mrchad9 wrote:

Neophiteat48 wrote:CHEERS, and let's hope for a GREAT election day today! Boy, here come the hate mail.

That's either two disgruntled SPrs who got bad news in the mail, NO WHITNEY WILDERNESS PASS, or they're liberals finding out that Obama raised their taxes too.

Thanks for sharing that touching story ClimberJoe, you must be a legit climber and all knowledgeable if you saved someones life. I think we have a new elf up for the running's! Its voting day!

Hotoven wrote:

Unfortunately, a lot of climbers are ass-holes for the most part. Just ignore the the bad ones.

I have had a completely different experience.

Hikers, Backpackers & Climbers are some of the most down to earth people I know, some of my best friends.

rasgoat wrote:

Hotoven wrote:

Unfortunately, a lot of climbers are ass-holes for the most part. Just ignore the the bad ones.

I have had a completely different experience.

Hikers, Backpackers & Climbers are some of the most down to earth people I know, some of my best friends.

yup.

rasgoat wrote:

Hotoven wrote:

Unfortunately, a lot of climbers are ass-holes for the most part. Just ignore the the bad ones.

I have had a completely different experience.

Hikers, Backpackers & Climbers are some of the most down to earth people I know, some of my best friends.

Hikers and backpackers yes, climbers, not in my experience. I guess I haven't been doing it long enough.

I've met some pretty mean climbers in Squamish recently that have the whole adreneline junky bad-ass persona about them. Somewhat annoying that they are just doing it to look cool.

But, there are others out there that are awesome people, down to earth, willing to help out a noob like myself, etc.

Apex wrote:I've met some pretty mean climbers in Squamish recently that have the whole adreneline junky bad-ass persona about them. Somewhat annoying that they are just doing it to look cool.

But, there are others out there that are awesome people, down to earth, willing to help out a noob like myself, etc.

The jerks are probably Califronia transplants, we keep the good people down here and ship off the aholes to Washington and Oregon.

Neophiteat48 wrote:

Apex wrote:I've met some pretty mean climbers in Squamish recently that have the whole adreneline junky bad-ass persona about them. Somewhat annoying that they are just doing it to look cool.

But, there are others out there that are awesome people, down to earth, willing to help out a noob like myself, etc.

The jerks are probably Califronia transplants, we keep the good people down here and ship off the aholes to Washington and Oregon.

Uh, don't you have it backwards there? And, the good ones aren't "shipped off," but rather leave on their own accord.
Actually, there are plenty of good ones down there, and here, as there are plenty of arrogant people everywhere, including climbers.

Neophiteat48 wrote:

mrchad9 wrote:

Neophiteat48 wrote:CHEERS, and let's hope for a GREAT election day today! Boy, here come the hate mail.

That's either two disgruntled SPrs who got bad news in the mail, NO WHITNEY WILDERNESS PASS, or they're liberals finding out that Obama raised their taxes too.

Neophiteat48 wrote:

mrchad9 wrote:

Neophiteat48 wrote:CHEERS, and let's hope for a GREAT election day today! Boy, here come the hate mail.

That's either two disgruntled SPrs who got bad news in the mail, NO WHITNEY WILDERNESS PASS, or they're liberals finding out that Obama raised their taxes too.

BARK BARK. BARK BARK BARK BARK BARK. BARK!

Greenhorn, where do you live and when is your trip? Here are a couple of tips from me if you want to be successful and have fun on your climb.

Sounds like money is not an issue to you, so I'd go and buy mountaineering boots for the climb, instead of renting them from RMI. Get the new leather ones like Sportiva Nepals or Scarpa Phantoms, not the double-plastic ones. Go hike in them and break them in. Good boots make a huge difference and light-weight pair will keep you happy on the Paradise to Camp Muir hike (and you don't have to bring 2 pairs of boots like many do).

Secondly, if you can, rent crampons, if not, buy a pair online (10-point crampons are good enough), there are sales going on right now or you maybe able to get a pair of used ones. Yes, even if you don't have snow where you are, fit them to your boots and try walking in them. It's very awkward in the beginning. Make sure to wear gaitors when you do or wear a skinny pair of pants that you don't mind trashing. That's the biggest complaint and something that holds back inexperienced mountaineers on their first guided trips. Tripping and constantly catching an edge takes a lot of energy, then you also dislodge rocks on the fellows below you - not cool! RMI go at faster pace than other guided groups, so if they see you falling behind they usually turn you back.

Third, check out all the threads about Rainier clothing - there are many on these forums. Figure out the best layering system. I see guided climbers carrying 50+ pound of huge packs as if they're going on an expedition - while they don't even have to carry a tent or cooking equipment or ropes!

Fourth, on your climb, bring foods you like - you have a luxury of guided services, so you're not constrained by weight you can carry If you haven't already, go backpacking (at least 2 nights) and figure out what works and what doesn't food-wise.

Good luck and have fun! If you decide you like it and want to stick with it, you'll already have most of the gear. If not, sell them here - more bargains for us

welle wrote: so I'd go and buy mountaineering boots for the climb, instead of renting them from RMI.

[...]

Secondly, if you can, rent crampons, if not, buy a pair online (10-point crampons are good enough),

I would not suggest buying boots unless throwing away a couple hundred dollars is no big deal. You might found out that you really hate mountaineering and don't want to pursue it. I would suffer through rental boots are your first trip unless you are really pretty sure you want to keep doing this.

Although I know people that are happy with 10-point crampons, I would never suggest someone buy them. 10-point crampons have limited uses. They are pretty much useless on steeper ice. A good 12-point crampon can be used for almost any climbing, and will serve you better if you get into more technical climbing. Even on low-angle glacier climbs, I would stick with 12-points as they can make it much easier to get out of some crevasses.

mconnell,

You missed the entire thread! this guy is paying $1200 just to climb this peak. If that's the case what difference another few hundred bucks make in order to make things more bearable and ensure the success? and I recommended 10-point as they'd be more intuitive for walking.

If the guy totally hates mountaineering, buying a pair of boots, and then selling them right away would probably recover much of the cost and the money spent would equal or come close enough to boot rental fees for multiple days. Plus it would make things way more comfortable and pleasant. Crampons will be trashed though hehe, therefore I suggested getting used ones...