Comments for Stephen Koch http://stephenkoch.com Professional Speaker, Mountain Guide, Snowboard Instructor, Alpinist and Family Man Sat, 17 Dec 2011 07:39:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Ice Climbing Tips with Stephen Koch by Stephen Koch http://stephenkoch.com/2011/01/test-3/comment-page-1/#comment-50022 Stephen Koch Sat, 17 Dec 2011 07:39:41 +0000 http://stephenkoch.com/?p=1308#comment-50022 Hi Andrew, The Tibloc is a great tool as an emergency ascender. They also can be used very effectively for sumulclimbing. Can use for simul-climbing by clipping to a piece of gear with a large diameter locking carabiner with the rope running through the biner. Use two if you are climbing on double ropes. This way if the second falls they fall on the piece of gear and don't pull the leader off! WARNING!!! Cannot give slack to the second with this system, so they better have their poop together! Also can tear the sheath of your rope. Hi Andrew,

The Tibloc is a great tool as an emergency ascender. They also can be used very effectively for sumulclimbing. Can use for simul-climbing by clipping to a piece of gear with a large diameter locking carabiner with the rope running through the biner. Use two if you are climbing on double ropes. This way if the second falls they fall on the piece of gear and don’t pull the leader off! WARNING!!! Cannot give slack to the second with this system, so they better have their poop together! Also can tear the sheath of your rope.

]]> Comment on COLD – MOVIE TRAILER AND THOUGHTS by Chris D. http://stephenkoch.com/2011/12/cold-movie/comment-page-1/#comment-49712 Chris D. Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:24:41 +0000 http://stephenkoch.com/?p=1328#comment-49712 "with boldness and humility I will succeed." Damn right. Just to let you know, I am thankful for your friendship and unwavering encouragement through the years, Stephen. Onward buddy. “with boldness and humility I will succeed.”

Damn right. Just to let you know, I am thankful for your friendship and unwavering encouragement through the years, Stephen. Onward buddy.

]]> Comment on How To Clean Your Hydration Pack / Camelbak by endo pascasio http://stephenkoch.com/2010/01/how-to-clean-your-hydration-pack-camelbak/comment-page-1/#comment-32594 endo pascasio Tue, 12 Apr 2011 16:21:59 +0000 http://stephenkoch.com/?p=1153#comment-32594 Instead of a wire hanger, an egg whisk or wooden spoons will do. Instead of a wire hanger, an egg whisk or wooden spoons will do.

]]> Comment on Stephen Koch Speaking Testimonials by Tara Kuipers http://stephenkoch.com/2010/02/stephen-koch-speaking-testimonials/comment-page-1/#comment-30893 Tara Kuipers Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:48:59 +0000 http://stephenkoch.com/?p=1186#comment-30893 WAMCAT Winter Conference in Jackson, WY. Awesome! I thought Stephen did a great job of relating his experiences of mountaineering and snowboarding to everyone at the event … even people who may never summit a mountain peak or attempt any high-stakes adventure could gain from his experiences and his energy. His talk was inspirational because he painted a great picture of his adventures and his experiences – making it easy to relate it to the passions or struggles I experience in my own life. WAMCAT Winter Conference in Jackson, WY.

Awesome!

I thought Stephen did a great job of relating his experiences of mountaineering and snowboarding to everyone at the event … even people who may never summit a mountain peak or attempt any high-stakes adventure could gain from his experiences and his energy. His talk was inspirational because he painted a great picture of his adventures and his experiences – making it easy to relate it to the passions or struggles I experience in my own life.

