Mark P. > Forum Messages

Jul 26, 2021 I recently moved to San Diego and am looking to get back into the gym now that COVID has subsided here. My normal belay partner is ~30 weeks pregnant and not climbing indo… View Message

Jul 16, 2021 Hey everyone, this is my first summer living in San Diego so I'm looking for advice. Any recommendations on a single-pitch crag (sport, trad, TR - doesn't matter for this… View Message

Apr 24, 2020 In Switzerland it's likely you can sport climb starting in May. sac-cas.ch/fr/le-cas/les-ca…; View Message

Apr 24, 2020 The Swiss Alpine Club posted an update that they're working on their mountain hut protection plan, and hope to have some open by June 8 for food at least: sac-cas.ch/fr/le-cas… View Message

Oct 9, 2019 I bought a pair on deep discount and found them ok. Climbed ok but fell apart quickly. Would buy them again for gym climbing if I could find them super cheap but otherwise woul… View Message

Sep 24, 2019 I'd recommend looking at Ticino, or further south. It's typically warmer down there, and if you're on a south-facing route you should be pretty set.Try looking at Freggio, Osog… View Message

Sep 23, 2019 There's a ton of good climbing all over ths country so don't be afraid to go a bit farther afield. I post on kletterportal.ch when I'm looking for a climbing partner. It gets a… View Message

Aug 8, 2019 Dana, I sent you a PM last month. Lemme know if you still want to climb! View Message

Aug 8, 2019 Hey Maxine, it would be great to climb with you all next week! I’ve got plenty of gear and am more looking for people stoked to get outside with. Are you staying in Zuric… View Message

Jul 11, 2019 Hi,Looking for a climbing partner(s) for multipitch in Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy in August. I have a bunch of time off and am looking to get on some classic routes an… View Message

Jul 11, 2019 If you want to come to Switzerland the last week of July, I’m happy to meet up and climb. Not working that week and pretty flexible.And if I get my new passport before th… View Message

Jul 1, 2019 Place your cams with care,Lest they rip. Or listen toWise squirrels: "deez nuts" View Message

Jun 30, 2019 If you’re considering Switzerland, the Swiss Alpine Club has just released a new guidebook called “C(h)lean” which is full of trad routes that require gear in… View Message

Mar 14, 2019 Haldenstein is right outside Chur and has lots of routes from 4 up to 7, bulk in the 5s and 6s. Other option would be Seehorn in Davos, which has multipitch but is easier.  View Message

Mar 12, 2019 For Central Switzerland, there are a ton of options.Hintisberg is beautiful and has an easier 5b/c route, 6 pitches, plus some harder stuff. If you want to go cragging, Me… View Message

Jan 24, 2019 I love it. I bet the margin they make on these is absurd - imagine what they'd charge for their functional stuff if they didn't have these!Also, since I moved to Switzerland I'… View Message

Jan 16, 2019 I think the western side is easier (near interlaken, Uri) than the east (Graubunden and Glarus). Ticino might be too warm to expect good ice but I have no idea - not really an… View Message

Jan 15, 2019 Where in Switzerland will you be? Depending on location, check out two publications from the Swiss Alpine Club:Hot Ice Ost: https://www.sac-cas.ch/de/shop/buecher/klettern/deta… View Message

Jan 8, 2019 If you're in MD, look into the Mountaineering Section of PATC ( potomacmountainclub.org/). They do a lot of informal top-roping and outdoor trips in MD, VA, WV, and PA, and the… View Message

Dec 31, 2018 If you want some fiction, try A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin. It's about an Italian climber/mountaineer who gets drafted to serve in the Italian Army during WW… View Message

Nov 28, 2018 It doesn't matter what grade you can climb before taking a lead class, unless the gym specifies one.Leading in a gym is just like top roping except when/if you fall, you fall f… View Message

Nov 14, 2018 I can see some potential use cases for AR in climbing, such as disguising a climbing wall and its holds to look like actual rock so it's less obvious / more like what goes on o… View Message

Oct 31, 2018 I have a pair of runners and think they're pretty good shoes. Of course, I'm not climbing at a level where my shoes are making a huge difference between success and failure on… View Message

Aug 6, 2018 So I was planning on climbing this week between Tuolomne Meadows and Tahoe, even a bit north of there, but now the air quality and fires have got me concerned about that plan.… View Message

Jul 20, 2018 Email from Chris O'Connell, current owner:It’s with a heavy heart that I send this letter. I’m going to be closing the Boston Rock Gym in December of this year. It… View Message

Jul 17, 2018 I love Finale but might be a bit hot in June and July. but you can always a) climb in the shade b) start earlier c) bring more chalk View Message

Jul 17, 2018 If i wanted to max out good climbing, beer, hiking, and food, I'd go to Italy, esp. Dolomites - not sure about snorkeling but sure you could find some near the coast View Message

Jul 17, 2018 In a lot of places, you can find English guidebooks. But typically it's easier to find them when you're on the ground, unless you can find links and suggestions on Google. For… View Message

Jul 9, 2018 As an American living in Switzerland, I think that you're probably fine with either. I use a single 70m for sport climbing, and half ropes for alpine missions. If you check the… View Message

Jul 4, 2018 So if I understand what you're saying: if you run half ropes (certified ONLY as halves) as twins, then you're unsafe because they together have less elasticity than would be de… View Message

Jul 4, 2018 One thing you could consider is what other factors play into days when you "feel like Cougar." We're less able to deal with stress & fear when we're tired (drained or just… View Message

Jun 29, 2018 I just bring them. I have a wallet on my cell phone with my ID and 2 CC so if I lose my phone I'm well and truly hosed (high risk, minimal reward scenario)I really doubt that a… View Message

Jun 21, 2018 5.10a View Message

Jun 18, 2018 You can also try kletterportal.ch for partners in Switzerland. I've posted there quite a few times in English, which is helpful as it screens out people who don't want to climb… View Message

Jun 7, 2018 Back in the Marines I knew a few guys who had wrapped a couple hundred feet of paracord around their tactical belts in case of survival situations. So if you own one it&rs… View Message

Jun 6, 2018 You'd probably just rip your belt loops off before the wedgy struck... View Message