Comments on: South Ridge of Superior Scramble

By: Big Nick

Big Nick — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:20:08 +0000

I just found your site. I’ll favorite it and check back frequently. I’ve climbed Superior a few times by the east ridge and would love to do the south ridge route. I at 60 yo, climbed the Suicide Chute just yesterday with my son and his friend. The lower portion of the chute was a bit sketchy with light snow covering loose rock. We broke out the axes and crampons about a third of the way up and had a wonderful climb. Noticed the memorial marker dedicated to your friend at the notch. I spend a lot of time hiking in the area and can’t seem to get enough.

Regards!

Nick

By: Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:29:58 +0000

Hmmm, probably once or twice a week right now, but in the past it has been as much as 5+ days a week.

By: Mark H

Mark H — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 02:55:49 +0000

Just curious Andrew, how much hiking or biking are you doing every week to get ready for the ski season?

By: Jonny D

Jonny D — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:06:23 +0000

Andrew –
A group of us rookies (started in the BC last year) find ourselves stoked as we were up scouting superior as well this morning. We went up and back the easy way, from the jeep trail by the Alta city offices. Thanks for the posts and educating, we follow to absorb all that we can from the likes of yourself, the Wizard, and anyone willing to take us fledglings under their arms (that is where the merino wool is handy I suppose).

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:17:57 +0000

Hi Layne – stitching up your own kite can be fun and very satisfying! Good luck. I’d personally go with something in the 2.3m size to begin with, and for that small a size, you’d be better off just buying some good ripstop nylon. The main cost is in the labor, and for something that small, you’d be talking about 10-20 bucks at the most. Tent flys would work though.

On the machines, the lighter the better. Any old home machine will be fine. Be sure and use UV thread though – it will hold up much better.

By: Layne

Layne — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:59:18 +0000

Andrew,

This is way off topic, but I’ve been dreaming of sewing my own kite for some time now, and dreams are starting to give way to action. I’m going to try it using your instructions. To be in line with the “green revolution” (saving my cash for other ski stuff) I’ve been thinking of rounding up some old coats, windbreakers, etc. and using that for the material. Bad idea? Maybe I should save myself the embarrassment of a patchwork kite and pony up for good material, but it might be nice to cut my teeth on something that is inexpensive/free and I wouldn’t feel bad about ruining it. Any advice for someone on a budget?

Also, do you just use a standard sewing machine with regular sewing thread?

Thanks in advance and I can’t wait to try it out this winter.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:15:04 +0000

Hi Ken – the route would lend itself well to short roping, if you are familiar with that technique. It might be a good way to go the for the first few times. I’m the first to admit that I’ve lost much of my objectivity about how easy/hard it is because I’ve done it enough that I know which way to go, but if you don’t, it would be possible to climb yourself into a hole, or perhaps wander off onto loose rock.

I just climbed it this morning with Noah Howell and it was as fun as every and getting slightly colder each day!

By: Ken McKean

Ken McKean — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:59:57 +0000

After reading just re visited “Theory of Relativity & Safety”, having a 15 year old son who just returned from The City of Rocks bragging of free soloing a four pitch 5.6 I think I’ll have him look at it as well.