]]> Comment on Movie by Rena Trail http://stephenkoch.com/movie/comment-page-1/#comment-27921 Rena Trail Sat, 29 Jan 2011 00:49:03 +0000 http://stephenkoch.com/#comment-27921 WOW !!!! Can not wait to see this !!! :) WOW !!!! Can not wait to see this !!! :)

]]> Comment on Ice Climbing Tips with Stephen Koch by Stephen Koch http://stephenkoch.com/2011/01/test-3/comment-page-1/#comment-27134 Stephen Koch Tue, 18 Jan 2011 04:48:02 +0000 http://stephenkoch.com/?p=1308#comment-27134 Petzl Tiblics are a great tool. I have used them to simul-climb (climb together, or move at the same time, as leader and follower). The way I have done this is by clipping the Tibloc to a solid piece of gear (or two if using two ropes). This protects the lead climber from getting pulled off if the second falls. The way this works is the teeth of the Tibloc bite into the rope and cease the rope from sliding further. I like to file the fires few little teeth down to help limit the chance of the Tibloc teeth tearing the sheath off of the rope. It is important to always have solid gear and to do this every ropelength, so that the leader is always protected from getting pulled off by the second. Bringing 4 Tiblocs will allow you to climb 4 ropelengths (with a single rope) together. Make sure you clip into the rope and the Tibloc with the carabiner. And make sure the carabinger is a locker/locking and that the diameter of the carabiner is fairly large. The Petzl Attache and Attache 2 have worked well for me as carabiners to utilize with the Tiblocs to simsul-climb. Note: If the rope does not pull up once you have clipped the Tibloc into the Locker, turn it around so the teeth are facing up. You most likely have the teeth facing down, which prevents the leader from going up. Petzl Tiblics are a great tool. I have used them to simul-climb (climb together, or move at the same time, as leader and follower). The way I have done this is by clipping the Tibloc to a solid piece of gear (or two if using two ropes). This protects the lead climber from getting pulled off if the second falls. The way this works is the teeth of the Tibloc bite into the rope and cease the rope from sliding further. I like to file the fires few little teeth down to help limit the chance of the Tibloc teeth tearing the sheath off of the rope. It is important to always have solid gear and to do this every ropelength, so that the leader is always protected from getting pulled off by the second. Bringing 4 Tiblocs will allow you to climb 4 ropelengths (with a single rope) together. Make sure you clip into the rope and the Tibloc with the carabiner. And make sure the carabinger is a locker/locking and that the diameter of the carabiner is fairly large. The Petzl Attache and Attache 2 have worked well for me as carabiners to utilize with the Tiblocs to simsul-climb. Note: If the rope does not pull up once you have clipped the Tibloc into the Locker, turn it around so the teeth are facing up. You most likely have the teeth facing down, which prevents the leader from going up.

]]> Comment on Ice Climbing Tips with Stephen Koch by A.K. http://stephenkoch.com/2011/01/test-3/comment-page-1/#comment-26836 A.K. Fri, 14 Jan 2011 02:56:33 +0000 http://stephenkoch.com/?p=1308#comment-26836 wondering if you could elaborate on your ti-block usage and when you would want to carry "a lot more". wondering if you could elaborate on your ti-block usage and when you would want to carry “a lot more”.

]]> Comment on Contact by Jonny C http://stephenkoch.com/contact-2/comment-page-1/#comment-26554 Jonny C Mon, 10 Jan 2011 03:38:58 +0000 http://stephenkoch.com/#comment-26554 Kochie what's up? Jon Ciccone here reaching out to you. Looks like you've done really well! Not that I'm surprised. Had always thought you'd find a way to follow your dream. I've been blessed w a son who seems to have your desires. He's been riding for 4 yrs and has spent a fair amount of time in the er (stress fx of left tibia, right shoulder fx, left femur fx) but wants to ride pro. His mother and I are supporting his passion, but I'd love to get an opinion of a pro. Would appreciate the chance to talk (and to catch up) if you have the time. Best wishes, Jonny C Kochie what’s up? Jon Ciccone here reaching out to you. Looks like you’ve done really well! Not that I’m surprised. Had always thought you’d find a way to follow your dream. I’ve been blessed w a son who seems to have your desires. He’s been riding for 4 yrs and has spent a fair amount of time in the er (stress fx of left tibia, right shoulder fx, left femur fx) but wants to ride pro. His mother and I are supporting his passion, but I’d love to get an opinion of a pro. Would appreciate the chance to talk (and to catch up) if you have the time. Best wishes, Jonny C

