Damien would only send me the receipt, not for funding, but because he knows I rail against idiots who pay dead bird's prices thinking somehow it is going to turn them into a climber of some sort or a better one if they think they already are. Walked past a $700! jacket in the climbing section in Banff the other day...are you guys nuts? The more you keep supporting their idea that more is better, the more they will keep testing you and taking your money.
"5.2 top rope climber", reminds me of the time I was on Deltaform, trying to do the traverse of the Ten Peaks. I brought a friend/client from Texas so one of my regular partners brought his buddy from Calgary. Guy is actually a member of SP. We had planned on biving to make the traverse, it would be a requirement.... but this guy was so slow, way slower than my Texas guy which was outfitted like myself, both of us looking homeless in comparison. As night fell, I kept leading the way, pushing them as hard as I could to descend to a decent bivy spot way short of where we expected to be, but at least off the summit ridge of the mountain.
As dark set in, the well dressed dead bird fan sits down next to me. I simply said,
"you sure do move slow but at least you do it in style with those fancy clothes. You know, you can spend all the money you want on that shit (dead bird) and it won't save you when shit hits the fan on a summit ridge like this. Better to move fast and get off the damn thing. Speed equals safety out here first and foremost." Dude had $1000 worth on just in pants and jacket. Dead bird pack, fancy ass bag as I recall (Feathered Friends or whatever crazy expensive shit you guys buy). I think I slept in a 40F Marmot $100 bag with my clothes and down on, felt fucking fantastic. Prob had on a $100 OR paclite jacket or something.
Some guys buying habits do amuse me. And it is a guy thing. Most female climbers I see out there seem to be much more practical and sensible about what is necessary and what is not. I do always crack a smile when I pass you (and know who you are) and notice your grimace as you pack that weight into the bugs or some similar backcountry location, in far less shape than myself despite your youth, but double the weight along with your huge boots so your delicate feet don't get cold, etc. Keep spending away on the "latest and best", I actually benefit the more you do. I secretly kind of root for companies like dead bird anymore.
Carry on.