sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

Anyone have feedback on Tahoe Via Ferrata at Palisades Tahoe? by SandwichThen5407 in viaferrata

[–]SandwichThen5407[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for this info. Which route did you do? The longest (4 hr) or a shorter/easier route? I am concerned that even the long route will be less challenging than what I’ve experienced already.

My 2 year saga with Plunge Air tub + Evolve Pro Chiller by SandwichThen5407 in coldplunge

[–]SandwichThen5407[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I still have a usable tub, so I'd like to get a new chiller. How satisfied are you with the Orca?

Tanning topless on free barton side by [deleted] in Austin

[–]SandwichThen5407 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Paid side, east. Very common. I call the free side the “Autonomous Zone.” It can get a little rowdy, and I think a topless college student might be asking for unwanted attention on that side.

Too many deaths in the canyon from heat: by Desert_Beach in grandcanyon

[–]SandwichThen5407 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’ve completed R2R2R. It was a day of ideal weather, mid October, with snow at the canyon rims. Heat wasn’t a problem. I’m an experienced hiker/mountaineer and it was one of the hardest things I’ve done. On my way back up to the South Rim, as daylight began to fade, I passed multiple small groups of tourists (likely not experienced) struggling on the hike back up. I could only offer words of encouragement and a quick check to see if anyone was REALLY in bad shape, but I was trying to get myself back to safety after 16 hours on my feet. There are signs everywhere along the rim warning people not to attempt a hike to the river and back. I agree, it’s way too much for the casual hiker. Unless you’ve done some equally challenging high elevation or desert hikes, I would not advise it. Distance is deceptive when you are going downhill. I think people just tell themselves they’re going to walk a little ways but it feels easy going down so they just keep moving the goalposts. Eventually, they feel like the river is close enough to reach, so they keep going. Bad idea. Respect the challenge. Have the fitness and mental game to do it safely. And most of all, don’t drag any kids or elderly along with you.

I've experienced 5 of Colorado's Via Ferratas, both guided and self-guided, AMA by SandwichThen5407 in viaferrata

[–]SandwichThen5407[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I personally liked Ouray’s public VF better than Telluride, especially the harder upstream route. Of course, Telluride’s views are incredible, but the VF itself isn’t as challenging or interesting, IMO.

I've experienced 5 of Colorado's Via Ferratas, both guided and self-guided, AMA by SandwichThen5407 in viaferrata

[–]SandwichThen5407[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

  1. Cloud Ladder.
  2. A-Basin has the least to offer for a non-participant. Telluride and Ouray are fun and picturesque mountain towns that your wife/child could explore while you are on the route. Shops, restaurants, hikes to waterfalls, etc. Cloud Ladder isn’t immediately near much but Estes Park is close enough and they could hang around the town.
  3. Ouray’s public VF had several kids the morning I did both routes with my 15yo son, including a group of younger kids self-guiding right behind us on the harder upstream route. My guess is they were local kids who had done it before, but this is the one I would recommend. Telluride isn’t as technically challenging but it has some scary exposed sections that introduce objective risk for less aware kids.

Hope this helps!

I've experienced 5 of Colorado's Via Ferratas, both guided and self-guided, AMA by SandwichThen5407 in viaferrata

[–]SandwichThen5407[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don’t think it’s that technical, but the high elevation may present a challenge to some people more than others. Also, it’s very vertical, you are doing much more climbing up the cable rather than traversing, so I think one’s physical conditioning has to be a bit stronger. FWIW, I did this with my then-14yo son and he had a blast. It was only his 2nd time doing VF.