]]> Comment on Chuck Pratt Tribute Video by Suzanne Duarte http://stephenkoch.com/2010/06/chuck-pratt-tribute-video/comment-page-1/#comment-24328 Suzanne Duarte Wed, 24 Nov 2010 17:57:48 +0000 http://stephenkoch.com/?p=1254#comment-24328 I want to thank Amy and Forrest for putting together the Ode to Chuck Pratt. Jeff Foott sent me the YouTube link for it last summer, from which I learned a lot about Chuck that I didn't know. Since Chuck was a heart friend of mine in the 1960's in Yosemite and Berkeley, the video brought back a lot of memories of my own profound moments with him. I wasn't a Camp 4 groupie. I worked in the Tuolumne Meadows coffee shop as a waitress during the summers, and studied English and German Romantic poets at college. I don't know how I met Chuck - maybe through Jeff Foott, who I knew at San Jose State and later in Yosemite. In any case, I loved Chuck for his mystical side and his humor. We clicked on the philosophical level. One of my memorable experiences of him was laying on top of Puppy Dome in Tuolumne watching shooting stars and hearing Chuck talk about the cosmos and physics, which he was studying. He introduced me to cosmology! We spent the night watching stars. He was so ordinary and humble, I had no idea that he was such a star in the climbing world, or that he was so loved and admired by so many people. It was heartwarming to see that he was so loved and admired on the video. But the important point that the video brought home to me was Chuck's integrity. Besides his humor, which I shared, it was his integrity that influenced me most deeply. That's why I loved him, and I didn't even realize it until I saw the Ode video. I want to thank Amy and Forrest for putting together the Ode to Chuck Pratt. Jeff Foott sent me the YouTube link for it last summer, from which I learned a lot about Chuck that I didn’t know. Since Chuck was a heart friend of mine in the 1960′s in Yosemite and Berkeley, the video brought back a lot of memories of my own profound moments with him. I wasn’t a Camp 4 groupie. I worked in the Tuolumne Meadows coffee shop as a waitress during the summers, and studied English and German Romantic poets at college.

I don’t know how I met Chuck – maybe through Jeff Foott, who I knew at San Jose State and later in Yosemite. In any case, I loved Chuck for his mystical side and his humor. We clicked on the philosophical level. One of my memorable experiences of him was laying on top of Puppy Dome in Tuolumne watching shooting stars and hearing Chuck talk about the cosmos and physics, which he was studying. He introduced me to cosmology! We spent the night watching stars.

He was so ordinary and humble, I had no idea that he was such a star in the climbing world, or that he was so loved and admired by so many people. It was heartwarming to see that he was so loved and admired on the video. But the important point that the video brought home to me was Chuck’s integrity. Besides his humor, which I shared, it was his integrity that influenced me most deeply. That’s why I loved him, and I didn’t even realize it until I saw the Ode video.

]]> Comment on Ask me a question, please. by Stephen Koch http://stephenkoch.com/2009/03/ask-me-a-question-please/comment-page-1/#comment-23392 Stephen Koch Fri, 05 Nov 2010 06:27:55 +0000 http://stephenkoch.com/?p=577#comment-23392 Hi George, Thank you for your note. That follow through, back into the eight, is called the "Yosemite 8" finish. Make sure you snug the knot by pushing and pulling on the knot. I heard there is one limitation with this finish...that in a rescue scenario the knot could "roll" over itself. I don't think this is at all likely, especially when snugging knot down as mentioned before. May safe, fun and successful climbing be yours! Hi George,

Thank you for your note. That follow through, back into the eight, is called the “Yosemite 8″ finish. Make sure you snug the knot by pushing and pulling on the knot. I heard there is one limitation with this finish…that in a rescue scenario the knot could “roll” over itself. I don’t think this is at all likely, especially when snugging knot down as mentioned before.

May safe, fun and successful climbing be yours!

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