That White Stuff
Tim Stich
I never see it where I live and have rarely set foot on it. Lately I
have read about those who rescue avalanche victims in it, climb it,
and endlessly evaluate it's consistency. I've read books describing
how to dig a pit and read the layers of snow to judge the liklihood of
avalanche. As nutty as it sounds to me, I have even heard of some
climbers feeling safer climbing on snow than on rock.
So of course I'm psyched to get to see some in Switzerland this
September. With luck, I'll be living near snow and ice in a year or
two. I'll be getting a 70 cm ice axe like Mr. Bell recommends. It's
all weird and new! And frightening. I can't tell you how whacky it
seems to me to climb steep snow and ice. I can see myself practicing
self arrests all afternoon for shits and grins, pausing to warm my
hands on a heat pack. I can't wait to sink that first ice screw, cut a
bollard, and bury a dead man.
In a few months of living in it, no doubt I'll start to dread it. I'll
groan when the sky belches up more slushy flakes and curse at getting
my feet wet. But you know, that's way down the road! Hah. I can enjoy
it for a whole month first.
-Tim
Shilajit T Gangulee
: I can't wait to... screw... and bury a dead man.
It seems like you have the makings of an alpininist.
-tico
Mike Garrison
>
> avalanche. As nutty as it sounds to me, I have even heard of some
> climbers feeling safer climbing on snow than on rock.
I've heard it said that you can tell Washington climbers
from Colorado climbers by looking at their footprints. If
there is an option, the Washington climbers always go up the
snow patches and the Colorado climbers always go up the
rock....
> hands on a heat pack. I can't wait to sink that first ice screw, cut a
> bollard, and bury a dead man.
Now you are thinking of New Jersey climbers. "Hey Vinnie!
Where'd you bury that dead man?"
Snow is a magic carpet. You can go almost anywhere on a nice
consolidated spring snowpack.
-Mike
Michael A. Riches
tims...@yahoo.com wrote on 7/9/02 11:00 AM:
Caves can take on a whole new meaning to you...After climbing out of a snow
cave, you'll be really impressed with the fact that yer clothes are
clean...snicker.
I was fortunate enough to spend several years of my, uhhhh early
manhooood...??? in the service of our great uncle, sweltering in the "Far
East". One of the things I missed the most was snow. Sadly, when I returned
to the land of the free and the home of the brave, it took years to
re-acclimate. I would dread the winters and the cold. It took a new pair of
skis and several other wonderful and expensive toys to take my mind off the
cold. I think I look forward to winter, now, almost as much as I look
forward to bikini weather...
Good luck, seriously...and, of course, we all want that "Impressions of my
first real winter" TR on or about May or June next year....snicker. Also a
gooogle will reveal the proper way to train for that up and coming "First
Ice Climbing Fest" (I'd start with frozen quail, first, before I had the SO
throw frozen turkeys off the roof at you...work yer way into it gradually).
Ratzzz...
Tim Stich
> Good luck, seriously...and, of course, we all want that "Impressions of my
> first real winter" TR on or about May or June next year....snicker.
Yeah, I'll go out right now and buy those Big Cheif tablets and
pencils to write me scribblins in!
Also a
> gooogle will reveal the proper way to train for that up and coming "First
> Ice Climbing Fest" (I'd start with frozen quail, first, before I had the SO
> throw frozen turkeys off the roof at you...work yer way into it gradually).
So this helps you judge the proper defensive move just prior to the
missle's contact with your head, right? Keep looking until you know
what to do? Got it.
-Tim
Michael A. Riches
tims...@yahoo.com wrote on 7/10/02 10:34 PM:
> Also a
>> gooogle will reveal the proper way to train for that up and coming "First
>> Ice Climbing Fest" (I'd start with frozen quail, first, before I had the SO
>> throw frozen turkeys off the roof at you...work yer way into it gradually).
>
> So this helps you judge the proper defensive move just prior to the
> missle's contact with your head, right? Keep looking until you know
> what to do? Got it.
>
> -Tim
Eggsactly...Especially if your first encounter is in an area that is well
frequented. I was dropped to my knees, this winter, by a chunk the size of a
frozen chicken, came out of nowhere...hit my wanking arm right on the
shoulder, still hurts to, uhhhh...use it.
Ratzzz...(crippled fer life...)
Mike Shutters
> ..hit my wanking arm right on the shoulder, still hurts to, uhhhh...use it.
Perhaps it's time you learned to be ambidextrous? :-)
Shilajit T Gangulee
: "Michael A. Riches" <rock...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
: news:B9513325.1B53B0%rock...@earthlink.net...
: > ..hit my wanking arm right on the shoulder, still hurts to, uhhhh...use it.
: Perhaps it's time you learned to be ambidextrous? :-)
yeah, when the wife's out of commission, you've got to go with the mistress
Michael A. Riches
mshu...@spamcop.net wrote on 7/11/02 11:03 AM:
Seriously, what choice do I have...???
Ratzzz...