This collection was compiled by Michael Riches and Guillaume Dargaud. Notes in italics are from Michael, and unannotated entries are from Guillaume's voting page.
The Price of Success by Dingus Milktoast
Risk and pain management...??? I loved it, If it don't hurt, it ain't worth doing. Dingus has captivated all of us with his flair for writing, I couldn't choose the best of his, because IMMHO they are all the "Best of the Best"...(even something like simply brewing coffee is turned into a stellar Mini TR) Thanks for sharing, the pain and the joy of your climbing life.
U Notch Couloir and the North Palisade by Dingus Milktoast
TR: Back Home Again by Mad Dog
We very seldom get a real good look at the personal lives of those we admire...families are forever, cherish these moments...
What I Did on My Halloween Vacation by Mad Dog
The North Face of Mt. Ritway by Mad Dog
Weekend with Brutus and Em by Karl Baba
Ahhh, the "Valley"...Mecca, The only thing better is be in the Valley with friends...
Smooth Sailing Away by Dawn Alguard
Dawn deserves way more then just a pat on the back for the "Best of the Best". Again, of all her TR's I am at a loss to say any one of them is better then the other. And her dedication to the group deserves a special thanks...You are most definitely the "Best of the Best"...Thanks for all you do.
Not-so-Trad Girl: A Confession by Dawn Alguard
The Big Slide by Dawn Alguard, Hensley Evans, and Mike Rawdon
The Salajit Collectors by Amanda Tarr
Some of us collect stamps and some...uhhh, wellll, other things...We want full version of this trip, one of these days...
Corte Madera by John Vawter
Good climbing with good friends, what more could a person ask for...
feeding the rat by Jeffers
True climer spirit (never say quit, look deep inside and do what ever it takes to excel...).
Note to Self: it's too hot to climb by Russ Walling
I wished I was dedicated enough to keep a journal, to be able to sit back on those miserable dayz where nothing but misery presents itself and reflect on something positive would be great...thanks (I still want to know where you buried Mick...)
Bad Sign by Russ Walling and Walt Shipley
Resolution Arete by Andy Gale
This one almost fits the Bigwall category...If you'd have only brought the Pig and the poop toob...(Ohhh yeah...and the Rabid inc. Sloped Ledged Suzi Doll, sized fit under the standard issue space blanket...)
Two days at the Gunks by Steve
Good climbing, good story...
Hueco Tanks by Jason Perez
Hueco...it'll never be the same...Good writing, good story...
Morbidity, Stupidity, and Divinity at the Leap by Melissa
Undoubtedly, the best way to introduce yourself in these parts is to write a great TR...loved it.
Balancing on the Pillar of Despair by Melissa
To Err is Human by Steven Cherry
Accidents are everyone's worst fear...To have the strength to face your mortality and write a constructive and objective look at your mistakes takes a lot of courage...
Of Rain and Rainbows by Karl Lew
True Luuu...So if we give you an award, will you poke yer head in and say Hi, every now and again...???
Family Values by Travis C. Brooks
Very good look into the private life of climber. We too often write only about personal gains, it's very refreshing to read about the rest of the people behind the climber...
Big Racks for Little Cracks by Paulina Varchavskaia
It is so hard to look at potential problems and admit, to the world no less, that you were seriously "out on a limb"...Well written self critique...
Damn fancy pants liberalists at the ANAM by slide
A humorous look at the lighter side...
My first Climb, My First Epic... by William Sitch
We all love a good "Epic"...Sometimes I wonder how we make it through those early days...
A climer is born! by Rob Williams
Young love...Cherish these days (and fer hell's sake, keep her away from the Miller Light...).
Trad Climbing at the Gunks by Julie Haas
Short and sweet, loved all of your TR's...
Absinthe of Mallet by Larry Scritchfield
Bees and such aren't considered enough to up the rating of the route...sorry, ya gotta take them as they come...
Goat Wall dances with dunces by Andy Cairns
Someday I hope you and Bernard cross paths again and when you do don't forget the TR...
