horizontal belay." Advanced and trusted belayers only!!!

From Taylors Falls 8/26/9

She got to climb, too, of course! At this point, she's saying "you're right, Pamela, this IS the best hold ever!!!"

From Taylors Falls 8/26/9

It was hard to move past.

Usually tall and--less tall--people have distinct styles of climbing, but they seemed to mesh at this spot.

From Taylors Falls 8/26/9

From Taylors Falls 8/26/9

Thanks for great belays and a great day! By the end all I could see was

From Taylors Falls 8/26/9

Oh, and Richard totally rocking out Batman.




all pictures here!

From Taylors Falls 8/26/9

the bowline, my favorite

Rabbits and trees are fine but mountaineers break the window and scratch the belly. I will show you sometime. That method uses bigger arm movements so you partners or guide can see that you did it correctly.

I find uses for the bowline endless. You can tie into your harness, or just a rope without a harness,even right in the middle. You an throw one around a tree or tie up your horse, cow, sheep (oh that's right we mule knot muenter hitch those) you can throw one around a boulder or even tie up your yacht if you have one. Why knot? Oh that's right, it's not a knot, it's a bend, which is stronger. Heck I could tie Ben to a chair for a haircut! Oh again probably the mule hitch would work better. I miss you Ben, now stop goofing off and study! :)

Feel free to leave even more uses in the comment field.