Mark Webster > Forum Messages

Feb 17, 2026 My buddy JH has a good perspective on this theme.  When he's looking for a climbing partner, he doesn't ask how long they've been climbing. Instead he asks how many days t… View Message

Feb 17, 2026 I just got the book in the mail and it is riveting!! Loved reading about your trip out west climbing stuff that I know well. Darn book has me burning the midnight oil View Message

Feb 17, 2026    You are only as good as the last thing you led clean last week.  When I was younger I was a decent climber, now I'm on the downward slide to mediocrity. &nbsp… View Message

Feb 16, 2026 Darrington has some very nice slab. Some of it has been retro bolted and is safe through the cruxes. I was lucky to get to know and climb with Mr. Slabdaddy himself. Here he is… View Message

Feb 12, 2026 Historically the problem with slab has been ground up ascents where there were limited drilling stances. Some of those routes still remain as proud testaments to courage. As to… View Message

Feb 9, 2026 South Six shooter is 5.7 -ish, a couple pitches with a great summit view.Lightning Bolt at Habitado is 5.9 and accesses a 6 inch offwidth that can be top roped. Also an 8 there… View Message

Feb 7, 2026 There is a new resoler offering three week turnaround. The name of his store is Magic Valley Gear Exchange in Twin Falls, Idaho. He just brought my 15 year old custom built roc… View Message

Jan 30, 2026 We met Joanne and Jorge at the City of Rocks Almo steakhouse as well as climbing at Bath Rock last September. They were staying at Kim's house (RKM) who graciously puts on pizz… View Message

Jan 30, 2026 Roger Johnson of Roger's corner is 82-ish. I climb with him at the gym Tuesday Thursday. Really cool guy and an old friend from the seventies.  View Message

Jan 29, 2026 The creek and jtree get cold in winter and shoulder season. In world war 1 the Japanese invented lighter fluid (naptha) handwarmers to keep soldiers alive overnight in the tren… View Message

Jan 28, 2026 Leavenworth: Castle Rock: Midway DirectJtree: Hands OffSquamish: Klahanie CrackSmith: 5 Gallon buckets!Indian Creek: Lightning Bolt at Habitado City of Rocks: everything a… View Message

Jan 19, 2026 This depends on what grade and style you prefer. But Edible Panties and Octopus Garden in the Shade at Squamish are both 4 star splitter trad lines.They are within 20 feet of e… View Message

Jan 9, 2026 "I'm going to show them the fruit salad!"We were at the anchors for Papa Woolsey in Joshua Tree. There was a campsite directly below with an oversize Winnebago. A touron was st… View Message

Jan 8, 2026 Ken, great to hear of your adventures! You coming to the over 50 city of rocks thing this year? We talked about moving it to last week in May to get cooler weather. No one rese… View Message

Jan 7, 2026 does Mill End have a large variety of flat webbing? Seattle Fabric had everything from lacing up to 3 inch wide seat belt style webbing in all colors, plus a wall of buckles in… View Message

Jan 7, 2026 Does anyone know why Seattle Fabrics is still not allowing walk-ins? During Covid it made sense, but 5 years later?Is there another fabric store that stocks the variety they ha… View Message

Jan 5, 2026 Like ropes, zippers are expendable, they will all need replacing. The plastic toothed zippers are more durable than the coil zippers. Metal toothed zippers like the fly on your… View Message

Dec 21, 2025 Since this thread is still alive, in how many sports (social scenes) are you encouraged to catch a stranger who is falling from above you? Spotting in bouldering can get physic… View Message

Dec 12, 2025 I had to go through all those decisions in 2020. With this 8 foot bed, I have 2 feet at the end of my 6 foot bed platform to sit in a chair in the rain or snow. The canopy weig… View Message

Dec 8, 2025 I've led that one a couple times, great climb but I always had to pull on a cam passing the roof. Looks like there may be a new foothold. That is some very skilled drilling nex… View Message

Dec 7, 2025 The dating apps have been getting a lot of bad press lately. People are desperate for face to face interaction. In our gym, people take the climbing seriously, but I also see a… View Message

Dec 1, 2025 Active outdoor lifestyles take a heavy toll on our community. They say if you can get through the first 5 years of climbing injury free you are good to go. I fell off a climb i… View Message

Nov 23, 2025 We showed up to Blue Gamma and guides had 5 ropes up for 16 clients. We found an open one star 9 for an hour. I walked up to one of the TR’s and asked how long they&rsquo… View Message

Oct 26, 2025 Like offwidth, slab climbing is an acquired taste. I see you are looking at LCC. But if you ever feel like a road trip, City of Rocks is a slab mecca. There is a crag there tha… View Message

Oct 15, 2025 Painting does mix well with climbing. I kept running into Meatloaf in Leavenworth and the Creek. He follows Maria everywhere. Best crag dog ever. I painted him in my truck duri… View Message

Oct 3, 2025 A buddy of mine has a great metric for judging new partners. When you meet someone who wants to go climbing, the question you ask is not: "How long have you been climbing?"Rath… View Message

Sep 12, 2025 I know most of y'all rack on your harness. I do that for sport. But for trad I learned to rack on my shoulder and never saw a reason to change. I carry a big rack for my big ha… View Message

Aug 30, 2025 Some of you may know an electrician named Dave B. He was a regular at Jtree for Xmas, and Vantage in the winter. He told me an amusing tale about aging:"I used to get so scared… View Message

Aug 13, 2025 If I can't lead a route, I'll find an easier one that I can lead. If there are no routes easy enough to lead, I'm at the wrong crag. I do make exceptions at Indian Creek, but o… View Message

Jul 13, 2025 Losing muscle mass as you age is real. Couple weeks ago I got on a 10b splitter:https://www.mountainproject.com/route/108388413/balekramar-routeJust 6 years ago I cruised it on… View Message

Jul 8, 2025 Yes, 3 years ago at Indian Creek while on a rest day. I hiked up to paint some ruins. As I was painting a 900 year old man stepped out of the ruins and gave me the evil eye. I… View Message

Jul 4, 2025 When setting up an unattended top rope anchor, non lockers clipped on top of the chain can be prone to open as they are loaded. If I don't have a locker, I'll put my non lockin… View Message

Jun 30, 2025 In my first year we would climb every weekend rain or shine. When it rained we’d lead the same easy trad lines on aid. All we had were a few books. Aiding teaches you goo… View Message

Jun 30, 2025 I carry a full frame camera on easier stuff and get some fun shots:Samantha leading Scarface:-----Samantha belaying her follower on an 8 at Jtree:----Lolo following Toe Jam, Jt… View Message

Jun 28, 2025 Squamish, Index, Exit 38 & 32 all have similar weather in the summer. Occasionally Squamish is a little wetter. At Index, if it rains you can drive one hour East to drier w… View Message

Jun 10, 2025 Suzy grabbing Tim’s shirt at the rap station. I got you! I recognize a few of you. We are still here for a while at the Breadloaves View Message