Since I started this and then disappeared...remember, I SAID I was busy, nobody got my point!

Sorry 'bout the frustration. I don't really care if the "STANDARD" (ITS NOT A STANDARD!) we publish is not the best, or even that it is first. I just really want something on paper soon that is not so close minded that when folks start looking for a standard (and believe me ther is someone out there looking, and they have power that could really screw things up) that they are not required to use the one that I know may very well be proposed that WILL INSIST that we use a specific knot for attachment, a specific hitch for climbing, and a host of other issues that are contrary to the heart of my original post. We are trying to show the world in a unified manner that we know how to do recreational climbing in a safe manner, and that it does not have to limit how folks do things. IT'S AN ACCEPTED PRACTICES, not STANDARDS.

I've repeated myself until I'm just fed up with this stuff, somebody's always got to be negative. Well here's my idea. I've said my fill on it. EVERYBODY knows where I stand. Just climb safe! For that matter, y'all really gotta stop being so contrary, and just climb!

I had someone ask for the document, that we have been planning to prepare for the last 5 years, this afternoon. Instead of saying, "yeah we got our stuff togather" I had to say, "well that's a work in progress". I ended by saying, just lemme climb, I PROMISE I won't kill myself.

Thanks, yall for all the lively conversation, but I really have to quit. All the politics is driving me nuts. I'll post what I think should suffice as accepted practices soon on TCNC's site. I'll let you know when I do. Until then...drop me a line if you want to climb.

Climb Safe! Just Climb!
Icabod