Hey all you bigwallers out there, This is kind of a stupid/weird question... when youre doing a wall what are the best kind of pants to where? do shorts work ok? also whick kneepads work the best?

-- Brian (SloBRI@aol.com), June 22, 1999

Answers

Bri: 1) Synthetics Are Superior. Take clothes that will dry fast. Cotton sucks the lifeforce from you when it's wet. Find a balance between what will dry fast and what will be confortable to climb in, and plan on waering it for a week. Cotton Tee's are fine, just have a synthetic back up, so your not wearing a wet-shirt for four hours! 2)Shorts will work obviously, but unless you have kneepads your knees will be two bloody stumpswhen you pull over the top. 3)Use the volleyball kind of kneepads. They are cheap and work fine. The plastic capped ones are fine too, but more uncomfortable, and the plastic cap can skate if you are leaning on the rock (topstepping).Plus the plastic ones just have straps, VVRIP!! and it's gone. The soft ones are nice because you can just push them down around your ankles when not in use. Duck tape 'em for longer life. 4)I also liberally duc ttape the toes of my shoes. Jugging and hauling can wear them out WAY fast, especially if your technique is less than perfect. My first wall I did this, and my partner called me a dork, and slagged me hard. He was the dork on the descent with his busted ass hobo looking, toe hanging out the front "approach shoes". Carfull though, this will make those free moves dicier with the slick duck tape on your shoes. Best to give those pitches to your partner anyway!:-)

Cheers!! Hope it helps!

-- Tea (mtea@ptc.com), June 22, 1999.

Hello Brian,

I would like to add a piece of advice on clothing. I use fine-quality wool-clothing (at least 40%)next to my skin. Wool with some polypropylene combined in the same fabric is my preferable choice as it transports humidity away from the skin as well as keeping you warm even when becoming weat. Wool also have a certain cooling-effect in warm weather - just ask the Tuaregs... Wether a shorts will do the trick certainly depends on whether you plan climbing in the Yosemitee or the Trango Towers... Have a nice trip.

-- Gunnar Fermann (Gunnar.fermann@svt.ntnu.no), June 23, 1999.

Hey Brian, Well, always have warm clothing on hand. Once on the Trip (it was late July) a freak storm rolled in and dumped lots of snow in a very little period. Without warm clothing it could have been worse. Tea has set you up in the underlayer department, but you also need really good shell gear. Full side zips on the pants are a godsend, and I prefer bibs over pants. When you are reaching up for a placment and its raining or snowing (hey it happens) your jacket can pull up and you will get a suprise down the back of your pants!! Plus they are warmer. I have a pair if really old gaitors that I take on winter walls because I aid in my Five Tennies and they aren't really water proof. It does happen when you need to aid through a water streak so your shoes can get soaked. I am a wuss but I like to be comfortable. I hope this helps, talk to you later Cheers,

-- Burt (epiclmber@hotmail.com), June 23, 1999.