Alois Smrz > Forum Messages

Nov 1, 2024 JackI would cut the slings off the  2 HB cams and replace them with Blue Water 5/8" Climb-Spec or equivalent Tubular Webbing. Tie each of the sling with Water knot and saw… View Message

Oct 22, 2024 Armando Menocal, Rich Henke and I had some good times skiing the Arc Dome in Nevada in the winter of 1995.So sorry to hear of Armando's passing. What a towering person. RIP. View Message

Aug 13, 2024 If you go in July and August and the mountains are dry, any decent approach shoe will do. But if you manage to hit the peaks after a snow storm (and with ice on the upper… View Message

Aug 12, 2024 ALWAYS BE MASTER OF TIME:Backcountry time is not a clock time. It is measured by your ability to cope, by hazards, visibility, terrain, and the weather. If you must be somewher… View Message

Aug 8, 2024 My 29 years in IT were pretty stressful, if interesting. Working in the Network Center environment, 24/7 with 3 days of 12 hours shifts and 4 days off allowed time for climbing… View Message

Jul 7, 2024 apogee said:" I'm pretty sure the placement of these litters pre-dates SCMA & Secor- they likely assisted the replacement process at some point, and SCMA was stashing one o… View Message

Jul 5, 2024 It is obvious, but move away from major mountain fire, even if your vehicle is parked in the fire's path.2018 Ruby Crest Trail trip. Lamoille Canyon fire, October 1. We managed… View Message

Jun 26, 2024 This trip qualifieshttp://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.php?topic_id=815911&msg=815911#msg815911 View Message

Jun 13, 2024 On Rising Wolf Mountain, Glacier NP. This meeting was way too close for comfort, no more than 50 feet. I froze, Penelope kept shooting pictures. The Griz went right by us. View Message

Jun 10, 2024 What an effort !  Some of the best and hardest climbing in the Sierra to date. Congrats,,, View Message

May 28, 2024 My story. I have been climbing since the age of 16 (I'm 75 now). In 2015 I started to have somewhat sharp pain (like having a stone in my shoe) in my right foot. The pain was b… View Message

May 24, 2024 John and I were at the top of Isles in the Sky, Joshua Tree in the late seventies. It was a beautiful evening, sun was just going down and we were at the end of a busy day. In… View Message

May 10, 2024 Not bringing anything new to the discussion. But I must say that aiding and hauling on Tahquitz is a terrible idea. There are no routes on the rock  that can handle seriou… View Message

Apr 30, 2024 Found two pairs of shoes at Cap Rock, J Tree on April 25th, 2024. View Message

Apr 9, 2024 A few shots from yesterday's hike.Both Suicide and Tahquitz dried out from the recent storm.Lunch Rock approach has some frozen snow, see picture.Humber Park gate is still clos… View Message

Apr 6, 2024 At 7 AM this morning, 20 degrees in Idyllwild (lower part of town at 5,200'), about 3 inches of crisp snow on the ground. It might be a good day for some winter hiking.Just to… View Message

Apr 1, 2024 Great piece of work. Thank you. I hope newcomers to our activity read this from start to finish. View Message

Mar 19, 2024 April will generally have a little snow, ice and water in the cracks on the North side of the rock. You might find snow on the approach. The South side of the rock has sun on i… View Message

Mar 16, 2024 Some of the most incredible high altitude videos from Everest, ever. Way too young to go.Condolences to family and friends. View Message

Mar 1, 2024 The original Jim Erb and Theresa Rutherford 1989 workshop was designed for completely different reasons than just best crack climbs.Jim and Theresa believed that beginning lead… View Message

Feb 12, 2024 I feel for you, bro. So many of us old timers are dealing with back issues. It's a badge of honor for our years of activity on the rock and in the mountains. Thanks for th… View Message

Feb 12, 2024 Thanks GuyThere might be some "real" ice forming. All depends on temps this week.How are you my friend. Any adventures? How is life?Be well, A. View Message

Feb 11, 2024 Tahquitz Rock today. Looks promising! View Message

Feb 9, 2024 Many years ago, Miguel Carmona and I skied Mt Gould from the Golden Trout Lakes. We did it overnight since neither one of us was there before. I recall very ski able terrain an… View Message

Dec 23, 2023 The storm has moved east. This morning at 5,200' (lower Idyllwild), temps were 38 degrees at 7 AM. The base of the rock has some dusting of snow, higher up (cc 8,000') there is… View Message

Dec 22, 2023 We went up North Gully to the summit this past Tuesday. It was dry and the rock too.Looking out from our deck this morning, there is no snow on Tahquitz Peak. But the storm is… View Message

Nov 28, 2023 Early season snow in the Sierra is usually very soft because the temps are low enough not to melt it. So if there is a lot of early snow, the going will be tough.I would check… View Message

Aug 28, 2023 ZacharyThe glaciers in the Sierra today are just a shadow of what they were 40 years ago. Even then, most people did not rope up on them. Yes, there are schrunds here and there… View Message

Aug 12, 2023 Is this a definition of Factor 2 fall??One climber anchors at the end of a pitch. Second climber starts up next pitch. Goes 15 feet, places no pro. Takes a fall. Falls by the b… View Message

Jul 27, 2023 There is little documented rock climbing and/or bouldering in the Rubies. The guidebook is pretty old, the climbs in it are hard to find and most have very old pro. Rubies do h… View Message

Jun 13, 2023 apogee wrote: Very, very nice. If anyone learns of the process they used, post up. I’ve done several such projects in the Idyllwild area, and curious about how others… View Message

Jun 9, 2023 I'm not sure if I could trust statements about waterproofing quality from the manufacturer of Firstlight and other tents in that line. I would absolutely stay away from Fi… View Message

Mar 16, 2023 Listen to Allen Sanderson....I have been both to Alaska in early May and to 8,000 meters in Nepal and the temps on Denali can be brutal. In good weather it can be much warmer a… View Message

Feb 9, 2023 Skiing to Tuolumne from Le Vining, skiing up to Cathedral Peak and climbing the Wilts route. A very long ski trip and  sunny, easy climb. Wonderful scenery.Hiking and skii… View Message

Feb 8, 2023 A week before Christmas 2022, late Friday evening, Penelope and I were hiking from Outer Mongolia back to the car at Boy Scout Trailhead . We encountered at least a couple doze… View Message

Feb 7, 2023 I can comment on Charlotte Dome.Great ski in (we went over Kearsarge Pass) and about 13 miles long. The South Face can be climbed in late winter if there is a spell of dry weat… View Message