Never Were Warriors by Andy Cairns
Drinking From the Fire Hydrant by Alex Chiang
So we probably ought to give Larry some credit for this too, Great Tr...
Pervertical Sanctuary by Charles Vernon
Looonnnng climbs are always the best....
limestone, steep routes full of holds, and YDS by Maohai Huang
You should probably have been in the Alpine section, but I liked this TR, too. Sooo...yer stuck in the Rock section...Thanks...
The Whole Enchilada by Scott Grimes
Ahhh, those were the dayz...Buttttt, I'll bet life with the SO is better...(Most of the time...)
Tom Foolery by Ratagonia
So, let me get this straight...Cabe wrote it and you submitted it...???
50 star Day by Geoff Jennings
How many stars does it take to make great weekend...???
Do you Trad by any chance? by Tim Stich
Ahhh, the start of a wonderful and painful relationship...
6 climbs 2 bails and lessons learned by Adrian MacNair
As long as we learn, we grow...
Matthes Crest by Dave Andersen
The Longer the better...
CO Climbing Roadtrip by Kelly
Ahhh, the road trip, good job...
Marco Polo by Brutus of Wyde
Journey back from hell by David Harris
Domestic violence is never funny by Sue Hopkins
Taylor Peak, Rocky Mountain National Park by Ben Heavner
The Femur is the Strongest Bone by tradkelly
Pulp Friction by John Byrnes
Big Wall
Washington Column by Brutus of Wyde and Eric Coomer
The things we do in the name of recreation. Great Story, by not one, but two of our best...I was going to use "Bonzai" for Brutus' TR, but thought I could award "Two" of our best with one fell stroke. Brutus creates a masterpiece with every keystroke. I would be hard pressed to try and choose on of them over the other, for each of his TR's are truly the "Best of the Best" no matter which category they're in...Thanks Brutus, oooppps...gotta go, here comes the Nurse...
Lunatic Binge by Rex Pieper
Again, the things we do...
Ice
The Day at the Circus, a Recreational Therapy Excursion by Brutus of Wyde
Toto...bring him the bone for this one...Sweeeet
Happy New Ice! by Paulina Varchavskaia
Short, sweet and hoping to hear more of the groups newest 'cicle Gal...
Gym
How not to pick up chicks in the gym by Sue Hopkins
O.K...we all have bad dayz, so when the Doc gets that look in 'er eyes..."pick another gym"...Very funny and a great look into the madness we all feel, every now and again...(Men, who needs 'em...)
Bouldering
Pistol Grip by Jason Liebgott
Problem solving...Good for the spirit.
First Ascent
Mt. Warning by Phil Box
To be the first has always been the test of a true climber...
Alpine
Climbing Cho-Oyu by Guillaume Dargaud
has written a lot of good Alpine stuff
Young, fit, and immortal by Marc Andreé Giasson
And a climber is born...
Baker by Mike Garrison
Just an afternoon stroll...??? Love that area...
Hiking
My Trip to Nepal by Inez Drixelius
Wonderful trip, wonderful report, the world is a crazy place to reside and to wander about in, glad things worked out the way they did and you were able to get back to us...
Most Prolific Writer
Little Annapurna by Mike Mahanay
Mike has submitted sooooo many great TR's in the last few years. I chose this one only because I couldn't decide which of many, of his, was the best...
Little Tahoma Peak by Mike Mahanay
Mount Maude by Mike Mahanay
Most Creative
A Grand Day at the Gunks by Tom Cikoski
Tom has a wonderful sense of humor and his writing reflects his joy of living...
Most Bizarre
Climbing by Gaper the Bumblie
Wellll...it was most definitely different...
"Climer" specific lingo
Having a look at Agitez Bien (5.8) by Reginald Braithwaite-Lee
O.K...the words were definitely taken from the "English language", but unless you are a "Climer" you'd have thought it was Greek...
In Memorium - Tom Dunwiddie
Trad climbers strike again on Shelf Rd.
Somewhere in the cosmos is that eternal bigwall...I hope you're at least halfway up by now...Rest in Peace...
Last modified 2004-March-21